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Lookinf for others with same problem with stomach swelling

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Posted 3/4/2006 1:15 PM (GMT 0)

I am a newbie on this site...I have been welcomed by the fibromyalgia group (thank you) and would like to meet some of you guys!  It is so nice to hear encouraging words, and more, to know that there are others that deal with this...I would like to give history if that would be ok...I am seeking others that have the same problem I do because I believe there is more going on than standard IBS, and I would like to have it confirmed or denied.  Maybe all IBS sufferers deal with this, I don't know!

January, 2004

I had a horrible flu.  You know, the both end kind.  It lasted for several days.  On the 4th evening, I tried to eat some crackers.  I had slept for 4 days, so I was up late.  As I am eating the crackers, my whole stomach is swelling.  Not a little.  Within 20 minutes (the time it takes for food to hit your stomach) I looked 9 months pregnant.  I woke my husband, who freaked when he saw me!!!  I was huge!!!  He took me to the doctor the next morning and he decided he wanted to run some tests the next week (assuming gall bladder). By Sunday, the swelling was so bad that the stretching caused horrible pain, just like my first pregnancy.  I couldn't breathe because it pushed on my diaphram.  My husband took me to the emergency room.  They admitted me and I stayed for the better part of January.  In the end, they had removed my gall bladder and told me I was obese.  I gained 33 pounds in that month and maintained less than 500 calories a day.  Where did the weight come from????  How did I become obese?  No one knew. 

They tried several medications throughout the next year and a half, ran more tests than I can count, and sent me to countless doctors.  KU told me I had a virus in my intestines and would get over it in 6 months to a year.  Lay and bed and rest.  Right!! We have 5 children and 4 yorkies (I breed and show my dogs) who in the world can rest for 6 months?  Several tests don't come out right, even now, but not enough to be alarming, so I cope, right?  I wear maternity clothes because EVERY time I eat or drink anything, I go from a normal flat stomach to a huge maternity stomach!  I eat very little because if I do indulge in a normal meal, the diarrhea is so bad, I can't leave the house. 

June, 2005

The migraines start.  The first came on in 30 seconds flat.  My husband was afraid I had an anurysm, so he calls an ambulance.  My stomach starts swelling without food or drink that night.  They admit me again and I spend two lovely weeks in Hotel Hospital with the same migraine.  No meds can get rid of it.  My family thought I was brain damaged because I was unintelligable and out of it.  They decide to send me to Mayo.  They do measurements on my stomach and see that I swell NINE inches in 30 minutes!!  I had been subjected to horrible head tests and they were baffled as to why the headache would not subside.  My blood pressure was 210/140(related to the pain) so they wanted me to head to Minnesota.  By the grace of God, Mayo had an appt. the following Monday (3 days later), so I was released from the hospital, packed my 6 year old up, and my mother-in-law (thank you SOSO much) drove me to Minnesota for the first of two weeks. 

Bottom line...infectious onset severe spastic colon.  Or, IBS.  Fibromyalgia...yes, I knew that.  Been living with that for 6 years.  Learned alot of valuable information about fibromyalgia and they put me on 120 mg of Cymbalta because their studies showed it helped with the symptoms (an antidepressant), in addition to two migraine meds and meds for stomach spasms.  The prognosis is not good.  The  flu caused this problem, but it would have fixed itself within 6 months if it was going to.  It didn't.  I know live with this and will forever.  Right along with fibromyalgia.  Another inexplicable condition.  I am 35 years old and live like an old woman in my heart. Doctors can't help, and I believe they just don't know.  I have talked to 3 other woman with basically the same stomach experience, and I am curious if there are any others??? I am making it my mission to find others.  Alone we are a single case...together we are an epedimic.  Anybody out there have this, or know of someone who does?  Please pass the word around and I will post the same message in IBS.

I will get off the soap box now and say that I am grateful to have a place to deal with the daily issues of IBS.  Thank you for accepting me so graciously! Of course, the story is much more in depth, but I don't want to bore anyone, but if you have this, we can personally compare notes.  Thank you for your time!

Posted 3/4/2006 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh celticgirl,
Welcome to the IBS forum :) I know that IBS usually always accompanies Fibro.

I have had the bloated stomach from gas however not to the extreme as yourself. The first thing that popped in my head when I read your post was Cushing's Disease. I don't know why and I am no means an expert but your story reminded me of a special I watched on how this woman kept gaining weight with no changes in diet (I think she went from a size 2 to a size 20 in as little as two years) and she was dx'd with IBS and the doctors had no clue. She finally went to an endocrinologist (sp?) that a doctor referred her to and her cortisol levels were through the roof. She had a small tumor in her adrenal gland that was causing her body to produce more cortisol that was needed which was causing her problems.

The only thing that doesn't seem to fit is that in your case your stomach swells immediately after eating which would indicate some kind of gas problems.

I hope someone can come along and give some answers and sorry that I couldn't but I did want to give you big (((hugs)))
Posted 3/5/2006 12:00 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Celticgirl.  I have been diagnosed with IBS and when I eat I swell up 3 inches and I thought that was bad but 9 inches...WOW !!!

Are you migraines under control now?  Is there a family history of them? 

Posted 3/5/2006 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about all this ..... I had many tests and saw many doctors who seemed clueless until I found one who diagnosed me w/IBS and put me on Zelnorm which helps out

I have a lot of swelling of the stomach and it is embarrassing.  The other day I had a lot of constipation.  I wasn't able to go for a day from the constipation and my stomach was really swollen from a lot of gas and someone asked me if I was pregnant.  WHAT?  I wish but unfortunately no its from this IBS.  I wake in the morning and my stomach is normal and as soon as I eat there it goes.  Granted, that day it was big because of a lot of gas but geez, its annoying and sometimes painful

Posted 3/5/2006 8:50 PM (GMT 0)

hey

i have huge swellings of the stomach too, everytime i eat a normal sized meal and when i mean normal its still small i go from a flat ok stomach to an obese 9months pregnant thing!!  its so bad if i no i have to go out anywhere i tend to try and not eat so that i can fit into my clothes, or just end up not going out!! luckly im a PE teacher so at work i can get away with it with huge baggy t shirts and jumpers, but when i have to actually teach and move its not so great as feel i weight double what i was before i ate!!  my boy friend also has asked if pregent which is quite embarrasiing as really not what either of us want at mo!!!it also plus plays havock with any kinds of relationships as hate how huge i look if i eat!! frankly i sucks!

any hints of how to reduce the swelling that isnt just not eating which i consider all t hetime, then would b v grateful!!

Posted 3/7/2006 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone! I can sympathize with you bloaters..im one too. After I eat (usually dinner) my stomach will bloat where I look about 6 mos pregnant!!! (and im 15!!) Its a hard bloat, if i beat on it it sounds like a board!!! I know that artificial sweetners bloat me up like CRAZY!! It usually goes down by morning tho, and it doesnt suppress my breathing or anything, its just embarrassing and I feel ugly!
Posted 3/8/2006 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi celticgirl,
I have FMS too. I had migraines for a long time, and found that Toprol XL, a beta blocker, took them all away for me! (I'm 56). Recently, since I thought some of my problems were behind me, I tried to wean off the Toprol. I began filling with so much gas at night, that I couldn't breath. It would totally freak me out. All that gas in my stomach would put incredible pressure on my chest, neck and even my head. I'm finding that it has something to do with coming off the Toprol. So I'm back on the Toprol. I don't know why a beta blocker seems to help me in so many ways........but as you probably know, fibromyalgia is a really funky thing, and we have all sorts of weird symptoms that make no sense at all.
I want to mention one thing to you, and I hope it doesn't scare you. It's important for you to be checked out by an OB/GYN, because ovarian cancer can present this way. For some reason, one of it's main symptoms is bloating.
I'm going to look more seriously into cutting down on the carbs I eat. I'm wondering if all this gas is from undigested carbs.
But I can sooooo relate to your problems. People think "bloating......big deal".......but it can be horrible!
I take Gax-X, which sometimes help, but not always.
Posted 3/8/2006 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I've had IBS my entire life. As a child they didn't have a diagnosis for it, and it wasn't until I was in my late twenties that they finally figured out what was wrong with me. Even though I've been a personal trainer and nutritional consultant for years, I've had a very hard time dealing with my IBS. I too have the bloating, mostly after meals and after consuming alcohol. The things I've found helpful are to eat smaller portions, breaking my meals up and eating less, but more often. Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods and anything highly acidic. The other thing that is helpful is to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning to help clean out your system, and keep breakfast easy to digest; things like yogurt, fresh fruits, and whole grain cereals. Then introduce heavier foods later in the morning and through late afternoon; proteins and fats. As the day progresses, cut back again on the heavy foods and move to fresh vegiis and whole grains. One last thing that I've found highly beneficial is intestinal massage as it helps to keep things moving through your digestive track appropriatly.

Hope this helps!
Posted 3/8/2006 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi sparker1970,
Welcome to Healing Well tongue

Thank you for sharing your successful regimine with us.  Your methods make sense.  I also have to have a tall glass of water after I wake up, I learned this from my mother.  If I don't have that water, it really makes a difference on how I feel.  Massaging the abdomen is so important also and I'm glad you brought that up.  I found this out when my son had colic as a baby and the doc suggested rubbing lotion (I was using coconut oil) on his belly and it made his symptoms better.  I do this method on myself now and together with the heating pad is relieving to me.  Hope you keep posting... Take Care

Posted 6/9/2007 1:49 AM (GMT 0)

Re: stomach swelling after eating.  After years and years I found an osteopath who practises Visceral Manipulation.  Some Chiropractors also do this.  I suggest you Google it.  He diagnosed me with a hiatal hernia of the lower esophagus.  Google Hiatal Hernia.   This can be helped by a simple action of pulling down the stomach.  Call round all your local chiropractors and ask if they do this.  Then you can do it yourself.

There is a Chinese version of this called Chi Nei Tsang.  Depending where you live you may find a practitioner.  Google that too.

Posted 10/21/2007 5:48 AM (GMT 0)

I have been going through this for a year, the hard swelling of the stomach right in the middle above the belly button, and have had several tests done and they all say IBS, took medication for that and it did nothing at all to help, If i eat anything a lot of times before i am even done eating i am in the bathroom, makes it really hard to go anywhere. my stomach up at top center looks lke am pregnant, and hurts and i feel full all the time, I have had the upper scope done several times with stretching of the esphoscus and it dont work, i had gained a lot of weight and dont know how because whateveer i eat, i loose as fast as i eat it....anyone else have this huge swelling right in the center of your stomach and it is hard as a rock? i am new here so any information will be helpful,

thanks...

Posted 10/21/2007 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Pretty much everyone in my family has IBS...mom,dad,bro,sis. My dad and I have IBS/constipation. This makes the gassyness for myself even worse as it causes alot of pain in tummy and lower back...ugh. Unfortunately I am addicted to coffee/caffeine as it is an outlit for me but try to cut down some. Two days ago I had horrible chest pain...don't think it was heart related but maybe IBS or Gerd like symptoms...man it not only wrecked my whole day, it took alot of energy outta me. I also believe I have had IBS since childhood as I believe that stress causes alot of it and I have lived w/ alot of stress when my parents fought and I seemed to take one the stress. TC all. Kota
**************************************
Epilepsy(age 8)
Fibro
Chronic Fatigue
IBS/constipation
clinical depression
anxiety
Neutropenia(due to parvo-virus in bone marrow)
Factor V Leiden
Hemolytic anemia/hereditary sherocytosis
Posted 10/24/2007 11:57 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Beck

i have had swelling now for 7 weeks and feel sick all the time. no energy. My doctor thinks it is ibs but i havn;t had symptoms like this before. I feel as is if i have a ballon stuck in my stomach and even in the morning just after getting up it is swollen.  Do you have discomfort all day as well?

Posted 11/4/2007 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I have had your problem for 2 months as well as the sweling chronic indigestion of which the antacids have no eddect on it. As you say my stomach is swollen starting in the morning and lasting all day. i feel sick and lethargic and frankly going crazy.
Posted 11/6/2007 1:22 AM (GMT 0)

Celticgirl - I deal with the exact same bloating problem.  At times, it looks like I'm nine months pregnant and carrying triplets!

Over time, the bloating was getting worse, in addition to my IBS-like symptoms.  Finally, my doctors arrived upon a diagnoisis that explained my growing abdomen and GI problems - endometriosis of the small intestine.

Endometriosis is very common in women, and the only way to diagnose it is through laparoscopy.  I've been battling severe endometriosis for my entire life, and when I turned 30, the GI symptoms began.  Two endo experts finally figured out that the endometriosis was invading my small intestine and causing it to expand and bloat up.

With the bloating, I have severe pain, much like you describe.  When I'm having  a period, my bloating is very severe, but the bloating decreases after it's over.  For about a week every month, it looks like I'm about to give birth at any minute.

Do you have any menstrual pain?  Women sometimes don't experience menstrual pain when they have endo though, so that doesn't necessarily rule it out.

If you're interested, you can google "endometriosis in the small intestine" and read up on the symptoms.  Usually, most sites list the classic bloating problem.

Anyway, this is just a thought.  Hopefully, I'll be able to have surgery with an endo specialist soon, and he is going to do a bowel resection.  I am praying that my swollen tummy deflates after the surgery!

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.

Posted 11/6/2007 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
luvdogs, eventually I am going to have an endoscopy to see iffin I have endometriosis. I don't have a lot of mentral pain but have a lot of Pelvic pain and the bloating fun stuff. Just another thing to add to my plate. I think I would still have IBS/constipation as I have always been somewhat like this w/o the bloating. Peace Out! Kota
____________________________________
DX:Epilepsy
Depression
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue(due to parvo virus in bone marrow)
Anxiety
Possible endometriosis
Blood Clotting disorder
Peri-menopause
Posted 11/6/2007 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Srry also don't have a gallbladder which makes things gassier confused
Posted 9/3/2008 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
hi i'm new at this I've been to a million dr. no one knows the answer the stomache swells pain swelling of the hands,feet,ankles don't sleep either I've looked 9 months since nov I also have breast cancer and lymphoma which was found in the colon that's one reason they are having trouble figuring my body out sweetmomma
Posted 9/4/2008 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Kota,
An endoscopy will only show endo if the endo has either gone throught the intestinal walls or is inside the intestine. You would need a laproscopy to see if there is endo on the outside of your intestines. Don't have the surgery unless your doctor is knowlegable and skilled enough to surgically remove the endo from your body. Why have one surgery to look then another to remove it.

If you go this route, do a lot of research. Many docs claim to be specialists but aren't.

Good Luck
Posted 2/23/2009 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
WELL I AM NEW TO THIS PAGE, I WAS DOING A SEARCH ONLINE AND I FOUND THIS BULLETIN AND SO I'VE JOINED. I AM SORRY BUT I JUST READ THE MAIN STORY BUT I WANTED TO SHARE MY INFORMATION:

MY MEDICAL NIGHTMARE STARTED IN 2001, WHEN I WAS 26
I'VE BEEN THROUGH FIVE OPERATIONS FOR SEVERE ENDOMETRIOSIS, TWO OF THEM MAJOR OPERATIONS RESULTING IN A COMPLETE HYSTERECTOMY. I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE IV ENDOMETRIOSIS AND DOCTORS SAY THOUGH I HAVE NO ESTROGEN IN MY BODY NATURALLY (NO OVARIES) AND I DO NOT TAKE ANY H.R.T THEY ARE STUNNED THAT THE ENDOMETRIOSIS IS PRODUCING IT'S OWN ESTROGEN TO FEED ITSELF. SINCE I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH FYBROMYALGIA AND OSTEOARTHRITIS AND WITH THIS WINTER BEING COLD IT'S BEEN ALMOST CRIPPLING TO WALK AND MY KNEES ARE CONSTANTLY SWOLLEN. I'VE HAD A CONDITION WITH MY STOMACH SINCE MY 4TH SURGERY ESPECIALLY (PARTIAL HYSTECTOMY) WHERE I SWELL, I LOOK about 6 MONTHS OR SO PREGNANT. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I EAT AND I FEEL SICK AFTERWARDS.

A LITTLE HISTORY:
AFTER MY SECOND LAP SURGERY I WAS PLACED ON LUPRON (UGHH) FOR SIX MONTHS STRAIGHT (TWO THREE MONTH INJECTIONS) AND I WAS STILL IN SEVERE PAIN. I TOLD THE DOCTOR I COULD TELL IT WAS STILL GROWING, SHE TOLD ME IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. SURE ENOUGH, THE THIRD SURGERY SHOWED THE DISEASE WAS DESTORYING MY INSIDES, IT HAD MANGLED MY RIGHT OVARY, ATTACKED MY 'CUL'DE;SAC' AND WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE

FAST FORWARDING TO MY FIFTH SURGERY I HAD A NON CANCEROUS TUMOR (IN 4TH SURGERY TOO) AND THEY HAD TO REMOVE MY OTHER OVARY, RESECT MY INTETSTINES, REMOVE THE ENDO FROM MY VAGINIA AND RECONSTRUCT MY VAGINIA AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF RIGHT NOW. about THREE MONTHS AFTER THIS MAJOR SURGERY I WAS DEATHLY ILL AND MY HUSBAND HAPPENED TO COME HOME FROM WORK @ LUNCHTIME AND FOUND ME ALL BUT DEAD IN THE BATHROOM. HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND I WAS IN ICU FOR 7 DAYS, SEVERELY DEHYDRATED AND DILLUSIONAL. I'VE ALWAYS SUFFERED FROM MIGRANES SINCE THE START OF ALL THIS AND NOW WHEN I GET FRUSTERED AND TRY TO SAY SOMETHING THE WORDS DON'T SEEM TO COME OUT RIGHT.

I'M 33 AND I FEEL about 100. I FEEL LIKE NO ONE UNDERSTANDS MY DAILY SEVERE PAIN, IT'S LEFT ME WITH NO ANSWERS, WORSE OFF THEN BEFORE SURGERIES, AND I FEEL UNMOTIVATED BECAUSE OF THE PAIN. I SOMETIMES WONDER IF I'M LOSING MY MIND BECAUSE NO ONE CAN EVEN RELATE TO THE PAIN I LIVE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. MY DAUGHTER CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN I AM SICK OR EAT BECAUSE THE COLOR DRAINS FROM MY FACE AND I'M AS WHITE AS A SHEET.

DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE WHAT I'M DESCRIBING? I'M SORRY FOR THE CAPS BUT I CAN'T WELL RIGHT NOW, AT TIMES MY VISION IS BLURRED BUT I WANTED TO TYPE THIS WHILE I COULD IN HOPES SOMEONE, ANYONE CAN RELATE, THOUGH I WOULDN'T WISH THIS PAIN ON ANYONE EVER.

I HOPE TO HEAR ANY SUGGESTIONS OR SUPPORT. DOCTORS ONLY TREAT THE CONDITIONS, THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CURE ME AND ALSO I NEED TO GET BLOOD DRAWN FOR LUPUS AND R.A TESTING THEN BONE DENSITY BECAUSE I SEEM TO BE SHRINKING IN SIZE....AT 33 I THINK THIS IS SLIGHTLY BIZARRE. PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE SICK 100 YRS AGO LIKE WE ARE NOWADAYS.

IN HOPES SOMEONE CAN HELP!!! eyes
Posted 2/28/2009 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Well Celtic Girl I think you know you are not alone.33 going on 98 I am really upset that you have had such a hard time. Has the same Dr. did all of these surgeries and diagnosis? I have had IBS for 26 yrs and have had the swelling and pain with it. I compare it to 11 months pregnant now. I have had it with DRs. Just looling for a quack now to give me Donnatal or anything to stop D so I can work. Started with joint swelling just recently. Sitting here with ice on knee right now. I am 51 and raised kids so I cope. But I gotta put a question out there. Is there any Drs. reading this because something has to be done. D and headaches and joint swelling and skin rashes. HELP!! I for one am sooooo tired of spending my whole paycheck just to be functional. I was a SINGLE widow for 7 years and I almost starved to death trying to survive. My Dr. wanted me to go to Mayo but been to evey specialist here and to IU medical. I really think all is a waste. They dont have a clue. I too do the weight thing. First size 7 then 12 then 4 falling off then 12 too small. All sicks and Drs just pass you around. The ONLY thing that even helps me is Donnatal and alcohol. I wish could give you a solution but I cant. I have tried all medicine and diets. Just know you are not alone. Maybe we should ALL GO TO THE SAME CLINC AT SAME TIME AND DEMAND THEY TRY TO FIND A CURE FOR IBS AND ALL OF THE SYMPYOMS.OK had too much to drink tonight must go to bed. Hugs all, hope you have lots of love in your life to get thru this.

Posted 2/28/2009 2:24 PM (GMT 0)

I need to say what I meant by alcohol was if I go out to eat I drink a drink before I eat. Seems to relax my stomach so I dont swell and it doesnt go through me so fast. I have tried enzymes and a long list of medicines. Instead of taking alot of medicine on a regular basis I would rather have a drink occasionally. I dont go out alot because of my stomach . To be honest if it wasnt from having to work I would only take medicine when I leave the house. But without something in my system I will just be sitting at work and have an accident before I even realize it. YUCK. All of my Drs. just want me to take medicines all the time to work and I am really worried about long term damage to my liver and the rest of my body. Can tell you that a few months ago I was so tired of feeling bad all over that we went on a steamed vegs. and chicken diet. Fresh fruit too. Of course we are suppose to stay away from fruit but I felt really good. I cannot have milk products, they really make me bad. Just cheese and yougurt.I was waling and running on treadmill. Now I have a tear in my shoulder and bursitus and my knee has a softball on the side of it. So much for running. They also said I have DDD in my neck causing my headaches. What a basket case. I cannot find one DR. to treat all. I was going every week to someone to be functional. SOOO I just want one Dr. not really a quack. I was really in a bad mood last night when I wrote that and had 3 beers without eating. Take care.

Posted 3/6/2009 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
This is a very long thread but I think I have gotten a large part of it. What did a colonoscopy show? I had a similar problem shortly after I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). I also have IBS. Turned out I had an obstruction that would open and close. Part of my bowel was so narrowed that digestive contents went down so slowly it caused the severe bloating. Eventually, my bowel perforated (developed a leak) and I ended up in the hospital and had a bowel resection. The pain made me claw at my bed. It was all I could do not to scream.

I was convinced that the severity of the bloat I had was not caused by anything less than a severe medical problem even though doctors kept telling me it was gas, etc. I am glad I kept pursuing it because I may have died if I ignored it.

I hope you find an answer for your debilitating problems. Don't give up and follow your instincts. You know your body better than anyone else.

God Bless You...

Kim
Posted 3/6/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
My husband did not have the diarhea when he had alcohol before it ate but when he didn't you may has well have thrown the food down the toilet and saved the stress. of course when you are working this makes it difficult since you cant' be swigging on a bottle so he had to make some very quick trips on his lunch time.
Posted 3/8/2009 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
I sometimes well most of the time experience stomah swelling I'm not sure if I'm just getting full easily and fast.It gets to the point where it can get uncomfortable and I do not want to eat.It probably is do to feeling bloated.
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