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Trying to find an answer: abdomen badly extended and short of breath
A little background. After a DIEP after breast cancer my abdomen has been extended so badly that it makes it hard to breathe and I am short of breath. Some days not as bad as others, but the feeling of being full without eating, swollen stomach all day, and pain on my left side under or just near the rib cage. I eat low FODMAP, gluten free, vegetarian, no fried food, or any kind of alcoholic drink (really hurts if I do) and still have this problem for years. Now the DIEP may or may not be related but it seems it started after that. Have had all the GI test and told everything is fine- but it is not! The only thing they say is a slight fatty liver. I can only eat one meal a day because I am so uncomfortable after I eat, and my belly makes it uncomfortable to sit so I recline, but retain extra weight regardless, and feel like I am carrying around a baby inside. So so frustrating. I hear IBS or other common things but with the restrictions on my diet and no change it has to be something else that they are not thinking about .
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I went through a period of this for a bit over a year and it spontaneously resolved. But I showed a doctor the size of it and he rushed me to my primary so fast I went from one office to the next. Turns out he was concerned about cervical cancer. I didn't have it but I never knew that was a symptom and am just passing that knowledge to you. I've had small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and that caused upper abdominal bloating, gas and a sour stomach. That is hard to test for and my GI just prescribes the antibiotic Xifaxin and I'll know in a couple days if its working because I get so much relief. I also read an interesting article about bloating so I saved it and will link it here. It's whole new take on bloating. I know how bad bloating can be. I had to buy all new pants and anything tight was intolerable. I'm very sorry you struggle with it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/04/07/bloating-causes-remedies/
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3 ReactionsHi KKasey,
I'm so sorry you are having such problems! That must be very uncomfortable! I have a home remedy that is good for constipation but also good for getting rid of gas on your stomach that you may want to try. Also it's natural. I'm 79 and have used this remedy ever since I was a child when my mother gave it to me. It's a teaspoon or more if needed, of baking soda (the kind you cook with – Arm and Hammer) dissolved in a glass of water. Drink the whole glass. You may want to squeeze a little lemon juice in it to make it taste better. It tastes awful, but it works. Stay near the bathroom. It works fairly fast. This also helps get rid of gas and bloating. After it works, try and drink a lot of water to keep from being dehydrated. Drinking a lot of water also helps our bodies in other ways that are good for them.
Another thing you might do is read the side effects of all of your medications and over the counter supplements. They may be causing some of your problems.
Have you considered seeing a new doctor?
Also pray. Just talk to God like he's your best friend and he is! He made you and he can fix you!
I'll say a prayer for you too.
PML
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2 ReactionsHi @kkasey
You mention fatty liver and a swollen abdomen. I found this link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
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1 Reaction@kkasey
You mention you have had all GI tests. I am assuming this means bloodwork, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal and pelvis MRI, endoscopy and colonoscopy, HYDA scan of gallbladder function, etc.? Did you show fluid retention or inflammation in your bloodwork? What has your gastroenterologist said about your bloating and pressure in your abdomen? Have your heart/lungs been checked?
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1 Reaction@kkasey
Have you seen a gynecologist for testing and transvaginal ultrasound? Have you had a follow up with your doctors after your breast cancer treatment? Could the treatment have affected your nerves impacting organs in your abdomen?
@kkasey
I found these links:
1. https://www.lbbc.org/about-breast-cancer/treatments/breast-reconstruction/tissue-reconstruction/diep-flap
2. https://www.diepflap.com/blog/recovery-after-diep-flap-surgery-what-to-expect
3. https://www.diepflap.com/blog/diep-flap-recovery-what-you-can-expect
4. https://patientinfolibrary.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/document/download/1320
5. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/corrective-reconstruction/hernia
6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-reconstruction-flap/about/pac-20384937
7. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/possible-problems
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1 ReactionThank you for the information. I had the SIBO breath test and it was normal. I will read the article and appreciate your time.
Read the article. Thank you. Other than shortness of breath I fortunately do not have the other symptoms. Appreciate you taking the time to reply.
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1 ReactionI have had all that done and the end result is “well it might be just food allergies.” I am a vegetarian- on a low FODMAP diet, gluten free diet, no fried foods or alcohol- and find eating raw vegetables like a salad even too hard on my stomach. But I will ask about the fluid - she did not say anything about that. To be honest I gave up on the doctors and trying to find the answers myself because all these test and still no answers.
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1 ReactionThank you for your reply - very much appreciate it!