Bloating/ascites/fat stomach. (?)

[ThisIsSimplyBeyond]

Hi

I have a problem with my belly atm. I am concerned it is ascites, yet I feel I am having my concerns minimised because I am also fat. To be clear though, bigger or smaller; my fat has always been on my arse (except for the apron left from post DC), whereas this is all on my abdomen.

So, I am also hardly eating because it makes me feel sick. I basically feel like I'm seven or eight months pregnant, it feels heavy, puts pressure on my bladder, and I can't lay on my front cause it's like lying on a ball. It is so uncomfortable, and it sometimes makes me need to catch my breath. My thyroid has been checked and is fine. Results are the top end of fine, but fine.

I spoke to the dr at the end of March about it and was sent for the bloods for my thyroid. They also checked if I am in menopause as my periods have pretty much stopped (some spotting, that's all). I have now had a second lot of bloods today to (apparently, I didn't see what they are testing) check for PCOS. By the time I actually see a doctor (i have an appt for the end of next week), it will be nearly a month since I first spoke to her. In this time, no one has examined me.

Am I right to be concerned? I feel that because my BMI is high they aren't taking me seriously when I say this "swelling" (or whatever it is) is new. They're just thinking I'm fat. Then with the eating, I know how common it is to assume the fat person is lying when they say they don't eat 🙄
I am worried that my weight is staying pretty stable, despite me not eating enough because of the increased swelling. Even allowing for meds affecting my metabolism, I eat less than one meal a day, and my BMR alone is near 2000 (I'm tall). It is this problem with non-weight-loss that makes me think it is not just bloating (as obviously air wouldn't weigh anything)

So I know it's covid-times and everything takes longer, but IABU to think it should be taken more seriously?

When my stomach looked like yours it was non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, they caught it in an ultrasound but one of the other things they were checking for was fibroids - that could be possible?

It could be any number of things , the bottom line is it needs sorting and it is worthy of being put through as an urgent scan , your GP sounds way too relaxed for me . Quite honestly the Covid excuse for the NHS is starting to wear a bit thin , as I told my endocrinologists secretary in a very polite way a couple of weeks ago when my appt was changed yet again .

As floral said jack, literally anything is possible. I could just be fat and my weight distribution has changed due to age or whatever 🤷🏼‍♀️

Agreed btw floral. On top of the covid crap, she was in a rush too - my appt was already 45mins late.

Oh just coming back to me now... she also told me to lose weight cause my cholesterol was up. Like, what the fuck do you think I'm here for?!

Aw fuck, I'm back to angry again 😕

The original problem of mine - nearly a month ago - was that despite not being able to eat, I cannot lose weight! (As I've gotten bigger it is more obvious to me that my abdomen is swollen). Ffs 😡

Unbelievable that she hasn't referred you.
There are many many things it could be, but there's also things that aren't going to like a two month wait.

I left her a page full of health crap that I've been writing out as things come to mind (i always forget something), which also includes everything I've eaten and drunk (she also said my urine says I am dehydrated) as well as symptoms, recent med changes etc

If I'm incredibly lucky she'll read it and decide that maybe I need to be put through as a priority after all.

@ThisIsSimplyBeyond

I'll get my wife to call as soon as she's home, she's more forceful than me!

At least you have a forceful spouse. Don’t underestimate how useful they are. Good luck.

OP, I see you had your kidneys scanned, but have you had kidney function blood tests performed?

Thanks ricki

Picsinred, kidneys not done on that last test, but I have had another one since. Kidneys might be on that one? Will be a few days til the results are available. When my blood pressure shot up last year, they were concerned it was my kidneys then, so I had bloods, urine, 24hr urine and US. All came back fine afaik.

Goodness. You do have a lot to contend with. I hope it is something that can be easily resolved.

Thank you rampant - I do too!

Ask for refused to run tests to be put on your notes if they refuse to check for C

Ah yes thanks mice - I knew that, but it had completely skipped out of my head! 🙂

My mum looked similar to you in your photo and it was a benign ovarian cyst.

Hey

My mum had ovarian cancer.

It is rare in younger woman, mum was mid 50s.
She started to feel tired, but still had regular periods, then over 12 weeks she got worse. Felt like she had a constant UTI, constant heartburn, loss of appetite. She went to the GP weekly for 8 weeks, and he never examined her, kept saying IBS. She then started to get tired walking and one day collapsed at home. Within days we knew what the issue was. She had 4 litres of fluid drained from the abdomen. The dr told us fluid in the abdomen shows as bloating that doesn't change over night or with eating, and is heavy to move from side to side.

Your GP can do a CA125 blood test. Its not a definite ovarian cancer test but will show if something isn't right. Normal is less than 35, mums was over 500. Your GP can also push for an urgent scan. If you ca125 came back high combined with your symptoms you might pass the red flags for a 2 week referral. Ovarian cancer is known as a silent killer, but it does whisper and leave little clues. I had persistent indigestion years ago, and I pushed my GP for an ultrasound scan and blood test, knowing the issues mum had. My GP was happy to arrange both. Please please don't wait.

Thanks just that is helpful, so sorry about your mum 💐

Going to ask for a second opinion in writing, tomorrow. So I can elaborate in detail on why I’m not happy.

I have a ten day course of provera on its way to me, and I’m not going to bleed until after that. So I’m expected to carry on as normal for at least two weeks before I would possibly - if the diagnosis is even correct - notice any deflation?! 😮

The dr also told me off for having missed so many periods without telling them! Ignoring that 1. I have told them, multiple times, I was told to “keep an eye on it” and 2. Uh there has been a pandemic and you were more likely to win the lottery than see a doctor face to face!!

I would ask your GP to examine your tummy. They can tell if its fluid or gas, and they can run a CA125 blood test.
Check the NICE referral guidelines for ovarian cancer. After my mum's misdiagnosis I check this website.
I know alot of people say Dr Google isn't great but there is nothing wrong with being assertive about your health. Chances are its nothing serious but rule out the serious and work backwards.

You can hear ascites sloshing in the abdomen. Get your wife to put her ear to one side of your abdomen and give the other side a gentle slap. Then reverse sides.

Are you losing weight from your back or arms?

DW says she can definitely, 100% hear water - said it sounds like the “bloob” that a water ballon makes when you hit it.

Yes I’ve lost from my arms, my BP monitor stays velcroed together now and had to be held before

Thanks for the reminder of the nice guidelines too justwinging - I’ll get onto them in the morning.

So here we go, nice guidelines:

1.1.1.2 Carry out tests in primary care (see section 1.1.2) if a woman (especially if 50 or over) reports having any of the following symptoms on a persistent or frequent basis – particularly more than 12 times per month[7]:

• persistent abdominal distension (women often refer to this as 'bloating')

• feeling full (early satiety) and/or loss of appetite

• pelvic or abdominal pain

• increased urinary urgency and/or frequency.

then

1.1.2.1 Measure serum CA125 in primary care in women with symptoms that suggest ovarian cancer (see section 1.1.1).

1.1.2.2 If serum CA125 is 35 IU/ml or greater, arrange an ultrasound scan of the abdomen and pelvis.

So it would appear they should be doing ca125, but apart from that it doesn’t say an urgent referral for an US either...? So could it still be up to two months, even if my ca125 comes back high?!

Op you should be referred under the two week wait scheme to rule out ovarian cancer. You need to ask why they are not doing this because it seems a no brainier to me. They can continue other investigations along side but this needs to be excluded.

Also did you tell them about your sats etc? I would be very concerned about all of this and you need proper investigation.

I didn’t only tell her about my sats, I gave it to her written down!