Endo belly often happens before or during a menstrual period and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Endo belly is a visible symptom of endometriosis and often comes with other, less visible symptoms.
Unlike the short-term bloating that sometimes accompanies your period, endo belly is much more severe, triggering physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. While the severe bloating may subside after a few hours, it can also persist in a less severe form for days or even weeks.
Most people can find relief from endo belly. Dietary changes are a good place to start, but if you still experience symptoms after adjusting the way you eat, talk to your healthcare provider.
The ASRM classification system is divided into four stages or grades according to the number of lesions and depth of infiltration: minimal (Stage I), mild (Stage II), moderate (Stage III) and severe (Stage IV).
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease, which means that its symptoms may worsen when estrogen levels are higher. However, there is no evidence that this can cause weight gain. There is some evidence that when estrogen levels plummet, during menopause, for example, people often develop more fat in the abdomen.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Endo belly often happens before or during a menstrual period and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Endo belly is a visible symptom of endometriosis and often comes with other, less visible symptoms.
Stage IV: This is also known as severe endometriosis. With stage IV, deep implants and dense adhesions are present. There may be superficial endometriosis and filmy adhesions, but the disease is more widespread than in Stage III. Any score greater than 40 indicates severe endometriosis.
Endo belly typically gets worse as the day goes on. "Frequently, patients will be fine in the morning, and it will get bigger and bigger until the evening when they can't button their pants," Dr. Goldstein explained. "You can look six months pregnant by the end of the day."
Does having endometriosis make it harder to lose weight? Yes, many women with endometriosis struggle to lose weight with diet and exercise changes alone. However, the hormonal imbalance that contributes to endometriosis and the progesterone-based treatments can interfere with your body's ability to lose weight.
Endometriosis flare-ups can vary in length. For many, hormonal changes trigger flare-ups that occur during the menstrual cycle and can last a few days from the start to the end of menstruation. For others, other factors that cause increased inflammation and last up to several weeks can trigger flare-ups.
DeNoble shares the best endometriosis sleep positions to reduce pain and increase comfort: sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees to keep the spine in a neutral position, on your side with a pillow between your legs, and on your stomach with a pillow under your hips.
Stage 3 or moderate: There are many deep implants. You may also have small cysts on one or both ovaries, and thick bands of scar tissue called adhesions. Stage 4 or severe: This is the most widespread. You have many deep implants and thick adhesions.
Untreated endometriosis can cause significant pain, bloating, excess menstrual bleeding, and digestive distress. Over time, it can also affect a person's fertility. When endometriosis tissue grows outside the uterus, it can affect other organs — especially the ovaries and reproductive structures.
“Endo Belly” can be the result of endometriosis implants and may get better after surgical removal of the disease. Endometriosis implants, however, are not the only cause of “Endo Belly”.
Bloating can be an uncomfortable and painful symptom of endometriosis. Feeling bloated causes pain, which can have significant side effects of its own.
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem also can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem)
When it comes to endo belly, diet and gut health is an essential component to explore. The “endo diet” or an anti-inflammatory diet are regularly recommended to endo patients: These diets generally eliminate alcohol, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, red meat, preservatives, artificial sugars, and caffeine.
Many women describe this pain as violent and like physical damage because of its strength and severity, and common descriptions are stabbing or twisting pain. This pain can be so intense that many people find it incredibly debilitating.
Some women call the pain from endometriosis “killer cramps” because it can be severe enough to stop you in your tracks. For many, it gets worse as they get older. Other endometriosis symptoms include: Very long or heavy periods.