I'm Not Pregnant!?

My belly was the size of a balloon before surgery fixed it...

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes focused on my belly.

Bloated again.

It had ballooned, was solid as a rock and as painful as always.

I’d suffered with bowel complications since birth.

I was often constipated and in a lot of pain.

By the time I was 4, I’d had two surgeries to try to strengthen my bowel muscles.

But nothing had worked and, over the years, I’d become used to the excruciating pain.

I rarely left the house. I was too frightened I’d get painful stomach cramps and have to dash to the loo.

If I did go out I wouldn’t eat or I’d starve myself beforehand.

That way, I won’t need to go to the toilet, I told myself.

I always covered up under baggy clothes, feeling self-conscious of my bloated tum.

And it was common for people to think I was pregnant.

‘When are you due?’ strangers would ask me.

Inside, I’d be dying with embarrassment.

‘Never – I’m not pregnant,’ I’d say, trying to laugh it off.