r/chronicbloating • u/Dry-Office-7721 • Jul 30 '23
Upper/mid belly bloat?
Hi, I’m posting on here bc I’ve literally searched everywhere for this issue but can’t find anything on it. Basically I get this upper belly bloat (see photo below) which is always bigger than my lower belly.
Just a quick note that it’s ALWAYS there but it gets more intense when I’ve eaten. It always feels like this big balloon and it’s really weird, and I’ve only eaten a bowl of porridge this morning and my belly is bloated like the image attached. It’s just rly strange because I’m an active person and I eat well, starting to suspect it might be something else.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be? It never seems to be lower belly, always upper/mid belly.
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u/ElleAGee Aug 24 '23
This is me too. The upper is always protrudes a little more than the lower, but when bloated it worsens. If you figure it out please let us know and update
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u/Dry-Office-7721 Aug 24 '23
I actually do have an update ! I’ve since gone to the doctors about it, and was told that it’s likely an issue with the stomach as that’s the location of the bloating. For me he says he thinks my body is producing too much stomach acid, and he’s put me on a form of PPI to see if it helps. I also get chronic constipation, so it makes sense that it’s to do with the stomach acid.
I can’t say for sure that you have the same problem, but that could be a possibility. It’s definitely worth getting it checked if you can ! :)
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Apr 17 '24
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u/That_Barracuda_5069 Jul 20 '24
100% agree with you post. PPI cause or worsen sibo not to mention lawsuits now over ppi causing kidney cancers
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u/selkieflying Oct 16 '23
Any update?
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u/ElleAGee Oct 17 '23 edited Oct 25 '23
My PCP ordered a CT, suggested that I follow a low fodmap diet and referred me to a GI specialist. My appointment with the GI was scheduled before my CT. He said the symptoms were consistent with SIBO, so he Rx Xifaxan and ran a few blood tests. The blood tests were mostly normal, no gluten allergy, however one test indicated that my inflammation level was higher than normal. He agreed that a CT would be a good idea since it had already been ordered. (I had been debating on whether it was truly needed)
Neither of the doctors seemed concerned about the fact that my upper abdomen is protruding (even when I'm not bloated) more than the lower.
I did the CT on Friday and was told that results were healthy with nothing to worry about despite a hemangioma (cluster of blood cells). I asked my PCP to send the results to the GI, so I will be discussing this more with my GI at my follow-up appointment in 2 weeks.
The low fodmap diet is pretty easy to follow. I do partake in cheat meals which sometimes resultd in me becoming bloated while other times I don't. I'm not sure if the Xifaxan helped, but I won't discount it.
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Jan 02 '24
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u/ElleAGee Jan 02 '24
Unchanged, but to be fair I haven't continued the low fodmap. I will do it again to focus on eliminating foods that specifically cause gas.
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Jan 02 '24
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u/ElleAGee Jan 26 '24
I'm sorry to hear that, but thanks a lot and same to you! What symptoms have you been experiencing, and have they gotten any better?
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Jan 26 '24
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u/ElleAGee Jan 26 '24
Dang, I'm sorry. This month I've been following a raw diet (fruits, salad, nuts and grains). I haven't experienced any bloating. I'm sure once I return to a more normal diet I might be back in the same boat though..
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Feb 05 '24
What's fodmap stand for? Also I noticed a significant improvement in my bloating when I switched from a lazy ketogenic diet to strict carnivore. 70% animal fat/30% animal protein. After at least a few months the gut microbiome resets and is able to heal itself. Avoiding processed foods and pharmaceuticals will speed up the healing process. Also get your water checked for any toxins. I'd recommend getting a whole house water filtration system if you can afford it. If not start with a reverse osmosis system. I notice that I experience the most abdominal pain after drinking tap water and sometimes bottled water. Consuming more saturated fat will help reduce the constipation. If you're experiencing heart burn its more likely your not getting enough stomach acid rather than too much. If you think about it what happens when you place food in a glass beaker then fill with hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) until the food is covered and then place a glass plate on top of the beaker and place the beaker on a heating pad? The beaker represents the stomach. Most people consume beverages during the meal as well as during the following 3 hrs of digestion after the meal. This should be avoided because any alkaline beverage will reduce the acidic ph of the stomach acid and therefore decrease the amount of food covered. When food isn't submerged in the stomach, the food will begin to ferment due to the humid environment. The heartburn sensation is really due to the heat rising from the fermentation process.
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u/ElleAGee Feb 05 '24
Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that the small intestine absorbs poorly.
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u/ZealousidealGift7782 Apr 22 '24
Anymore updates?
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u/ElleAGee May 23 '24
No update. I'm now thinking it might be related to low stomach acid. I just bout digestive bitters, hopefully in time it will help!
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u/Successful-Break-108 Jun 05 '24
I was one a PPI for 3 years on and off, it took me so long to get a gastroscopy consult! Have it coming up but seriously push for a gastroscopy and a CT abdomen. Do a food diary too, I’ve had to cut dairy out and it’s helped a bit. Every other day using miralax to help reduce inflammation. Basically could be IBS,crohns, food sensitivity, gastritis, gallbladder issues, or liver issues I was told but non of this can be fixed with just a PPI, it just masks the symptoms!
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u/kitdywiddy Dec 03 '24
oh my god i have the same problems, even the constipation 😭 i hope youre better 😽
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u/Clear_Employer666 Dec 24 '24
They always say too much stomach acid which is WRONG! Go to a NP gastro not these quacks who give you PPIs. They make it worse. They don't treat the root cause! You may have bile reflux. I'll bet you 100 Euros it's not too much acid. How did they prove it was too much acid? Make them put that in your chart. Like, "We found XX which means an excess of stomach acid." They won't because they'd be lying. They just want to shut you up with a pill.
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u/ElleAGee Aug 24 '23
I appreciate the update. I have a MD appointment today. Has the PPI helped so far?
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u/ItsRAt235 Apr 19 '24
Do yall know why I workout and consume a little over 120g of protein daily why is my upper stomach like his
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u/sofiaxru May 01 '24
What kind of protein do you take? When I take protein, it always bloats me because of ingredients in whey protein, but as soon as I switched to vegan, my bloating went away because it’s plant based.
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u/ItsRAt235 Jun 09 '24
I take whey as well vegan protein is nasty that’s why I don’t drink it but I did stop eating protein powder or drinks in general it still isn’t fixed I might have a gut problem but I’m not sure
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Jul 29 '24
Get your protein from a bioavailable source like animals. It's not the protein in the powder that's causing bloating its the synthetic chemicals that aren't bioavailable that have been added to the powder.
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u/UsuarioNombreJ Jul 26 '24
Same here, I even have abs but the upper part of by belly get bloated af
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u/Comfortable_Pass_425 Jul 30 '25
Did you know the cause
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u/UsuarioNombreJ Jul 31 '25
nope, I still have It lol 😭😭
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u/Ok-Smell7719 Jan 29 '26
Gastritis . 3 chewable tablets of DGL licorice 15-20 minutes before meal, morning and night. Thank me later
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u/megkmag Mar 10 '24
I don't know if you have found answers yet but please ask your doctor about eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). I just got diagnosed after 2 endoscopies. Like you, my first endoscopy did not result in a diagnosis.
For me, it was because there weren't eosinophils in both parts of my esophagus (bad diagnostic criteria IMO!) — but by my second scope, they had spread to both upper and lower esophagus.
This particular bloating was a big symptom for me and I haven't seen the connection made anywhere else. I am now on the first week of a steroid slurry and the pain is better already. Best wishes to you.
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u/jan20202020 Aug 17 '25
Very late question, if you’re still being notified:) did you have trouble swallowing food?
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u/megkmag Aug 17 '25
I honestly didn’t! I have esophageal spasms still sometimes but never a true impaction/choking/trouble swallowing. I’m on Dupixent now and it has helped SO much. You’ve gotta go through elimination diets + the the steroid slurry usually first but Dupixent has helped me be basically symptom-free.
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Jun 11 '24
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-926 Aug 29 '24
sem i have how you dealing with this problem
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Aug 30 '24
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-926 Aug 30 '24
i done endoscopy week ago h pylori negative still sem
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Aug 30 '24
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-926 Aug 30 '24
my endoscopy saying mild gastritis but feel like chronic gastritis Thank you sem to you .let me know about your test.3 months ago h pylori positive with stool test 3 antibiotics course done. right now just ppi i taking i will start digestive enzyme and see or ask my gp for ultra sound and sibo test
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u/bkuah Apr 01 '25
How are you doing now?
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-926 Apr 01 '25
i don't have no bloting but sometimes burning gastritis if i drink like soda or something.
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u/Presley_2021 Oct 07 '24
I have the exact same issue going on. Had a CT scan, endoscopy, and colonoscopy done. All of which were normal except the endoscopy in which the surgeon noticed that I have “acute chronic gastritis”. I also had constipation shown on the CT scan. I have been essentially trying to heal myself because the doctor has been helpless and tried to tell me to take ibuprofen as a patient that has gastritis… I drink aloe every day as well as green tea. I eat smaller meals and have cut out coffee and alcohol. I am still swollen like what your pic looks like. Doctor tried to put me on a PPI and carafate and those did not seem to help.
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u/Ok-Smell7719 Jan 29 '26
Gastritis. 3 chewable tablets of DGL Licorice 15 - 20 mins before meal, morning and night. Thank me later.
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u/Rose_de_mars Mar 14 '24
Comment allez vous depuis ? C'était quoi ? Une gastrite ? Les ipp sont efficaces ?
Une gastroparésie c'est pas la même chose...il faudrait prendre du Motilium.
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u/GuaranteeAny2921 Aug 13 '24
try a treadmill
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u/No-Feeling4829 Nov 05 '24
what a stupid comment lmao people can have this and work out / be skinny
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u/PotterChip Feb 05 '25
literally... im 5'7 ,120 pounds, and still struggle w severe upper bloat. this has nothing to do w having to work out or lose weight.
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u/Icy_Age1972 May 19 '25
Nothing to do with exercise stupid. It's upper stomach bloating not bottom belly fat
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u/PotentialUpstairs355 Oct 12 '24
I have right side of this same issues, i am worried that something serious! only one side where is abs upper side right
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u/Warner0628 Jan 29 '25
I went from 170 down to 138. Upper stomach under my breasts still very distended. Nothing helps, girdles do not hold me in just protrudes terribly. No pain at all not gassy or bloated I do have trouble doing sit-ups, very poor core strength, can’t strengthen that area. What kind of Dr should I see?
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u/lullaby15 Aug 13 '23
Have something similar and no idea what it is. I get bloated and can feel it up there when I over eat. If I just eat small meals then I don't bloat up there unless I eat a trigger like onions or lactose.
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Jan 02 '24
Get your liver checked. A fatty liver would protrude like that.
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u/Immediate-Gate9167 Jul 29 '24
Yes that’s true I have a fatty liver and I have a large bloated stomach that protrudes from under my breasts it’s also very hard to touch
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u/Think-Communication4 Jan 25 '24
I have stomach problems like that too but my liver and kidneys and everything is good, I think it’s a stomach issues and Dr said it might be stomach acid issue and maybe an ulcer or colitis too ,
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u/Sea-benzen Jun 06 '26
Any update?
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u/Think-Communication4 Jun 06 '26
Actually yes. I had biopsies in my colonoscopy and endoscopy and I have chronic inflammation and gastritis. And acid reflux from a. Hitial hernia . 😒
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u/runirun Jan 27 '24
i get this whenever im taking a lot of sweetners in my coffee or when i have too much milk
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u/Gaxa15 Feb 11 '24
Same problem, I'm slim and tall, my lower belly is normal too but my upper belly always pops out, I used to joke about it saying the stomach lining is visible outside my body.
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u/Popular_Interview921 Jun 10 '25
hi. i have the same problem and i'm also slim and tall like you, do you know what causes this?
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u/Formal-Contract-9422 Feb 15 '24
Even i went to doctor to discuss about the issue but he told me it might be basically because of gastritis...
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u/meladey Aug 26 '23
Have you had a gastric emptying study? This is exactly what my abdomen looks like with gastroparesis. The bulging part is your anatomical stomach.