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Has anyone experienced bloating?
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Apr 14, 2024 | Replies (55)Comment receiving replies
Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so in the mornings (because I have been lying flat?) but increases as the day goes on until I look pregnant by the evening. My normal (pre-bloating) waist measurement was 31ins but now it bloats up to a huge 38ins by every evening. My tummy feels progressively uncomfortable, bulk-wise, as the day goes on and yet I have lost around 4lbs and am not regaining it. I have no digestive problems as such, i.e. my bowels are normal for me, no excess gas or loose stools/constipation. My appetite is not too good though. None of my clothes fit - I now wear loose dresses or elasticated waist trousers - and I avoid going out where people can see me. I feel very down.
Initially, I tried Deflatine, Rennie, Buscopan, walking, stretching movements, eating more fibre, but nothing made any difference so after a couple of weeks I decided to see my GP; he is a new GP to me as I changed GPs back in May. At my appointment on 2 July he ordered a FIT test, FBC and an ultrasound scan, all of which came back negative. In my blood test results, I noted that my Red Blood Cell Count and Haematocrit are below the ‘normal’ range and that my Haemoglobin is only just above normal, but I don't know if this has any significance as my GP has not explained any of my results to me. I tried to get another appointment so that I could discuss my results and perhaps pursue other investigations, but I was triaged for an appointment that is not until 22 August.
I started taking Bio Kult a week or so ago and, whilst my tummy is still behaving the same, I feel a bit better in myself, less tired and a little more positive. I just want the 'old' me back, to be the way I used to look and feel before all this. When I first get up in the morning, my tummy is relatively flat, and I keep hoping that this is the day it won't bloat up, but it always does. More than anything, I want to know what is causing this and what I can do (or what can be done) to get things back to normal.
Replies to "Since 22 June 2025 I have had abdominal bloating every single day. It is less so..."
Have you done a food diary?
I also have terrible bloating and at night even my husband notices how bloated I am! I look pregnant and at 73 years old know that’s not it!! I start the morning ok and do intermittent fasting but as soon as I start eating for day my stomach gets bigger and bigger! I am Celiac and am very strict with my diet. Also eat no sugar or added salt. Despite a low calorie diet cannot lose weight. I work out regularly. and yes, doctors have no exclamation. I’m very regular so not constipated. Hopefully someone will have some ideas?
I always want to mention when long-term bloating comes up: rule out appendix or ovarian cancer. Both cause bloating and are treatable when found early. There's no one test... a CA-125 lab test is a place to start, though.
Hi dboesten - I have had an ultrasound, which included a TV one as my bladder apparently wasn't full enough despite following the fasting and drinking water instructions. It came back normal, although the report did say that the ovaries were occluded by bowel. I am concerned about this, as I have several cysts on one of my ovaries back in the 90s, plus I have lost weight and am not putting an ounce back on. I really want to ask my GP if he could order a CA-125 test or another type of scan to rule out ovarian cancer, especially as I had a squamous cell tumour removed from my face last autumn, but he is a new doctor to me as I changed GPs in April and the consultation about my bloating last month was my first visit to him.
Not sure if it will help. I started eliminating certain types of foods groups out of my diet, following the FODMAP diet plan. THE biggest help were nixing gluten, dairy, all types of beans, red meat and chewing gum, cough drops and products with xylitol. I have gastroparesis and IBS and the diet has been a great help.
So I also have problems with bloating. I am 79 years old and slim so I don't like to see my stomach out rather than flat. I had an SBO operation 8 months ago and am doing fine - no problems except for the bloating. So I saw my gastroenterologist who suggested I might have the following: diastasis recti (a result of the SBO operation). Naturally I looked it up and I think it makes sense for what I have. I hesitate to mention it as it really is only good for me - and I don't want to suggest that anyone else has it or may have it. But I was diagnosed with it and I am greatly relieved as it is annoying rather than worrying, It usually happens after pregnancy but can happen to other age groups as well (obviously!) Exercises help. So I would be interested to know if anyone else has had this. It may not be the only answer for me but it is a start and I was grateful to my gastroenterologist who took my bloating seriously.
Sympathize with everyone as I have terrible bloat and tried every drug, test, and 4 gastroenterologists who have not helped me at all with my “pregnant” stomach. Also tried multiple diets, and even dietician who stated it is of autoimmune nature who instructed me to take homeopathic supplements and drops which I faithfully did for eight weeks w/o success and she then could not offer any other assistance. So if anyone has successfully cured their “ pregnant” belly, please let me know. Thank you.
I understand how you feel. Gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach) can cause bloating. I was diagnosed with gastroparesis in 2018, I am always bloated. The diagnosis was made with a gastric emptying scan. There is no treatment or cure for this condition. I manage GP with my diet: eat small meals more frequently, avoid fats, carbonate drinks/caffeine, eat low fiber food because they delay gastric emptying. Maybe you want to make an appointment with the gastroenterologist to rule out digestive diseases. My gastroparesis is idiopathic (unknown etiology). It is a complicated and painful disease. Nausea, vomiting and weight loss are common. I wish you the best!!!
Thank you all. Have an appt with new Gastroenterologist next month, hopefully this dr will be diligent.
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I’m sorry you’re going through this problem, bloating is such a common issue but the causes are varied. It’s also normal to bloat later in the day or evening usually due to everything we have eaten and drank throughout the day. I realize that you know your body better than anyone else and having said that, if you think something has changed then getting it checked out is the best way to go. It might be something in your daily diet that is causing this problem, dairy products are a big cause also sodium which is in almost everything can also cause bloating due to water retention. Your doctor should rule out any other issues and perhaps refer you to a dietitian but it’s possibly caused by something else, given time I feel that you will get the answers you need to help you get better, best wishes.