Abdominal distension

Does anybody else suffer with this?

I'm relatively slim figured but my stomach almost always has a bloated appearance to it - I can look about 5 months pregnant sometimes! I used to think this was caused by fat and a lack of muscle. Turns out it really isn't!

I've gone through some possibilities in my head like food intolerances (gluten, wheat, lactose and dairy being the most obvious but haven't tried cutting each out in turn to check), and IBS. Bowel problems do run in my family but I'm not "windy" or "gassy". My digestion's pretty slow but I also don't eat a whole lot and I get a good amount of fibre. I'm also working to improve my posture as the curve in my spine makes it stick out a bit more but not enough to warrent how big it can get sometimes. I don't overload on fizzy drinks or salt and I drink enough water.

Can anyone suggest anything else it might be? I can't flipping stand it! I've had an ultrasound to check I don't have any hidden cysts (I don't - thank god!) but even my doctor was stumped by this.
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Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    Check with your doctor about allergy testing? Or take one possible cause out of your diet for a month to see if it helps. Maybe go dairy free for one month. If that's not it reintroduce dairy, but cut out gluten?
  • momzeeee
    momzeeee Posts: 475 Member
    Yep, I had it big time. Read Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis and cut out wheat-bye bye bloat :) I actually had bread for the first time in about two months, last weekend, (an Arbys sandwich), and I bloated up so badly afterward I couldn't button my jeans-crazy! So for me, it's definitely a wheat/gluten? thing. I'm not super strict about avoiding it, but I do try to stay away from it most of the time.
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    A whole month?! Oh man I'm in for some tough months. Think I'll start AFTER my trip to Italy and just hold my tummy in (like I have for about 7 years) when it blows up.

    What did yours look like? If you don't mind me asking.
  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
    IMO you need a medical checkup.
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    IMO you need a medical checkup.

    Yeah you think I should go back?
    It's taken me this long to figure out I'm not actually fat, my stomach just blows up occasionally and it's one cause of my eating problems.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    It wouldn't hurt. I know there are tests for Celiac's disease because several of my husbands family tested positive for it. Talk to your doctor about testing and/or eliminating possible causes.
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    Celiac Disease is present in my family so it could be possible I suppose. I forsee them just saying try going out with a whole host of things one at a time to figure it out. My doctors are very dismissive
  • jjay23
    jjay23 Posts: 160 Member
    my stomach blows up and I look pregnant if I eat wheat (it also makes me pretty sick) i just avoid it now, at first it was hard but I have so mayn intolerances that its just another. hope you find out the cause!
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Yep I've had it ever since I had my son... so almost 20 years now. Thing is that in hospital they told me to just so situps while holding it together, ........ hold what together I asked..... they walked out. I was only 18 & I guess they figured I figure it out.

    Anyway fast forward to now...and even without holding it together..... or having to buy one of those over priced tummy things..... it's actually repairing. Less & less does it look like a mine blew up in the middle of my stomach. I don't have an explanation for it at all.... it's just done it in the last few months.

    It is repairable WITHOUT surgery though.... at least in my case & I was kinda torn into 2 mine was that bad.
  • JudieJudes
    JudieJudes Posts: 174 Member
    QUOTE
    I'm relatively slim figured but my stomach almost always has a bloated appearance to it - I can look about 5 months pregnant sometimes! I used to think this was caused by fat and a lack of muscle. Turns out it really isn't!

    QUOTE
    It's taken me this long to figure out I'm not actually fat, my stomach just blows up occasionally and it's one cause of my eating problems.

    Hi

    Does your belly 'occasionally' blow up or 'almost always has a bloated appearance to it' - it could be something to do with your diet in the form of an intolerance. It could also be connected to exercise as I have read on these boards that muscles can hold onto water when they have been worked.

    x
  • jsiricos
    jsiricos Posts: 340 Member
    If your doctor is "dismissive" time to find a new one.

    mine still does the pregnant thing on occasion, but if I remember correctly, its bread :(
  • Joannesmith2818
    Joannesmith2818 Posts: 438 Member
    Celiac Disease is present in my family so it could be possible I suppose. I forsee them just saying try going out with a whole host of things one at a time to figure it out. My doctors are very dismissive

    I think the doc said that because that is the first port of call so i don't think its being dismissive. I cut out lactose and gluten and when that didn't solve the problem I then had the celiac test and a colonoscopy. Just try cutting things out for a longer period of time and then at least when you go back you can say i have done this, this and this, and still no change...whats the next step.
    I hope you manage to resolve your tummy issues soon !
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    Frequency of stomach bloating -
    I've had this problem as long as I can remember. I don't feel bloated and it doesn't hurt but it feels hard to touch like a bloat does. I do have stomach acid issues but they only came about the past few years so doesn't explain having the distension when I was younger. It's not ALWAYS at its biggest, it is sometimes normal sized and has been a lot better since I cut down on carbs (not cut out, just down) but I noticed last night it had completely balooned and so I realised the problem was still present, I'd just forgotten how big it can get!

    Dismissive doctos -
    They've been dismissive with other things, not just this. The doctor I saw at my local surgery was actually pretty concerned about it, hence sending me for a scan and then giving me a gym referal so I could tighten my muscles. He recently moved to Canada though. The doctors at my surgery are not the best but I could try and get several appointments with perhaps the more caring ones there. I spent months going there in tears from the pain trying to get a diagnosis for my acid reflux but they never did anything. Undfortunately I don't have an alternative surgery though.
  • momzeeee
    momzeeee Posts: 475 Member
    Frequency of stomach bloating -
    I've had this problem as long as I can remember. I don't feel bloated and it doesn't hurt but it feels hard to touch like a bloat does. I do have stomach acid issues but they only came about the past few years so doesn't explain having the distension when I was younger. It's not ALWAYS at its biggest, it is sometimes normal sized and has been a lot better since I cut down on carbs (not cut out, just down) but I noticed last night it had completely balooned and so I realised the problem was still present, I'd just forgotten how big it can get!

    Dismissive doctos -
    They've been dismissive with other things, not just this. The doctor I saw at my local surgery was actually pretty concerned about it, hence sending me for a scan and then giving me a gym referal so I could tighten my muscles. He recently moved to Canada though. The doctors at my surgery are not the best but I could try and get several appointments with perhaps the more caring ones there. I spent months going there in tears from the pain trying to get a diagnosis for my acid reflux but they never did anything. Undfortunately I don't have an alternative surgery though.

    If it happened last night look through your food diary and figure out what you ate. That right there will give you a good starting point.
  • Cp731
    Cp731 Posts: 3,195 Member
    Eat really low carb, lots of fiber, lots of fish and broccoli if you can stand it.
    Also I have a very deep arch in my back, I believe this has a lot to do with why my tummy looks distended
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    Frequency of stomach bloating -
    I've had this problem as long as I can remember. I don't feel bloated and it doesn't hurt but it feels hard to touch like a bloat does. I do have stomach acid issues but they only came about the past few years so doesn't explain having the distension when I was younger. It's not ALWAYS at its biggest, it is sometimes normal sized and has been a lot better since I cut down on carbs (not cut out, just down) but I noticed last night it had completely balooned and so I realised the problem was still present, I'd just forgotten how big it can get!

    Dismissive doctos -
    They've been dismissive with other things, not just this. The doctor I saw at my local surgery was actually pretty concerned about it, hence sending me for a scan and then giving me a gym referal so I could tighten my muscles. He recently moved to Canada though. The doctors at my surgery are not the best but I could try and get several appointments with perhaps the more caring ones there. I spent months going there in tears from the pain trying to get a diagnosis for my acid reflux but they never did anything. Undfortunately I don't have an alternative surgery though.

    If it happened last night look through your food diary and figure out what you ate. That right there will give you a good starting point.


    Yes I thought that but I had quinoa which I believe is wheat and gluten free and I had dairy in the form of cheese (cottage and edam) and milk. I have these things all the time and never notice bloating to that extent. I'd even had milk and cottage cheese earlier in the day and was looking quite trim before dinner
  • Stacebob85
    Stacebob85 Posts: 95
    I had a very similar problem; my stomach often bloats up and distends, often to the point of being very round and hard like a pregnant belly. My GP did tests for Coeliac Disease and when they came back clear he basically gave up on it. Instead, I referred myself to a dietitian. She went through my food diaries (which I'd been keeping for weight loss) and recommended a few things (cut down on caffeine, particularly diet Coke, more fibre and a probiotic yogurt or drink twice a day) and I've had great results! Much less bloating and discomfort now, and I've only been doing these things for a couple of weeks.

    Last Saturday I went to a party where only diet Coke was available for those of us not wanting to drink booze, and my tummy the following morning was so huge, and it hurt a fair bit too. Learnt my lesson now!
  • chloeobe
    chloeobe Posts: 72
    Ive had the same things for years and have had numerous tests and scans to no avail. I was determined that it must be an intolerance, so I made a plan over a few months to phase certain well known triggers out and narrow down what it might be. A year on and Ive worked out that bread and fruit with a skin (ie apples), are the triggers. Ive now stopped eating these and its solved my problem completley...well that was until last night when I decided to treat myself to a pizza....hello bloat!! Back on the straight and narrow now and feeling better already
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    It's good to know I'm not alone in this! I thought there was something really strange about it! I'll see a doc and see what they think. If they're being their usual crappy selves I'll start phasing things out. How long do you think I should cut each thing to test?
  • Fibroids
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    Fibroids

    Didn't read my original post where I mention I had an ultrasound?
  • This may or may not help but I've found that quite a few things can cause it:

    i) Lack of bowel movements ---> though you've mentioned that your family does not suffer from bowel problems and you eat a whole lot of fibre, you could still be getting a little bloat due to food remaining in your bowel. Basically if you are not eating large amounts it sticks around in there. Which is why you tend to crap well after a good curry.

    ii) Pre-period bloat ---> Women tend to retain water and bloat around their period - (Just a theory) I know you mentioned the bloat was all the time.

    iii) Beans, beans the musical fruit... ---> If you eat a whole lot of foods typically high in certain polysaccharides (especially oligosaccharides such as inulin) and include beans, lentils, dairy products, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, radishes, sweet potatoes, cashews, oats, wheat, yeast in breads, and other vegetables, you can get bloated as they break down. Some fruits can also have this effect as they ferment.

    iv) Stress and Anxiety ---> anxiety shuts down a part of the brain that handles digesting foods. Stress itself puts a great deal of pressure on your stomach and abdomen, and upsets hormone and neurotransmitter balance. That may create an environment where foods that could normally be digested easily end up being digested poorly, leading to the creation of gas and bloating. Also another point on anxiety - Hyperventilation (too much air in your system).

    v) 'Obble Gobbling ---> Eating too fast can cause bloating.

    vi) Eating Disorders ---> If you are bulimic or anorexic-bulimic, purging kinda bloats you. It gets worse when you eat more food later on in the day.

    vii) Cortisol ---> You have lower levels of this hormone in your system at night and higher levels in the morning. It's also linked to the flight/fight response. If you have too much of this in your system due to being stressed often, then you could be in a state of *chronic stress* (where you body has gotten so used to being stressed that it is literally unable to relax) If you are unable to switch off and allow your body to go ahead with its relaxation response, how can you expect your bowel to relax and pass its contents naturally? Constant high amounts of this hormone can also lead to Increased abdominal fat.

    viii) Lack of Sleep ---> Lack of sleep makes you stressed. MOAR CORTISOL

    ix) IBS ---> You could have Irritable Bowel Syndrome - which is a pretty common cause of unexplained bloating. (I know you have already mentioned that you don't think you have this, but I may as well go all out with the post)

    "Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, meaning that the symptoms are caused by changes in how the GI tract works. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the *kitten*—the opening where stool leaves your body. Food is digested, or broken down, in the GI tract." http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs_ez/

    x) err lactose intolerance? Though I'm not 100% on that one

    xi) Malnutrition ---> Ever wondered why starving African children seem to have a bloated stomach? It's not just the dirty water or horrific lifestyle. A malnourished person may bloat due to an insufficient protein intake, despite a sufficient caloric intake.

    xii) I think there's a few more reasons for it which are a bit more sinister, like ovarian cancer and coeliac disease.

    Ways to combat the above:

    1) Sleep more
    2) De-stress (easier said than done)
    3) Eat slowly
    4) Eat larger amounts of bulky foods to pass stools
    5) Do exercise as it helps to keep your system moving (though I know that you already have that one covered)
    6) If you are bulimic or anorexic-bulimic: try not to purge.
    7) If you are constipated, abdominal massages are a great way to slowly ease out the impaction. I find that lying on your stomach after this really helps. Also, get a yellow pages when you are on the bog and rest your feet on it. It's easier to go if you are in a squat-like position.
    8) If you are suffering from malnutrition, consult your doctor.
    9) Seek medical advice for any suspected conditions like IBS. It seems that there's a pill for everything these days.

    other than that, I'm all out of possible causes :(
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Try taking a probiotic pill. The amount in yogurt may not be enough.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    If you've had kids, the abdominal muscles could actually have separated. Doing sit-ups and things make it worse. After I had my 3rd kid, I could fit 2 fingers in between them around my belly button. I, too, always looked about 5 months pregnant after eating and such because my full tummy would push the abdominal muscles apart. (Instead of being held behind the muscles like normal.) You can check for diastasis recti yourself, or ask your doctor to check for you.

    http://youtu.be/uzIrt82maws
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    This may or may not help but I've found that quite a few things can cause it:

    i) Lack of bowel movements ---> though you've mentioned that your family does not suffer from bowel problems and you eat a whole lot of fibre, you could still be getting a little bloat due to food remaining in your bowel. Basically if you are not eating large amounts it sticks around in there. Which is why you tend to crap well after a good curry.

    ii) Pre-period bloat ---> Women tend to retain water and bloat around their period - (Just a theory) I know you mentioned the bloat was all the time.

    iii) Beans, beans the musical fruit... ---> If you eat a whole lot of foods typically high in certain polysaccharides (especially oligosaccharides such as inulin) and include beans, lentils, dairy products, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, radishes, sweet potatoes, cashews, oats, wheat, yeast in breads, and other vegetables, you can get bloated as they break down. Some fruits can also have this effect as they ferment.

    iv) Stress and Anxiety ---> anxiety shuts down a part of the brain that handles digesting foods. Stress itself puts a great deal of pressure on your stomach and abdomen, and upsets hormone and neurotransmitter balance. That may create an environment where foods that could normally be digested easily end up being digested poorly, leading to the creation of gas and bloating. Also another point on anxiety - Hyperventilation (too much air in your system).

    v) 'Obble Gobbling ---> Eating too fast can cause bloating.

    vi) Eating Disorders ---> If you are bulimic or anorexic-bulimic, purging kinda bloats you. It gets worse when you eat more food later on in the day.

    vii) Cortisol ---> You have lower levels of this hormone in your system at night and higher levels in the morning. It's also linked to the flight/fight response. If you have too much of this in your system due to being stressed often, then you could be in a state of *chronic stress* (where you body has gotten so used to being stressed that it is literally unable to relax) If you are unable to switch off and allow your body to go ahead with its relaxation response, how can you expect your bowel to relax and pass its contents naturally? Constant high amounts of this hormone can also lead to Increased abdominal fat.

    viii) Lack of Sleep ---> Lack of sleep makes you stressed. MOAR CORTISOL

    ix) IBS ---> You could have Irritable Bowel Syndrome - which is a pretty common cause of unexplained bloating. (I know you have already mentioned that you don't think you have this, but I may as well go all out with the post)

    "Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, meaning that the symptoms are caused by changes in how the GI tract works. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the *kitten*—the opening where stool leaves your body. Food is digested, or broken down, in the GI tract." http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs_ez/

    x) err lactose intolerance? Though I'm not 100% on that one

    xi) Malnutrition ---> Ever wondered why starving African children seem to have a bloated stomach? It's not just the dirty water or horrific lifestyle. A malnourished person may bloat due to an insufficient protein intake, despite a sufficient caloric intake.

    xii) I think there's a few more reasons for it which are a bit more sinister, like ovarian cancer and coeliac disease.

    Ways to combat the above:

    1) Sleep more
    2) De-stress (easier said than done)
    3) Eat slowly
    4) Eat larger amounts of bulky foods to pass stools
    5) Do exercise as it helps to keep your system moving (though I know that you already have that one covered)
    6) If you are bulimic or anorexic-bulimic: try not to purge.
    7) If you are constipated, abdominal massages are a great way to slowly ease out the impaction. I find that lying on your stomach after this really helps. Also, get a yellow pages when you are on the bog and rest your feet on it. It's easier to go if you are in a squat-like position.
    8) If you are suffering from malnutrition, consult your doctor.
    9) Seek medical advice for any suspected conditions like IBS. It seems that there's a pill for everything these days.

    other than that, I'm all out of possible causes :(

    Bloody hell Kirst!!

    These would be great but a lot of them can't apply (eg, malnutrition as I haven't had problems with food as long as I've had this bloat - same goes for stress).

    They're all things I've considered but have either dismissed them or not put to the test! Cheers for taking the time to type all that, honey!!



    Try taking a probiotic pill. The amount in yogurt may not be enough.

    Already doing that, but good suggestion :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    An abdominal "ptosis" is usually the sign of weak ab and a lot of viseral body fat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    An abdominal "ptosis" is usually the sign of weak abs and a lot of viseral body fat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • AnsiStar
    AnsiStar Posts: 165 Member
    Again, had a scan, they said there wasn't any excess visceral fat. And my abs aren't weak
  • momzeeee
    momzeeee Posts: 475 Member
    It's good to know I'm not alone in this! I thought there was something really strange about it! I'll see a doc and see what they think. If they're being their usual crappy selves I'll start phasing things out. How long do you think I should cut each thing to test?

    I've heard a lot of good about the book, The Virgin Diet by J.J Virgin. It's a food elimination plan to find intolerance's :) You might want to read it to get some ideas!
  • tebreiner
    tebreiner Posts: 7 Member
    wow, thanks for all the information