Hard distended stomach is from gas, and this is from bacteria.
If you burp frequently, the gas comes from the stomach, and is caused by H. pylori infection, dx is by breath test for H. pylori (BUT).
In flatulence, gas may come from the bacterial overgrowth of the colon (barnyard smell of gas is from Clostridium difficile, so you might want to have Cl-diff toxin stool test) or small intestinal bacterial overgroeth (SIBO), dx is with another breath test.
I don't know, CPAP could also be the cause, you should ask your pulmologist.
You can also have two diet trials:
1. Lactose free diet for 2 days (in lactose intolerance, if this is the case, lactose can't be digested in small intestine, so it enters the colon, where bacteria break it down and produce gas)
2. Sugar free diet for 1 week (no sweets, fruits, fruit juices. cola, also avoid potatoes). Sugar is food for bacteria, which then produce gas.
thank you.. Going to PCP in the morning, who will refer me back to my GI specialist I imagine... I weighed at 4 am after much procrastination, and I have also gained about 30 pounds in the last 3-4 moniths... and I go to the gym 3 times a week for swimming and am very active. doesn't make a bit of sense to me. Thx for your input.
Weight gain, apart from the food, may be from constipation (from non-excreted stool) or from fluid retention, what would cause swelling of the legs or collection of fluid in abdomen. This should be checked by ultrasound.
Marcy,
I know you had all these tests done by GI doctors and probably your primary doctor as well, but have you been to a GYN doctor lately? I would go to the GYN doctor and tell him/her about your symptoms. I mean since these other doctors found nothing wrong.
Forgot to mention this ... if you do see your PCP and GI specialist ask to have a CT scan of your abdomen and pelvis area. The CT scan can see almost anything that could be going on in there.
This is just my opinion.
I am blown away by what I just read because I am having the same symptoms as you. I look nine months pregnant, with a rock hard abdomen, and it's making me crazy. I have put on 17 pounds since June, and I work out almost daily. I have a long awaited appointment with a GI on Monday. I'm praying he will find something because I feel like any diagnosis would be better than none at this point. Thank you for sharing.
When i get bloated I'll swallow air until i get twice as bloated as i was and ill sit there and let it stretch and expand do this unt
Yoor belly is about as big as humanly possible and after a while you'll burp and fart it out you wpont have anymore pain but your belly will be big i personally like belly/