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.

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.

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

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

@phillybomber I can relate to your problem and feel as frustrated as you at doctors’ insensitivity. I too have had a distended abdomen for many years, and dismissed by every doctor and specialist I have seen, but my distension is in my right side, just above my hip. I have no waist to speak of, so this bulge sits between my rib and hip, on my right side. No doctor can explain what is causing this and each doctor has just waved me away. It looks and feels like a hernia without pain, though sometimes it does feel uncomfortable. This bulge seems to get bigger toward the end of the day.

Doctors who dismiss any of you are heartless. We tend to put doctors on pedestals. They are just humans who may not always come to work as their best selves plus maybe they weren’t the A+ students.
A friend of mine had a distended abdomen. There’s a book called Gluten Belly. She omitted gluten gluten and gradually lost her belly. My doctor spoke in length how bad gluten is for everyone.
There’s a great article about wheat that compares US wheat products to European wheat. There’s red wheat and white wheat. I’m gluten intolerant but when I go to Europe, I eat everything without consequence. Europeans who visit the US complain about stomach issues. Here’s the article:
European Wheat vs. American Wheat: What’s the Gut’s Reading? by Pedram Shojai.
Best to all of you. The answers are not easy to find but don’t give up.

I see many people here share your situation and I am one of them. You have my sympathy and share your frustration.

Each Kaiser doctor has their own take on my distended belly - or simply changes the subject when I ask for help.

The gastroenterologist says an x-ray showed feces in my colon which means constipation which means I should take Motegrity. I think this is very unlikely as I understand a high fiber diet (like mine) with constant passage of feces through the colon is often misdiagnosed as "constipation". My internist says I should see a functional doctor - out of plan and out of my financial reach. The pulmonologist says it could be my intestines that are forced up and out due to my severe kyphosis from multiple spinal compression fractures that has me very bent over.

On my own, I have gone to thrift stores for larger size blouses and used decorative scarves in a attempt to disguise my misshapen body so I am less embarrassed when I am outside. Issues you didn't mention were pain - good you don't have it other than the pain of having your body change in an undesired way.

Also a persistent yeast infection caused by the distension creating a warm, moist home under my breast barely reduce by 2/day Nystatin powder.

I plan to try eliminating the gluten in my diet to see what effect it has - challenging for a ww bread, cracker and pasta eater. Also, I may ask for a second GI opinion. Your description of your situation has helped me focus on my own distended belly, unfortunately mostly ignored due to my other health issues.

Just my experience…I had extreme bloating. I also have Sjogerns syndrome and because of that I went on the autoimmune protocol diet. It’s very restrictive, NO grains, seeds, nuts, nightshades….BUT it helped with the Sjogerns pain and my bloating went away.

I had similar issues with bloating and found help from a Functional Medicine practitioner. She advised me on diet restrictions. Most likely your problem is not actually your intestines - but it's how your body is handling what you eat. It's not easy but definitely worth the effort!