Episode Details

We’re back with Part 2 of the endometriosis series, and this one is personal.

Lead practitioner Rachel Heintz shares her own story with stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis. You’ll hear about the symptoms she didn’t realize were clues, the functional work that helped her feel dramatically better, and the surgery that revealed just how severe things really were.

Rachel walks through her timeline: going on birth control for acne, coming off the pill and experiencing debilitating periods, dealing with extreme allergies and histamine issues, living in a moldy apartment, and eventually discovering endometriosis in a pretty unusual location.

Erin and Rachel talk about why surgery is not a failure, why not every OB/GYN is an endometriosis expert, why getting another opinion can matter so much, and what Rachel’s excision surgery ultimately revealed.

In this episode:

• How birth control may have masked Rachel’s endo symptoms for years after she originally started it for acne
• Why Rachel believes mold exposure in a damp college apartment may have been a major immune and mast cell trigger
• Why untreated endo could have created bigger issues for Rachel’s bowels, kidneys, appendix, fertility, and overall health
• How Rachel is feeling 10 weeks post-op, with a smoother-than-expected recovery

Resources mentioned:

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort of The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy are now open! If you’re ready to become a certified functional health practitioner, apply now.

Apply for 1:1 Endometriosis Support here if you’re navigating painful periods, suspected or diagnosed endometriosis, gut symptoms, hormone issues, or inflammation.

Order The Gut Panel to uncover the hidden root causes behind your “mystery” symptoms.

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FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:

https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/427-endo-series-part-2

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