Learning to Love My Body with Endo: Scars, Bloating, and All
When you live with endometriosis especially after three surgeries your body becomes a map of your journey. It tells stories of pain, resilience, and survival that only you fully understand. But if I’m honest, there was a long time when I didn’t see my body as beautiful. Instead, I saw scars, swelling, and a bloated belly that felt like a stranger looking back at me in the mirror.
Endo has changed my body in ways I never expected.
The scars from surgery, small but deeply significant, remind me of battles fought and sometimes won. The hormonal shifts bring days when I feel swollen and uncomfortable, a physical reminder that my body is still working hard every single day. And the bloating, it’s an unpredictable companion that can make me feel anything but normal.
For years, I carried negative narratives about my body, quietly, painfully comparing myself to images of what I thought I should look like. I hid my bloating under baggy clothes. I was embarrassed by the marks on my skin. I tried to shrink myself so I wouldn’t take up space.
But here’s what I’ve learned: my body is still beautiful. It’s strong and brave and worthy of love exactly as it is, scars, swelling, and all. My relationship with my body has shifted from frustration and shame to one of gratitude and respect. I’m learning to listen to it, nurture it, and celebrate the small wins on tough days.
This isn’t about pretending everything is perfect or that pain disappears. It’s about reclaiming a sense of pride in our bodies’ stories, recognising the strength beneath the surface and redefining beauty on our own terms.
What’s often overlooked is how much our bodies do, quietly, invisibly, to keep us moving through each day. The pain management, the hormonal balancing act, the tissue repair after surgery, the endless immune system battles, all while we keep trying to live our lives as normally as possible.
Our bodies carry more than just physical scars. They carry our stories of perseverance, courage, and adaptation. They remind us that beauty isn’t just skin deep, it’s the power, resilience, and love that our bodies hold, often without anyone else knowing.
Unlearning the shame and negativity we’ve internalised about our bodies is one of the hardest parts of living with endometriosis. Society’s narrow definitions of beauty can make us feel like we don’t measure up, especially on days when bloating or pain make us feel less than.
But self-compassion is the game-changer. It’s about speaking kindly to ourselves, acknowledging that our bodies are doing the best they can, and treating ourselves with the same kindness we’d offer a close friend. When I started practicing this, I noticed a slow but powerful shift, one where I began to celebrate my body’s resilience instead of criticising its imperfections.
Here are some practical ways I’ve learned to honour my body: wearing what feels good by ditching clothes that hide me and instead choosing soft, comfortable fabrics that feel like a hug; marking milestones by celebrating small wins like a pain-free day or a moment of feeling strong; practising body-positive self-talk by replacing “ugh, not again” with “thank you for trying your best today”; connecting with community because hearing others’ stories reminded me I’m not alone and inspired me to love my body’s journey; and mindful movement by doing gentle yoga or stretching that honours what my body needs rather than pushing it too hard.
If you’re reading this and struggling with your body image, know you are not alone. Your body, with all its marks and changes, is a warrior. It’s been through storms you couldn’t see, battles you didn’t choose, yet it keeps showing up.
You deserve to love yourself exactly as you are, bloated belly, scars, and all. Because those things aren’t imperfections. They are proof of your incredible strength and the beautiful, complicated story of you.
With love always,
Anna x
