Abdominal swelling/distention

[butterfliesrecovery]

Hi! I'm 18 years old, female. A little bit over a week ago, I was experiencing what I thought was just a bit of constipation- hadn't gone to the bathroom in 2 and 1/2 days and my belly was noticeable bloated and slightly distended (lower abdomen). Soon enough, I did go to the bathroom, but not as much or as easily as I had hoped. The following day, I got my period. I was also having a lot of back ashes so I attributed all of these symptoms to PMS. My period ended today ( I'll just be spotting tomorrow), but the lower abdominal swelling and distention lingers. The first night I noticed it, I was lying down on my bed and I felt the area uneven and I could identify this rounded mass in the lower left quadrant. Ever since the discovery, I could tell that the distention was asymmetrical. The following day, I was looking at my belly in the mirror, breathed in, and discovered a visual outline of the swelling-the boundaries were clear( starts at the end of the ribcage (left) and trails downwards to the navel and below  until it mixes with the slight swelling on the right lower quadrant. Sometimes, if I tap at the area where the swelling and distention is, it sort of "bounces back".  The back aches still continue although my period is coming to an end ( my period never gives me cramps this late in the game).

I've also experienced unintentional weight loss ( around 9 lbs) and now weigh 111lbs  at 5 foot 6. But , my stomach is not the way it was anymore. Also, just days before this happened, my belly was making A  LOT of noises that just went on and on. Could that be related?

I was also sick with a virus a month ago ( head cold turned into a chest cold) CBC showed severe lymphocytopenia ( almost non existent) low-normal WBC's. I've had low lymphocyte counts for years now ( when I get my results i can see that) but the pediatricians have not said anything.


So anyway, this bulging of my abdomen has me baffled and makes me self-concious when I go out. It looks like I had  the legs and upper body of a 111lb girl, but stomach of one that's 10lbs heavier.

I hinted at my mom, and she dismissed it and told me my body was perfect.

[Ruth_L]

Hi BR:

I'm so sorry about your mother.  Nothing you can do about that.
Where can you buy kefir?

1.  Health food store  2.  Trader Joe's   3.  Whole Foods   4.  Some supermarkets carry LIFEWAY kefir, I will get a link.

http://www.lifeway.net/Store/StoreLocator.aspx

The hard thing does sound like constipation,

Do you have health insurance?  If not then you can still get ACA aka Obamacare and see a physician who should be able to refer you to a Gastroenterologist.

The other thing might be to try some slippery elm tea as well.  

[butterfliesrecovery]

I told my mom.
This was basically our dialogue:  

Me: Hey mom, there's something going on with my belly.
Mom: What?
Me: Well, it's still swollen and it's often uneven. There's also a little lump that is more noticeable at times.
Mom: It's normal for one side to be higher than the other. ( she touches my belly) It feels okay. It's only poop. Take Metamucil.
Me: (I show her pictures of my swelling that starts at the ribcage) She doesn't seem to care.
I then leave, frustrated.

[butterfliesrecovery]

I was on two courses of Antibiotics( Zithromax x 5 days) and 2 weeks later on Augmentin X 15 days! That antibiotic caused a nasty yeast infection a week after stopping it!

I do have vitamin D at home, don't know about the magnesium, though.

Thank you for the insight!

[butterfliesrecovery]

Hey, Ruth! Thank you for replying. That's what I've been thinking- about see a GI doc.
I drink plenty of water. I drink at least 4 bottles of water a day ( that's 8 oz x2 per bottle). Im a thirsty girl.
I don't think i'll be able to get my hands on kefir though!
I did drink powder Metamucil before this happened- it emptied me out..2 days later, I have the bulge. Could it be linked?

[Caryopteris]

If you were on antibiotics you need to take probiotics to help your body recover normal digestion.  

You can take magnesium tablet in the morning and vitamin D and calcium at night.  

If these don't set you right, you should be tested for Celiac disease, vitamin D deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia (Celiac causes deficiencies).

[Ruth_L]

I'm not a physician, but it definitely sounds like you need to see a GI specialist.

In the meantime, I've had really bad constipation too.  1 - you're not drinking enough water, drink literally at least 8 glasses a day.  2 - kefir, try it to reset your stomach.  3 - I really really hope your mother will allow you see a physician since it sounds like you may need one, in the meantime, try kefir, and yogurt, but kefir is way better for you especially in this instance.