Stomach swelling

[TIAHRHIANNE1]

Hello!

I have been diagnosed with endometriosis now for around 8 years, following the usually long winded process. Things back then were managed with painkillers and anti inflammatory medication however, I feel that I have progressed through the stages with the current pain and extra symptoms. One symptom that is making me feel like I am going insane is the swelling in my stomach, I have the swelling just before, during and after my period where I look like I am carrying twins. But now throughout the month I constantly feel like I have swelling on the left side of my abdomen. This isn’t hard but is definitely more than the right and with any diet or exercise I can’t seem to get rid of it.

I am asking you all to see if someone else has had this or has this now because I am sure it is connected to endo and not just fat! The other symptoms seem to be appearing throughout the month now and I cannot see how this is any different, it can be larger some days than others but in these past few months is never not there.

Any help or advice would be appreciated to either confirm its symptoms or not, if it isn’t then I definitely need to do more cardio!

[Santorini2022]

Hey, I get really bad swelling throughout the month as well, my GP was telling me for years I had IBS but I went private last year and they confirmed my symptoms were endometriosis and that the swelling was one of the symptoms but it gets passed off as IBS🙄

[TIAHRHIANNE1 in reply to Santorini2022]

This makes me feel so much better, I have tried all sorts of things and some days it isn’t there and I feel more confident in my body then the next day it’s like I have something lodged in the left side. Thankyou!

[Taikaei in reply to Santorini2022]

Oh I lost count of how many medications for IBS I took, diet and exercise and it never worked because guess what? It wasn’t IBS. I can’t believe how many of us with the same symptoms get dismissed like this!!!

[EKP31]

I get this as well as it’s awful! No way to get rid of it either! So sorry you’re suffering too x

[Angellouise]

my daughter has endo and she gets swelling and bloating in her stomach.

[Sunset-lady]

Yes me too despite being on zoladex. It's one of the worst things about endo as you just feel awful. Mine is constantly there x

[Greatescapes]

I haven’t actually been officially diagnosed as having endo as the gynae thinks it’s too invasive and wants to control it via the mini pill for now. I had Adenomyosis show up on a Dec’22 scan but then they didn’t see it on the Dec’23 scan 😒. Anyway cutting the long story short I am on the mini pill now since Jan this year and that’s actually when I started noticing the swelling. I also kept wondering whether it is weight gain as I have gained weight due to docs taking me off Levothyroxine as I had a thyroid storm last year . So at this stage I am trying the impossible task of trying to lose weight so I can confirm the swelling isn’t weight gain and whether it is endo related but the weight just won’t budge, not even on keto. My swelling starts just under the bra strap and looks like I’m six months pregnant, constantly trying to find clothes that don’t let it show.

[Rasmol]

Hi sorry to hear you are unwell. In my case an anti inflammatory diet & taking the mini pill helped up to a point. After that I had to go for excision surgery with a private specialist as my only option to stop the daily pain and bloating. It worked really well for me. I feel diet & exercise & medication helps but when things are getting worse surgery can be considered. Best

[MonieBL]

hey lovely. You are not alone!!! I’m currently SO frustrated by this swelling/ bloating. I’ve tried everything you can think of, probiotics, diet of chicken/salmon and veg, bran flakes every morning, peppermint tea, tablets from Holland and Barrett and NOTHING works 😭. I do Pilates every day and go on walks as often as I can, I feel myself toning up but that stomach just won’t go! I really feel your frustration, it’s definitely up there with one of the worst things about endo 😢 xxx

[nikogirl18]

I’m also struggling with this! 😭 it really does knock your self confidence and it’s so frustrating.

I swear I look like I’m months pregnant when the swelling/bloating really gets going. I’m on the Mirena so don’t have a cycle to follow and the swelling really just happens whenever it wants. Doesn’t matter what I’m eating or what I do, it just happens.

I feel I’m just going to have to learn to embrace it but it is so annoying! I also feel like the rest of my body gets a bit swollen too, like my face 🥲 just get all puffy

[TIAHRHIANNE1]

Thank-You all, that is really helpful. When I am just before my cycle, during and after I look like I am pregnant with twins! Then in the month my weight goes up and down, but the swelling is there 98% of the time and I just can’t move it. I have tried exercise, dieting, supplements etc but nothing seems to be working. I have always been blessed with a good metabolism which makes it even more frustrating because I just don’t know what to do next. I am waiting to see a specialist as I think I might be around the stage 3 mark now and am hoping if I can have the surgery that some of these symptoms will subside for a while. I really am at a loss and it is so damaging for body confidence especially as I am getting ready for my holiday and trying to feel okay wearing less clothing!

Thankyou all and I hope we find some solutions one day, there should be more being done about this as it’s so debilitating.

[EndoCoeliac_Woman in reply to TIAHRHIANNE1]

Hey!Is the swelling associated with pain and air? Or is only water?

I have endo and I was always swelled and in pain until I got surgery to remove adesions from my bowel. Then after 3 months of being well it started again. This time I was diagnosed with coeliac disease.

So my advice is to check if you have adesions with mri done in a specialist center for endo and get the antibodies test for coeliac disease.

Best of luck

[bunmum2]

I get bloating now at nearly 60 yrs, I had endo treated 10yrs ago, which helped but I find if I eat dairy products that makes the bloating much worse as does gluten/wheat containing products and numerous other foods that irritate my gut, I too have IBS and I had endo. spots on the bowel which weren't able to be treated. Buscapan helps.