Bloating – upper abdomen

[CitizenErased]

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all doing as well as possible.

I'm really struggling with bloating this week, but I can't tell if it's likely to be an endo thing or something else. For context, I'm still technically waiting for an official diagnosis. My MRI last summer showed endometriotic/fibrotic plaque in the POD, thickened uterosacral ligaments, and a nodule and adhesions between my uterus and colon. Although everyone on here said that was pretty much a diagnosis, the doc I saw at my follow-up a few weeks ago said he couldn't diagnose me just on that MRI because the things they found could be caused by previous surgery or STIs (even though I've never had either of those). He's going to discuss my case with a MDT and then I'll probably be put on the waiting list for surgery.

For the last week or so, I've been mega bloated through my whole abdomen, especially in the area between my belly button and diaphragm. It's so uncomfortable, and it hasn't been this bad since before I started the minipill last summer. I used to get really bloated around my period, but the pill has stopped my periods. So even though I'm not on my period, I'm really bloated and any time I eat, it gets worse (no matter what I eat and no matter how much peppermint tea I drink).

Is this likely to be bloating due to endo? Does anyone else get it in that mid/upper abdomen area? I had a colonoscopy last year that came back 100% normal, so I was cleared of anything like IBS or Crohn's.

Also, I'm starting a new job on Monday which will be reasonably active and working with kids, so I really need to be able to wear trousers, and right now, I can barely wear my PJs without them hurting me. Does anyone have a recommendation for smart trousers that will work with the bloating and not hurt to wear? I'm going shopping tomorrow, so any recommendations for shops (in the UK) would be really appreciated!

[Bethleah]

hi try m&s for trousers as they do or did jersey style pull on trousers so no buttons or zips and should be more comfortable. I get the bloating pretty much 24/7 but not found anything that helps yet. Some find peppermint tea helps. Others that it’s gluten or dairy. For me it’s everything including water. Good luck with new job.

[CitizenErased in reply to Bethleah]

Thank you! I've just seen online that M&S still do the jersey trousers, so I'll pop in there today.

I'm sorry you've not found anything that helps the bloating yet. I hope you find something eventually. It's horrid!

[EndoCoeliac_Woman]

Hi,Do you get any stomach acidity as well? Nausea?

In my case I was not on my period but super bloated until I found out I am diary intolerant. You'd say: you didn't realised it before? Well no because I didn't had diarrhea or cramping right after eating lactose. Was more a huge persistent inflammation.

Ps I'm also coeliac. So you might have your antibodies for gluten checked as well. Sometimes you don't realise it (I discovered it two years ago, symptoms were masked by endo).

[CitizenErased in reply to EndoCoeliac_Woman]

I don't think I get any acidity, but I do feel a bit nauseous sometimes. I do wonder whether it's just constant inflammation. I've never had issues with dairy/gluten before, but I know a lot of people with endo have that issue, so I might try avoiding them for a bit to see if that helps. Thank you!

[EndoCoeliac_Woman in reply to CitizenErased]

Unfortunately endo triggered my coeliac. And coeliac triggered endo. So the 'never had issues before' is not really something to hold to I'm afraid. For coeliac you can have a blood test. For diary just remove anything sources from milk (even lactose free options) for a week and you might see the difference already. In two weeks for me it was gone.