My Stomach Always Looks Seven Months Pregnant

Question

For the past year, my stomach ALWAYS looks like I am seven months pregnant. It is also hard like it would be if I were pregnant. I'm only able to have a BM once every five to six days. For the past few months, I can only "go" with a stimulant. I went to my family doctor about a month ago. He just said that I'm over weight and he gave me diet pills. I have never had a weight problem before this but I just went with what he said.
Today, I went to my GYN. She immediately thought I was 7 and a half months pregnant and gave me a pregnancy test which was negative. She insisted that I see a GI specialist. She gave me several senarios but I still feel like I don't know anything. My appointment is April 7 but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what could be going on with me.

This discussion is related to Enlarged stomach - looks at least 5 months pregnant.

SanjivaniPant · Answer

Hi,
I also have same story.. i am 35 yrs old. 
I checked with Gyne, GI specialist.. GI did all test to check if I have Irritable Bowl Syndrome.. all tests were negative. Gyne checked my uterus.. nothing found. I do dancing.. almost everyday for 2-3 hrs at least. Sometimes yoga. I am active person.. I tried doing proper diet by avoiding sugar, coffee, alcohol. But nothing helped.
My whole body is toned but tummy.
Now my tummy looks so big, ppl ask me if I am pregnant.. it is so embarrassing. 
Please let me know if anyone found solution to this problem.

SanjivaniPant · Answer

Hi,
I also have same story.. i am 35 yrs old. 
I checked with Gyne, GI specialist.. GI did all test to check if I have Irritable Bowl Syndrome.. all tests were negative. Gyne checked my uterus.. nothing found. I do dancing.. almost everyday for 2-3 hrs at least. Sometimes yoga. I am active person.. I tried doing proper diet by avoiding sugar, coffee, alcohol. But nothing helped.
My whole body is toned but tummy.
Now my tummy looks so big, ppl ask me if I am pregnant.. it is so embarrassing. 
Please let me know if anyone found solution to this problem.

sharondammeyer · Answer

my husband just told me to look this up.wow to hear all these stories is crazy.i have been like this for over a yr.it was coming n going n now it wont leave.guess i need to see a dr..good luck to all of u.

lilmisskris0307 · Answer

I'm another one with a pregnant looking stomach. Mine has been swollen for a month now. I'm being tested for SIBO tomorrow but my GI is convinced its "just IBS" I had a transvaginal ultrasound that came out normal. abdominal X-ray which my doctor said it looked like I had excess stool and told me to take laxatives even though I was going to the bathroom (i've been fighting between diarrhea and constipation) Really bad cramping that wakes me up in the middle of the night, severe flatulence, appetite and weight fluctuations. I'm also seeing my rheumatologist on Wednesday because I also have severe fatigue, joint and muscle pain,trouble staying asleep or waking up tired, low grade fever off and on, blinding headaches. Tested negative for celiac, dr doesnt seem interested in doing a colonoscopy or endoscopy, had EBV last year, currently have a high ANA antibody reading, and dr said theres borderline inflammation going on. i'm just so frustrated I'm going to be 22 next Wednesday and I look pregnant and I'm not, all I can wear is sweatpants and baggy clothes (I'm 5'1 and 124lbs I'm fairly skinny everywhere else), I can barely make it through the day and my doctors arent taking me seriously.

scaredlynn · Answer

I'm another person who has the Pregnant stomach.  No matter what my weight, whether I lose or gain my stomach is swollen.  And it is exactly like when I was pregnant.  It's definately not fat, because it is hard...  and to the sides you can actually see that I should have a waist...  the ribs show on my sides.  Sometimes my stomach swells so much that it feels like when I was pregnant and didn't have enough skin for the stomach...  it's a pulling feeling...  I've been dealing with this for years now... 7 actually and I just don't know what to do any more.  I just know something is wrong!!  After reading these posts...  I'm going to have to think outside the box and figure out where to go and who to make appointments with.  

Thanks so much for sharing..,.  this is the only place that I've found the same information with others who are going thru the same thing.

medikat · Answer

Yes, definetely go to a doctor and get an abdominal ultrasound right away!  I work as a back office nurse for a 5 doctor practice. We got a new doctor on board who I worked with for over 2 years, that doctor is now "leaving".  A 51 y/o male had been c/o abdominal pain and some other general symtoms and this Dr. "missed" a finding on his ultrasound,  He was given other Tx advisements, still didn't feel good, 2 more mos. go by and he goes to a GI doc....who did another ultrasound and there he was in stage 4 pancreatic cancer - dead about 6 weeks later!!  BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH - doctors are human and make mistakes, too, or might miss something - they have "bad days" too, and remember: there are a whole bunch of "hands" that reports go through before they even get on the doctor's desk.  I have found lab results,scan results, etc. in other patient's charts that had not even been signed off by the doctor!  This guy died because of a missed diagnosis, but there is no way to actually "prove" it.... at this point.  BE AN ADVOCATE and ALWAYS ask for a copy of your lab tests, scans, etc...ALWAYS look up medications to learn about them when a doctor prescribes you a new med. IF you get shufled around to different PA's and nurse practitioners in your office, know that they are not all comminicating. My own experience is that a PA asked if I had any ultrasounds or celiac blood screens done...the answer was right in front of them in the chart (or was it?). I didn't know, and that is what prompted me to make my own chart.  Your medical records should be kept accurate and pristinely managed by you provider!  That's why it is SOOOOimportant to make your own 'MEDICAL CHART" at home.  Set it up just like the doctor does(or is supposed to).  The doctor that is "leaving" wanted to give a patient's unused portion of their medication (in the bottles they brought in) to another patient!  To "help them save money in this economy" !!! That is illegal, not to mention dangerous!  What if those pills are not what the bottle says they are.  They were "turned into us" by an 87 y/o man with increasing dementia (which definitely was a CORRECT diagnosis - the patient makes several calls a day to me because they forget the instructions)  OK, I'll shut my trap for now, but I encourage EVERONE TO DEMAND THE BEST CARE AND INVESTIGATION POSSIBLE INTO YOUR SYMPTOMS, NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF "HEALTH INSURANCE" rates you!!  Peace, and a wish of good health to everyone

angel9090 · Answer

after reading all these posts you all have talked me into going to the doctor. i have had a preagnant stomach for years. ever since i started puberty at age 11. i also have severe gastrointestinal issues. like acid reflux that is so bad i feel like i am having a heart attack and makes me throw up. severe cramping whenever i eat certain foods like dairy. i am very small only 5 ft. i way 140lbs. i recently lost 20 lbs and my stomach still looks like i am 6 months pregnant. i know it is all just air or something like being bloated because if i suck in my tummy i am super skinny and have a really good figure. and no matter how many abdominal excercises i do the poofyness never goes away.i excercise a lot and do a lot of toning work but nothing helps. thanks to all of you for the inspiration to go see a doctor.

Angel

notpregnate305 · Answer

i also have that problem, can wear an outfit one day, then the next ...not a chance. When my stomach blotts, people ask how far along I am in my pregnancy. My gall bladder has been removed, cant have children any more. i am in my early 40s. This started since high school... Glad to hear its not only me. After reading all the messages, I will go to a dr.

Patience1 · Answer

I agree completly. I've been told by alot of people that I should report him to the medical board. I am a kind person by nature so I normally wouldn't even consider it but I believe for the sake of others, reporting him is the right thing to do. I'm going to wait until next week when I get the results from the biopsy. If it does turn out to be cancer, they should know that when I report him.

Whitbywitchuk · Answer

23lb tumour, thank God you went to a specialist, your GP should be repremanded for his handling of your case.
hope you have now made a complete recovery.
luv Dawnx

Patience1 · Answer

Well, I had thought about digestive issues but it turns out that wasn't the culprit. I had a 23 lb tumor that they removed on April 9. I'm glad that everything your way is starting to become normal. I hope that it stays that way. :)

seba · Answer

I took picture's of my stomach as I did the same thing. If I ate I would sit and literally watch it grow. At one point I actually started keeping measurements and pohoto's and a diary on it. This way when I went to the doctor I had proof !!! Even though I knew mine couldn't be ovary and female problems because I had already had a hysterectomy so that was out of the question. No appenix, No gallbladder, No female organs. Now the problem laid somwhere else. Eating always made it worse. I got to the point that I had started do a complete liquid diet. Very little solid food. Already had an Upper-GI, and 2 Colonoscopy's. 
Finally, the gasterologist and Colonoscopists, decided that I was having CHRONIC DIGESTIVE problems. After several months and persistance and now proof, with my picture and diary. The gasterologist and colonoscopists, put me on a tablet called: HYMOMAX SULFATE 0.125ML this is taken put putting it under your toungue and letting it dissolve. Then eat. Just be care how much you eat and the types of foods you eat. This tablet helps with your digestive system and it is hard to digest red meats. I have notice red meats and dairy are 2 of the worst still with the medication. So I nibble on them and eat other items to fill me up. But in one day my somache went down 10 inches. yeah! looked like I was pregnant too. In 1 day I gained 9 pounds!!! Plus the pain of not have bowel movements wasn't helping. I still take I stool softner every 2 days to help with the bowel movents. I am fianally starting to become normal again. This may be something you might want to persue. Can't hurt. Good Luck!!!

Patience1 · Answer

Thank you for your well wishes. I came home yesterday. I am trying to adjust to the medication and to the lack of the useful hospital bed but my husband is making things as easy as he can. It turned out to be 23 lbs, a little more than I had actually expected. I'm still in alot of pain but I am feeling a little better and stronger with every passing day. They gave me some graphic pictures to remember the little darling by. But I don't think remembering it will be a problem. I also wanted to say thank you to hayley2009. It's nice to know that people will take a moment from their busy schedules to say something kind.

Audarah · Answer

Oh my goodness, good luck to you. Are you home now? how are you doing?!

hayley2009 · Answer

GOOD LUCK!

KjFlicka · Answer

My goodness!  Well, that should certainly explain it!  Best of luck on your surgery. I'm glad they don't think it's cancer. Let us know how it goes!

Nicole

Patience1 · Answer

Thank you so much for responding. I didn't want to wait for the GI so I skipped a few steps. In the past week I have had x-rays, an ultrasound and a CT scan. They dicovered a 20 to 25 lb tumor. It is attached to my right overie. They don't think that it is cancer because of it's size and shape. I am scheduled for sugery on April 9th. They'll definitly remove my right overie but they may have to do a complete Hystorectomy.(Sorry...have no idea how to spell that.) I've never had surgery before so I'm a little scared but "What will be, will be". Anyway, again, Thank you.

KjFlicka · Answer

Certainly a GI specialist will be able to narrow it down. Family doctors are awful at this type of stuff. Your GYN probably thinks it is liver related. A common symptom of liver disease is "ascites" which is fluid retention in the abdomen. It is notorious for making people look pregnant, both men and women. Common causes for liver disease are alcohol, obesity and Hep C. Sometimes when your liver becomes enlarged/inflamed, it loses optimal function and can domino towards bile ducts and pancreas, etc. This is just one thought and your appt isn't too far away! Please just make sure you stop drinking if you do!  Good luck!