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Women's health

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Large stomach

281 replies

Welshandpro · 04/11/2021 14:14

Hi
Advice needed
Over the last 6 months my stomach has grown bigger and bigger like I am pregnant , I eat and exercise well but it’s growing..
Gp has referred me to gastro which will take 2 years to be seen .. but I worry it will be much larger by then ?
Any advice greatful . Should I call my gp again !
Thanks

OP posts:
Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 14:43

@Hetyanni wow !!!! I feel bad now never mind measuring 33 weeks pregnant .. how long did u wait to have the op ?

OP posts:
Hetyanni · 13/11/2021 15:03

[quote Welshandpro]@Hetyanni wow !!!! I feel bad now never mind measuring 33 weeks pregnant .. how long did u wait to have the op ? [/quote]
Well I thought it was bloating for a few weeks and tried losing weight but it kept getting worse. That went on for maybe 2 months or so.Eventually realised something was up and went to the doctor who sent me straight to A&E and they diagnosed the cyst. From that point it was a 6 week wait for the operation and I had to go to a specialist hospital.

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 15:18

@Hetyanni I was like that but as the weeks are going on it's getting rounder and higher up towards my ribs .. I tried cutting out bread etc .. although my diet is good anyway I just couldn't shift it .. that's when I realised .. it's just the waiting now its so stressful and worrying .. whatever it is I just want it gone as I'm struggling to do anything x

OP posts:
HealthworriesNC · 13/11/2021 15:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Animood · 13/11/2021 15:40

[quote Welshandpro]@Animood it could be .. at the moment i just don't know what it but could be a few things x[/quote]
Just wanted to say that it could be something completely harmless. Try not to think the worst.

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 15:48

@Animood yes I'm keeping optimistic I just want the smelling gone .. as u can imagine trying to hide my stomach is awful and I look pregnant .. and nothing fits .. just can't wait to find out what's causing it whatever it may be x

OP posts:
ricepolo · 13/11/2021 15:53

OC survivor here. Please get seen as soon as possible. Waiting even an extra week could make a difference. Make a private appointment. Beg borrow or steal the money. Your NHS care sounds shite.

I had three GPs fob me off. Only when I went private did I get some answers which saved my life. You need to make things happen; don’t wait for the clunking NHS machinery to help you.

It may be something innocent but in case it’s not, you need to act now.

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 15:57

@HealthworriesNC I'm so glad you've got back in touch ! Please Keep in touch .. I'm just feeling rotten and I'm slight pain x

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Ragruggers · 13/11/2021 16:02

Please go back to your GP and insist you have a scan this is not acceptable.I had OC 20 years ago one of my symptoms was a huge stomach and no control over urine my GP diagnosed IBS.I was on holiday and I was very concerned saw a emergency GP who admitted me into hospital straight away.Please contact your doctor on Monday.I made a full recovery after surgery and chemo.Good luck.My CA125 was normal.

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 16:06

@Ragruggers I had the CA125 in June that was normal and had my 2bd one Thursday .. awaiting the results for that .. I'm waiting for pelvic scan date (approx 4 weeks) x

OP posts:
Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 16:07

@ricepolo I'm waiting for pelvis scan date ( approx 4 weeks ) I am still thinking of private if I don't hear soon x

OP posts:
ricepolo · 13/11/2021 16:07

I cannot say this enough.

Do not wait four weeks.

ricepolo · 13/11/2021 16:07

Sorry-cross posts. I’d book a private first thing Monday.

Ragruggers · 13/11/2021 16:17

You could ring the scannng dept and say you will accept a cancellation appt.If one comes up.If not ring your local private hospital and ask the waiting time your GP can send a referral letter for this ,the waiting times are terrible in the NHS at the moment.Good luck.

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 18:10

@ricepolo I just hope it comes soon or I will go private .. there is definitely something not right and all my close friends have said it does not look good and is not right .. sometimes u think "am I over exaggerating here " x

OP posts:
ricepolo · 13/11/2021 20:38

No you’re not over exaggerating. It needs sorting, whatever it is. X

ChristmasPlanning · 13/11/2021 20:53

OP so glad you have pushed this. I still think 4 weeks is a very long time, so if you can afford it I think you should go private Thanks

kittycluck · 13/11/2021 21:03

Hi, I've not read all the posts but this happened to me.
I put on nearly 2 stone over the past year. Felt very bloated and looked pregnant. I had bloods taken for coeliac disease which came back positive. I was referred to endoscopy and biopsy taken. They noticed I has inflammed stomach which was diagnosed as gastritis. I was prescribed lansoperazole for 6weeks. My biopsy confirmed I gave coeliac disease and I've been on a gluten free diet since (end of September)

You wouldn't believe how much my stomach has gone down! I still get bloated now and again but apparently I will have symptoms like this for up to a year.
Hope you find out what's going on soon!

Welshandpro · 13/11/2021 21:51

@kittycluck aww ok .. apart from the swollen abdomen an I ask what other symptoms you had ? X

OP posts:
kittycluck · 13/11/2021 22:00

I was have pains on/off mostly in lower stomach, very windy (sorry)tired alot more. I'd also started spotting too. That is what I originally went to the drs with. I have the mirena coil and I felt very uncomfortable
I saw a female gp who checked everything and I had a scan/internal scan too which was normal but I'd had a load of different bloods done. I didn't know they were testing fir coeliac. It came to light I'm peri-menopausal also. I'd got that diagnosis first. I've many things and bloating can be a symptom of that too so was surprised when I got told I need endoscopy.
You have done the right thing pushing to get checked sooner though. I was in a right tizz thinking the worst. X

careerchangeperhaps · 14/11/2021 07:58

@Welshandpro If I were you, I'd phone the scan clinic / secretary every morning and ask if there's been any cancellations for that day. They happen (esp at the moment because of Covid - people having to isolate) and you may get lucky with a last-minute appointment.

Scarby9 · 14/11/2021 08:27

I am horrified to hear your story and the story of some others on here.

I know two people whose stomach (at least that's what they thought) grew like yours. I posted here, worried about my best friend back in, I think, January?

In her case, she delayed and delayed going to the doctor, pretty much encouraged NOT to go by us, her friends, as she has always panicked a bit over her health, and in this case her three key symptoms could all be put down to reasonable causes. It was also right in the period of the first lockdown, so we weren't seeing each other except via WhatsApp most of the time. Massive coats outside in the rain otherwise.

Her symptoms were:

  1. Increasing pot belly - over-eating, no exercise, post-menopause. So many of us are the same.
  1. Having to go to the loo all the time, including several times through the night - age, and too much coffee.
  1. Extreme tiredness - her stressful job, her age, not sleeping well (maybe need to drink more coffee to stay alert at work...)

In the end, when her stomach looked like when you first went to your GP, OP, she rang her surgery. A wonderful, wonderful GP rang her back and told her to come in for a F2F consultation, which was just such a rare occurrence that it made us all sit up.

It was Ovarian Cancer - two huge tumours. The waits through the cancer pathway were agonising, especially during the spring lockdown, but she had the operation and is now back at work and back to sleeping normally and going to the loo normally. Feeling a different woman

We all still feel so bad about how we dismissed her concerns and are on a mission to support others with similar symptoms to keep fighting - it is NOT normal, and needs thorough checking to find the cause and deal with it.

My friend had two ultrasounds and an MRI.

Welshandpro · 14/11/2021 10:59

@Scarby9 wow .. it's so hard when you see your stomach and start thinking it's because of age .. the menopause or over eating .. I know mine isn't eating as I'm healthy and limit the bad foods , .. it's just that my stomach is not going away .. whatever I do .. and it's taking so long to be seen .. I've had lots of support on this group and everyone has been so lovely and helpful .. plus I dont really want to worry family so having chats on here is helping me .. I will do what the last comment said and check for cancellations .. and I should get my blood results back tommrow x

OP posts:
Welshandpro · 14/11/2021 11:11

This is is me today ..I have compared photos from previous just to see if there is any reduction .. but there doesn't seem to be .. it getting higher up to my ribs x

Large stomach
OP posts:
cultkid · 14/11/2021 12:27

Please go to a&e Today your story is awful and I'm so worried about you

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