What is a Distended Stomach?

[coreFighter]

Dear everyone,

I just came back from the doctor. I rattled of my recent symptoms and pointed to my abdomen. He said it might be a Distended Stomach. 1) what is a distended stomach? He said my stomach might have moved - but how does one's stomach move? I'm not really into crazy rough sex. Which is the first thing that came to mind.

I've had crazy diarrhea over the past few months from the Truvada and Isentress. They moved me to Complera and the diarrhea has stopped. But I still have heart flutters and feel weird.

Thanks for the help !!! I'd really love to get to the bottom of this. I don't know if anyone has had this experience.

[tednlou2]

Why are docs so bad at explaining things and making sure the patient is up to speed before they leave?  And, we're at fault too.  I will leave not knowing what I need to know, because I am overwhelmed by all the info or I don't want to hold the doc up.  I pay the doc, so why should I worry?

Anyway, a search brings up various infections, heart issues, liver disease, to just gas.  Now, I have heard of a stomach flipping.  That's what killed my dog.  But, don't believe that's a problem in humans.

http://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=bloating-or-fullness%7Cdistended-stomach&symptomids=23%7C378&locations=22%7C22

[coreFighter]

Thanks !! I've googled this like mad, but would like to not think it's anything from stomach flipping to Celiac Disease.

I actually went back to ask him what he meant by this and what could have caused it. But his receptionist said he was busy .....

Yeah, I'm tried of having to field random medical terms and understand what they mean :-/

[Joe K]

Hey Core,

I think you may be confusing a distended stomach with the causes of such distension. 

Essentially a distended stomach is one that protrudes beyond it's normal state, such as how your stomach may appear after a particularly heavy meal.  My husband's belly can get so distended from gas, that he appears pregnant.  Once the gas subsides, his stomach returns to normal and is no longer distended.

Given what you describe, I'll guess (and I am not a doctor), that your bout with diarrhea has possible rearranged some internal organs.  Probably nothing severe, but with all the gas, etc, that comes with bowel issues, your doctor may have just been commenting on how your body appears at this point in time.

My guess is that if it was something important, he would have clarified his remarks.  I would still follow up with him, if for no other reason, to ease your mind.

Joe

[coreFighter]

killfoile,

Thanks, that makes sense actually. It feels tender in my stomach. I also didn't know where my stomach actually was till now. I always thought it was a lot lower. But apparently that's my small and large intestine.

I'm going to see a cardiologist. So I'll get to the bottom of this. I'm also going to change my diet a bit. Although it's always been healthy. The diarrhea didn't start till I was on medication and it never really went away till I switched. 

I guess my body just needs time to heal from what it went through.

Thanks !!!

[LiveWithIt]

I"ve only heard that term applied to starving babies in Africa that get so malnourished that their stomach seems to swell up.

[coreFighter]

good times.