How to find relief for endo belly

Endo belly, or abdominal distension, is a term that describes moderate to severely painful bloating from endometriosis lesionscomorbid conditions or surgical complications. Flares of endo belly symptoms can occur at any time during the menstrual cycle, making them unpredictable.

What Endo Belly Looks and Feels Like

Not everyone with endometriosis will have symptoms. Those who do experience symptoms can range from moderate to severe. Some people may say they feel like they look six months pregnant. This physical change can be especially challenging for people experiencing infertility, a common symptom of endometriosis.

Endometrial symptoms can interfere with many aspects of one’s life, including work and social life. A common symptom is a feeling of pain, pressure and tightness in the lower abdomen.

This pain may worsen:

• During a bowel movement or when urinating
• During menstrual periods
• During or after sex

Explaining endometriosis bloating

Endometriosis or endo-belly bloating is not exactly bloating; is chronic abdominal swelling caused by endometriosis. It can also be caused by comorbid conditions and surgical scar complications from surgical sterilization or caesarean sections.

Comorbid gastrointestinal conditions

Endo belly symptoms such as bloating and pain during bowel movement they overlap with many gastrointestinal conditions. There is also a known link between endometriosis and comorbid (conditions that occur at the same time) GI conditions.

A large-scale study published in 2023 found that people with endometriosis were twice as likely to have comorbid irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and nearly 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with reflux disease gastroesophageal than those without endometriosis.

Comorbid gastrointestinal conditions include:

Self-care to deflate and manage pain

If you’re dealing with endo belly and looking for relief, self-care can help deflate and manage the pain. Experts suggest trying over-the-counter pain relievers, such as:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Advil (ibuprofen)
• Aleve (naproxen)

Experts also suggest the following self-care strategies for endo belly and pain relief:

• Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to your lower abdomen or take a warm bath to increase blood flow and muscle relaxation.
• Complementary methods such as acupuncture or chiropractic care.
• Eat plenty of fiber and nutritious foods to promote healthy bowel movements and reduce straining, which could make pain worse.
• Exercise to help improve blood flow and release pain-relieving endorphins.
• Practice calming techniques such as deep breathing, visualization and yoga.
• Rest on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with your knees toward your chest to relieve or reduce pressure in your lower abdomen.

Comfort and clothing during eruptions

Severe bloating during an endo tummy tuck can make getting comfortable in clothing difficult, especially when the materials don’t stretch.

More comfortable clothing options during an outbreak may include:

• Cargo joggers
• Jumpsuits or overalls
• Leggings
• Maternity pants
• Maxi dresses
• Scrubs
• Sweatpants

Medical and surgical treatment options

Even when self-care helps reduce pain and bloating, you may want to consider consulting a healthcare provider about medical and surgical treatment options. Although there is no cure for endometriosis, treatment can make the condition and associated symptoms more manageable.

Medical options include hormonal birth control, the first line of treatment for endometriosis. Birth control for endometriosis works best in cases where the pain and symptoms are not severe. Medicines that cause temporary menopause are another medical option.

Surgical treatments may be necessary in cases of severe symptoms, fertility problems, or when self-care and medical treatment do not provide sufficient relief. Laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis is a minimally invasive surgery in which a surgeon makes a small incision and removes patches of endometriosis (lesions, adhesions, or scars).

If nothing improves the symptoms

If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to improve your endo-abdominal symptoms, you may feel discouraged and unsure of your next steps. You may want to consider professionals or additional treatments to consider, such as:

Diet cannot cure endometriosis, but reducing or eliminating foods that cause bloating can help with comfort levels. These foods include certain dairy products that contain lactose and certain carbohydrates, including fruit sugar (fructose).

Summary

Endo belly is the severe swelling of the lower abdomen caused by endometriosis. Comorbid conditions include gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. Deflating and reducing endo belly pain comes down to self-care, over-the-counter pain relievers, medical treatments such as birth control, and surgical treatments to remove lesions, adhesions, and scars where necessary. If symptoms still interfere with social and professional life, consult professionals.