Distended abdomen

Posted by laylaa @laylaa, Apr 11, 2020

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping you could help me with a problem I've been dealing with since a very early age, for as long as I can remember.
The problem is : I have a distended abdomen, really distended, it makes me look pregnant. The thing is, I always had this stomach, at fist when I was young I thought (as my mum told me) that it was a baby belly and it would go away, the problem is that it never did. I'm now 25 years old and always with the distended abdomen, though I'm not really fat (I do have minor weight fluctuations, but the stomach always stuck with me even when I underweight) , I also have a very active work, and I don't drive so usually I walk a lot during the day (present situation excluded) .
Usually ( around 90% of the time) I contract my stomach, and it looks flat, I do have some fat in it, it isn't top model flat but it is flat. For obvious reasons I cannot do it when I'm sleeping which is pretty much the only time I let go, or if I'm laying on my stomach. I've also discovered that if I'm standing and I try to let go and not contract my abdomen anymore I start to feel very dizzy very quickly, as if my heart beat got slower and the air couldn't get it. As an addition to that sometimes (I wouldn't say often but not rarely neither) I experience a shooting pain in the area around my ribs everytime I breathe, and more often that not I feel like air is getting properly to my lungs, when I take a deep breath specially.
I've already told doctors about this two symptoms ( except for the distended stomach which I know I should have ) but they've concluded I was too stressed out, although it is sometimes true, it isn't always the case.This is a big issue for me, and couldn't even talk about it with no one, I'm sincerely hoping to find answers here.
I think I shared all the important details with you, thank you for reading me and for your help.

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susanh824 | @susanh824 | May 10, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "I have been dealing with a distended abdomen and my left side has a big lump...." + (show)

Oh, I feel just terrible for all you have gone through! I wish I could think of another suggestion that could possibly be the answer you are looking for. I hope Mayo can help!

danwg | @danwg | May 11, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "Hi Susan I had so many CT scans that I can’t have anymore for awhile they..." + (show)

@phillybomber

Hi Susan I had so many CT scans that I can’t have anymore for awhile they said to much radiation is in me, I’m so frustrated bc my blood work I’m always flagged for my filteration on kidneys when they removed my gallbladder my surgeon couldn’t believe how inflamed my gallbladder was and I had lil stones but 1 was large and extremely inflamed, how bout in Sept 2022 had endoscopy and colonoscopy the surgeon tells me to follow up in two weeks they took biopsies of small large intestine no celiac no H- pylori and they gave me colonoscopy and said follow up in two weeks so I called the office manager answered an said you don’t need a follow up biopsies are all good I’ll have surgeon close your file, I was baffled so I’m getting worse my close friends from NY come get me take me to GI specialist and he says it’s SIBO but I’m so happy you did colonoscopy because your polyp was filled with all precancer I’m like no way so I went to the hospital where I had surgery and I went ballistic and my lawyer is all over them from the Chief of hospital to the doctors and the office manager she’s not an NP nothing but she wouldn’t give me a follow up an I’m so upset in 7 days it’s 1 year and I’m so sad and I can’t understand why no doctor even cares to look further into this. I am filled with fluid my post op appt for gallbladder see my surgeon I haven’t eaten solid food since Nov I’m on a medical meal pill VSL3 and I go to my appointment the surgeon removed an organ I haven’t eaten I was 129 lbs now I’m 147 I’m like idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ what is going on I seen every specialist for every organ and as I read people lose weight I gained it an I was athletic walked every day 8-10 miles to nothing all I do is cry i can’t believe that this medical system these specialists don’t want to dig deeper, I had stool samples blood test CT scan and I did learn if you have organs that are inflamed none of those test will show they are infected so right now I’m seeing a doctor on Friday i pray she listen to me or doesn’t say your test didn’t show anything I’m actually so scared bc that’s all that’s ever said. And I leave crying I only leave my home to go to hospital doctors I look like at 58 I’m 9 months pregnant with twins and a lump on my side that I have to lay on heating pad and on my left side. I don’t know what happened to me a week b4 I was in Fla for 4 months I was fine now my clothes don’t fit I can’t wear anything even sweats if they hit my abdomen I cut the waist bc it hurts and I can’t breathe. I’m praying 🙏 so much that this doc will help me if not I’m heading to Mayo !

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In sure hope this new doctor can figure this out, Nothing worse than GI problems, nothing.I still have two weeks until my Dr. appointment. I’ve had problems for about 10 years,but has been manageable. A severe flare up every four to six weeks, now it’s daily for the last four to six weeks(right after COVID),extreme stabbing pain in lower abdomen that eases after several bowel movements, now day long extreme bloating,making it hard to eat, I don’t know what is wrong, had a colonoscopy two years ago, and was told I have a significantly tourtous colon and it was a difficult colonoscopy. I can’t loose any more weight, I’m a 6 ft 58 year old man and weigh 140. Working is getting difficult, it’s physical work. I really do hope your situation improves, a little bit of hope goes a long way these days,Thanks for listening, I have no one who would understand, to talk about these things.

phillybomber | @phillybomber | May 11, 2023

In reply to @susanh824 "Oh, I feel just terrible for all you have gone through! I wish I could think..." + (show)

Thank you so much I just found out the doctor isn’t a doctor she’s an Advanced Nurse Practitioner
I need an advanced GI doc and in Philadelphia the next appointments available are 2024

susanh824 | @susanh824 | May 11, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "I have been dealing with a distended abdomen and my left side has a big lump...." + (show)

Don’t know how willing you are to travel, but Ohio State and The Cleveland Clinic are both highly rated. I think your doctor would have to do a referral to get you into OSU’s gastroenterology program. I got in fairly quickly. Good luck!

phillybomber | @phillybomber | May 11, 2023

In reply to @susanh824 "Don’t know how willing you are to travel, but Ohio State and The Cleveland Clinic are..." + (show)

Thank you so much I’m definitely going to discuss with him.
Thanks again Susan I appreciate your kindness.

phillybomber | @phillybomber | May 19, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "I have been dealing with a distended abdomen and my left side has a big lump...." + (show)

Well seen a new GI yesterday a woman and I asked about my distended abdomen and she examined me seen how I couldn’t breathe bc my ribs are pushing against my diaphragm and she said I can be like that 4 rest of my life and at times there are no answers and seen how my body is full of fluid she didn’t care So I said maybe I have adhesion or Ascites I would really like to start all over again bc I’m still not diagnosed and 5/17/23 was 1 yr and it hasn’t went down, had my gallbladder out on 12/23/22 and I said my clothes I can’t wear I started crying so she suggested I see a therapist and her assistant told me to go shopping it may make me feel better if I by bigger size. I was caught off guard bc I’m known for my mouth I go right back at anyone, I’m extremely upset I cried at middle of appt drive home and all last night and i truly don’t know what nxt move is. So I truly hope it was going to be a great visit and she was willing to help me but she said no. I said I know you can scope me take fluid from small/ large intestines and see what is going on but she wasn’t willing to take it on. I didn’t know or if it is true a distention can stay forever and at 58 I look 6 months pregnant and my answer was buy bigger size clothing

parrot53 | @parrot53 | May 20, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "Well seen a new GI yesterday a woman and I asked about my distended abdomen and..." + (show)

So sorry to hear you got such an unsatisfactory answer. I suggest you see a hepatologist. Have you had your blood tested for liver function? Best of luck to you.

pat23 | @pat23 | May 20, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "Well seen a new GI yesterday a woman and I asked about my distended abdomen and..." + (show)

I am 71 years old and have had the same problem, a distended abdomen. I have also been told to lose weight and exercise. I have been told I have Irritable Bowel symptoms so I take extra fiber supplements. I did have a Nissen Fundoplication procedure done in 2018 and have considered that possibly my distended abdomen began after that procedure, but who knows. My daughter who is 38 has had the same issue for several years. She also has gastro issues and distended abdomen. Her liver and pancreas are mildly inflamed. Currently she is seeing only her Internal Medicine physician for this issue. They have been quick to do lots of testing, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays, blood work. Still waiting on all of the results. Thankfully, my daughter's doctor is aggressively trying to find the problem and treat it. I am saying all of this because I understand your frustration, embarrassment, and weariness that no one seems to be helping you get answers to your issue. You are not alone.

llcc8800 | @llcc8800 | May 20, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "Well seen a new GI yesterday a woman and I asked about my distended abdomen and..." + (show)

Hi! I’m so sorry that you’re suffering right now. I’m wondering if you have adhesions that have developed from your previous gallbladder surgery. I have had 10 abdominal and pelvic surgeries and I’m so full of adhesions and in constant pain. My abdomen also becomes super distended pretty much all the time and I look like 6 months pregnant. It’s awful. Adhesions are generally only seen during surgery and surgery is also what causes them so it sucks. I’m really sorry. Adhesions are awful

harper7745 | @harper7745 | May 21, 2023

In reply to @phillybomber "Well seen a new GI yesterday a woman and I asked about my distended abdomen and..." + (show)

I have had a distended abdomen for years. My CT scans show a fatty liver. Don't know if that's the cause or not. My liver function bloodwork is normal. I don't have any pain, so I just live with a big abdomen. Doctor doesn't know if it's from fatty liver or not. Louise Harper

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