EndoBelly- bloated, tight tummy: causes and solutions

The symptoms of endometriosis are usually associated with pain and infertility. These are probably the most predominant complaints, but there are also many other little things to contend with if you have the disease, and the persistence of these problems can make your daily life miserable.

In this article I would like to share with you simple ways to avoid one of these symptoms - indigestion. Endometriosis itself is often associated with bowel problems, especially if the intestines may be affected, but constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, painful or urgent bowel movements can occur even without the intestines being affected.

However, it is often a challenge for the body to start a drastic lifestyle change or diet overnight, to stop eating the foods we are used to and suddenly our body has to get used to a completely new regime. Abdominal surgery, even if it is "only" a laparoscopy, is very disruptive to the natural processes of digestion, and it takes a long time for the body to recover from the trauma it has been through.

What exactly is it about? More than likely you have experienced one or more of the following symptoms yourself:

-belly bloating

-feeling of tension

-discomfort after eating, often pain

-stools or, on the contrary, frequent diarrhoea

-wind cramps

Bloating is not just an unpleasant sensation, it also affects our appearance and therefore our self-confidence. Before you turn to medication again, try these simple home remedies!

1.  Eat dark green vegetables such as broccoli or spinach! They have a really good effect on digestion thanks to their high magnesium content.
2.  Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it! I know, it sounds horrible, but it's worth a try, this recipe has been used for generations to help with this kind of problem.
3.  Many fruits, but most of all: pineapple! This deliciously sweet fruit is nearly eighty-five percent water, and it also contains bromelain, which helps break down protein, is good for digestion, is an effective remedy for heartburn and fights almost all digestive problems.
4.  Herbs to try include cumin and fennel. Fennel is high in calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and manganese.
5.  Tea: also fennel, and peppermint! You can sip it between meals, it's really tasty, and it also helps you process the food you've eaten, cleansing and soothing the stomach. You can also find tea blends in drugstores that are specially formulated to relieve bloating.

What you should avoid:

• foods with a bloating effect,
• dairy products,
• and excessive salt consumption
• lack of exercise
• carbonated drinks

If you have bloating and a tight stomach, the worst thing you can do is to lie down and not move: go for a walk, exercise, stretch, do the EndoYoga programme for digestive problems (You can find it in the study room) 

You can buy over-the-counter decongestants (Espumisan, Meteospasmyl, etc.), which may help a little but will not solve the problem, because in the case of endobelly it is not just gas and air, but also swelling of the tissue due to inflammation and water retention.

For this reason, it is important to massage very very gently, clockwise, in small and then larger circles, rather just stroking your belly from your navel upwards.

For water retention, you can drink nettle tea.

Don't cut back on your fluid intake, drink plenty of water!

Eating a diet rich in fibre and drinking plenty of fluids is the best recipe for constipation! You can also include dried plum juice, available in pharmacies and organic shops, in your endometriosis diet, it's delicious and effective:-)

A few prunes before going to bed can also be good. With laxatives, you may be more addicted than you think, the aim is to help your body in a natural way.

After surgery, you may need to use it once in the hospital to get your bowels going, but try to avoid using it at home.

You can stimulate your tummy during bloating with the tiny, little Tens device, which relieves pain and, in your experience, also helps to reduce bloating.

On diarrhea night, it's harder, because bitter chocolate is also chocolate, so it's out... Bananas are still there, and you can eat one - one with any endo diet.

It is best to avoid "spicy" foods for a few days. Take charcoal tablets or an intestinal disinfectant only if you suspect an infectious cause, otherwise they are not needed.

Pre- and probiotics, which are now over-emphasised, are always a good service.

I hope you found some useful tips in my summary!

If you are interested in more information on this topic, I highly recommend you read brand new Enometriosis (not even) Diet Megabox, our new EndoBoz, now available with a discount and a free book!