Hi just wondering if anyone has a REALLY bloated stomach, like 9months pregnant? I have had it for nearly 12mths now, not a good look at 61

[denvajade]

everytime I eat it bloats out even bigger and even though watching my calories I have put on loads of weight.

[Hidden]

Hello

Please go and discuss this with your GP He will know your history and will too give assistance

BOB

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bob I have had just about weekly visits to my doctor with no results, stomach specialist say no funds to investigate so doctor to manage it, but that's not working and I have spent several dollars on tests with out much success, being treated for gastro paresis but still limited on what I can eat

[Hidden in reply to denvajade]

Hello

First of all you can check your symptoms on our NHS CHOICES website in the uk, the other site that is in the USA called WEBMD, that site splits into UK BOOTS and USA WEBMD.

T here are several problems you may have

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Coelliac desease

Just putting on weight

You work through symptoms.

Go on above sites, the NHS one is the best as I realise that you live in the USA check your symptoms and work out what is going on, the symptoms are to many to mention here, I am not a GP and you know your own body, so you will be able to know your own problems you are going through. Both conditions are self explaining so good luck, you know where we are if needed in the future

BOB

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

thank you sooooooooooom much for your reply , I will do all of the above, true I have put on weight, but not due to eating as I cant really eat much, I have reflux as well and doc says maybe ibs, but it is more in my stomach than bowel. thank you again oh by the way I am in New Zealand, miles away. cheers

[Hidden]

I wonder if you have a food intolerance? I think RA is associated with a difficulty to digest gluten based food.

You could talk to your GP about it if its worrying you.

I lost a lot of my bloated middle by avoiding all carbs for a couple of weeks and only having small amounts of bread afterwards. And I no longer eat pasta or pizza.

Worth a try for a few days?

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

thank for replying, sadly cant digest meat, or veges or fruit, food stays in stomach and ferments

[Hidden in reply to denvajade]

How awful. What can you eat? And is it worth seeing a doctor or a nutritionist?

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

hi there thanks for your reply, I eat eggs,fish, sweet potato and pumpkin,cant digest meat or veges just forms a big lump inside me.

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

hi there ye I believe you are right about the carbs and gluten, my daughter lost heaps of weight going off both, does not seem to work for me though. thanks for your imput Trish

[Mary-anne3]

I mentioned these symptoms to my doctor, but was not given

a reason. I put it down to inflammation, as I have had arthritis

for years and am on Fentanyl patches now. I also have IBS.

[denvajade in reply to Mary-anne3]

yes the doctor says probably got ibs. but strange not able to digest food I am on domeprodine to try and move food on,

[Hidden in reply to denvajade]

There are two types of IBS and both can cause bloating and not being able to digest food properly. One of which the food will not move and the other will move too fast!

[denvajade in reply to Hidden]

that would be right, my food stays put and ferments.

[mattcass]

I have the same problem looking like I'm 9 months pregnant not a pretty sight for a 62 year old male, All Iget is it's the steroids I have lost 10lbs in 3 weeks and the belly is still the same, I will be watching some of your replies with interest.Matt

[denvajade in reply to mattcass]

Hi Matt thanks for your reply, I am not on steroids so who know, how did you lose 10lbs? that would be a dream come true for me.

[kizzy12]

hi i was the same for a long time and it was horrible ..like you say i felt and looked as though i was ready to give birth...i eventually remembered to mention to my doc and he said a lot of meds can cause it...he put me on omeprazole and wow what a difference....am still overweight but no longer feel big and bloated ...wouldnt be without it...worth asking to try it xx

[denvajade in reply to kizzy12]

Hi there! have been on omeprazole, will get back on it, on so much medication don't know what does what now. thanks for your reply

[Hidden in reply to kizzy12]

Hi Omeprazole should only be used short term. But I know people don't like to come of it.

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

Hiya soteti, this is an old thread but when used as a preventative omeprazole is often prescribed long term. It is also prescribed on a short term (acute) basis for certain conditions but is regularly co-prescribed when NSAIDS are prescribed. I've taken it from day one of diagnosis as I my initial medication included two NSAIDs. The following is taken from the Clinical Knowledge Summaries of NICE

"NICE recommends that a PPI is routinely co-prescribed with all NSAIDs for all people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and anyone with chronic low back pain 45 years of age and older [National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, 2008; National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, 2009; National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care, 2009]."

The prescriber should be aware of the patient's medical history when prescibing it on a long term basis & magnesium levels & B12 checked as absorption can be reduced.

[Susiej38]

Don't know if you are on Pred, but I was diagnosed in Oct. and have been on steroids(10-20mg) daily ever since. I have lost weight, but am also extremely bloated and believe it is from Pred. I am getting ready to start biologics and am trying to get off steroids. They are causing me numerous problems, yet they do help the pain and inflammation.

[denvajade in reply to Susiej38]

Hi thank you for your reply, no I am not on steroids just methotrexate, probiotics, domiperidone folic acid, been on heaps of other meds but down to this now.

[jillab]

Hi denvajade, I only came out of hospital a few days ago, having been rushed in on boxing day, I had had a swollen stomach before this and pains in the lower left abdomen, I've had this pain before (but not as severe as this time,) last year I was sent for a colonoscopy one I've had of many over the last 30 years this was to prove to me that it was I.B.S., well it didn't , after an ultrasound it showed I had kidney disease, and my left kidney was removed and the right one is only working at 25% and for a lovely 12 months after, I had no pain or swollen tummy, then the pain came back on a few occasions just for a few days each time, on boxing day we struggled to see one of our sons he is over a 100 miles away.(He lives at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, is in the R.A.F and had.just come back from a tour of duty so we were desperate to see him, otherwise we probably wouldn't have gone this time) Anyway we had to rush back to the Drs, and I was sent straight to hospital the pain was terrible and I looked like I was at least expecting twins (I'm 71). to cut a long story shorter after loads more tests it has now been decided I now have diverticulousis, on the left side of the colon which also has a couple of polyps and a small cyst on it, also that I have a cyst on the ovary. I'm sorry if I have scared you in anyway, and really hope that if it is I.B.S. that you have, that they will find the right treatment for you,please let us know how you get on I will be thinking of you. ( I'm sorry if I've ranted on on your space, but I needed to get it off my chest or should I say stomach) Good Luck Jill B x

[denvajade in reply to jillab]

Thanks for your reply Jill, I too have had numerous tests ultra sound, berimeal, colonoscopy, mri,tests fro all types of cancer, including bone marrow cancer, but still cant get to the bottom of huge stomach. One online doctor suggested I had candida (went on sugar free, and candida treatment with good results) from Methotrexate (been on it 7 years) so changed to injecting myself instead of tablet, again slight improvement but still BIG stomach and cant eat fruit veges or meat or sugar products.cheers Trish

[earthwitch]

definitely worth asking for a coeliac blood screening test, as that is one of the most reported symptoms pre-diagnosis, and putting on weight is also surprisingly common with it. Just make sure that you keep on eating gluten containing foods in normal amounts before you have the test, or it will show negative that could be a false negative. Other possibility is fluid retention - some folk get it in the abdomen rather than the usual ankles.

[denvajade in reply to earthwitch]

thankyou for your reply, I have been tested for celiac and I am gluten intolerant, but I only have a diet of eggs, gluten free bread and fish, sweet potato and pumpkin, cant eat any other fruit or veges or meat. The doctors thought I had ascities around my stomach which occurs when you have cancer but not that either, definitely affected by food, and I feel so hungry all the time. cheers Trish

[hev53]

Hi Sorry to hear about your poor tummy.

Can I suggest you ask for a blood test to see what your liver function is and also perhaps ask for a a blood test on your CA125 levels? It is just a thought as if you are dieting and your stomach remains that bloated it could be a gynae problem or have you been tested for that?

[denvajade in reply to hev53]

thanks for your reply, what is that test?

[hev53 in reply to denvajade]

The CA125 looks at levels of a certain serum that can indicate early onset ovarian problems.

[denvajade in reply to hev53]

thank you!

[recovered7]

Hi, I am Gluten and Lactose Intolerant and often suffer these same symptoms. I also have many other intolerances also. It takes quite some time to heal once you switch to a Gluten and Lactose free diet as the Intestine needs to heal. Try having 1teaspoon of Gluten Free Apple Cider Vinegar, mixed with a teaspoon of honey in a small glass of water three times daily after food. This really does work, and if it hadn't been for this I would suffer far worse stomach problems should i have ingested Gluten by default. My swelling takes quite some time to go down as the gut becomes quite distressed, and this formula is marvelous for any digestion problem. I had a site on theweb where i would help people with this digestive disorder.

Give this a go, you wont be disappointed but do be patient as it may take three day's to feel the full benefit. I know take this on a daily basis after my evening meal and its great.

Hope this is of some help to you. Get well soon, xx

If you need any other input on this dreaded problem let me know.