abdominal distention

[bjh1948]

Mother (87) has had bouts of severe abdominal distention for about 5 years -- bouts came suddently and resolved in a few days.

Last summer, she had a bad "attack" that did not go away followed by some growing nasea.

In July, 2008, CT and US showed small ovarian cyst (3.8 cm) and normal CA 125.

Gallstones but Nucear gallbladder test showed EF of 88%.

Repeat CT in March 2009 showed smal increase in cyst.  Repeat CA 125 tests showed 177 and then 174.

Needle biopsy of cyst was non-diagnostic.

No ascites and no blockages seen on the scans or x-rays.  If she eats anything solid (sometimes even jello), swelling begins below navel moves to rib cage, back arches and head is thrown back....awful to see.  Now on strictly liquids and seems better.  Distention Grows during day and resolves somewhat overnight.

Too weak for surgery or invasive test....absolute no cancer anyway -- not one case--- in her blood line of dozens and dozens of relatives.

So is it ovarian cancer or some kind of functional bowel disease?  She has good bowel movements with milk of mag.

any thoughts would be appreciated on what causes the distention upon eating?

[boron]

Diet in fructose malabsorption:
Foods to avoid: honey, apples, pears, plums, pruines, peaches, cherries, dates, figs, and dried fruit in general, any sorbitol (in some sodas, and "low calorie products"), any product containing HFCS...

It's also possible that she can't tolerate some foods that have nothing in common..so she would need to make a list of foods after which she is fine, and which make her bloated.

Ovarian cyst, or cancer of any kind is not likely to cause bloating.

It would also help, if you can say, in what time after the meal she gets bloated, does she have diarrhea, what's the color of the stool, is any mucus or undigested food in stool, does she burp, have flatulence, does she have early satiety..

[boron]

1. Lactose intolerance. Lactose free diet: no dairy products, and any other product with lactose - would help in 2-3 days.

2. Fructose malabsorption Low-fructose diet: no fruits or any fruit product, no sorbitol and HFCS (read labels) would help in 3-4 days

3. High-fibre food (legumes: beans, peas...) Well, this would be obvious...

4. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) (breath test would reveal increased hydrogen in expired air - test is done by gastroenterologist).