Today, I want to address endo belly. It isn't a professional term but it is widely used by both patients and doctors.
"Endometriosis bloat—known as endo belly is one of the most odious endometriosis symptoms. On any given day, the lower abdomen can swell, setting off physical and mental anguish. The bloating can stay for days, weeks, or disappear after a few hours.
You might think bloating is a normal part of every woman’s cycle, but this is not normal bloating, and endometriosis is not a normal cycle.
"Women in the general public may get bloating a day or two before their cycle,” says Karli Goldstein, DO, consulting surgeon and medical advisory board member for the Endometriosis Foundation of America, “but endometriosis bloat can be more drastic and persist longer.”
Endo belly typically gets worse as the day goes on. “Frequently, patients will be fine in the morning, and it will get bigger and bigger until the evening when they can’t button their pants,” explains Dr. Goldstein, who has stage IV endometriosis herself. “You can look six months pregnant by the end of the day.”
To read the whole article and see more pictures of women affected by endo belly take a look at Health's article on Why Endo Belly Happens
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| This picture is of Laura who wanted to share a picture of her endo belly and how it has affected her. |
Bloating is uncomfortable but this is something else. Imagine a balloon and surrounding that balloon is knives, in every direction. As the balloon inflates the knives push outwards. This is what it feels like to me. The pain is sharp and big. It continues and continues until it feels like I cannot take any more.
For so many years I have tried to explain endo belly to people, the balloon, the knives - all of it. Thankfully to Health.com not only do I not feel alone in this but there are more articulate words to express what I have been going through.
If you have the chance check out the hashtag EndoBelly to see how many people have truly been dealing with this. Also, don't forget to check out Laura's Instagram she is an amazing person who is constantly raising awareness for this disease.
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