Courtney Ford Instagram – 1/3 (The photo above is of me two years ago, inspired by @georgiewileman’s #ThisIsEndometriosis campaign) Many of you shared your own experiences with endometriosis in the comments below my post about Dr. Kent. I wanted to let you know that I see you, and can share a bit of my personal experience if it helps. For those unfamiliar, endometriosis is an inflammatory disorder that occurs when cells similar to the lining of the uterus are found in areas outside of the uterus, causing significant pain. It is not just a “painful period”, and its effects aren’t limited to the days surrounding menstruation. My symptoms were felt nearly every day, and alternated between aching, stabbing and nausea, creating fatigue and a constant buzzing in my brain that I can only describe as “pain fog”. All in all a 0/10, would not recommend. Six years after my surgery with Dr. Kent, and two years after the birth of my son, pain slowly began to creep back into my body. By 2020, the symptoms had become overwhelming, and I had my 2nd surgery during our first pandemic Christmas. That timing also gets a 0/10. Although Dr. Kent had retired, serendipity led me to a surgeon that specialized in excision, rather than laser ablation. This surgeon is an absolute warrior queen, and I will introduce you to her in a separate post. My post-op notes revealed: Stage 4 endometriosis (which she excised), suspected adenomyosis, and interstitial cystitis. I also lost my appendix.