Let's talk bloating

[Dollydoo2244]

I'm a size 8 /10 overall but I look about 6 months pregnant.

I've started meeting friends for wine and having a few at home with DH since I stopped breastfeeding but nothing wild.
I lost weight while breastfeeding but now my periods have returned my belly is constantly huge.

I don't really exercise bar walking with pram as don't have time.

Is this normal for semi regular exercise/wine drinker who is not on a diet. Or should I get an investigation/speak to gp. I'm mid thirties so wondering if we all get a middle age spread if we leave it unchecked. Just feel the size of my stomach doesn't match my lifestyle and it's quite prominent as not really overweight anywhere else.

It may be IBS? My stomach swells madly after white bread, pasta, beer and especially potatoes, could you have a similar intolerances?

@andHelenknowsimmiserablenow I eat a lot of bread 😩

Does it come and go or is it persistently bloated.
My mum looked 9 months pregnant constantly and it was cancer.
I bloat on and off, normally worse after eating and in the evening but it comes and goes, it's IBS.
I'm sure your GP would ask about the nature of the bloating. If you are constantly bloated you need to see your GP.

I discovered that it was raw vegetables that was making me bloat like a hard beach ball. I dont seem to have the enzymes to break them down. I just cook all veg now, no more bloating

You should probably speak to your doctor, as bloating can be a sign of ovarian cancer. My gp sent me for all the tests

I can’t eat carbs because I get fat and I can’t eat too much fibre because I bloat.

I basically live on meat and cheese. It’s great 😁

I have recently had a smear and all was fine

I guess a smear might not pick this up though. The bloating is pretty constant tbh

A smear wouldn't pick up ovarian cancer I don't think.

It's very unlikely that it is but also not something you want to ignore.

I stopped eating wheat and my boating massively dropped. It’s worth keeping a food diary for a week with symptoms then try avoiding a bit to see what happens.

I have the same, but I have UC, seems to have got worse after a baby. I look 8m pregnant!! Have had scans, colonoscopy, etc. was put on a low fibre diet (white bread, white rice, chicken, no veg). It has helped a bit, but I would see your GP.

@TheMildManneredMilitant I had it pre babies and have had 2 pregnancies and birth between 2020 and 2023. Would ovarian cancer be possible or potentially picked up during this time. Just googled symptoms and a bit worried now

@Torganer I had bloat pre baby too and thought it was down to wine. It's definitely got worse after my second. Would you mind me asking what is UC?

I stopped getting bloated when I cut out sugar and white bread. Could be an intolerance to something

It's massively unlikely particularly if you've had it so long. Bloating seems fairly common and ovarian cancer isn't. But I'm really not a medical professional and any symptoms you should get checked.

Please don’t get yourself worried about cancer, it’s highly unlikely.

I had something similar and was sick to death with it. My G.P did blood tests, one for ovarian cancer, negative.

She recommended I take a probiotic called Optibac, I also have a teaspoon of turmeric in hot water first thing in the morning with a touch of honey. Both of these have completely changed my stomach for the better.

It could be down to a hormonal upset, I’m going through menopause at the moment and those two items have been life changing. My daughter also takes Optibac and has noticed her stomach is happier. I’m happy after two years of crappy bloat, it’s such a relief.

Mine is endometriosis and cysts. This was one day to the next (took it for consultant)

@MrShady I have often wondered about endo. Thank you so much for sharing. It can reduce but then huge again the next day and especially towards end of cycle

I get a really bloated tummy after eating certain things - mainly carbs! I’m in peri and on HRT and actually did ask my GP about it. She said ovarian cancer “bloat” tends to be consistently there rather than coming and going because essentially it’s a mass causing the stomach to protrude. It was a telephone consult so she didn’t examine me but I wasn’t asked to go in. I do have long standing IBS and feel like it’s got worse since peri.

I had it really bad , clothes felt uncomfortable, never found out what caused it . I’m now following slimming world and think healthier eating helps as it rarely happens now .

A daily Probiotic yogurt drink has been really helpful for me. I also drink wine and eat loads of carbs.

Have you tried peppermint oil capsules, or drinking peppermint tea?

@Dollydoo2244 Sorry, it’s Ulcerative Colitis. Like Crohns. Basically bowel disease. It won’t get better, but it’s manageable with drugs. Eventually I will probably have to have stoma. Just recently it’s been worse and maybe some ibs to deal with hence the diet!

Try cutting out wheat for a short period and see if that helps. Unfortunately your babies stretched your belly skin so it doesn't take much to make it pop out more

I used to bloat massively when I was taking the mini pill and then had the Mirena coil. As soon as I stopped taking hormones it reduced a lot, I occasionally get bloated but it's usually because I've eaten too many carbs now.