Looking back on my journey with endometriosis, there were a lot of signs that I missed early on. At the time, I just thought they were things I had to put up with, but in reality, they were early warnings of an underlying condition. I want to share these symptoms with you—not as medical advice, but as something from my personal experience. Hopefully, it will help you feel seen and remind you that what you’re going through shouldn’t just be dealt with. If any of this resonates with you, it might be worth exploring further with your healthcare provider.
Bloating (Endo Belly)
One of the first symptoms I experienced was extreme bloating, but I didn’t realise it was linked to endometriosis for years. Every time I ate something, or even just drank water, my stomach would swell up to the point where I looked about three months pregnant. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was painful.
The term “endo belly” wasn’t something I was familiar with back then, but it’s actually quite common for people with endometriosis. It took me a long time to figure out which foods were making it worse. For me, gluten, dairy, and high FODMAP foods were the main culprits. It wasn’t until after my surgery that I finally connected the dots and realised that the bloating had been a symptom of my endo all along.
Lower Back Pain
I’ve always dealt with back pain, but I didn’t think it was linked to my menstrual cycle until I started tracking it more closely. The pain was intense, especially during ovulation, before my period, and during my period itself. It was so bad at times that I couldn’t bend over properly, and I had nerve pain shooting down my legs. Even walking was painful. My back was constantly tight, and I didn’t realise that this, too, was part of my endo journey.
Bladder Changes
Frequent and urgent urination became a huge problem for me at one point. It got so bad that I ended up in hospital several times, and each time, I was misdiagnosed with a kidney infection. I was treated for that on three separate occasions, but the symptoms kept coming back—lower back pain, constant need to pee, and that urgent feeling all the time.
It wasn’t until later that I found out these bladder issues were actually related to my endometriosis. The endo was affecting my bladder, but I had no idea at the time. If you’re experiencing similar symptoms, it might be worth considering whether they could be connected to something like endo.
Fatigue
Fatigue was a massive part of my life, but I didn’t realise it was a symptom of something bigger. All throughout high school, I was constantly tired and would nap after school most days. But it reached its worst during university—I was sleeping 14-16 hours a day right before I finally got my diagnosis.
No matter what I did, I was always exhausted. I thought maybe it was just stress or being busy, but in reality, it was my body telling me something wasn’t right. Fatigue is such a common part of endometriosis, and if you feel like you’re always tired no matter how much rest you get, it’s worth paying attention to.
Can You Relate to Any of These?
These were some of the early signs that I didn’t recognise as symptoms of endometriosis until much later. If you’re experiencing similar things, don’t brush them off or feel like you just have to deal with them. Your body is trying to tell you something, and it’s important to listen. If any of this sounds familiar, it might be worth looking into whether endometriosis could be the cause. You deserve to feel heard and to find answers for what you’re going through.
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