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

Posted by Seeking answers @bosnianbeauty, Jan 10, 2012

I have been having problems with my stomach for quite a while now.

My stomach is always round and bloated ,as if i am pregnant.
I have pain most days and have severe cramps and vaginal muscle cramps/contractions during my period. I also bleed a lot.

I eat healthy,take multivitamins and drink water and no sodas or fruit drinks just fruits and veggies. I know most people have flatter stomachs even those who don't eat as well as me.

I have done research and have come to some conclusions that could fit. I think i might have a uterine fibroid or cyst,something that is making my stomach big.
I also have ugly stretchmarks even though i have never been pregnant and am not pregnant,but at times it looks like it.
If anyone has anything similar or knows anything,i would really appreciate the feedback.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 17, 2020

Hi all, thought members in this discussion might like to know that Mayo Clinic Connect has opened up a brand new group dedicated to COVID-19, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/. The idea is to help members connect and cope during these unique circumstances.

You may follow the COVID-19 group by clicking on +Follow. Please look at the discussions there and participate, and you are welcome to start a new discussion on any COVID-19-related topic you'd like.

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averagejill | @averagejill | Apr 27, 2020

My stomach is always firm, and looks like I'm pregnant (or like I'm trying to distend it all the time). I'm 5'3" 115 lbs, and stomach has always been between 30 and 32.5 in regardless of time of day. I look back at old photos and as far as I can tell, it didn't look like this until maybe middle school - I was always petite, but around that time my stomach didn't seem to match the rest of me. My weight has varied at times, but my stomach always stays, and it's embarrassing when people have asked before if I'm pregnant. I'm in my late 20's now, and my diet and lifestyle is not the same as it was 10 years ago, but the stomach is still there (just to note as well, I've never been pregnant or had kids). I had a PAP Test about a year and a half ago now, but everything was normal. I just want to know why my stomach is always firm and looks bloated, and if there's anything I can do about it.

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1 reply
Profile picture for bill54321
bill54321 | @bill54321 | Apr 27, 2020
In reply to @averagejill "My stomach is always firm, and looks like I'm pregnant (or like I'm trying to distend..." + (show)
Profile picture for averagejill @averagejill

My stomach is always firm, and looks like I'm pregnant (or like I'm trying to distend it all the time). I'm 5'3" 115 lbs, and stomach has always been between 30 and 32.5 in regardless of time of day. I look back at old photos and as far as I can tell, it didn't look like this until maybe middle school - I was always petite, but around that time my stomach didn't seem to match the rest of me. My weight has varied at times, but my stomach always stays, and it's embarrassing when people have asked before if I'm pregnant. I'm in my late 20's now, and my diet and lifestyle is not the same as it was 10 years ago, but the stomach is still there (just to note as well, I've never been pregnant or had kids). I had a PAP Test about a year and a half ago now, but everything was normal. I just want to know why my stomach is always firm and looks bloated, and if there's anything I can do about it.

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Belly fat is Brown fat. Other fat is not. Other fat needs to be lost with food and exercise before Brown fat is challenged. Approach googling about this little known fact.

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1 reply
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bill54321 | @bill54321 | Apr 27, 2020
In reply to @bill54321 "Belly fat is Brown fat. Other fat is not. Other fat needs to be lost with..." + (show)
Profile picture for bill54321 @bill54321

Belly fat is Brown fat. Other fat is not. Other fat needs to be lost with food and exercise before Brown fat is challenged. Approach googling about this little known fact.

Jump to this post

Also, some organ growth, like the liver can contribute to a pop belly look.

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1 reply
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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 28, 2020
In reply to @bill54321 "Also, some organ growth, like the liver can contribute to a pop belly look." + (show)
Profile picture for bill54321 @bill54321

Also, some organ growth, like the liver can contribute to a pop belly look.

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@bill54321 I have heard that kidneys can become enlarged also and contribute to what appears to be a large belly.
@averagejill I presume your doctor has explored those possibilities, I suspect that when they run blood tests those things would show up in some of the findings to be out of range.
JK

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marjou | @marjou | May 20, 2020

When I had fibroids I also experienced lots of bleeding. Have you had ultra sound or laparoscopy done to see if/where fibroids are?
Fatty liver disease runs in my family (non alcoholic type) which does cause one's stomach to bulge out but can also be dealt with proper diagnosis and change in diet. These are a couple of thoughts.

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faithful55 | @faithful55 | Aug 19, 2020
In reply to @claytamos "Hello, the surgeon that did my Nissen fundoplication surgery promised he could help me. It help..." + (show)
Profile picture for claytamos @claytamos

Hello, the surgeon that did my Nissen fundoplication surgery promised he could help me. It help for a month and then all hell broke loose. I had the gas, bloating, lower abdominal pain, a cycle of constipation and diarrhea. I didn't just have lower bloating but also up high. About 6 months after surgery I had bad acid reflux again. Before the surgery I asked if it didn't work if it could be undone. I was told sure can. After all the side effects and going back to see him several times he said he wouldn't undo but he wanted to do more surgery. At this point I researched and found another doctor. I had my new surgery a little over a month ago and happy to say no bloating, just a little gas but the gas is more food based. Oh, and he undone the Nissen. I can't eat much over a cup of food at a time so I eat little things 5-6 times a day. The doctor says as time goes on, in about a year or 2 I'll start to eat more regular meals because my stomach will stretch. I haven't felt this good in so long. I still have healing pains in the muscle but that's it. The first surgery I went with another doctor's referral. The second time I did a ton of my own research and went with who felt was best for me. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck to you.

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Hi Claytamos,
I read your post and was wondering what exactly was the procedure that you had done and if there is a medical terminology for it. I had my Nissan reversal done last February and thought that this would alleviate some of the gas and constipation. The gas build up is not as severe as it was with the Nissan but the constipation remains the same. I had a surgical hernia repair done in June and thought that it may be causing the on going constipation and gas. It is 2 months later and the constipation and gas remains. I'm looking into acupuncture to see if that will help. I appreciate any info that you can give me. Thank you!

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donnacarp | @donnacarp | Oct 1, 2020
In reply to @htocco "Hello, I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of..." + (show)
Profile picture for htocco @htocco

Hello,
I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of the time. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy (both negative), have tried a low FODMAP diet for several weeks, with no change. I do take probiotics as well a ginger root and peppermint. I rarely have cramping, except after a bowel movement. After a BM, the distention is more severe for the entire day. My GI doctor is at a lost as to what to do now. It seems much of the GI field is mysterious, and, unfortunately there are no answers for many conditions, including this. Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Helen

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SAME. bloated almost all the time. Lately have had enormous amounts of gas and small poops. My mother was like this as long as I could remember and she died like this but she ate differently than I do. I have been following the FODMAP diet as best I can. My husband does the cooking and is so great but I noticed today that peas are a high FODMAP item and we have had them and I have eaten black eyed peas as well. I'll eliminate both. My sister has celiac so I act-as-if I do as well and treat myself as such.

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Profile picture for jackiem95
jackiem95 | @jackiem95 | Oct 1, 2020
In reply to @htocco "Hello, I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of..." + (show)
Profile picture for htocco @htocco

Hello,
I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of the time. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy (both negative), have tried a low FODMAP diet for several weeks, with no change. I do take probiotics as well a ginger root and peppermint. I rarely have cramping, except after a bowel movement. After a BM, the distention is more severe for the entire day. My GI doctor is at a lost as to what to do now. It seems much of the GI field is mysterious, and, unfortunately there are no answers for many conditions, including this. Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Helen

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Have you been tested for celiac?

REPLY
Profile picture for faithful55
faithful55 | @faithful55 | Oct 1, 2020
In reply to @htocco "Hello, I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of..." + (show)
Profile picture for htocco @htocco

Hello,
I have chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen and am very uncomfortable all of the time. I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy (both negative), have tried a low FODMAP diet for several weeks, with no change. I do take probiotics as well a ginger root and peppermint. I rarely have cramping, except after a bowel movement. After a BM, the distention is more severe for the entire day. My GI doctor is at a lost as to what to do now. It seems much of the GI field is mysterious, and, unfortunately there are no answers for many conditions, including this. Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms? Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Helen

Jump to this post

Yes, the doctor told me that celiac in not my problem.

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