Constant bloating

[Beagler]

I've been constantly bloated for 8 weeks now. No pain or other symptoms that I'm aware of. I haven't gained weight but my waistline is about 2 inches bigger than normal. Blood test and pelvic ultrasound normal. Now waiting for abdominal ultrasound and results of stool sample. I've never been so worried. It just seemed to appear suddenly and hasn't gone away.

[magih]

No constipation? Have you changed diet? Are you peri-menopausal? Have you had antibiotics recently? Drinking plenty fluids? Do you take a probiotic?

Several things above can upset gut flora and cause bloating.

[Beagler in reply to magih]

Thank you for your reply. I'm unsure if I'm constipated as I am still going every day. I've been in the same routine with my diet for the last 2 years and I'm not overweight. I'm 41 next week so not sure about perimenopause either. I still have periods and no hot flushes but I am getting more headaches and dizzy spells. I've not been on antibiotics and I have started on a probiotic and peppermint oil capsules. I probably don't drink as much as I should but that's the same as usual as well. I'm just baffled. I don't feel unwell at all.

[magih in reply to Beagler]

Blood pressure ok? I think you can be peri menopausal at 41 but your symptoms should not be dismissed, glad you are exploring them & hope you get an answer soon. Finally, maybe it is a short term reaction to the jab?

[Beagler in reply to magih]

Thank you. I never thought about the jab. I think my blood pressure is ok altgough I can't remember when it was last taken. When I had my pelvic scan they suggested a possible hernia but that's not my gut feeling. I suggested perimenopause to my doctor recently but she just said I would get hot flushes and my periods would stop. I still might ask if they can test my hormones though. Hopefully something will show up in the abdominal ultrasound but I coulld be waiting a while for that. Thank you for your help and suggestions.

[magih]

You can be in peri menopause for years before periods stop, in my case all I noticed was increased anxiety, hair thinning and bloating. My ferritin levels were very low and periods heavy. No constipation, no diet changes, just like you.

[Beagler in reply to magih]

That's really helpful to know. Thank you. I've also had more breast tenderness than normal so it's a few little things pointing in that direction even though it's not the most common symptoms. I wasn't sure if 8 weeks of constant abdominal swelling would be a sign of that or if premenopausal bloating was a bit more on and off. I will definitely suggest it again though. I often suffer with anxiety anyway and my hair has always been ridiculously thick so if it was thinning I'd probably have no idea! Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this before the end of the year.

[magih]

I hope so! Maybe obvious, but have you done a pregnancy test?

[Beagler in reply to magih]

Yes, the first things they ruled out were pregnancy and a bladder infection.

[magih]

They sound like they are taking an interest, even if it takes them a while to go through the process...☺️ hope you get it sorted

[Beagler in reply to magih]

Thank you. I've had to push for things to be done but I'll keep pushing until they figure out what's going on because I really need to know.

[Bidgie]

I had similar with the menopause and Ba Enema showed I had diverticular disease which means that parts of the bowel muscle become thinner and cause weak spots where wind gets trapped. I did get some nasty gripes though below the belly button. I found certain foods made it worse which can be an individual thing. Hope you find out what the problem is and can manage it. These things that try us as we get older, but i am much older than you!! All the best

[Beagler in reply to Bidgie]

Thank you for your reply. I'm really hoping it's hormone related but I just feel a little young at almost 41. Not knowing what's going on and being uncomfortable every day is making me quite depressed. I'm debating going private for my next scan which is what I did for my first one just to speed things along a bit as could be waiting a while for the NHS. Thank you for sharing your experience. I do hope you are better now.