Abdominal Pain Forum - Severely bloated abdomen

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Abdominal pain and bellyaches are common. Though most cases of abdominal pain aren't serious, sometimes you will need to see a doctor. We’ll review some of...

Q: Severely bloated abdomen

asked by: Dor102 on May 7th, 2008

New User

I am a 56yr old woman, usually fit and healthy, very active outdoors, healthy diet, 169cm and very slim.

For almost 7 years I have experienced:-

Slightly bloated abdomen, especially noticeable towards late afternoon

Very tired/exhausted immediately after eating. (what I ate made no difference)

Occasional indigestion, and gnawing feeling under ribs. (endoscopy showed “mild stomach inflammation”)

Bowels normal

3 years ago above symptoms more noticeable and intrusive.

Abdomen swollen earlier in the day now and increasingly noticeable.

Felt hot and flushed around late afternoon when stomach more swollen.

No indigestion, heartburn etc now.

Breathlessness (increasing) when abdomen swollen.

Mild headaches

Becoming increasingly tired/exhausted.

Past 12 months – above symptoms have become very uncomfortable and impacted severely on my quality of life.

Abdomen bloating so uncomfortable – feels so heavy, and as though it will burst at times!

Clothes I wore 12 months ago no longer fit, and yet I have lost weight.

Burp often (but little wind)

Tired/exhausted, burnt-out feeling constant now.

What I eat doesn’t make any difference: Low fibre, low irritant diet and gluten free diet made no difference.

Stomach/Abdomen can swell up in a few seconds! Stomach feels “full” all the time. It swells also as I eat/drink.

[At times it feels as though I’m being strangled at the waist, and kicked in the stomach at the same time.]

Extremely tired after eating and more breathless now – stomach/abdomen now takes up ‘all the room’, puts pressure on other organs, and feels so heavy.

But, the bloating is not constant and still (usually) wake up with only a slightly bloated abdomen - after a glass of water/cup of tea it expands! And when I walk with just this fluid you can hear it (like a hot water bottle).
Nothing gives relief.
I have seen several GP’s, and 3 gastroenterologists.
It’s not cancer.
No ulcer.
No helicobactor pylar
Not coeliacs disease.
Not fructose intolerance
Not lactose intolerance

I have had:-

Endoscopy (2)(showed mild gastritis, stomach inflammation)
CT Scan of Abdomen – Normal though liver slightly enlarged)
Ultrasound
Barium Meal (small bowel studies)
Gastrogaften
Bloodtests

Pescribed: Gaviscon, Mintec, Nexim, Np7, Simethicone, Carafate, Zantac, Pariet, Flagyl, Motillium
none of these gave any relief – they were either useless or aggravated the condition/symptoms.

GP’s and specialists just “don’t know” and apply the term IBS to cover such conditions, and have no (other) treatment/advice to offer!
Meanwhile the extreme discomfort continues and is becoming increasingly worse as time goes by.
If anyone else has this condition or has any advice, or answers in regard to ‘dealing’ with this condition it would be greatly appreciated!

Replies(14)

t_pmac

replied on May 17th, 2008

New User

Has anyone ever told you that you have a hiatal hernia. I have most of the symptoms that you have. I haven't been checked for it yet, but all my research seems to indicate one.

circawdm

replied on June 1st, 2008

New User

Re: Severely bloated abdomen

Dor102 wrote:

=================

Hi Dor102,

I just read your post, and since you have had so many tests to r/o all of the functional diseases one usually sees with these symptoms I was wondering if you are an anxious and highly stressed person? Or is that possible and you are not aware of it or ignoring it? I know if you went to Mayo Clinic they would not only give you all the tests you have had but also have you talk with a psychologist and perhaps take a few tests with them also. Stress and anxiety (whether we realize we have it or not) can cause all kinds of problems and symptoms - some of them very odd and scary and even debilitating. I know, because I lived it for awhile.

I ask because I know several people (myself included) who can get very bloated, gassy, and have very uncomfortable GI and other odd symptoms before and after eating (even of I eat slowly and eat "healthy" things). I had all the tests you did and tried most of those drugs also. Nobody (oddly) but ONE holistic oriented doctor suggested (after actually asking me how my life had gone and was going since I had the symptoms), that high levels of stress and what most would call at least mild anxiety disorder or anxiety off and on, could well be causing my chronic indigestion and other weird symptoms.

Well, I got help, and talked with a therapist-counselor and also 1-2 other doctors who believed that my stress and anxiety and worrying was indeed a good bet for why my digestion and other symptoms were cropping up for no apparent "medical" reason. I am happy to say that once I learned how to relax and how to not keep anger and some other symptoms inside me, my indigestion and other odd symptoms started to fade away. It took awhile, but it obviously was the cause.

We know that so many diseases and symptoms are caused by or made worse by stress and anxiety, it is no surprise that this was what was causing my problems. I am pretty much symptom free now, but when I get tense or stressed out and am not paying attention to taking care of myself emotionally, my stomach-gut will start to bother me. That is my sign that I need to get a grip on my stress and do all I can to calm things down or resolve things in my personal life. Once I do, my indigestion and very uncomfortable other symptoms go away.

Since you did not mention exploring this area, I thought it was worth a mention. One of the first things to happen when we are emotionally upset, worry, or anxious, is we get indigestion - at least most people do. If you have not thoroughly investigated this as much as you did looking for physical causations, I would suggest it might be well worth the time and effort.

I wish you the best.

circawdm

kristene

replied on April 16th, 2009

New User

Swollen Lower Abdomen

I'm experiencing the same problems. My stomach is so bloated that strangers have asked me when my baby was due. I work out 6 days a week and I cannot get rid of my stomach. I have been to a GI Doctor and he claims that I have IBS and Acid Reflux. This has been ongoing for 2 1/2 yrs. I finally went to a female Doctor yesturday and she suggested I get a Colonscopy. I've had the Barium Swallow Test, The Breath test, Blood Work, and an Endoscopy. I'm still trying to find an answer since no Doctor's as of yet have any answers. I'm 34yrs old and have 3 beautiful children ages 6, 5, and 2. So...yes I am stressed, but I have always had anxiety.

zigemyster

replied on April 16th, 2009

Moderator

It could be the foods in which you eat.

Try removing all processed foods, bread, pasta and cow's dairy from your diet...basically if it comes in a box or package, don't eat...as all these foods can cause bloating... give it a try for a couple of weeks and see if you improve.

kristene

replied on April 16th, 2009

New User

Swollen Lower Abdomen

Hi, Thanks for the reply, but I have tried that. I eat very healthy. I eat fresh fruits, veggies, and grill everything else.

daydrmr01

replied on May 6th, 2009

New User

painful bloating

I get painful bloating to the point where I too can look pregnant, and if I bend over, it causes me to not be able to breathe. I used to get it off and on very rarely and then probably for the past year now I get it more often. I used to be able to lay on my stomach for about 30 mins and the pain would go away. It doesn't work for me anymore. I've noticed, though, that it all started to happen more often when my job became more stressful, and that when I would take a vacation, go to my parents house in another state, I wouldn't have the bloating.

At first I thought it was dairy foods that caused it, so I stopped eating dairy, but it didn't work. So I have come to the conclusion that it is my work that causes it. I took a 3 week vacation about a week ago, and went to visit a friend. While I was there, no matter what I ate, I had no bloating. As soon as I got back to work, I ate lunch and bloated almost instantly, it would last all day, just like always, and then as soon as I got home, it would start to feel better and usually after I have a bowel movement, it starts to go away. This is why I think its my job that causes it, so now I'm going to be looking for a different job.

I don't know if this helps anyone, but like others have said, it could be the environment you work/live in that causes it.

cinnaminsonmom

replied on May 12th, 2009

New User

painful bloating

OMG - I can't believe how many of you are having similar symptoms. I have just gone thru CT, Barium, Colonoscopy etc. The only thing they can say is some inflamation in my small intestines, but nothin major. I can't believe how any fitted clothes just hurt so much to wear.
I am beginning to think it is stress related. I too am 34, and I have 2 kids and a full time job as the provider for my family. A few years ago, they took out my gall-bladder and it turned out the pain was from anxiety attacks. This is different pain, but maybe it is the same cause?

johnh

replied on May 22nd, 2009

New User

monster bloating

i am to experiencing the bloating, so much as many of you described, that at times i cant breathe. gas-x provides some relief, but dosent completely relieve symptoms.. am going to try combination with lactaid, because i know there is some association with dairy, and im a milk junky... dotn have heqalth insurance so getting a bunch of tests is out of the questions for me... interested to find about the stress link, because, now that i reflect, my bloating does seem to be worse during stressful times..any other information anyone can provide on this subject would be very helpful, especially about the holostic doctor, where do you find one, and how to determine the a professional from a scam..

celiaclady

replied on May 28th, 2009

New User

gluten free

a few days or weeks being gluten free will not be enough to know if it will help or not...it could take up to a year on a fully gluten free diet to feel better....and where you fully gluten free? did you check for hidden gluten in soy sauce, mustards,salad dressings, etc....you can not just take the burger off of the bun, pie filling out of the crust, or pizza topping off of the pizza and think that it is gluten free....it is not....also in addition to gluten (which it still could be) it could also be lactose because if your villi are damaged they can not digest milk either and this could cause bloating and gas. If they did not take at least 15 biosopys it could still be celiac disease---they have to take a min of 12 from different areas to check----you do not say if you have hada hida scan it could be your gall bladder? It could also be Chrons---and you do not metion if you have had a stomach empting test----it could be that your stomach is slow to empty and that would cause bloating....

wendyrs

replied on June 10th, 2009

Supporter

Hello,

I have been struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for years and I have the same symptoms that many of you have mentioned. Research claims that IBS is caused by stress and anxiety. I have recently started doing yoga exercises and it gives me some relief. My stomach bloats no matter what I eat, but I still try to stay away from spicey foods, red sauce, and milk. Those things make it worse. The only thing I can suggest is to do as much exercise as possible and get plenty of rest to relieve the stress. Easier said than done but I know what you all are going through and it's not pleasant to deal with.

bendo

replied on July 27th, 2009

New User

you might want to get checked out for generalized anxiety disorder...

unicorn80

replied on August 16th, 2009

New User

This message is to Dor102, if you are still experiencing these symptoms I would suggest seeing a gastroenterologist because it is a good chance that you may have a condition called gastritis which is an inflammation of the stomach. A lot of the symptoms you have described point to this condition with a couple symptoms that are not related. I believe the more symptoms you have that points to a certain disorder or illness is likely that is what it is, although many disorders and illnesses can have some or all the same symptoms of another disorder or illness which makes it hard to tell the difference from one disorder to another.

I too have some of these problems as you described and maybe it's possible I could have this same condition, but I had also thought of the chance that I may be lactose intolerant because many of the foods I eat are made with milk or a milk by-product and occasionally causes me excruciating pain at times. Sometimes the same food causes me pain and sometimes not which I don't understand. For me it also depends on what I eat and how much, whereas for you it didn't matter what it was that you ate. Lately I have also been very bloated and gassy and I think that may have also contributed to my pain which I think was in the small intestines and is usually relieved by going to the bathroom.

I'm currently going to school for medical assisting and am trying to get a feel for asking certain questions about a patients health conditions and maybe someday I will advance to becoming a physician someday.

Are you still having any of your symptoms?

Elizabeth

Mootie1

replied on October 29th, 2009

New User

Bloated stomach

have you all had any potential gyny problems ruled out many gastro / digestive symptoms may relate problems with ovaries more so if post menopausal

cnat

replied on October 29th, 2009

New User

I just turned 34 and I don't have any children. I've never experience this pain before. It hurst so much, the pain is also on my lower back. I cannot walk fast or sleep comfortably. I'm going to the doctor tonight.

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