AIBU to feel self-conscious about bloating caused by IBS and endometriosis

[TheWildZebra]

AIBU for traction

I have IBS and endometriosis, and in the last 3 years or so, my bloating has been so bad. I was a size 8 in 2023 and now a size 12, but have barely put on weight. my colleague recently congratulated me because she thought I was pregnant. My bloat stands out particularly because I am very slim and tall, so bulges seem particularly obvious.

im feeling quite down about it - not my colleagues comment - but rather that I don’t know how to feel confident in this new body shape of mine? I don’t know how to dress in a a way that’s both physically and emotionally comfortable.

any other IBS ladies have advice on this? I HATE wearing dresses and I’m not a girly girl.

I’m similar OP although no longer very skinny, I’m a 12 but with big boobs which balance me out a bit, I hate those too though!

the bloat drives me mad, I really struggle to find trousers to wear as I grow over the day and can’t bear anything tight around my middle, I have a lot of elastic waist trousers but somehow they’re worse. Tights are worst of all. The more something digs in the more bloated I get. The most comfortable trousers I have are gym leggings with a really wide waistband. I have some from Amazon too which I really rate for comfort also, SINOPHANT. Not an ad btw! Otherwise I have to wear something longer to cover my middle and feel a bit frumpy.

i wish I had a solution but I'm in the same boat

Oh yes tights are the devil!!

thanks for the link - I’ll check them out. My very soft elastic yoga pants from H&M are my favourite comfies right now, plus I’ve also found the m&s basic soft elastic plain black/blue work trousers are good. Issue is no adjustable waist so sometimes they feel like they’re falling down before my bulge has popped out!

For me it was barley causing the bloat unfortunately its other side effects if I have too much caused IBS type side effects. Barley is unfortunately, in most products especially breads

Have you tried peplum tops and wrap tops that you can tie at the front so there’s something in front of the bulge but the top is fitted everywhere else? Otherwise, layering a jacket / cardi over the top in colder weather will add a layer of concealment.

I’m not a girly girly girl either but my staple is boots, snag tights, jersey dress and cardi or in the summer I swap to converse or Birkenstocks with footless tights / shorts underneath dress. Trousers wise I prefer jeggings or if I’m slopping about the house it’s joggers or my yoga band leggings as they had the crossover waistband at the front, regular leggings feel like they are cutting me in half