Strange abdominal pressure !?

Does this type of discomfort connect with anyone. The lower abdomen feels like pressure/ heaviness when sitting or laying on my back. Im ok standing or laying on sides or stomach. After several Years pressure got worse. Gastroenterologist ran tests but calls it functional. Ct colonogaraphy was ok and stomach scope okay because i have low iron and muscle wasting in legs and arms but no evidence of internal bleed so far. Nausea and reflux. Bowel feels backed up but no answers.

[Meleber]

Hi, I can relate. Weight and muscle loss, 'anaemia'. I have a functional bowel problem (probably born with, inherited. Also had courses of antibiotics in my early life and no breastfeeding and early life stress) with what it seems slow transit constipation. Fecal material not moving fast enough through my colon (fecal impaction) so need to take a laxative several times a day to keep my colon 'clean'. Because of the slow transit also dysbiosis I guess based on my experiences with courses of antibiotics (a tetracycline and Augmentin) decades ago. Had all the proper examinations, excluded all other possibilities. Lactulose breath test for hydrogen was negative but methane couldn't be tested.

[edwangy in reply to Meleber]

Have you tried eating more fibre? I'm same and was taking laxatives and eating very low fibre diet. I started eating more fibre about 4 weeks ago and my stools are now firm and I hardly ever use laxative maybe once a week) The only problem for me now is the constant pain I have which keeps me awake at night and doesn't go even after emptying my bowels? Tried everything, had it before and since increasing fibre. Also have lost a lot of weight and muscle mass.

[Hidden in reply to edwangy]

I thought about more fibre but i thought this might create problems if ive got a back up. I seem to be retaining fat or fluid in abdomen, at least it feels like it . Ive lost muscle bulk like thinner legs and arms but have gained weight. Dr thought it was visceral belly fat but im slim man. I tried laxatives but actually tried without and this helped. Cola drink helped too!

[Meleber in reply to edwangy]

Hi, insoluble fibre makes it worse in my case. Also have a problem with fat digestion.

[Hidden in reply to Meleber]

I have slow transit i think was caused by spine nerve damage. I thought SIBO but why loose muscle bulk and gain weight. Low iron feels odd!

[Meleber in reply to Hidden]

My iron isn't that low at the moment that it feels odd now but the blood examinations always showed my red blood count below the 'minimum'. My guess is, I think that because the dysfunctional bowel and dysbiosis not enough enzymes are produced by the 'good' bacteria and that this could be the reason why my bowel isn't absorbing enough nutrients and has problems with digesting fat amongst others.

[Wonderwall3]

I have extremely slow transit. I think this is made worse as I also have Fibromyalgia and I believe some of my digestive tract nerves aren't working properly. I have to take laxatives every day but when I eventually go, the pain afterwards is absolutely horrendous. I feel like I've got the world's worst case of sunburn all over my body, particularly in my upper torso. I have ended up in A&E three times since last April and have had to get signed off work because I just cannot function whilst in so much pain.