Struggling with food : Does anyone else... - Endometriosis UK

Endometriosis UK

70,132 members51,941 posts

Struggling with food

princessk09 profile image
11 Replies

Does anyone else have like a gluten and dairy intolerance and have endo?

I can’t eat anything without getting heartburn and idk if this could be linked to endo or not? It’s only started the last few months or so and it’s really annoying as I can’t enjoy food without suffering with heartburn

Written by
princessk09 profile image
princessk09
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
11 Replies
flossy24 profile image
flossy24

Hi princessk09

I suffer with this quite badly and mine too has only come on recently. Where is your endo if you don’t mind me asking?

Mine is on my bowel and I suffer terribly with certain foods. I now don’t tough dairy and everything is lacto free it took me a long time to realise this but I don’t ever deprive myself if I want something with dairy then I consider whether it’s worth the symptoms after!

I always carry rennies and find that they help. I also now get bad acid reflux when I drink. This damn disease literally takes all the fun bits of our lives!

Hope this helps!

princessk09 profile image
princessk09 in reply to flossy24

Hey, I haven’t been diagnosed yet but I have a lot of the symptoms of endo.

Everything I eat gives me heartburn and alcohol is the worse so I can’t drink now only on special occasions 🙄. Dairy and gluten sets it off the most as I ate some bread today and now I’m suffering with heartburn.

I go through rennies so quickly haha.

I’m thinking of just trying a smoothie diet and eat one meal a day as I’m really struggling with the pain of heartburn after every meal

abi16 profile image
abi16 in reply to flossy24

Hi was just reading your comment and I get really bad reflux when I drink alcohol with emeprozole and rennies having no effect what so ever!! Is this a sign of bowel endo??

I’m waiting for my laperoscopy and hysteroscopy appointment, I really think I have endo and have recently been diagnosed with PCOS.

could u please tell me some of your other symptoms?? This is the first time I have seen somebody comment saying they get reflux when they drink and I’m kind of relieved it’s not an anomalous symptom!

Thanks 🤗🤗

flossy24 profile image
flossy24 in reply to abi16

Hi Abi16 I’m not an expert so it’s difficult to say but here are my symptoms for comparison:

Fatigue

Constant nausea (I’m rarely sick but carry a plastic bag with me at all times!)

Severe bloating (pain alongside)

Pain when sitting down when ovulating

Pain after eating certain food

Either constipated or need the loo regularly

Blood in stools

Abdominal pain (worse when ovulating or having period)

Low mood (due to all of the above)

Anxiety and self esteem issues

It’s a tough old slog! Best advice is to see a dr who will get things moving. Don’t take no for answer, you know your body better than anyone and you know when things just aren’t right. Most drs are ill educated in these things and will put it down to ibs. It’s important we all persist and make endo known. I’ve just read that 176 million people worldwide suffer, that’s the size of the eight largest country in the world! I can’t understand why more isn’t being done about it!

Good luck and keep us updated on your journey xx

I cut out dairy and gluten and it helped a bit but the pain has come back recently so I'm going for a Lap on Friday to see what's going on!

Starry profile image
Starry

I developed GERD after my surgery. It can be caused by bloating which increases pressure on the oesophageal sphincter.

Dairy and Gluten are both quite inflammatory so contribute to bloating.

There is a clinical trial where Endo sufferers eliminated gluten from their diet and experienced a reduction in their symptoms ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/233...

It contains a substance called zonin which makes the gut more permeable and this can it appears contribute to auto immune issues ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/221...

medicalxpress.com/news/2017...

Painkillers particulary NSAIDs also can damage the stomach lining and trigger GERD.

Stress is also a significant cause factor contributor to GERD.

I am trying a fodmap diet that is gluten free and low sugar (feeds bad bacteria), also taking probiotics to try to boost good bacteria

Bethleah profile image
Bethleah

Hi. I’m gluten, wheat, yeast, egg and cows milk intolerant. Been off them since February but still not noticed any change in symptoms. I got heartburn and indigestion a lot, even drinking water. I found the meds we’re making it and other symptoms far worse. Progesterone pill, the hrt and zolodex. I’m off it all now but still struggle some and don’t get me started on the bloating. X

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply to Bethleah

Hey.

Im off all this food to, been 8 months for me.

I do take peppermint

Oil capsules to before eat. Plus a digestive enzyme and a good probiotic... it really helps ur body and the inflammation u carry.

Bethleah profile image
Bethleah in reply to Lulububs

Doing all that too but still hoping for improvement

JOSANDY40 profile image
JOSANDY40

Yes it appears so. I am, gluten, gluten effects from pips in tomatoes and fruit, lactose, mushrooms, soya cos of its oestrogen effect, bananas cos of histamine inflammation, oats. I took propump inhibitors for 4 yrs at that point I couldn't eat oranges. I also since taking steroids longterm for endo developed pancreatic issues. I now can not take any form of steroid for any illnesses. Food enzymes maybe helpful but firstly cutting out gluten, lactose and any hard sat fats cos there hard to digest. Eat plain food. Don't expect a quick fix as the glut takes time to heal. Take fennel tea, peppermint/oil . Sleep with several pillows. Drink water not coffee. It you burp a lot JUST a couple of mouth fulls of Pepsi or bicarbonate soda may change the stomach to stop the burps. I am not suggesting you drink these.

Hope this info helps you take control of your symptoms.

X

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs

I have had bad periods all my life ( am now 43) and about 2 years ago the pain got ridiculous, lay on floor crying cannot move pain. Fainting.

I noticed about same time i started getting trapped wind and indigestion. So i went to see a alergist / nutrionalist. I was told to give up gluten and dairy for 6 weeks and see how i went...

Oh my god! I was dubious... thought it was faddy but i have never felt better , it is now 8 months down line i have been totally gluten and dairy free and not only has it helped my ibs problems it has helped my period problems, it halved the pain, i can cope and get on with life, dont get me wrong it still period paint but just normal not im dying!!!

I went back to specialist and he said it coz all the food i was eating was inflammatory foods so it was just adding to pain and also bloating food(anything gluten or yeast is bloating food) .

I have lost 2 stone, added bonus!! I literally would never go back to eating that crap food now... not if u paid me...

Some tips...

Take a peppermint capsule before u eat

Take a good probiotic

Take a good digestive enzyme

Healthy gut=healthy body

You may also like...

Struggle cant eat solid food !!

of you have severe bowel transit due to endometriosis? At stage I cant eat solid food for last 8...

Really struggling today

I have a dull ache in my lower stomach (due period in a week if it’s on time), heartburn, vomiting...

Struggling with doctors

struggle with pain, if it’s really that bad we’ll keep you on the pill for a few years” even tho I...

Sorry for complaining so much but I’m struggling

couple of months the pain has been constantly there all month and not only when it’s my period....

Food problems

quick question. Does anyone else have endo and struggle with dairy and gluten foods. I had some milk