Think my stomach is going to explode...

[WAMS]

Something is going on with my health I have put on a stone in weight over the last 6 weeks. I have developed a distended belly that is uncomfortable, and I often feel vaguely nauseous. Nothing in my lifestyle has changed that I can think of. I'm not a food allergy type, in the sense that I've never had issues with IBS or intolerances. My GP has referred me for the ovarian cancer blood test just to be sure, tho neither of us thinks it's this. She had no other suggestions So I don't feel that I can go back to her, but this belly and the discomfort is really getting to me. Any ideas of what's going on anyone??

[Footle]

Have you got a long wait for the blood test?

[Oldmum55]

WAMS it could be all sorts of things, your GP is doing the right thing in checking is not a serious cause. After that she will explore different causes. I guess you won't have to wait long.

[WAMS]

Blood test today Footle. I have of course googled and I'm not showing any other cancer symptoms at all so really not worried...other than once it comes back clear Im still left with a distended belly I'm not sure GP is especially interested Oldmum55...she dismissed me with 'We'll do the test to be on the safe side, however you could try doing fodmap I guess.'

[BillieEilish]

How old are you OP? any chance it is to do with menopause?

[WAMS]

Im 55 Billie...but have been stable on HRT for a number of years and have no other menopausey symptoms.

[Oldmum55]

WAMS good you are going forward fast, after the test you could indeed try the Foodmap. If that doesn't work back to the GP!

[goalpie2]

FODMAP takes months. When do you get your blood test results? And are they doing any bowel checks or other bloods?

[WAMS]

Should only be a few days for the blood test to come back. No plans for any other tests goalpie. Anything worth asking for?

[goalpie2]

How old are you? Could you be pregnant? Any other bowel issues? Have you had a bowel cancer screening?

[BeagleBumMabel]

Has she asked you to do a stool sample and checked for H Pylori? We are having a nightmare with it at the moment and symptoms sound similar.

[Hydrogenbeatsoxygen]

The CA125 test is not a reliable test for ovarian cancer. My blood test came back normal but when I was operated on I had a 9cm x 6cm malignant tumour.

Ask to be referred for a CT scan.

[Coldhandscoldheart]

They may not do CT in the first instance, but abdominal & pelvic ultrasound.

[Fatshedra]

Eating salads (boring long term) does make a difference to me. Try a few days of salads, not pasta but leafy ones, and see if it makes any difference.

[endofthelinefinally]

Did the gp do a pelvic examination and are you booked for a scan? Both essential, so if not, you need to ask.

[helacells]

Could be severe gluten intolerance or hypothyroidism. I have both and they developed overnight. If I even look at a slice of bread my belly balloons in minutes, I look 5 months gone no joke. Ask for a full thyroid panel and eliminate all gluten and see what happens.

[Hydrogenbeatsoxygen]

Bloating is the main symptom of ovarian cancer. Don’t mess about trying salads and gluten free, get yourself properly tested. Don’t be fobbed of by an inaccurate blood test. The CA-125 misses half of early cancers and can be elevated by benign conditions, such as diverticulitis, endometriosis, liver cirrhosis, pregnancy, and uterine fibroids, etc.

[WAMS]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I agree that there should be a bit more screening from the GP...but she was so dismissive Im not sure what to do Perhaps book a private GP appoinment?? Not cheap, but I want someone to listen that something's not right!

The GP did have a feel of my tummy and said it felt fine. I had issues with fatigue a few months ago and had a number of blood tests including the coeliac one which was very negative so not gluten. Helacells...thats interesting...I have had some suspect blood results for hyporthyroidism, my TSH is above normal range. Different GP that time, back in the summer when I was severly fatigued... he just said it wasn't abnormal enough and so I now have a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, which I don't agree with!

I really do feel that I'm being dismissed as a hypochondriac or something...admittedly I have been back and forwards to the GP last 5 months with a number of issues, but I feel that every GP I see looks at the one thing I present with on that day and doesn't try to see any kind of bigger picture. Im sure its all related. Helacells I was convinced for a while that hypothyroidism was the issue...I think I might look into that again.

In the meantime I guess I just need to be more assertive and get some more things checked out to be sure.Thanks for all the comments, Im reassured that you all think I need further investigation and that Im not being a fusspot!

[Oldmum55]

That's the problem with wanting to be taken seriously. Last year after years of never needing the doctor, I went through a spell of various problems, real enough but every visit to the GP ended with all my tests came back OK. But my symptoms were real enough and it's only by luck that eventually they went away. I was made to feel that I was a hypochondriac!

[Hydrogenbeatsoxygen]

When I had my first appointment with a GP with my worrying symptoms, I was told to come back the following week, as she was running late. I went back and she examined me and said it was just menopausal symptoms. I went again because I wasn’t happy and the GP wanted to prescribe some sort of HRT. Anyway, when I got the prescription the patient information leaflet said to only take on the advice of a doctor, if you have a blood clotting disorder; which I have. I went back again and she said she would email the consultant at the hospital to check whether I could use it. He emailed back and said with my symptoms I should be referred as an urgent two week appointment.

As I have said, my final diagnosis was cancer. I changed GPs after that.

You have to keep going back. No one knows your body like you do.

[WAMS]

Sorry to hear that Hydrogen. Hope things are resolving for you? I will go back to GP, promise x

[endofthelinefinally]

Tbh OP I would see a gynaecologist privately.
There was a lovely lady on here a while back with similar symptoms. I was one of the people on her first thread urging her to get a gynae opinion. It did turn out to be ovarian cancer. I am not saying thst is what you have, but it is one differential diagnosis and time is of the essence.
Don't be fobbed off.

[Hydrogenbeatsoxygen]

@WAMS

I am nearly six years on and all good thanks.

[Hydrogenbeatsoxygen]

@WAMS

Do let us know how you get on. 💐

[WAMS]

CA125 came back negative this morning Hydrogen, which is good, but on the other hand is also more reason for GP to dismiss me. So I've decided to throw money at it since it's doing my head in. I have booked a private abdominal and pelvic scan for tomorrow afternoon. Its not cheap but I need either peace of mind or to get some idea of what, if anything, is not right. If everything comes back clear then I'm back to pursuing the hypothyroid angle...if not..well at least I'm armed with information then.

So glad to hear you are well Hydrogen.

[lljkk]

Let us know what the scan found out? Hopefully something easy to fix.