To think something is really wrong?

[MissSqueak]

I’ve been struggling with bloating for a few months. I’ve kept a food diary but there seems to be no consistent pattern. I’ve attempted to eat gluten free for a few days and nothing.

I finally asked the doctor for some advice and they gave me bog-standard blood tests (bone profile, liver function etc). I have no idea what they were even testing tbh. All came back clear.

On Friday night, I ate out at Nando’s. Yummy but I had a really tight tummy after and thought I was just full and had eaten a lot. I’ve never reacted badly to it before and I eat there a fair amount.

But even still now I have a horrible crampy feeling. I’m the most bloated I’ve ever looked and it’s just feeling so uncomfortable. I’ve tried to go to the toilet but it’s tricky. The other new thing - it’s hurting to pass urine. I have a weird feeling by my belly button.

I’m just worried something is really really wrong

I’m sure everything is fine lovely, but if it were me, I’d go back to the gp with these new symptoms.

Sounds exactly like my symptoms earlier this week when I had a tummy bug. I hope you feel better soon. 💐

Go back to the GP and explain that the bloating has got worse and list any new symptoms like painful urination. If you have unexplained weightloss or fatigue mention that too.

Most causes of bloating will turn out to be non-serious but the serious things should be ruled out first, and then you can try an elimination diet and see if you have certain triggers.

Are you ovulating? This is usually worse for me than my periods.

If you are unable to pass solids or urine for a couple of days it could be something serious, like volvulus. But it's probably just a stomach bug.
If you cannot pass anything and the swelling and pain is getting worse then do call 111.

If eating is causing you pain on urination I think you should go to the hospital just in case. This doesn’t sound like a garden-variety UTI to me.

Have you looked into IBS? Mine often causes pain near my belly button as well as bloating etc.

The main symptom of any serious illness isn't 'a horrible crampy feeling 48 hours after a huge meaty meal'.

No doctor will take you seriously with 48 hour digestive problems unless you're in agony, because the digestive system is a huge pipe full of chemicals, and we throw lots of stuff into it. It's meant to gurgle and rumble, and air often gets trapped, things get bunched up and a bit stuck sometimes.

Drink water, go for a walk, eat plain food for a day or two. You'll be fine. If you're not after a few more days, worry then.

This improved for me when I cut out lactose. Of course, yours could have a completely different reason

It improved for me when I cut out fruit and veg!

Have they checked your CA125 levels?

The urine needs looking at. The eating a massive nandos and then getting bloated not so much

Probably everything is fine.

But if you want to be sure and have some spare £££, perhaps consider a private abdominal ultrasound? It would show masses and cysts. It also shows air trapped in the gastrointestinal system (can give symptoms similar to what you’re describing).

I have them done every now and then as I have a family history of ovarian cancer. Gives you peace of mind and if anything is wrong, you get a printout and pictures to take with you so not really something your GP could argue with.

For what it’s worth, a friend of mine had an ovarian cyst (benign) that manifested with similar symptoms to yours.

I’ve had these exact symptoms on and off for the last 2 years. I’ve never suffered anything like it before. I’ve had various tests and all have come back clear, bloods, ultrasound, CT scan.

they’ve put it down to gastritis. Lanzoprasol seems to keep co tell of it. There’s no pattern I e noticed as to what sets it off but it still occasionally flares up when I’ve not been taking lazoprazol. It’s like a band of upper abdo pain, incredibly bloated and feeling full for a few days, and it switches from being constipated to loose stools.

would definitely be worth going back to the GP again

You’d need to cut out gluten longer than a few days to see any true difference, have you had a blood test for coeliac?

The main symptom of any serious illness isn't 'a horrible crampy feeling 48 hours after a huge meaty meal'.

excessive bloating and abdominal pressure can be a symptom of ovarian cancer, and for many women is often the only symptom which is why ovarian cancer is often diagnosed quite late.

since the OP has struggled for several months with bloating and it now appears to be affecting her bladder/urethra she should certainly be seeking further investigation.

it’s almost certainly NOT ovarian cancer, but bloating is a symptom that should be taken seriously.

I had difficulty peeing and after a couple of months went to doctor- they found a very large ovarian cyst. At the moment no cancer indicators but they're being amazing & checking everything.
Bloating is also a symptom, I didn't notice that or any other symptoms. Worth getting checked.

Belly button pain is one of the first symptoms of appendicitis.

Google and get checked!

Don’t cut out gluten before being tested though as it will skew the results.

Taking into condsideration the pain when peeing and the length of time you’ve had the bloating overall, it’s definitely worth pushing for further investigation. It doesn’t mean it’s definitely sinister, and I know it can be frightening and anxiety inducing when you haven’t yet got an answer but there are lots of benign things it could be too. Good luck.

Yeah, you've quoted something I said then argued against a different point, there.