To ask if your tummy is meant to feel lumpy?

[hoolydooly]

To start off, I have health anxiety. It is making it very hard for me to think rationally. In this week alone, I have been worried about appendicitis, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, bowel cancer and toe nail melanoma. Ridiculous.

Anyway, I was lying on my back and prodding my belly (as you do) and I thought it felt firmer on the right side than the left. I can't tell if there is actually a lump. DH says no, but admitted it did feel firmer on that side. To me it feels like a wide sausage-shape. I can feel the same on the left but it's higher up on the left and I know that is my colon. Worried about the right side thing, which is level with belly button.

Are tummies meant to be assymetrical like this? Is it normal to feel muscle/fat/organs? Help!

Not to be crass, but are you sure it's not just poop or trapped wind?

I don't think so, no. Feels wider/bigger than that.

Your intestines take up a lot of space in your abdominal cavity, and they are not symmetrical...

Thanks, @DinosforallDinosforall. Can you feel one side being firmer than the other?

It’s normal to feel faecal matter, trapped wind, at points in your cycle your reproductive organs etc. I’ve had a kidney transplant and at certain times can see my new kidney protruding. There’s a lot in there working away throughout the day. If you really are worried about a lump get it checked out though. Health anxiety is awful

Another vote for poop - I have definitely felt this when I have been a bit backed up ha!

@CardiganBlobby Even on the right side? I can feel something on the left and higher up near my hip bone. BUt this thing on the right is level with my belly button and feel firmer on the right than left.

Are we meant to be symmetrical???

I have diastasis recti - not sure if that affects how it all feels around there.

Yep think you're just feeling your intestine content. It will feel larger than it looks because it's wrapped in your intestines and your skin and it's a bit wider there than where it comes out

Not one part of our body is symmetrical. Hands, feet, face etc and inside us is even less symmetrical. Your heart is on one side of your body, as is your liver, Other organs have their place, but they aren't symmetrical even if there are two of them (eg lungs/kidneys).

I have felt it in my right side before yes. On that basis I am very much not symmetrical.

Would it be assymetrical though?
I asked an online doctor and he said your abdomen should be symmetrical, so now I am even more worried!

Sorry - crossed over with those most recent posts.

Thanks for taking the time to reassure me.

Anyone else with the same thing?

Do you have therapy for your health anxiety? You will deprive yourself of enjoying life if you don't find a way of overcoming this. (Not to mention driving others to distraction). If you don't mind me asking, how does your husband and family cope with this?

I tried CBT years ago. It did not help.
I have been much better for the past year or so, but something has caused it to flare up in the past couple of months. I don't know why. I hate it. My husband does his best, but he is very relaxed so can't understand it. My kids don't know (I hope).

Just poking my stomach to see and I'm lumpy too and a bit gassy the fascinating part is poking at a lumpy bit and hearing my stomach gurgle in response

I think your normal

And the online doctor is wrong we aren't symmetrical internally we appear to be from the outside but the inside no

Thank you @slipperywhensparticus, for having a poke on my behalf! This is why I posted here as I wanted to see how real people's bodies are and not how they should be according to a medical textbook or Dr Death (ie Dr Google).

Bodies are very different on each side OP, not unusual at all to feel lumpy/bumpy/squishy on one side and not the other. I agree with trapped wind/poop inside your intestine, it can feel very different especially on the right side.

Thank you, Muppetry76. I really appreciate people taking time here to help.

The online doctor has totally freaked me out, saying firmness on one side means an internal mass. Eek!

@hoolydooly

Thank you, Muppetry76. I really appreciate people taking time here to help.

The online doctor has totally freaked me out, saying firmness on one side means an internal mass. Eek!

The only internal mass you're feeling is whatever you had for dinner last night.

If it's still worrying you, have a lie down, do some deep breathing and massage your tummy from lower right, up, over and down your left for a bit.

You'll probably end up needing to go to the toilet shortly afterwards and you'll feel much better.

Thanks @MitziK
Do you also have palpable "lumps" (firmness) and assymetry?

Yeah, it's poo. I suffer with chronic constipation so can always feel it, and it's only on the right hand side.

@hoolydooly

Thanks *@MitziK* Do you also have palpable "lumps" (firmness) and assymetry?

Along with every other human being, yes.

Hello @DaanSaaf. Is yours quite low too, level with the belly button?

Yes, exactly there

That's reassuring. Thank you.

I hate this! Just want to play with my kids and have fun, but there is always some health worry to obsess over.