“So, even though I’ve dealt with endometriosis for years, I’d say in the last three to four years is when I really started educating myself to get relief without taking so many pain killers. I’ve learned so much about gut health - why it’s so important what you put in and on your body - because my daughter was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. When the pain is the worst, I use several essential oils on my lower belly and back with a hot compress over the oils. A good heating pad is a must, as are warm Epsom salt baths with essential oils. ![]() I eat a lot of inflammation-reducing foods during that time instead of giving into the chocolate or junk food cravings. I try my hardest to stick to an anti-inflammatory diet, but mainly cutting out gluten was a lifesaver for me. “I managed bloat over the years in several different ways and learned a lot about my body and what causes me more pain. Twice a month, it’s a struggle to help my children - ages four and two-and-a-half - with their daily needs. My symptoms happen during the peak of ovulation and the first two to three days of my period. ![]() “During the first three days of a cycle, I can’t move and am in so much pain, in addition to having a super heavy flow. Shutterstock / Jaclyn Ashley Epsom salt baths and essential oils I also see a pain management doctor every two to three months and found that to be very beneficial since I don’t want to become reliant on pain medications.” - Kai BP, 34 I keep notes on my diet and symptoms to discuss with my doctors during appointments. I have yet to find a miracle method to treat my flares and bloating - I just manage. I also drink ginger tea and increase water intake, but avoid dairy, fried foods, sweets and foods high in sodium. ![]() To manage, I take activated charcoal supplements to absorb gases in the belly, soak in hot baths using Epsom salt and use heating pads (both electrical and disposable). Education and connecting with other endo warriors has been the best medicine. Endo has exacerbated my anxiety and depression, but I do my best to push through with the help of antidepressants and therapy. Other days I lay out on the floor in pain and a cold sweat - dizzy, nauseated and experiencing numbness in my limbs. Some of my flare-ups are mild, while others have affected my ability to walk so much that I need crutches. It varies - some days it’s my food choices, while others it’s my alcohol consumption, physical activity or even stress. “I have yet to pinpoint what causes my flares. Shutterstock / iravgustin Activated charcoal and ginger tea Based on their recommendations, I’m anxiously awaiting an online package with some goodies to try out the next time bloating tries to get the best of me. Sharing information has changed the way I live with my own endometriosis and has empowered me with tools to manage this lifelong disease. We spoke with six other people with endometriosis about how endo bloat affects their lives, what they do to manage the pain and their go-to sources to reduce a flare up. ![]() Not only can I adjust my daily gut health routine in real time based on suggestions from fellow endo warriors, but I finally see myself reflected in their endo bloat selfies on social media. Finding real solutions in online communities has been a game-changer for me. I wish I had known years ago that there are preventative measures I can take to reduce endo bloat. When that happens, the last thing I want to wear is clothing that clings too closely to my midsection - because this otherwise silent health condition is responsible for making me look like I’m with child (a common refrain from endo sufferers). Even though I know my food triggers, it can be hard to turn down peanut butter M&Ms at the movie theater or Red-Vines to get through a deadline. It requires close monitoring, exercise and making serious dietary changes. And bloating has a knack for affecting intimacy in new relationships when your early morning “normal stomach” suddenly looks as though you’re carrying a bowling ball under your pajamas.įor me, endo bloat is extremely painful - stretching my skin to its limit - and oftentimes embarrassing. We can use makeup to mask our fatigue and a smile to hide excruciating pain, but a bloated abdomen demands to be seen unless you move north for the summer or opt to make muumuus a permanent fixture of your wardrobe (neither of which we recommend as real solutions, btw). Coincidentally, endometriosis bloat is the only visible symptom of this chronic illness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |