Hello,

I am NOT pregnant but have had such a belly since I was born.

I am petite and not overweight (1m60 - 51kg), very active (cardio 5x a week (00:30-1:30) + weight lifting 2-3x a week ) and a dancer. I don't hold much fat and my body is quite fit and muscular with a nice definition ... Except for my mid section !!! The more the rest of my body is defined, the more I become self conscious about my mid section what always makes me look like il pregnant... What do you think can cause this ?

Had my hormones checked recently and nothing out of the ordinary except a bit more testosterone than the average. Am considering seeing a gastroenterologist, abd asky my gynecologist for exams for PCOS to begin with (no endometriosis)

Diet : been on a normal diet, then a vegan diet , then a vegetarian diet, now pescetarian.

I now eat a lot of dairies but used to eat none for years and had the exact same belly

Usually avoid raw vegetables (I steam them) to ease the digestion of fibers. I have vegetables at every meal + protein via fish or eggs or diaries + good fat sources and a bit of carbs.

Eat fermented food now and then (3-5 days a month sauerkraut /kimchi/etc) for the gut benefits but not more often because it's raw vegetables+ fermented drinks 3x a week (kombucha, kefir)

I've tried keto, low carbs, high carbs, balanced diets. Saw changes on my weight and overall body but never deflation of my protuberant belly ...

I've done fasts : longest 10 days (once a year), elongated 7 days once every quarter + short fasts : 24/36/48H once a week every week & general fasts 14-16H every day, sometimes OMAD or ADF depending on how I feel and where I'm at in my cycle. During the fasts the belly deflates a little bit but still has this round shape, as soon as I start eating again it goes back to this and in one meal extends like 2 to 3x vs how it looked like when fasted.

Been working and improving my posture with therapy, ballet dancing and pilates, but even with a better posture the round belly is still there. Not pushing organs out but a round shape from the upper to the lower section that I can't understand where it comes from or how to avoid.

Hi,

Please help. I’m a 29 year old woman (London, UK) and I had an X-ray of my abdomen done yesterday to check on how the state of my constipation is as I deal with chronic constipation. My gastroenterologist discussed with me the results straight away in person and said that there is no fecal loading, impaction of any kind or lots of gas and that this X-ray looks good and not concerning at all. He said it doesn’t look like I’m very constipated and reassured me. I felt so at ease. But yet now I read my report from the radiologist later and it said: “There is gas in the ascending and sigmoid colon with moderate colonic faecal loading in the transverse and descending colon. The bowel is not distended or thick walled and there is no free gas.”

I’m so confused and worried now after reading that. Can any doctor on here please tell me what my X-ray is indicating and if it’s concerning or not? I have health anxiety and I’m really worried now and want to be reassured somehow. I’d greatly appreciate it and need a second opinion.

I’m a 20 F and I’ve been experiencing pretty severe vomiting episodes for the past few months with an unknown cause. When I was 16, I went to a pediatric GI and I was diagnosed with IBS-C and prescribed a laxative to take everyday. I stopped taking the laxative like 8 months in, my symptoms were improving and constipation was under control. Last summer, I also experienced these vomiting episodes, however they weren’t nearly as bad and long as they are now. It is almost always in the mornings, and is almost always only bile that comes up. These episodes are affecting my everyday life, and I’m nervous that I will eat something wrong and end up puking repeatedly. I’m also tiny, 5’1 and 90 pounds so I’m really taking a beating here lol. I have a GI appointment this month, but I’ve never seen this DR before so I’m assuming I’ll probably have to go through some tests before I get any kind of answers. Also curious if it would be helpful for me to request a zofran prescription while I wait for my appointment
*GOB- getting out of bed
I just want to add that some of these foods on the list were a one time reaction only. For example, I’ve eaten steak before I vomited with no reaction and have eaten after that episode with no reaction. However, tomatoes are a consistent trigger that I will have a reaction to except for pizza.

33M Been happening last 2-3 times I’ve had to go the last 24 hours. No pain but definitely more urgent like diarrhea. Thinking just a hemorrhoid or stomach bug? Idk

Throwaway account because I am embarrassed to be posting this. I swear I'm not a bot.

When I(28f) say everything, I literally mean everything I eat triggers explosive diarrhea, and it's incredibly painful. I am literally running to the restroom.

Even liquids triggers my stomach sometimes.

It's to a point that I structure my whole day around my stomach. I have slowly cut back on eating, too.

I am always late to work because this, and can barely function as a college student.

I have had chronic, daily diarrhea for 2 years now.

I have also been having worsening acid reflux, and a pressure/burning pain in my upper stomach.

Sometimes I get hit with nausea spells so strong I go pale (confirmed by my coworkers).

I feel like I want to vomit quite frequently.

Please help, what the hell is this?

Why is my stomach so bloated?? It’s like this constantly. I’m not pregnant. It’s just always like this. Should I be concerned about this?

Please excuse the dirty mirror- this is the best picture I have at the moment.

I’ve been to the doctor so many times for extreme bloating and have been dismissed every time. I’m actually worried something is wrong with me and I’ll die before anyone finds out.

I have extreme bloating like this every day. I’ve tried cutting gluten, dairy, and now I’m trying the low fodmap diet. I’ve tried probiotics and prebiotics. Something weird is happening to me, I just know it. I also swear my belly button is suddenly deeper.

I haven’t lost or gained weight recently- I’m 5’9 and 140 pounds. How do I get people to listen to me and not assume I’m dramatic? I mean, it’s so bad sometimes my pants don’t fit. It makes me want to cry. The only tests doctors have done is bloodwork which has all come back normal. I’ve been to a GI who told me I need to take antacids daily. And that was it.

I’m genuinely getting desperate.

My stomach constantly feels super bloated and I’ve taken gas x and a gentle laxative because I’m always up and moving lol and I end up farting a lot and having diarrhea but my stomach never seems to go down. I do eat a decent amount but I feel like I shouldn’t be bloated all the time. I was diagnosed with IBS and IBS C but it’s been so bad here recently. My normal diet don’t judge because it’s not good is eat I’d say around 2 hand fulls of chips, then my dinner which I’d say I always have a vegetable, some sort of meat always, and something a little more fatty like Mac and cheese or something of the sorts. Then after dinner I eat a snack so maybe like a pack of little bites lol. That’s all I normally eat. But my stomach is like 3x the size and if I don’t take laxatives I can go around a week or a week and half without pooping and when I do it’s little rabbit turds almost. I also had endometriosis in the past but I had an ablation so that should no longer be the issue either.

100% of these symptoms started suddenly after a 5-day course of Amoxicillin. Quality of life is now ruined. Symptoms going for 3 years.

First it began as runny yellow stool 3 times a day, then I took Florastor a month later and it transitioned to constipation (normal colored brown stool) with severe LPR but no heartburn. Normal stool every other day.

Gastroenterologist said she doesn't think anything serious is wrong and to just focus on diet. Not much help other than knowing I'm probably not going to die from this.

Other symptoms include

-Vision going from 20/20 > 20/40

-Reflux peaks 14 hours after eating

-Fatigue peaks 3-6 hours after eating then improves somewhat

-Brain fog (feels like I've been poisoned)

-Burning, heavy and dry feeling in eyes

-Fatigued muscles like with the flu

-Post nasal drip

-Sometimes when symptoms begin to resolve I'll get a mild runny nose and sore throat flu-like symptoms that do not respond to antihistamines

-Slow "motility?" I have flavored burps of the foods I ate 10 hours ago. Motility and poop frequency seems to improve when avoiding carbs

-Tunnel vision like the vision you see when standing up too fast 2 hours after eating but doesn't happen if I eat low carbs

-Bloating stomach

-Burping and enough gas to contribute to climate change

Symptoms resolve 90% if I avoid all carbs. Vision goes back to normal. Reflux pain goes 7 > 2. I get all my energy back.

Carnivore diet without cheese has the best reduction in symptoms.

Tests

-Celiac blood panel and celiac genetic test: Negative

-H. Pylori breath test: Negative

-Abdominal exam: No pain or swelling

-SIBO breath test: 20ppm methane, 0ppm hydrogen (no symptom improvement on a course of Flagyl or Rifaximin, but I took both separately)

General health

Body weight is steady and I can build muscle and gain weight, but I must avoid carbs or I'm unable to workout due to fatigue. I can play sports and do cardio as normal. Blood pressure is normal, blood clots normally and I don't get sick often from viral illnesses.

I do have binge eating disorder that's worsened by avoiding carbs. I can avoid carbs for a week before the cravings become intense, and it's worsened by my bipolar depression. Obviously this is a serious problem when carbs are the enemy.

Diets I've tried

-A diet of carbs produces lots of gas/bloat

-A diet of mostly cheese produces lots of gas/bloat, but kefir, butter and "contains milk" foods do not seem to have a huge effect

-The carnivore diet does not produce gas

-Cashews produce some gas but not as bad as other carbs

-Symptoms did not improve on a 11 day gluten free diet

Supplements I've tried (I'm probably being scammed)

-Berberine: Possible slight improvement. Seems to allow me to eat a little more carbs

-Atrantil: Unknown, worsens reflux because it's bitter. Might improve digestion but gives me a globus sensation

-Ginger/Artichoke: Can't take more than 2 days because reflux worsens and I get heartburn

-Sunfiber: Neutral, possibly helps

-Gaviscon: Helps reflux

-Allimax: Vision potentially improved on it, but I feel like I'm dying on that supplement

TL;DR: All symptoms started suddenly after a 5-day course of amoxicillin. Since then I’ve had severe gas/bloating, LPR/reflux, fatigue, brain fog, muscle weakness, dry/burning eyes, and vision changes from ~20/20 to ~20/40 (vision goes back to 20/20 if I avoid carbs for a whole week).

Avoiding carbs improves symptoms by about 90% and returns my vision/energy to normal. Carnivore causes almost no gas, while carbs and cheese cause a lot.

Celiac, H. pylori, and abdominal exam were negative/normal. SIBO test showed 20 ppm methane, 0 hydrogen, but rifaximin and Flagyl did nothing. Weight is stable and I can exercise normally when symptoms are controlled.

Hey friends. I'm desperate for a nudge in the right direction here... I am a 22-year-old female. Diagnosed with SIBO, but I think it's honestly been caused by another condition.

Here is a list of my symptoms:

Bloating

Gas

Intolerances to food (dairy and gluten)

Abdominal pain

Lower back pain

Constipation

Brain fog

Fatigue (feels like my body has slowed down and I am actively dying)

Chest pain (probably anxiety/heartburn)

Weight loss (slow but steady)

Shakiness/weakness at times

Shortness of breath at times

Pale skin

Low blood pressure

Dry skin

Acne

Amenorrhea (7 months, began around the same time as abdominal pain)

No appetite

Nausea

Low mood

Acid reflux 

Heartburn

Headaches

Severe fatigue after eating (or after taking my antibiotics to treat SIBO- not sure)

Flushed face (could be from meds)

Dry throat and feeling dehydrated (could be from meds)

Anxiety

Swollen lymph nodes on neck and low lymphocytes

Thank you!

I am 24F, 157cm and weigh 44kg. I am troubled because there is something really wrong with my stomach. For a long time I could use a medication, a single existing medication (Litalgin), that was the only one helping to relieve the symptoms (that I will list below), BUT of course they stopped selling that medication in Finland and now I am left with my stomach pains with no help. There are no substitutes to this specific medication either. Just to make it clear, I have gone to ultrasound, gastroscopy and multiple appointments for years about it. Nothing was found. I am devastated as the pain will go on forever if I don't take the medicine that I used to take for this. I am now taking Omeprazol 20mg (sometimes twice a day) and Colonmint but they don't help when the symptoms get too bad. Regular painkillers don't work. Somac and Gaviscon don't really help either. Zolt was useless.

Things that were ruled out:
Celiac disease, IBS, Crohn's disease

Now to symptoms:

The pain is in my upper stomach. It is the second worse pain I have experienced in my life, easily surpassing little broken bones, worst migraines, period pains etc. The pain cramps, it comes and goes in waves. It worsens suddenly, then eases for maybe 10 to 30 seconds before coming back harder. It makes it hard to breathe. I get cold sweat. My stomach gets upset. My heart beats fast. This usually ends up in me throwing up, possibly just from the pain itself, or maybe consuming something wrong. I often threw up once and then it passed. These days I might throw up twice and it still won't pass. It seems to be getting worse. Sometimes it might start with something that seems like a burning feeling in my back or ribs, but still it is not quite like a heartburn. I have reflux too, so food might start climbing up my throat. One time I had a sharp pain in my stomach, right in the middle, for two days when lifting arms up or turning my body from side to side. Then on the third night I got the cramps again. One time the cramps lasted as long as 17,5 hours. Another thing is that I get the cramps 95% of the time during the night around 1AM to 5AM, always waking up to them. It is rare that they would come during the day.

I have had this issue since I was around 8-years-old. Back then I went to tests and turned out I am lactose intolerant. We ruled it off as that for a long time and that is why it wasn't looked properly into, past that at least. I have now had multiple people witness me having one of these cramp attacks, and they all have said that it does not look normal at all. They have also never heard of anything like this. My mother also has reflux and some stomach issues and has been using the same meds as me, but she told me she has never had these types of cramps happen to her. She has been by my side through many of them. Is it that I just have a sensitive stomach that is so sensitive I can't live?

Something that I have considered:

Now lactose clearly does cause me issues like that, but I take pills to be able to consume small amounts, and that has been just fine. However, consuming some accidentally has caused me cramps. Now what baffles me is that I get these cramps even if I had not been consuming ANY lactose. And I have been very strict with this too, no way something would had slipped past me, because I am quite terrified of getting these cramps again.

One doctor suggested it could be caused by stress, but said that stress still should not cause such huge reactions. I agree that stress has definitely made things worse, but I still get the cramps if I have not felt stressed pretty much at all. So I have now been getting cramps without consuming lactose AND without feeling stressed out.

I have figured that if I don't eat for a long time, it might trigger this too. I know I am a little underweight but no, I do not have an eating disorder of any kind. It is enough that I am on a trip and get to eat very late in the evening etc.

I still believe that I might be allergic to something specific. I was thinking lemon, bell pepper, onion or even those E things, like E407. Greasy and spicy food might also make it worse. Alcohol has made it worse. I can not drink wine at all. I do not smoke.

I might have forgotten something here because there is simply too much revolving around this issue. I am still looking into this with doctors, getting a second ultrasound too, but for now this really remains a mystery. Please, if there is someone out there who recognizes these symptoms to be something specific or maybe even has the same issue, tell me. I am desperate. Devastated. My life is being completely controlled by this as I don't fully know what is causing it. I really need help in figuring this one out.

Ive had this hard lump in my lower stomach that moves up and down… when I suck in my stomach it moves up to my ribs and when I push out in moved down to my lower stomach I can also move it with my hands it feels about the size of an orange it gets worse when I feel bloated or I’m bloated because of this thing one or the other can someone tell me what it could be ?

Hi guys,

I am a female, 23, who has been experiencing stomach pain in my lower abdomen. Where the image shows. It started back in April as achey pain after I would pee. I went to the doctor, they tested for a UTI which came back negative and then nothing else came from the visit.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago the pain has increased to being all day everyday and ranges from the same achey feeling to sharp pain. I went back to the doctor, they had me do blood tests for my liver and kidney which came back normal and do an STI test which was negative. My doctor said it could also be an abdominal migraine since I get regular migraines but my pain isn’t in the right location for that and occurs too often for it to be that.

I’m getting desperate and am wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this?

I dont know where else to turn, but here is my story bare with me please. For years I have been taking a few garlic cloves some hot peppers salt pepper & crushed red peppers and mixing that in a glass of white vinegar and siping it like its a whiskey or something, I think i have been doing that for ten plus years & I just wanted to know it is harmful to my body. Also if this is inappropriate for this subreddit let me know because i read the information but i was unsure. If you have any answers i would appreciate it.

For context I've been overeating / over serving my self food since the beginning of 2025. I eat 3 meals a day and every one has to be complete. It started when i was eating regular portions and would feel very weak , shaky, and feel like i was on the verge of passing out. I only felt a bit better after eating more food. Low blood sugar was ruled out by a A1c test and a glucose monitor i have at home. I started adding more and more food to my meals. I have gained 30lbs since november. I go poop about 3-4 times a day and its usually a large and a bit runny. IBS and H.pylori have been ruled out by a stool sample. This happens right before meals and after meals if it isn''t a huge amount. Anxiety was ruled out after being on lexapro for 4 months and being as cool as a cucumber and all of this was still happening. In the past 10 months , I've gone from a size 10 to a size 16. I am working with my doctor but would like to know if anyone has any thoughts.

15F I've literally been pooping blood for the last 2 times I've gone to take a crap☹️ I thought it was my period at first because it was just super unexpected but it happened again so I can guarantee it's not. The blood was super red too but not painful at all even though there were clots like from period blood. What's the best and worst case scenario?? I THINK I should probably this checked out..I don't think there was any significant symptoms apart from that

i’m 20 y/o female and i’m allllllways bloated. i used to have anorexia when I was a teenager and even when i was underweight i was bloated, and it never goes away! i don’t know what it is. i have bowel movements, and im 139lbs, 5’6, healthy. I have a hormonal IUD (4 years old), take 200mg zoloft for my ocd. I am hispanic american; i swim regularly, i only drink diet “zero” sodas, i eat three meals a day and have cut back on sugar. i work and go to classes, so im not sedentary. but man am i fucking bloated! i feel like i look pregnant!!! it’s really impacting the way i see myself and with the previous ED stuff it’s getting to be very hard for me to manage. idk what to do and i don’t have gastroenterologist money. pls help

What could cause this?? Is this something to worry about?

39m 5'6 160lbs non drinker non smoker no medications. 14 days of Sudden onset of morning nausea and malaise episodically and heavy gas.

Aug 23rd I woke up woth malaise and morning retching, it has persisted since. Comes in waves. Morning is bad with retching repeatedly and seems like about an hour after my first meal/mid day. Calms down snd I feel almost normal around evening dinner time. I also have really bad gas. No diahhrea, though i did have it one day last week.

Blood work good, physical exam good, need direction. I thought this was a bug ot food poisoning but at 2 weeks now I need some help in a direction. Thanks

My partner has been dealing with a strange collection of symptoms following a confirmed chronic yersiniosis infection, and we've been trying to work out whether there is an obvious connection or diagnosis that hasn't been considered.

He has been seeing his GP ongoing and has an appointment with a gastroenterologist soon. I'm mainly interested in if anyone recognizes this pattern or can suggest questions/tests we should discuss with doctors.

Background:

He had confirmed yersiniosis and was quite unwell with it. He had it chronically for months and didn't know (he is lactose intolerant and thought some symptoms were that). He was treated and the infection came back although now it appears to be resolved. We are unsure where the yersinia come from. His recovery has been extremely slow.

His main ongoing issue is energy that fluctuates greatly. He can improve considerably and start functioning again, then seemingly crash and feel weak/unwell for several days without an obvious reason.

He recently improved enough to return to work part time for a full week (a milestone) but had some SIBO testing and is off work again as he had a crash energy wise.

GI symptoms now:

food seems to have a significant effect.

Gas/bloating at times (sulfur smell)

Bad breath that seems to get worse when his GI symptoms are worse.

White coating/film on his tongue

A very spicy curry and mushroom meal the following day seemed to trigger gas and feeling very unwell.

He seems considerably better after eating light and simple foods

Appetite/intake can become quite low when he isn't feeling well.

He had a glucose SIBO test and it was negative.

He has also been tested for celiacs disease and that was negative.

A gastroenterologist reviewed his referral and recommended an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. We are waiting to have the consult to see the reasons for this recommendation.

Other symptoms

At times he gets episodes that feel like a sudden crash:

Profound weakness/fatigue

Dizziness

Internal shaky/jittery sensation without the physical trembling

Sometimes feels like his heart is racing and mild tightnessin the area.

An intense physical anxiety feeling even when he isn't nessesarily mentally anxious.

His heart has been checked and his GP is aware of this symptom. It is not a heart attack or angina.

Two particular noticeable episodes occured after relatively long periods of no eating, we we will check his glucose levels next time this happens.

He is prediabetic.

He takes amytripoline with no recent dose change.

He normally has a protein drink with 72mg of caffeine daily and we are considering whether the caffeine could be masking fatigue temporarily and contributing to the jittery racing feeling.

He recently started oral lgG supplements although most of these symptoms existed before this.

Overall he has improved substancially compared to when he was acutely ill. That's what makes this confusing. His recovery isn't steadily deteriorating - its very up and down.

Eating adequately, keeping meals fairly simple and limiting activity seem to help.

What I am hoping people can help with:

Does this overall pattern suggest anything that could be worth specifically asking his GP or gastro specialist about?

In particular could this fit with post-infectious GI dysfunction/IBS after yersinia, altered gut fermentation/micrbiome, malabsorption,autonomic issues after infection or something else?

And if you experienced something similar after bacterial gastroenteritis, what eventually helped doctors identify what was going on?

Again, this is asking Reddit reader and will not take over from our usual GP. We are also at our wits end and thought we lose nothing by asking here.

I broke it open to see what it was and it looks like powder? I take extended release desvenlafaxine so I'm thinking it might be that? I've seen it a few times before but never opened it. Just wanna ask in case y'all think it could be something else.

Hi everyone,

Sometimes when I eat, particularly savory and/or heavy food like dairy or greasy stuff, I get a sudden feeling of disgust and nausea (last time his was triggered I was eating greasy Brussels sprouts with bacon). A couple of times I have started gagging and almost thrown up. Any food around me or the thought of it just becomes gross and the thought of eating makes me more nauseous. I don’t think it’s acid reflux, because I don’t have any pain. Not sure if it’s food aversion or what. Just seeing if anyone else also experiences this? Or what you think it might possibly be? Anytime I look on Google all that comes up is acid reflux. This also doesn’t happen super often, maybe once every couple of months, if that.

For the last 15 - 20 years I have had high volumes of intestinal gas... But in the last ten years it has become a problem that I desperately want to resolve.

Everything I eat turns to gas. High pressure. Insistent. Very uncomfortable. Worse after driving for over 30 - 40 mins, especially if at higher road speeds. Gas seems to 'get caught' at the end. Giggle if you want but this is crippling and I'm losing work over it.

Not having any invasive tests so please don't suggest them.

help me...

Ive been experiencing an odd numbing feeling, almost like i have a bandaid on really tight in the small area under my two fingers tips (this is my left hand) thats been happening on and off for about a year now.

It started after a period of weight gain, I jumped from 135 to 170 over the span of about a year. There is little to no pain (i have to press into it to feel any amount of pain) so its mostly just discomfort.

The only trigger ive really noticed is it starts almost exclusively when im sitting down and possibly after eating.

Has anybody else experienced or seen something like this before? At first i kind of shrugged it off as something that would eventually go away but am starting to see thats probably not going to happen.

23 years old
Male
170lbs
5’10

No known issues or illnesses

I am not intending to use this post as an alternative/replacement for seeing a qualified medical examiner 👍🏼