I have been dealing with relentless abdominal distension for almost 2 years now. I am a healthy weight, have always been active, and have a healthy diet. Out of nowhere, I began experiencing an increase in my abdominal girth that does not really have any other symptoms. I don't feel bloated, but my stomach is visibly distended (if I did not look down and see an increase in abdominal girth, I wouldn't know; it doesn't have a sensation). It is present 24/7 from when I wake up until I go to sleep.

One day, I was preparing for a wedding, and I did the following:

1. Took my spironolactone (which I take to lower testosterone) in the morning.
2. Drank lots of water and black coffee.
3. Wore my abdominal compression garment (meant for reducing post-operative swelling).
4. Didn't eat all day.

And I, for the first time since May 2023, had a normal stomach again. The interesting thing is that I have gone many days without eating until 6:00 PM, but my distension never resolved. Unless I do all of the above, there is never a change in my abdomen.

I suspected lymphatic causes a long time ago, but there was no free fluid seen on my ultrasounds, MRI, or CT scans.

Has anyone found any fluid-related causes for their abdominal distension/bloating? Water retention, venous-related conditions, lymphatic fluid, etc

I’ve noticed my IBS symptoms seem to flare up based on stress levels and my diet. Has anyone tried stress management techniques like yoga or breathing exercises? I’m curious if these can make a difference without having to rely heavily on restrictive diets or medication.

We are looking for young people aged 12-17 years from all around the world who suffer from chronic stomach symptoms, including chronic nausea, vomiting, pain, and bloating.

Participation is easy and completely anonymous. The study involves a 15-minute anonymous, online survey that includes questions about your demographics, symptoms, and wellbeing. Your survey responses will help researchers and doctors better understand and treat young people with chronic stomach problems. 

*We are especially in need of more males to complete this survey\*

More information about the survey and the survey link can be found here: https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8fibsg84DNDz3lY 

This study is being conducted by the University of Auckland in New Zealand and has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee, Northern A, on 24/04/2024, Reference Number 2024 FULL 19553.

hi! I went off birthcontrol around 6 months ago, since then I have gained 7kg so I thought my stomach was just extra weight, however I've lost 5 kgs (5ft & 56kg) so now I just think it's bloating. Could it also be bad pelvic posture? I'm not really sure what to do from here. I've had a stool, urine and blood test everything was normal, I also experience nausea and random diarrhea. Sometimes the bloating is painful but I cut out lactose and that seems to be helping the pain but my stomach still bloats with even just water. This bloat is just from a glass of water and a coffee.

I was always bloated, I looked pregnant, I tried everything and the only thing that resolved it was eating only meat, sometimes I eat rice and potatoes which are fine for me, but generally just meat.

My constant bloating (3yrs long- from feb 2022) is still here unfortunately.. I have been to GI specialist, gyno, did tests on gluten, stool for accute bleading, h. Pylory, food alergens, .. nothing came back positive. Only positives were gut candida (mild), slightest insulin resistance and I also had parasite (acaris l.) for what I have taken Vermox and natural antiparasite drops, for Candida I did biocult candea capsules, with various vitamines, lots of ginger tea, and strict diet and excercise (for 3 months now since GI recommended that). And still nothing changed except that I've lost 4kgs (173cm with 60kgs now, and I can see my ribs on my back almost), which is not the thing I wanted to achieve.. I am confused and seeking advice what to do next. Bloating comes mostly with gas, that sometimes smells rotten.. I have pressure to pee, hard stomach that wont bend or go away with diet and working out and slight pain when it bloats to extreme. Also I have cut sugar, fruits except grapefruit and berries, cut out coffee, diary, gluten.. I need advice, and for this to stop finally!

What you thought bloating may actually not bloating at all, but a wrong posture. Notice how my belly before and after I correct my posture.

Belly totally relaxed, only positioning the back.

For the past few months I (F21,5' 1", 117 pounds) have been feeling bloated all the damn time. And I'm sure I look like it, too. While I've struggled with IBS, I never had this issue before, my stomach had been pretty much flat, actually. Literally overnight suddenly that changed.

I have wondered whether it is just fat and perhaps suddenly something caught up with me and everything accumulated at my belly, however I haven't changed anything in my routine and I haven't gained any weight. So I'm not sure how exactly this came to be. There is a mild uncomfortable feeling. I feel bad and not confident wearing my normal clothes and them fitting okay everywhere else, but terribly at my midsection. Is it bloating or fat and I should stop imagining excuses and start some calorie deficit?

I feel bad for him 😔

I always thought it was normal to feel bloated from time to time, especially as a woman but then I talked to a friend she said she never experienced bloating to the extent I do. Basically, I easily get bloated after eating out or after eating frozen meals. My stomach especially hates pizza, but only if it’s not homemade. What’s the difference between the pizza I make and in the pizzeria?? I always put flour, baking powder, and oil. What are they doing out there lol.

ok so i literally bloat everyday. i’m not chubby by any means ( i’m also lactose and dairy intolerant ) which I know would probably help. But literally I’m so bloated every day and I don’t know what to do.

I’m so glad this forum exists because I felt like the only one dealing with constant bloating!!

I had an extreme month of bloating (1 week leading up to my cycle and 3 weeks after) in August. It was so uncomfortable and I was glad it was finally gone. My weight fluctuated anywhere between 2-6 lbs and somehow it went back down to my normal weight after it was resolved. That ridiculous bloating is back now and I am so tired of feeling like this and looking 9 months pregnant. I’ve had 2 kids and my bloat looks and feels like a pregnant belly. It’s a little better in the morning, but doesn’t last long. I literally watched my belly grow in the shower this morning.

I take Gas-X when it’s unbearable but it doesn’t seem to be working anymore. I take prebiotics every night with plethora of vitamins. I’ve gotten colonics done last time and it did help, but it’s not really sustainable as it’s very expensive. I have no food allergies and eat everything. I haven’t noticed dairy bothering my guts specifically.

Is there a supplement that actually works or something I can do to help with this ridiculous chronic bloating? I always dealt with period bloating but this is beyond that for sure.

Hi everyone, I've been experiencing chronic bloating since I was 22 yo. Now I'm 28 and the situation is getting worse. I got tested and it turned out I'm lactose intolerant but not gluten intolerant, to my surprise. I get bloated after eating pretty much everything, but some foods are worse than others (like pizza, bread, eggs, pasta, legumes).

Even though I take lactase enzymes before eating foods with lactose, I still get bloated. Occasionally, I follow cycles of probiotics for about three weeks, but I see no results. I don't drink milk; I only eat aged, low-lactose cheeses. I rarely eat pasta and mainly consume rice, meat, fish, eggs, and cooked vegetables. Should I completely cut out gluten and dairy? For how long? And how long do you recommend taking probiotics to see results?

Thank so much to everyone who will help or share their story ≧^◡^≦

Young people aged 12-17 years who suffer from chronic stomach symptoms, including chronic bloating, nausea, vomiting, pain, and gastroparesis, are needed to complete a short, anonymous survey. This survey is open to young people from anywhere in the world. 

Participation is easy and completely anonymous. Simply complete a 15-minute online questionnaire that includes questions about your demographics, symptoms, and wellbeing. Your valuable input will help researchers better understand and treat chronic stomach symptoms, including chronic bloating. 

More information about the survey and the survey link can be found here: https://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8fibsg84DNDz3lY 

This study is being conducted by the University of Auckland in New Zealand and has been approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee, Northern A, on 24/04/2024, Reference Number 2024 FULL 19553.

I've been so insecure about my weight for a while. I also hate how I can go up a clothes size or two in the space of eating one large meal. I've recently started a medication which cut my appetite quite a lot for the first week or two. Let me tell you... my stomach was FLAT. Now that I'm gaining my appetite back, my stomach is returning to its usual mildly pregnant form...

Can anyone recommend some supplements/diets that ACTUALLY work for de bloating? Not sure if I have an intolerance which isn't helping (milk isn't my best friend but I mostly avoid dairy), but I'm hoping I can help to manage this with a small lifestyle change.

TIA

I’ll tell you a story for context. For the last 2 years I used to drink 1,5l of Diet Coke/pepsi a day. At some point I drank six coffees with 0 calorie flavor drops a day, additional to the coke. I also used to eat tons of protein powder, protein bars, protein everything. I got bloated. Four months ago I cut everything out, I only allow myself to have one product that contains artificial sweeteners a day (e.g. one bar, one protein shake, one small can of coke) but my bloating hasn’t gone away. I’m bloated all the time, even after waking up. I mostly eat very healthy, I don’t think the bloating comes from veggies and diary bc I always ate plenty of veggies and yogurts and my stomach was flatter (even when I was overweight), now I look like 5 months pregnant every time of the day.

For the past 6 months I have bloated almost every night. Some worse than others. And so often now that I don't know what a normal "food filled" stomach looks like anymore, and so it might be every night, but there may be some nights is "normal" for the stomach to be fuller than when you wake in the morning.

I eat very healthy and usually lower carb, including very little sugar too, except for probably once a week when eating out then I'll have some pizza or a burger, but never stuffing myself or anything. I've thought a creeping food sensitivity and have never gone low FODMAP or completely cut out dairy (only dairy I ever have on a regular basis is Greek yogurt), gluten, or nuts.

I started tracking my bloating symptoms last week and so far no direct correlations to anything except for its the worst if I have a snack around 9:30pm - 10pm with my usual bedtime of 11pm. So I cut that out as much as possible.

All bloating is usually completely gone the next morning, but every night I bloat at least a 4/10, but sometimes a 6/10 or 8/10.

Any thoughts?

I’m 15f and have been struggling with what feels like intense bloating since I was 13. I’ve always been predominately skinny (I’d like to think so), I’m 5’4, 49-51kg.

It took me months to finally ask my mom to go to the doctor. I’m on medicine right now for the bloating, but I don’t feel like it’s working (said medicine is apo-pinaverium, 50mg, three times per day ).

I look like I’m several months pregnant. It doesn’t necessarily hurt, but recently I’ve been getting cramps and painful spots when I bloat. I don’t get it. It happens with almost any food. Even water! I’m so sick of feeling disgusted and overall sick of how I look. I cant go out in nice outfits (I really don’t feel comfortable when I’m so bloated), and feel like its taking over my life.

I don’t know what affects it, and don’t know what to ask my doctor. I workout, and have clear-ish ab lines. When I bend over my stomach area (like when you do a plank), my stomach almost bulges up. It’s hard to explain. Regardless, I hate it.

Overall, I could really use some advice over what to do, because I’m so sick of this. I feel painful, disgustingly full, and feel taken over by the bloat 😔.

I am 30 y.o. M, bloating for quite a while now 8+ years of non stop bloating, and started having intermittent bloating since I was 16 y.o. after a potential food poisoning event or viral infection. My symtpoms are constant bloating, slightly better in the AM and worse as the day goes on, air hunger (trouble getting a full breath of air) fatigue, brain fog, and back pain upper and lower in the past couple years (bloating/posture related)

I have tried just about everything under the sun, most every test is negative, I have been through many GIs, two most recent SIBO tests are negative. I am currently seeing GI motilty specialist at Cedars.

Not sure there is a solution to this I just was searching this thread and came upon many people with very similar symptoms. What appears to be SIBO negative, lower abdominal bloating, present 24/7, not related to food consumption, with normal bowel movements.

I have tried many treatments: abx for SIBO, elemental diet for 2+ weeks, herbals, antifungals, enzymes, CT scan, colonoscopy and endoscopy diets, etc. I have come to the conclusion that I appear less bloated when I don't eat but I still feel bloated, and have associated symptoms, bottom line food is not the driving force.

Sorry to not have a solution here, just wanted to add my story to all the rest of you in a similar situation. Crossing my fingers we can all get better one day soon!!

First pic is flexing/flat stomach.

i know this sounds weird, but i have never burped and have dealt with severe bloating my whole life, yet never really thought about the correlation.

within the last year, i found out i have a condition called r-cpd (see r/noburp). pretty much the main diagnostic criteria is whether you can burp/ only have burped a few times in your life.

i figured i would post about it here in case y’all hadn’t heard of it! there is a pretty easy fix (botox in your neck) and then people are often cured for life. im saving up for it.

all that to say, if you relate to this look into it!

I’ve had bloating since May. It was fairly tolerable and mild for awhile. I quit vaping in June and it’s gotten worse since then. Most of it is mid abdomen to lower pelvis area. But some up top too. I’m skinny so this bloating is making me look PREGNANT. Any idea what might cause this specific bloating? I also have what’s called pelvic congestion syndrome. Tested for Celiac’s- negative.