My stomach is round and bloated, and it makes me look pregnant

I'm going to try to find the one with coconut milk. I haven't seen them in our local supermarkets. I think I'm probably going to try to avoid gluten. What can you eat though? I'm already on a low residue diet. Thanks for the tips. Elaine

Thanks for your reply. I haven't found anything yet. It seems like the only thing I can tolerate is Boost. Elaine

@jenniferhunter I definitely do not have a gluten problem. I know something beyond lactose is bothering me, or perhaps I am eating something that has lactose hiding in it, although I do not eat many things where that could be possible.

I LOVE ice cream but somehow, I can do without it. My daughter and her husband love ice cream so I always have some in the house when they visit but I never even think of eating it when they are not here. When they are here I will take one spoonful of it when they are eating it. If I do get a craving though I will look for So Delicious. I am using a non-dairy creamer now that has coconut milk in it, Califia, and it's OK -- I would still prefer real half and half.
JK

Hello @overlyanxious and welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm glad that you have posted about your concerns. Getting your concerns out in the open is a good way to find answers. As you know on Mayo Connect, we cannot make diagnoses, we can only share from our own personal experiences. I hope that others with this type of problem will join in this discussion.

Just wondering about a few things. As you are comfortable sharing about yourself, please let us know a bit more about this problem.

For example, have you ever discussed this protrusion with a doctor? How much of a protrusion is it (if you were to use a tape measure around your stomach what would the measurement be)? Do you have any digestive issues, such as problems eating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, any discomfort or pain? Any problems with your periods? Does it get worse at any particular time of the day? Do you take any medications for other health problems? Has anyone else in your family had a problem like this?

Answering these questions will help you have a beneficial conversation with your doctor when you next see him or her.

Will you give this some thought?

Ever since I was in about middle school, I’ve had a round stomach, slightly hard stomach. I used to be a dancer so I always had my stomach muscles working, which hid it. I always thought that I was just fat. But even now, even though I am at a perfectly healthy weight and body fat percentage, if I completely relax my stomach muscles, my stomach protrudes in a way that makes me look pregnant. If my stomach muscles are engaged, even just slightly, then it looks normal. I am currently 22, and I’ve always had this. Is this normal? Is this something to worry about? I wish it would go away, but no matter how much weight I lose it’s always the same.

Hello @overlyanxious,

I’d also like to add my welcome, and let you know that I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion. I did this as I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who are discussing much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Hi! Thank you 🙂
I don’t really get neaseaous or anything weird during my period, but I have had a sensitive stomach since childhood (used to be worse, a little better now), meaning that I randomly get really horrible pain in my stomach and bowl area. I thought about the possibility about it being an allergic reaction, but whenever it happens, I make a mental note of what I’ve eaten, and I don’t see any consistencies in that area...
This stomach pain usually lasts about 2 hours, during which the pain comes and subsided in waves, and leaves me very physically drained and exhausted afterwards. I usually heat up during these two hours as well (not to the point of fever though).
I haven’t noticed any particular time of day, but usually it happens an hour or so after I’ve eaten a meal. No one else in my family has this to my knowledge.
I haven’t mentioned it to a doctor yet. I never thought it was that strange until recently. And going to the doctor where I live is expensive, so I just want to gauge the seriousness based on other people’s opinions and experiences before committing economically.

Thank you for providing a little background regarding the history of your symptoms, @overlyanxious. I realized that you are anxious about the expense of doctor's visits and this is very understandable. Have you read some of the other posts in this discussion to see what others have said about their stomach bloating?

I see that you have made a mental note of what you have eaten, etc. Perhaps a written journal regarding the pain (how long it lasts, etc.) combined with the food you have eaten as well as any physical activity or stressful experience might be a good idea as well. This will help you get a better handle on the problem and when you make a doctor's appointment it will also provide more concrete information to provide the doctor.

While I cannot speak for you, I really feel that the best way to deal with anxiety about health problems is to do research (like you are doing now) and then to visit a doctor and explain the problem. Your problem could be something simple like gluten sensitivity but in order to resolve your anxiety, you need to have it checked out by a medical professional.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post an update?

@hopeful33250 Hi don't know where to post this Heard on news today Oprah @prince Harry have teamed up to do a documentary on Mental Health she has a book Facing fears and lessons she has learned sounds interesting

I have only been drinking Boost for the past month. I am still having gas, bloating and distention. My meds are keeping diarrhea in check except for numerous semi-formed BMs. I will check out the link you sent me. Thank you so much for your help. May God bless you for your kindness and concern. Elaine