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

Hey everyone,

Maybe anyone has experienced something similar or has an idea of how to deal with it:

I cannot tolerate any foods containing moderate or high amounts of protein. This started roughly two years ago. Ever since I started having this protein intolerance, my stomach has been permanently bloated with a lot of gas and distension. With any meal and the more protein contained in the meal, the bloating increases. However, the stomach is also bloated when I wake up and does not even return to normal when I fast for a couple of days. Protein from animal sources leads to extreme bloating, so I entirely avoid food, fish, dairy etc. However, plant-based protein is not much less problematic. I can better digest amino acids from supplements, suggesting the breakdown of the proteins is not functioning well. However, tests have shown that there is no lack of enzymes.
The abdominal region is extremely tense. Osteopaths have described how there seems to be a “wall”, which you cannot move around smoothly as you usually should be able to.

I have also had lower back pain for many years. I only have back pain when I sit; walking and lying down is generally unproblematic. The pain is more to the left of the spine. It is not a shooting pain and neither seems to stem from an issue with a nerve or disk. Apart from a minimal scoliosis, the scans of the back did not reveal any diagnosis. It seems that the two issues of stomach and back are likely to be connected, as the back pain reduces when the stomach loosens to some extent.

The final symptom, for which in spite of numerous testing no cause has been identified, are swollen ankles that I have had since the age of around 13. Both ankles are swollen, however the right ankle is more swollen than the left ankle and swelling increases over the course of the day. When I wake up the ankles are swollen already though. Given that I am a 21-year-old male, the swollen ankles are a very unusual symptom – could this also be related to the stomach and back issues?

I would appreciate any advice or sharing of similar experiences!

I have similar case but i don't have stretch marks, I had a scan and was told i had fibroid though its still very small and doesn't disturb me from conceiving, but i realise my belly grows big and looks hard when i wake up in the morning. Am so confused and not comfortable with the big belly, i use to have a flat belly. Please what can i do to this?

@htocco

My current symptoms are VERY similar to your initial post. I sent you a PM. Maybe we can help each other. Hope you are well!

Hi,, I’ve had a fundoliption surgery seems like it has changed ..I had it 10 years ago... I get to full feeling and makes me sick...I’m ready to just stop eating.. and it also affects my breathing..cld it be from the fundoliption?? It feels like my food just sits at the top of my stomach..very miserable 😩

Hello, @ponmile - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am a ways beyond my belly moving from flat to not as flat, and I do remember the frustration. I do think it becomes much harder to maintain a flat tummy as the years go by.

I also had bloating in my abdomen when I experienced bladder prolapse, but that occurred in the evenings and I had to change to stretchy pants. I eventually had prolapse surgery, which helped this situation.

Hoping @mkhan1 @tigerarmani @detto @mri8191 and @baxtersmom may have some input for you related to the larger, harder tummy in the mornings.

Since you are having this sensation daily in the mornings, did you get a chance to ask your gynecologist or your general practitioner about what may be going on? Are you feeling that it's related to the uterine fibroid, or due to something else?

Has your Dr. done a sucrose breath test ? It was the last test and I discovered I had no enzymes activity at all for table sugar ,sucrose and thru elimination diets can't tolerate carbs. This caused constant pregnancy -like bloating. Just an idea.

Hi!!!!
So I had 3 c section! Last one in sept 2017!!!! These past 6 months and lately being the worst and almost everyone I meet they ask me if I’m pregnant again! I compared my belly with a friend who really is Pregnant and everyone sees the similarities!!!! I’m waiting for my referral to obgyn here in Canada to ask their advice!!!! I’m getting. So tired of people asking me if I’m pregnant again!!!!’ Oh I should mention my tubes are tied lol

Hi @motherof3 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I remember being asked if I was pregnant when I was not, maybe 6-8 weeks after giving birth to my oldest son. It's embarrassing and can make you feel insecure, for certain. I also asked a lady with whom I was doing nursery duty at church one time when she was due, sure she was at least 8 months along. She replied she wasn't pregnant!

I do see a lot of women, especially 35+, who look questionably pregnant.

Has this belly thing been a big change from how your figure was previously? Have you had any other symptoms?

Ma'am my stomach is swollen like I'm 5 mths pregnant I'm not constipated I took magnesm citrate ....last mth I had period for two days very very light ...I haven't had one this mth yet .I do have severe constipation..can u help

Hello, @resaluv37 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I would want to know what was going on if I looked 5 months pregnant and that was not the case.

One tool that may be helpful for you to get some direction is the Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptom-checker/select-symptom/itt-20009075

I was confused whether constipation was an issue for you currently? Besides some menstrual patterns that may be different than usual, do you have any other symptoms?