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Always look bloated

5 replies

redfox14 · 27/07/2025 16:55

Over the past 6 months I’ve really noticed that I’m looking so bloated that I look pregnant. I can’t tie it to any foods in particular, and I also wake up in the morning looking bloated and feeling really uncomfortable. I feel really heavy around the abdomen and when I eat I feel full really quickly even after a small meal. I’m 29, fairly active and healthy. My bloated stomach is so disproportionate to the rest of my body it’s really getting me down and making me extremely self conscious.

I’ve been to the GP three times now this year, the first time I was told it was because I’d had a baby (which was two years ago!), the second time I was told to take Gaviscon to see if it helped, I went last week and got told to take peppermint capsules.

I am concerned that it might not be food related and could be gynaecological. I have extremely heavy periods, a lot of abdominal discomfort, and the fact I look so bloated even first thing in the morning are making me worried that it’s something like fibroids, or a cyst. I did say that to the GP I saw last week and she said to try the peppermint capsules for a week and then come back and I could ask to be referred for a scan. I also want to ask about the CA125 blood test as I do have a family history of cervical cancer.

I suppose I’m wondering if anyone has similar symptoms or experience? Was it food related or could it be a sign of something gynae related?

OP posts:
girljulian · 27/07/2025 16:58

I have this. I have coeliac disease and endometriosis so I’m not clear which is the most to blame, but also, the two conditions tend to happen together with alarming regularity!

redfox14 · 27/07/2025 17:02

@girljulian oh bless you that must be really difficult. How did you get your diagnosis of endometriosis if you don’t mind me asking? I didn’t know that endometriosis and celiac were common together.

OP posts:
girljulian · 27/07/2025 17:03

redfox14 · 27/07/2025 17:02

@girljulian oh bless you that must be really difficult. How did you get your diagnosis of endometriosis if you don’t mind me asking? I didn’t know that endometriosis and celiac were common together.

I had IVF and they struggled to get to my ovaries because of the endo — the consultant kindly wrote to my GP to say “she has terrible endo, please refer her for surgery on the NHS” and they did. The IVF was private but the surgeon also worked for the NHS so he ended up doing my endo excision too!

Vintagenow · 27/07/2025 17:14

I've been bloated and in pain for 18 months. GP insisted it was gastro related despite my insistence it was womb related, saw gastroenterologist, had various tests, nothing found, then just left to it. Went back 8 months ago after a couple of months of daily bleeding, saw a consultant in May and just had a huge fibroid removed last week and my stomach is already much flatter and no more pain!
I had the procedure done awake and it was less painful than the daily pain I'd been living with, it honestly ruined my life. I had to leave my job, couldn't make social plans, felt like a terrible mum. Now I can start living my life again.
It's absolutely exhausting constantly having to advocate for yourself these days. I have so little faith in GP's.
Push and push for a gynae referral, ultrasound didn't pick up my fibroid weirdly, only a hysteroscopy.

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