A woman has shared how she’s always mistaken for being pregnant by strangers who do not know that she is suffering from lifelong chronic constipation.
Franchesca Flack’s condition prevents her from sitting or walking properly as it causes pain.
The mother-of-one regularly experiences backache, pelvis pain, constipation, and intense discomfort.
The 35-year-old was previously told she probably had irritable bowel syndrome but she was then diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her mid-20s.
Her extreme bloating made her stomach ‘expand’ between her clothes, and her condition only continued to worsen.
“It has impacted my life in every way and I feel my confidence plummet every time I look in my wardrobe and try to decide what to wear,” Franchesca said.
“I don’t like my body because of the bloating and in any outfit, my eyes are instantly drawn to my stomach,” she continued.
“I have no body confidence left, which I’ve always struggled with it but it’s now at an all-time low.
“Often I prop a large bag in front of my tummy (when I’m out) to hide any bloat, and I feel paranoid that others are judging me – I feel ugly and insecure.
“I know I have health conditions, but I can’t seem to accept it and look at my body proudly.”
Even though doctors initially said that her bloating was related to her other medical conditions, the mother-of-one realized that something else was wrong after she gave birth to her daughter.
Only a day after giving birth to her daughter Mia in 2020, she was left in ‘unbearable pain.’
“I hadn’t emptied my bowels or passed wind in over in a week. I was sent back to hospital but my daughter needed feeding at the same time, so I had to (do this) while still being in unbearable pain.
In February this year, she had her gallbladder removed.
“I then realized I hadn’t been for a wee since that morning and the nurses became worried. I was in tears from the amount of pressure on my bladder,” she said.
“I felt extremely frustrated and angry at my body, as my constipation had now caused my bladder to stop working,” Franchesca continued.
A few weeks later, she went to a different hospital for a second opinion. That’s when doctors found out how serious the issue was.
“I finally feel like I’m on the right path to finding out the cause of my constipation and feeling confident in my appearance again,” she added.
“I’m determined to raise awareness for gut issues and break the stigma for those suffering from the physical and mental strain these conditions put on us.”
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