Endometriosis is an invisible disease that affects roughly one in ten reproductive-aged individuals (12-52) or 200 million individuals worldwide. That was the case for both Lindsay Allred and her daughter Sophie, who both began experiencing symptoms as early as age 11.
After several years of failed surgeries and medications, Lindsay, a 42-year-old nurse, discovered Dr. Kenny Sinervo, a gynecologic surgeon at Northside Hospital.
As one of the few surgeons globally who can perform an innovative endometriosis surgery called Laparoscopic Excision (LAPEX), Dr. Sinervo provided Lindsay with the surgical intervention to relieve longtime pain and frustration.
When Lindsay’s 14-year-old daughter Sophie began to experience the same painful menstruation her mother endured for so many years, she was quick to seek help once more from Dr. Sinervo.
"We knew that the longer you have endometriosis, the more kind of destruction is going on inside your body," Lindsay said.
"It can eventually evolve into a situation where a patient is having pain all the time, 24/7," Dr. Sinervo said.
"Unfortunately, a lot of patients get dismissed and gaslit, where they say, 'Well, that's just normal. You kind of got to get used to it.'
"Some people can't leave their homes because of worried about problems with their bowels after they eat certain foods," he says.
FOX 5 Atlanta recently told Lindsay and Sophie's story.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
