Mysterious Stomach Puffiness

January 14, 2009 8:36 AM

What might be causing a long-term, very puffy, bloated stomach? I am travelling (currently without insurance), and just want to have some sense of what might be going on here.

For about 2 months now, my stomach has constantly been bloated (I'd say I look about 4 months pregnant). I used to have a very flat stomach, so this is completely unusual. I am not eating or drinking anything out of the ordinary. I am travelling now, but this began right before I left home. I am in a modern, industrialized country at the moment, so no worries about water or food adaptation issues.

Unfortunately I have no health insurance, so I can't just pop off to see a doctor, but I'm getting fairly concerned since it has lasted so long. I am definitely not pregnant, and I have never had any history of food allergies. I am 28 years old, female, and have no other symptoms that I can think of, and no other gastro-intestinal complaints like gas or anything like that. I know you are not my doctor, but any ideas or at least things to consider (particular allergies that may cause this lone symptom?) would be very welcome.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (15 comments total)

Did you gain weight?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:48 AM on January 14 [3 favorites has favorites]

Have you considered the possibility that your metabolism has just slowed down a little due to your age and that you've gained a bit of weight?
posted by amro at 8:49 AM on January 14

Ovarian Cancer.
posted by Sassyfras at 8:52 AM on January 14

Okay, even a BENIGN ovarian cyst can cause stomach bloating, but are you on any medication? Because there are some medications that cause this as a side effect, as well.

Also, an ovarian cyst often leaves you with (for some bizarre reason) shoulder pain on one side, so if you have both, that might be an indicator. I'd assume you'd mention it if you had shooting pains or irregular bleeding.
posted by misha at 9:35 AM on January 14

Ovarian cysts can come with symptoms like yours. Irritable bowel syndrome also. Systemic yeast infection, too, I think. A lot of different things...

You REALLY should get checked.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 9:37 AM on January 14

When you say "bloated," do you mean that you feel uncomfortably puffed up, or just that you look bigger around than you used to? If the second, I'd blame excess calories and not enough exercise. If the first, you might want to try eating more yogurt or kefir or something with active cultures ("probiotics"). Sometimes I find that I get a long-term bloated feeling if my intestinal flora somehow get out of whack, and these foods help me feel ok again.

But yeah, I'd agree with the others who recommend getting checked. It could be nothing, or it could be something really important. Any chance you can get health insurance first? On the off chance that it does end up being something expensive-to-treat (and you're an American), you will have much better luck if you've got health insurance before they find the problem.
posted by vytae at 9:38 AM on January 14

Tapeworm?
posted by availablelight at 9:44 AM on January 14

definitely sounds like an ovarian cyst, and also definitely falls within the "omg get this checked" warning signs for potential symptoms of ovarian cancer.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:50 AM on January 14

Probably not tapeworm but could certainly be ascariasis (roundworm): the red flags to me are long term condition, bloated stomach, digestive disturbances. Infestation is usually in the jejunum so this would be middle to upper belly. Doctors do a fairly poor job recognizing this in the US, but it is present and is definitely not going away due to the rapid escalation of food imports from third-world countries, many of which are turning to greywater irrigation to avoid the expense of using aquifer water (and this always has a certain amount of helminth contamination). A gastroenterologist worth their salt should be able to figure it out.
posted by crapmatic at 10:26 AM on January 14

P.S. Correction: I could have swore I reading digestive disturbances in your question... I re-read it and now I don't see it, so my suggestion can go lower in your "worry" queue!
posted by crapmatic at 10:27 AM on January 14

Needlessly worrying "diagnosis" there from Sassyfras, particularly as it isn't couched in less alarmist terms (ie: "It probably isn't ovarian cancer, but bear in mind swelling is a symptom").

OP - go and see a damn doctor. Not being American, I have no idea how much it'll cost you, but surely a simple visit for a checkup with a General Practitioner can't be that bad?
posted by idiomatika at 10:46 AM on January 14

Oh, wait - no travel health insurance. Sorry, I misunderstood that as being no general health insurance.

You can still go to a doctor's surgery and ask if they will see you, you know. If one refuses for whatever reason, then go to another. Pester them until they will see you. In my opinion, they are unlikely to refuse. I've seen doctors and even had plastercasts put on me in different countries (European countries, but I didn't have to show any ID or UK National Health Number), and I wasn't charged a penny.

But I'm not going to hazard a guess at the cause of your problem, because it could be absolutely anything, from the very serious to the "annoying but harmless". You're only 28, so it's unlikely to be anything truly horrific. Try not to worry, but do try and see a doctor, even if you don't think you're eligible.
posted by idiomatika at 10:55 AM on January 14

Are you drinking more soda, beer, or other drinks with carbonation? Try eliminating these types of drinks and see if it change.
posted by rholly at 11:05 AM on January 14

Needlessly worrying "diagnosis" there from Sassyfras, particularly as it isn't couched in less alarmist terms (ie: "It probably isn't ovarian cancer, but bear in mind swelling is a symptom").

But I'm not going to hazard a guess at the cause of your problem, because it could be absolutely anything, from the very serious to the "annoying but harmless".

I am not a doctor. I should have posted more to my comment instead of giving you a worst case scenario - it seriously could be ANYTHING - gas, yeast infection, malabsorption, ovarian cyst, IBS, parasites, liver problem, intra-abdominal tumor, pregnancy (yeah, you said you weren't), weight gain, food sensitivity, varieties of cancer, etc. How are we to know or even fathom a guess when it's such a huge range of things it could be? See a doctor, suck up the cost, it will be worth it - for peace of mind.
posted by Sassyfras at 11:36 AM on January 14

Unfortunately I have no health insurance, so I can't just pop off to see a doctor

As far as I know, doctors still take money. I don't mean that lightly, if you really can't afford it, but this could be a sign of something serious, especially if, like you say, you look several months pregnant and it seems to be actual fluid retention. The first thing that springs to mind is ascites, but as sassyfras says, it could be anything.

This is one of those times to scrape together some money, or find a free clinic, and get some medical attention.
posted by peggynature at 12:44 PM on January 14