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Distended abdomen
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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@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.
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2 ReactionsDoctors 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.
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3 ReactionsI 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.
@ rashida mine is on my left exactly same spot as you say yours is, I have to lay on my left side on heating pad 24/7 an I don’t have major pain but I have like one doctor said it’s called a nulling pain, I said it’s like someone with there thumb is constantly pressing on it, but in all actuality 1 year not 1 doctor cares about this oblong lump at first there was 3 now I’m down to 1 only break I’ve had in one year. Last summer I couldn’t leave my house I was so distended and so sick and I swore after my gallbladder surgery in December I was going to be back to myself, lastnight I felt so sick and I felt so sad I cried myself to sleep just trying to think why did this happen, why doesn’t any doctor truly care Oh that’s another issue doctors always say to me well you went to all specialist so there like try them out again. I’m so so sad I don’t know what my next move is.
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2 ReactionsYes I did see kidney disease, Rhumotologist, Urologist
Cardiologist
3 Gastro docs and my test results come out good but since May 17th 2022 I have been flagged/ Abnormal High/ Low on every blood test stool test MRE OF MY INTESTINES and what I noticed I seen a Professor @ Temple Digestive Disease Center Dr.Parkman from Philadelphia and he has written books and is very knowledgeable an he is part of Mayo Clinic in Florida. Every GI Doc that sees his name they say PARKMAN ??? I say yes it took me 6 months to get appt, my first time was in January and he said I want to see you in May but since Jan he was booked till 2024 but I’m on the PRIORITY CANCELLATION LIST , So they say an I haven’t got a call yet. He said I have SIBO but I haven’t had a test to confirm that or Gastroparisis I been waiting to take that test also so I’m distended, my ribs are pushing against my diaphragm and I can’t breathe but in Philadelphia every GI doc/ specialist doesn’t care at all. The medical system is absolutely awful and disgusting totally not acceptable to me.
All I know I can not get anymore CT scan with contrast bc I have to much radiation in me. I said OH GREAT NOW I HAVE RADIATION IN ME ANOTHER PROBLEM.
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2 ReactionsThere are many good gluten free breads, pasta and crackers in the market.
For bread; Udi’s, Canyon, both come in a couple of flavors and different whole grains and taste great
Crackers: Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers, come in a variety of flavors
Pasta: I buy pasta made in Italy, brand I love is RAO’S.
Chips: SIETE, grain free, made with Cassava Flour.
You’ll be amazed how far along gluten free products have come. Years ago they tasted like cardboard. Just take the time and pursue the aisles. You will find ones you enjoy and not feel deprived of foods you love.
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4 Reactionsphillybomber I hear you! I have been asking for an MRI since a CT scan showed “nothing of concern” but I am in Canada where you only get tests and procedures approved by the government health plan, and since my CT is clear, “an MRI is not necessary”. I cannot afford any out of pocket tests.
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1 ReactionThank you so much for the very helpful suggestions! I'm finishing off my 2 leaves of bread in the freezer, crackers and ww pasta. If the bloating is reduced, I will try to use this opportunity to replace such processed foods with gluten free grains and root vegetables -
brown rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, etc.
Wish me luck.
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2 ReactionsJust 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 do wish you the best. It takes time and being consistent to see results.