why could my stomach be distended

Not diabetics I suspect!

SueJ wrote:

Not diabetics I suspect!

No, im not diabetic.

My abdomen is constantly hard and distended too.  Four years ago, I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis after a "Stomach Emptying Test."  At first, I had chronic diarrhea before a Gastric Pacemaker was placed in my abdomen.  My stomach had completely stopped working.  The Pacemaker has wires that attach to the outside of my stomach.  Even though the trade-off was to live with chronic constipation instead of diarrhea, I can leave my house!  I take laxatives because after four years, I have low motility disease.  My colon, and large and small intestines are very lazy.  I was told by my doctor, that my distended abdomen will never go down.  

Eleven months ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy, so I really have a body image problem now... but I'm alive.  Not enjoying life, but I'm a fighter.  God Bless you all out there with medical issues too !

I have a similar problem. It came on one morning three years ago and while my stomach goes down at
night it is always hard and slightly distended. A large glass of water in the morning will make my waist grow
two inches in minutes. (same with food). I have had every test the doctors can think of but they don't have
a clue to what could cause it. My internist guessed that it could be Parkinson's because of the rigid muscles
in my stomach. Needless to say, she is grasping at straws!!

You are correct the c125 test does tell you about uterine or ovarian cancer, though it is just a marker for the doctors, it can save your life. if your numbers are highit alerts your doctor . Unfortunately most women ignore body pains, as I did, thinking that it was strained muscles pain in my abdomen and upper thighs as well. This was my only sign and when I got checked out, it turned out to be 3rd stage uterine cancer as well as breast cancer. Listen to your body on any thing that seems not normal to you. Bloating can come from several things IBS irritable bowel syndrome ,gas, food not being digested properly, some cancer treatments can also do this ,or even stomache cancer you can try a stool softener but if it remains distended go to your doctor and get checked out. . See your doctor and do not wait till things get worse folks. I have been through Chemo and Radiation for breast cancer bilateral as well as uterine cancer...my cancer is caused by a dna issue called Lynch syndrome. Not much is known about it, other than it is why many women get breast and uterine cancer ...there is a simple blood test for that as well. It is genetic. I am cancer free as of now but of course having a high grade of cancer is never good because it is aggressive. I will just say ladies I am glad you are all trying to help each other here. We women are often ignored by doctors because we may not have any outward signs of being sick . So it is up to ourselves to make the doctors listen.

Hello,

I offer an objective prospective when I say what I am about to say. The lady who suggested that the person may have ovarian cancer is in my opinion speaking straight forwad. I do not think she was offering fear but merely a possibility to the pain. I understand that some people do not like straight forward and that is how we are all different. This site is for advice, correct?  I too have a distended stomach, hard to breathe at times, pain in upper left,right, lower left and right, pee a lot, get full easily. I was told by a NP that it is Chrohn's disease but my godma who is a retired RN stated that my symptoms sounded like something else. The CA-125 test has not been done; the NP asked me three times if I drink alcohol regularly and the third time I was extemely upset because I stated no the first two times. I do not want to see this NP again because I feel she is not taken me seriously and the last straw was when she pressed on my stomach on the left middle section and I felt electricity go through to my back it hurt so bad. Her response after I informed her of my pain was, "I will see you in six months." I should add I am a VA and I visit the VA clinic. I felt so let down and disgusted that I haven't been back. I did visit the manager of the hospital and he hasn't called me back:( Anyone have any medical advice?

Frustrated by VA

i did not mean to check the thumbs down.....i like what u reccomend.

Oh, shut up! You don't speak for anyone, you putz. The woman who posted that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer quite literally did me and many women a favor. I read her comment and went to my doctor. I have ovarian cancer. So **** you arrogant POS. WTF is wrong with you?

I also have MS since 2001. I have been dealing also with the distended stomach that looks like I am 8 months pregnant. I have gained weight cause its is hard as a rock but no love handles etc. from the back you can't really tell but from the front and side it unreal and I have abdominal pain. I have been to so many Drs. and I have had Cervical Cancer and have Fibroids and a cyst and now a belly button hernia. I am so uncomfortable its so hard to sleep and try to sit up when I am laying down. I need to find a Dr that will take an interest in my case soon.

I had same symptoms. I had a tumor on each ovary. I also had the CA125 test as well as another very expensive test. All came positive for ovarian cancer. I had a full hysterectomy and they then found out after biopsy came back that I DID NOT have cancer! Therefore those tests are not accurate and I went through a complete hysterectomy unneccessarily! Good Luck!

Distended belly, can it be a placebo pregnancy? I had distended belly with my previous pregnancies.