This doesn’t look normal does it? Pic attached.

[Freee]

I posted about a week ago for advice. My stomach has seemed really bloated for the last few weeks. I have been on iron tablets so I stopped taking them a week ago to see if that was the culprit but my stomach is still like this.

I’m getting really worried about it. I do have a history of health anxiety and I have no idea if I’m completely blowing this out of proportion. Ordinarily, I would just visit the GP but DD is high risk at the moment and my DH is working away so I’m scared to take her (and her younger sister) along to any appointments.

I know bloatedness often reduces overnight but this is me now at 5am.

I’m just really worried 😟

I was going to ask if you’ve been dieting? I get bloated if I change my diet and go very veg heavy.

OP, email the surgery and include the photograph and a summary of symptoms. You are likely to get a response more quickly than if you just keep phoning.

Don't forget to include your name, date of birth and NHS number.
Take a few minutes to summarise a really clear history
Include date of LMP
Result of pregnancy test - maybe do this first in case it is positive, in which case you will have your answer.
Bowel and bladder function
Diet
weight
pain or lack of.
anything else you think might be a new symptom.

If your not pg then given your updates I think this urgent gp territory. Maybe it's just bloat but on the 1 in million chance it's not, dont risk leaving it

I am betting you are pg and place marking to see .

Hope you are ok❤️

For me this level of bloating would not be normal even when breathing out and I would be worried. Obviously iron tablets can cause constipation which could cause bloating. You say you've stopped the pill to check if you get your period - if you don't want another pregnancy then make sure you're careful during this break otherwise you could end up pregnant if you already aren't. If you aren't pregnant then I would book a gp appointment as they should be able to do blood tests to see if there's an obvious cause.

@Sloff maybe you were trying to be helpful but I didn’t find your comments helpful to me in this instance. Particularly on my other thread on AIBU that mumsnet kindly removed for me.

I had one thread a week ago. I explained that in my OP when I created this thread. I then started another thread last night in AIBU where I asked a different question. I asked if anyone had experienced this type of swelling and it not be due to pregnancy or anything else serious. As I explained on that thread. I am isolated at home with two young kids. I can’t see my DH for the foreseeable future and have no one to support me as I’m NC with my parents also. I’m having a hard time and can’t help but worry over this. I was seeking some reassurance. I found your comments to be antagonising but like I said upthread, maybe I’m being over sensitive. If I wanted my threads linked, I could have done that myself. You were trying to berate me from the off accusing me of having a thread here months ago which was nothing to do with me. I just think a bit of kindness when people are struggling doesn’t go amiss.

To all the people who have been kind to me, thank you. The test arrived and it was negative. I’m pleased on the one hand but anxious as I still don’t know what’s going on.

I'd be inclined to still blame the iron tablets for now.

Iron tablets really effect the gut, they can really irritate it.

@Freee, well the 3 threads were all by you and the first (older) one was the one I thought I had seen.I don't know which one you had removed as I have stopped looking as there is nothing I can say to help. It had confused me so could see it might also confuse others, hence linking them which would enable other posters to see what the problem might be. It seemed to have been troubling you for a few weeks longer than was good, without you taking any medical advice. It actually is easier for people to help if they get the entire story. I hope you find a solution to your problems, do try not to get so upset, I am not a bad person and am not getting at you.

I don’t think you’re a bad person. When you accused me of this being my 3rd thread, I only had two at that point, which is exactly what I told you. You accused me of having a thread months ago. That was not the case. I had one a week ago and then this one and another one (which asked a different question about the same matter in AIBU) which were both from yesterday. I created the AIBU thread AFTER telling you I had two threads. So that was completely true. The moment you realised I had a 3rd thread, you said

this IS your 3rd thread as if I had lied previously. I have been completely transparent in all my posts. I just don’t understand why you took it upon yourself to get involved to that extent. I was more than happy with the helpful advice I was being given by other posters and I really didn’t need your accusations at that time. I understand it’s highly unlikely you’ll admit any possible wrongdoing or take any of what I’m saying on board. Maybe this genuinely is your way of helping but as I said, it hasn’t been helpful for me.

Iron slows everything down, but if that was the case I’m sure you’d be feeling the effects too
Either way I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

@sloff So what if OP has posted 3 times, is there some law against that? Leave her alone and take your detective skills elsewhere.

OP, I used to have this sort of swollen belly sometimes when I was younger. It was so noticeable when I was being fitted for my wedding dress the fitter insisted I must be pregnant (I wasn’t).
I was very anxious and slim like you, so maybe it is just this? I say ‘just’, but it’s no fun being anxious. Perhaps also constipation from the iron tablets.

Who cares how many threads she's had. It doesn't matter at all. So Freee please do try and contact the GP now.

How are you OP?

My friend suffers from this and she's had all sorts of tests done and had the all clear on everything. Which I hope helps ease your fear in getting checked out. She is a slim size 10 and sometimes looks 6 months pregnant at least. I always find it bizarre to see and like you, would be very worried if it was me but she really has been to the doctors numerous times to rule lots of things out.

When I've had health anxiety in the past about ongoing issues I posted numerous threads and even name changed as I knew I was posting about the same thing I posted about a few weeks ago. But I felt that I'd look a bit desperate by bumping my own threads in the hope more people would try to help me figure it out so I posted new threads instead. I'm not sorry, it helped me work through what was worrying me and on the good advice here I did finally rule out anything sinister through tests.

I think I responded to your previous message but in case I didn't, here goes...
In August last year, I had significant belly bloat which ranged from looking like I was 5 months to full term pregnant, depending on the day.
I had numerous GP tests, abdominal scans, internal gynae scan (I paid privately because I was so worried) and blood tests. My CA-125 was elevated but the scans ruled out anything overly nasty. I have a history of gynae intervention so it was assumed my endemetriosis was back. However, it wasn't presenting as normal so I was sceptical.

I kept a food diary and eventually the GP agreed to run a blood test for coeliac disease which came back positive. I've had to shift my entire diet (low Fodmap as well as cutting out all wheat, gluten and dairy) and it's made a huge difference.

However, its not perfect as the bloat returns during my cycle. I'm currently my usual weight but look at least two dress sizes bigger around belly and hips. I'm going through forced menopause to see if the reduction of hormone makes a difference and, if it does, I'll be having surgery.

If you haven't alreadu, cut out wheat for two weeks and see if it helps. Check labels as it's bloody well everywhere.

If it's still there, ask go for referral for abdominal scan. This will take time, especially in the current climate, so if you're in the position to pay, id recommend for peace of mind. I think my scan was £110. It was genuinely worth every penny.

I know you're scared but it is a process of elimination so you need to start with least invasive options that you can self manage (diet) while regularly checking in with GP and getting bloods etc done

Hey OP, sorry to resurrect an old thread, but did you ever find out the cause of this and how are you now? I’m 3 months post partum and my stomach looks exactly like yours and also doesn’t go away at night. Have just posted on here yesterday with pictures attached.