Distended abdomen

Thank you, Rosemary, for the information. I am caregiver to my 90-year old father and manager of our home /cook/secretary etc. and do not have time for any journal. I always take an index card with me to the doctor’s. I think my problem is liver related because of my going to the bathroom at least 8 times in a 24-hour period which is unusual for me. I have no idea why my problem may be liver related, but I think I’ve eliminated everything else which could match my symptoms. I have read Mayo Clinic’s articles on liver issues. Take care.

@marthalucinda

Please do not take offense… All of this is written because I care and wish to understand so I might can offer you help.

I assume your trips to the bathroom is bowel movements.. correct? No matter… you have at least 8 opportunities to write in a journal or notes. You can make time no matter how busy your day is…. I know. .. been there done that. I had to make time to take care of me so I could take care of my mama… hard lesson to learn.

I was a caretaker of my 92 year old mother… along with my regular household duties, being a helpmate to my husband, and taking care of mama's dog. It all does take a lot of time. It is also very stressful. Even though it took a toll on my body to take care of my mama I don't regret it for a bit.

More than likely you have a digestive track disorder… maybe from, parasite, infection or bacteria, maybe stress, maybe from lack of not eating properly even though you are following a diet. I cannot eat much at a time and sometimes I forgot to eat enough often when taking care of my mama. As I lost weight I realized I had to take care of me better.

I had a note pad and jotted down… just a few sentences while in the bathroom, those very few minutes I had to myself in the morning, and before bed. You can make time for notes. Then take time to summarize your notes on the computer… I have an ipad and used the Note app. I print off two copies… one for me and one for my doctor… he kept taking my notes from my hands.. so this worked best for me. He wrote notes on his paper and I on mine. More than likely I would not be able to read his notes.

Sometimes when we eat .. especially as caretakers… we don't think about how we eat. You may be following the diet but are you eating properly? Are you taking small bites or big bites… are you chewing well before swallowing… are you using a straw which can cause you to swallow air are you drinking a lot of coffee or carbonated beverages… are you eating a lot of fibrous foods? There is a difference in high fiber and fibrous. Fibrous is stringy foods like celery, broccoli, greens and citrus fruits. These along with Raw fruits and vegetables can cause distention of the belly.

Other than reading articles about liver issues why do you think you have a liver problem? What other symptoms do you have? Have you had an endoscopy and colonoscopy? CT or MRI scan? Any other tests ??
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ZeeGe

I know you mean no offense. I thought this Mayo Clinic Connect was an outlet where people who have had similar symptoms share their results. I think I mentioned that I now know my problem is not digestive. And I go to the bathroom many times to urinate. Not to offend you, but I believe no one can suggest I have time to do what anyone else does and make a journal. That is something I will not do. I’m getting a lot of unsolicited advice from people on this blog. They do not know me or my body. Thank you for taking the time to help.

@marthalucinda

I am a plain speaker and I speak so to help you. Not to offend you.

I only told you what most medical articles tell you.. but elaborated a bit on it… Be Prepared for your doctor appointment. Write your symptoms down. .. what triggers them, makes them worse, makes them better. Write questions for your doctor. Those are the things that will help with your diagnosis. I tell everyone this… because it is extremely important. Be active in your health… make time to be healthy.

Many people here share some of your symptoms. I have had some of them, but None had anything to do with my liver.

I still do not know what test you've had that have lead you to believe it is your liver that is the problem nor which liver problem you think you have. Have you had blood test? CT scan? other tests of the liver or other parts of your body? With what results? Do you have jaundice? Do you have fatty liver?

I shared with you my experiences of being a caretaker. That it can take a toll on the body. You will forget things from being exhausted. .. so writing your symptoms down… which you have written very little of what they are here. So makes it hard to share similar symptoms when you don't know what all of yours are.

My grandma wondered most of her life why her “belly” (as she called it) was so big… she said she looked like she was pregnant. She was born in 1888 and died in 1972 of a bowel blockage. I too have had the big belly, but have lost it with all the abdominal surgeries I had and the change of eating habits.

The digestive system involves the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, esophagus, stomach and intestinal track. So you see it can be any of these. Female organs can also play a part in abdominal distention. The more you share the more people her can share.

Have you tried searching this site by using the spy glass 🔍 at the top of the page to search for other conversations that might help you?

I think I have shared all I can share from what little you have given us.

Best of Luck!
ZeeGee

I have been dealing with a distended abdomen and my left side has a big lump. It’s almost a year in 10 days I’ve been in & out of hospitals, my test come back that every result is good.
I’m 58 an I look like I’m having twins. Had gallbladder removed it was inflamed, I was told from a pic I sent to GI I have SIBO but I took meds and nothing is helping me I’m very upset my clothes i can’t wear an I don’t want anyone to see me and I haven’t eaten solid food since Nov.9th post op gallbladder removed I gained 8 pounds I’m carrying fluid but not 1 GI doc or Professors of GI knows what is wrong with me my life I don’t have one at all I been on all meds so many endoscopy, colonoscopy I’m so sad I can’t live like this anymore. No one knows how to help me and I haven’t been diagnosed in almost a year!

You might have developed adhesions from your gallbladder surgery

Thank you for the info I’m actually seeing another GI on Friday and I’m going to say that i wake up in a panic bc I have an appointment Friday and I don’t want to walk out with the same answers and I can’t have anymore CT scans for few months they have me so many that the contrast an radiation is so over kill on my body so I won’t be having them for awhile. I pray this new doctor wants to help me and get to the bottom of it Thx you for your hug 🫂

This is my distention it’s maybe 2 inches small since May 2022

Have you had a CT scan of the abdomen? Bloating can be an early sign of ovarian or pancreatic cancers.

Assuming those have been ruled out, have you been tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (E.P.I.)? Ask your gastroenterologist to do stool fat and fecal elastase testing. Hope you feel better soon!

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 !