question about belly bloating and pain

[Guest guest]

For the last two months or so, my belly has been 'blowing up' something

terrible. At times I look 7 months pregnant. It's worse after I eat or drink

something, but it's still really big even if I've gone hours without eating or

drinking. My belly is also rather hard, not like a soft mushy belly that I used

to have. I also have about 4 to 5 spots that have lumps you can feel. The

lumps really hurt. Sometimes they hurt and burn even without being touched.

When you touch them, even lightly, they feel like a really bad bruise feels when

you touch it. They hurt and sort of burn. Also, any type of straining (even to

urinate) makes certain areas really hurt and sometimes burn . The areas are in

my lower belly and also an area in the center of my belly about 3 inches above

the navel.

I went to my surgeon thinking maybe I had more hernias. However, the areas

don't poke out when I cough like the last hernias did. The surgeon did a ct

scan of my abdomen and pelvis and it didn't show anything. He told me that some

people just have lumpy abdominal walls and that might be what the lumps are. He

couldn't explain the pain.

Also, my weight keeps going up even though I'm still having a lot of trouble

eating. This morning I was up to 195, when only last week my weight was 185.

In May and June, my weight was about 165. I do have problems with fluid

retention and also constipation, but I don't think that would account for a 30

lb weight gain since the end of May.

I know this is all strange and it is hard to explain in writing, but I'm

wondering if anyone has any clues or suggestions.

thanks,

W

alabama

[Guest guest]

Dear :

Your post immediately caught my eye as I too have the almost identical massive

bloating and general hardness to my abdominal area. I also recently noticed a

swelling or protrusion in the middle area of my abdomen. On a recent hospital

visit it was confirmed to be a hernia. However, I do not have other painful

" lumps " as you described. Also, as you do, I gain weight (bloat) alarmingly and

not because I overeat or eat the " wrong " foods. On the contrary, because of my

CP I eat very little and more frequently than in my past.

, I have not been able to get any answers either. My doctors, including

GI's, chalk it up very generally to the fact that my pancrease doesn't work

right but this doesn't make sense to me as most with CP experience weight LOSS.

Recently my last hospital visit showed I have Portal Hypertension, an enlarged

Liver and Spleenomegaly. Apparently this creates systemic problems causing Edema

and general bloating. Have you had your doctors test for such symptoms?

It is horribly frustrating not being able to have difinitive answers. For me the

bloat just adds additional layers of discomfort and pain as well as add

emotional irritability and feelings of low self esteem. It is intolerable not

being able to fit into my clothes and shoes not to mention the serious long term

health issues this will create.

I wish I had some good news, but I don't.

Take Care

Steve

[Guest guest]

Steve,

thanks for the response. I have liver disease in addition to the CP and I have

always felt that the severe bloating, hard abdomen, and even the fast weight

gain have to do with the fact that both my liver and my pancreas do not work as

well as they should. I have an appt with GI/hepatologist on Wednesday. I

haven't gotten to talk to him since this bloating became so severe. Maybe he

will have answers for me. I have had hernia surgery twice so I thought that the

painful areas might be more hernias, although my other hernias really didn't

cause much pain. However, I went to the surgeon that did my second hernia

surgery and he said he didn't feel any hernias. He did a ct scan of my abdomen

and pelvis and it didn't show anything. That doesn't mean I couldn't have some

hernias that just aren't showing on film. I had a ct scan prior to the second

hernia surgery. It didn't show anything, but the hernia was obvious as every

time I coughed or strained, it would poke out. These areas don't poke out at

this time, so I really don't have a clue what the painful, lumpy areas could be.

They may or may not even be related to the bloating and hard abdomen. If my GI

doctor doesn't have any answers, I'm going to ask him to send me to somebody! I

don't know who or what kind of doctor, though!

thanks for letting me know I'm not alone!