I have spent, without exaggeration, all of 2018 #bloated. I noticed it lingering in early January and here I am closing out the year with the same distended gut. I’ve spent the year in doctors offices (GI doctors, women’s health doctors, alternative medicine doctors, acupuncturists), getting tests and blood work done with no avail until October when a pelvic floor physical therapist informed me that my newly diagnosed #pelvicfloor issues were most likely related to my stomach pain and bloat. I later learned that all of these are common issues for people with a history of disordered eating.
•
Up until recently, I honestly was at a point where I was just like, “I guess this isn’t bloat anymore. I think I just gained weight in my stomach and this is what it is, even if it’s so uncomfortable.” But when I noticed my stomach settling down after my recent #pelvicfloorPT appointments, I felt hope again. Little by little (and I mean little), I’ve been feeling some progress.
•
•
I can’t express how hard it’s been as someone who struggles with poor #bodyimage to have to buy MORE new stretchy pants— post #EDrecovery. Or how hard it’s been to take long hiatuses from exercise because it’s too uncomfortable. Or how horrible it was when an old lady asked me at my best friends wedding if I was pregnant (when I had cried to my husband two nights before because I tried on my dress and I WAS worried I looked pregnant). This year has been really freaking painful for me; physically and emotionally. And I know it could have it so much worse, and I know my privileges afforded me good healthcare (that was mostly free from #weightstigma), and yet, I still can acknowledge that this journey has sucked.
•
•
So here I am on the second to last day of the year trying something new. My PT recommended I try #cupping on my stomach. I’ve gotten it on my back all month since the pelvic floor problems cause me back pain too, but I’m trying to see if this will help ~move~ things along. Onwards and *cup*wards. I will look back on this year as one that was spent entirely focused on #healing.
Leave a Reply