I thought looking pregnant was reserved for when you’re actually pregnant! But no, if you have endometriosis and suddenly look pregnant, you could be dealing with an endo belly.
What is Endo Belly?
An endo belly is when you have endometriosis and are facing severe bloating. Some women even refer to it as their ‘endo baby bump!’
It’s weird because you wake up with your stomach looking all normal and within hours you could be looking pregnant!
It’s crazy how that transformation happens.
What Causes Endo Belly?
Speaking to my endometriosis specialist doctor, I was explained that the endo belly can be because the endometriosis lesions flare up which causes the immune system to induce swelling.
He also explained that the intestines can be slowed down when endometriosis scar tissue binds abdominal organs.
What Does Endo Belly Feel Like?
Endo belly may just look like bloating, but it’s uncomfortable to deal with not just pain and severe heaviness but it can psychologically pull you down too.
You could walk out looking great and a few hours later feel so strained and tight in what you’re wearing.
It may all sound superficial but for many endometriosis patients, emotionally, physically, professionally and socially your life changes – it isn’t fun when another issue contributes to how you physically (and then mentally) feel in a professional or social setting.
How to Treat Endo Belly?
With some of the changes I have managed to make, I have seen a difference in the bloating and pain caused by endometriosis but I haven’t been able to get rid of the bloating entirely.
Many believe diet plays a large role.
Foods and beverages that don’t agree with endometriosis can be a cause for such bloating like dairy products or gluten.
After initiating endometriosis friendly diet changes which are also low-FODMAP and anti-inflammatory, I saw a reduction in the regularity of my bloating.
What I also understood is that it’s easy to get gassy too along with the endo belly causing heaviness and pain, so by further introducing some natural pain relieving methods to my every day, I was able to control the bloating further.
Check out my diet and pain relieving methods here:
- My Diet for Endometriosis & Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Natural Pain Relief
Doctors also advise exercises like yoga and cardio, belly massages, proper sleep and other techniques that reduce stress-levels (i.e. aromatherapy).
But as a patient my experience tells me that every change adopted takes time which is why we need to stick to it, slowly add good habits rather than going all out otherwise we overwhelm ourselves and we can’t objectively judge which habits are helping us.
We can research and list a whole range of changes but it’s by seeing them through and also noting down what you’re eating and how your bloating is everyday could be a way to figure out your trigger foods.
What I am trying to say is that don’t give up and look to understand your body.
An endo belly is also a sign that there is possible inflammation which needs to be addressed and this is where speaking to your doctor will be key and in fact, going in with your diet notes and what foods are your possible triggers could help your doctor understand your body better.
Also, it’s important that your doctor rules out all other reasons for this bloating.
Let me end this topic on an interesting note.
In May 2019 a British tabloid, The Sun published an article on the hashtag trend #endobelly.
Many women took to various social media platforms (and still do) in order to show their belly sizes hours or a day apart.
It’s helped to shed light that this form of bloating can be a symptom of endometriosis – something we shouldn’t ignore.
Like I’ve said before, if you feel that you are troubled by this symptom, please speak to your doctor about it and get advice specific to your issue.
If you have any endo belly tips of your own, then please do write them in the comments below because it’s always good to share and we never know which tip might help us.
Relevant Read:
- Endometriosis Surgery: Ablation v Excision – Which is Better?
- My Guide: How To Prepare For Endometriosis Laparoscopic Excision Surgery
- My Guide: What To Expect After Endometriosis Excision Surgery
Thank you for reading!
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I have a podcast too. You can check them out here along with their transcripts or if you don’t wanna read them then they’re available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts too.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am a patient and have created this platform to share my experiences. This is all purely informative and in no way am I providing medical advice. Please consult a medical professional.