“Four years ago, I almost died. Now, I help others live.”
May 21, 2021. For Lisa Lisiewski, it was the day everything changed—the day endometriosis nearly took her life. It was the day she woke up from what should have been a routine surgery into a completely new reality: one that included emergency care, a temporary colostomy, and a diagnosis that came far too late.
Now, four years later, Lisa is thriving—but she’s also clear: recovery doesn’t end with surgery. It’s ongoing. It’s whole-body. And it’s essential for anyone living with or healing from endometriosis.
When Symptoms Are Dismissed, Disease Progresses
Lisa’s early symptoms will sound familiar to many in the endometriosis community:
- Bloating and GI issues, labeled as IBS
- Painful, heavy periods that disrupted her work and daily life
- Chronic fatigue that didn’t resolve with rest or diet changes
- Brain fog and mood swings that made her feel like a different person
- Pelvic pain and pressure, fluctuating but never fully gone
Despite decades of these symptoms, Lisa remained undiagnosed. She was placed on hormonal suppression for years—a common short-term strategy that masked pain but allowed the disease to progress silently.
The Turning Point: Emergency Surgery and a Life-Altering Diagnosis
In 2021, Lisa underwent a planned total abdominal hysterectomy. But during surgery, her care team found what previous providers had missed: frozen pelvis, a severe stage of endometriosis in which adhesions and inflammation fuse together organs.
She suffered a bowel perforation, underwent an emergency pelvic wash, and woke up with a temporary colostomy.
Her final diagnosis included:
- Stage IV endometriosis
- Frozen pelvis
- Surgical menopause
- Bowel involvement requiring resection
“I thought I was in the clear. But 36 hours later, I perforated. Everything changed after that.”
What should have been a single procedure turned into a multi-organ crisis. And what should have been a straightforward recovery became a long, multifaceted healing journey.
Understanding Frozen Pelvis: Scenario of Untreated Endometriosis
Frozen pelvis is one of the most serious complications of deep infiltrating endometriosis.
It can involve:
- Severe scarring and adhesions that bind the uterus, bowel, and bladder
- Loss of organ mobility and function
- Increased risk of surgical complications and long-term pain
- Complex, multi-organ surgical recovery
Lifelong Healing Requires the Right Team—And the Right Mindset
Lisa’s surgery removed much of the visible endometriosis and addressed life-threatening complications—but surgery wasn’t the end of her healing journey. It was the beginning of a new phase of care, one that would demand ongoing attention, collaboration, and compassion.
Endometriosis is a chronic, systemic condition. Even after expert excision, recurrence can happen—particularly if any residual disease remains, if inflammation goes unmanaged, or if other overlapping conditions like adenomyosis are still present. And for Lisa, surgical menopause added another layer of complexity that required thoughtful, lifelong support.
This is why lifelong care matters:
- Endo can return, even after well-executed excision
- Adenomyosis can persist post-hysterectomy or impact surrounding tissue
- Surgical menopause disrupts hormone balance, impacting bones, mood, and metabolic health
- Pelvic floor and digestive trauma from surgery or disease require continued therapy
- Immune and nervous system dysregulation may linger long after the disease is removed
Lisa’s sustained recovery was only possible because she had the right team—people who didn’t just treat the crisis, but truly saw the whole picture.
Her care team included:
- A fellowship-trained gynecologic surgeon experienced in deep endometriosis and complex pelvic dissection
- GI specialists and pelvic floor therapists who co-managed the physical aftermath of surgery
- Functional and integrative medicine providers who addressed nutrition, inflammation, hormone balance, and trauma
- A deeply committed support network of family and loved ones—including her mother, who never left her side
“They looked at all of me—not just my organs, not just the disease, but how I was functioning as a whole person,” Lisa says. “That changed everything.”
This multi-disciplinary, root-cause approach allowed Lisa to move beyond survival—and into a life she could fully live in. One where symptoms are tracked, systems are supported, and her body is no longer something to fear.
Recovery Isn’t Just Physical—It’s Whole-Body Work
After surgery, Lisa faced surgical menopause, emotional trauma, and the slow process of rebalancing her body.
With time and support, she rebuilt:
- Hormonal health through carefully managed HRT
- Digestive wellness with targeted nutrition and supplementation
- Pelvic and nervous system support through physical therapy, breathwork, and regulation
- Her relationship with her body, moving from fear and fragility to strength and resilience
From Patient to Provider: Helping Others Heal
Today, Lisa is a functional nutritionist specializing in endometriosis, surgical recovery, and gut health. She brings lived experience to clinical care, offering grounded, whole-body strategies for long-term support.
Her work includes:
- Root-cause nutrition for hormone balance and inflammation
- Post-op recovery plans focused on healing the gut and restoring energy
- Functional lab testing and trauma-informed coaching
- Empowering others to advocate for the care they deserve
Lisa’s Advice for Others Navigating Endo
If you’re still searching for answers, Lisa offers these reminders:
- Your pain doesn’t have to be extreme to be real. If it’s interfering with your life, it’s worth exploring.
- Ask for imaging. A thorough transvaginal ultrasound and MRI can be important early tools.
- Look at the full picture. Period symptoms, GI issues, mood shifts, fatigue—they often connect.
- Freeze your eggs if fertility is a goal. And be open to multiple paths to parenthood.
- Don’t wait until it’s urgent. Early intervention changes outcomes.
About Lisa Lisiewski
Lisa isn’t just a practitioner—she’s a survivor. Her approach is shaped by both clinical expertise and personal experience:
- Over 25 years as a registered dietitian and functional nutritionist
- A Stage IV endometriosis survivor, including bowel resection and colostomy recovery
- Specializes in GI health, hormone balance, post-surgical nutrition, and inflammatory conditions
- Committed to a root-cause, whole-body approach—no fads, no guesswork, just sustainable care
Want More from Lisa?
Hear more from Lisa in our on-demand webinar, where she joins Lexi Butman (Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist), Arleigh Cole (Patient Advocate and Health Coach), and Dr. Karli Provost Goldstein for a deep dive into Whole-Body Care and Wellness for Endometriosis.
Prefer reading? Explore Lisa Answers Your Top Questions About Nutrition and Endo, where she shares practical advice on post-op nutrition, hormone balance, and healing the gut.
At ESSE, You’re Seen—And Supported
Lisa’s journey reminds us that endometriosis care doesn’t stop in the OR. At ESSE, we specialize in the full spectrum of care—from complex diagnosis and surgery to lifelong wellness strategies that help you stay grounded, strong, and healthy.
If you’re tired of being dismissed or misdiagnosed, it’s time to take control of your health. Schedule a consultation with ESSE Care today and get the answers you deserve.
