Endo belly feels like severe, painful bloating, making your abdomen hard, tight, and distended, often looking like you're pregnant, with symptoms like sharp cramps, pressure, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea, and can last hours, days, or weeks, worsening around your period. It's more intense and prolonged than normal bloating, often accompanied by significant abdominal tenderness and deep pelvic pain.
As a result, this symptomatology has been overlooked for a long time. However, in 2015, a case–cohort study found that patients with endometriosis experienced more abdominal discomfort and pain, constipation, bloating, flatulence, and imperative bowel movements than healthy women [16].
Disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis, and diverticulosis may trigger symptoms similar to those from endometriosis—abdominal bloating, alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation, and painful bowel movements.
Laparoscopy. In some cases, you may be referred to a surgeon for this procedure. Laparoscopy lets the surgeon check inside your abdomen for signs of endometriosis tissue. Before the surgery, you receive medicine that puts you a sleep-like state and prevents pain.
Symptoms of endometriosis include: Very painful menstrual cramps. Abdominal pain or back pain during your period or in between periods. Heavy bleeding during periods or spotting (light bleeding) between periods.
An endo belly usually feels hard and tight, not soft like body fat. And it often comes with painful pressure. You may have intense bloating or distension, which are related but not the same.
The most common signs of endometriosis are pain and infertility. Endometriosis pain typically presents as: Painful menstrual cramps that may go into the abdomen (stomach) or lower back. Pain during or after sex.
Recognizing Symptoms of a Flare-Up
Severe pelvic or abdominal pain. Intense cramping, especially during menstruation. Lower back and leg pain. Fatigue and exhaustion.
Chronic Endometritis has ill-defined symptoms such as pelvic discomfort, spotting and leucorrhoea. Patient may also complain of hypomenorrhoea, secondary amenorrhoea, and infertility.
Although it affects the bowel rather than the reproductive organs, the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sometimes mimic those of endometriosis. For example, people with both conditions can experience abdominal pain and disruption of bowel habits, including diarrhoea or constipation.
Can endometriosis be found on ultrasound? Ultrasounds can show large clumps of tissue or scarring that are likely signs of endometriosis. Ultrasounds are very good at identifying endometriosis in your ovaries. But ultrasounds can't show tiny pieces of tissue which are the most common type of endometriosis.
For example, both conditions can cause abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, or trouble having bowel movements. But there are also some differences between the two. Endometriosis may cause painful urination, IBS does not. And while IBS can cause mucus in stool, that is not present with endometriosis.
Here are ten foods Hartung recommends endo women should stay away from:
Endometriosis flare-up
These flare-ups can occur due to hormonal changes, particularly during menstruation. Stress, diet, or lack of rest can also trigger a flare-up. During these episodes, endometrial tissue outside the uterus becomes inflamed, leading to discomfort.
Women with endometriosis may experience elevated oestrogen levels, which can lead to the accumulation of body fat, particularly in the abdominal area. This can be frustrating and demoralising, especially when efforts to maintain a healthy weight become increasingly difficult.
pain when you poo or pee. pain during or after sex. extreme tiredness (fatigue) pain or bleeding in other areas, such as in the chest, which may cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood.
Stress, a lack of sleep, drinking alcohol, and eating inflammatory foods can all be the triggers for endometriosis flare up. Medication, surgery, and self-care methods like avoiding triggers, managing stress, using heat, and exercising can all help you feel better and have fewer severe flare-ups.
People with endometriosis-related fatigue describe it as feeling 'exhausted', 'drained', 'tired', 'lethargic', 'worn out', and/or 'weak'.
It occurs due to endometrial growths that occur in the pelvis and intestines. Endo belly is painful and can last for a few hours, days, or, in severe cases, weeks. The first line of treatment is usually hormonal birth control pills, which help control the growths.
Drinks that may reduce bloating include water, certain herbal teas, and fermented drinks like kombucha and kefir. Carbonated beverages, as well as drinks containing artificial sweeteners or caffeine, may lead to bloating.
Foods to Avoid on an Endometriosis Diet
Whereas, with endometriosis, the symptoms peak with the menstrual cycle. The first line of treatment are over the counter medicines (NSAIDS like Motrin). Usually people have already tried this when they visit their doctor.
The three common medical symptoms of endometriosis are called the three Ds: dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and dyschezia.
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