Swollen Abdomen

[sunshine007]

Hi All,

Has anyone's abdomen swelled.  My has done this now on a few occasions.  I wasn't sure if I was just eating too much as my energy level has been so down and I've been eating whatever is easiest.  Some days by belly region feels normal and others (like today) it's so swollen I can see it through my clothes.  I did read in the Pegasys supplement something about your stomach swelling, but this isn't on my left side, it's really high up right in the middle.  Thanks for your help.

[GrandmaA]

When I had black stools it was because of the pepto bismol the nurse told me.
I've not had the swollen abdomen, but my cousin had it. He was stage 4.

[jmjm530]

Wouldn't ascites mean that her abdomen would be constantly swollen, not just on "a few occasions" as mentioned?  I don't have the answer to this, just raising the question. Yes, she should see a doctor right away, but maybe no need for alarm at this point. It could be something more benign like food allergy, IBS, etc.

[sunshine007]

I am a geno 2a, stage 2, grade 2, and have had HCV for 21 years.  I started tx for the first time last year and completed only 6 weeks.  During that time I was having some rectral bleeding and they confirmed that with a occult (sp?) test and then did an upper and lower GI.  They didn't find anything with the scopes, and I thought the whole thing was such a waste of time.

I am on my second round of tx and am at 5 weeks.  I don't have any bleeding now and I feel better than I did last time.  Last time I tx'd with PegIntron and this time I'm on Pegasys.

Thank you guys for your input and for being concerned.  I'm just so unsure if it's really something bad or really nothing to be concerned with.  Either way I will call my GI tomorrow and let him figure it out.  Thanks again for being there!

[wyntre9]

Good.  

Talk to the Dr. tomorrow and let us know what he says.

[ladybug52]

I did the same thing a few weeks ago. I was really thinking black stools were only caused by internal bleeding, and several people chimed in to say Pepto-Bismo caused black stools. Another person once asked if the stomach swelling could be ascites/cirrohsis since they had no other swelling in the legs or ankles. I said cirrohsis caused swelling in more parts than just the stomach.
Then someone with cirrohsis said they only had a swollen stomach, no where else. I'm going to quit playing dr!

[LvdByGod]

of course it could be nothing and i pray that it is, but if someone comes to a hepatitis board with black stools and swollen abdomin i think better safe than sorry they should get medical attention quickly... just in case...

no one wants to scare anyone but also no one wants to send anyone away thinking thier just fine and it could be very serious... i've read alot about the ascites and varises and with the black stools they always say to immediately call the doctor...and actually for those with confirmed end stage liver disease they tell them to immediately go to the hospital...

so i always get alarmed when someone comes on saying black stools or bleeding out. if a person does have the bleeding varises they don't have much time to waist... they could bleed to death very quickly if its bad...

so i'm sorry if i alarmed you sunshine but you are smart to get it checked with the doctor as soon as possible...

i really pray its nothing... did you have pepto bismal? i think i missed that... eating beets can make funky poop too... yikes, have you ever seen that????  

Blessing to you sunshine,
sandi