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What Causes Abdominal Swelling?
I m a 55 year old male Over the last few weeks my abdomen has been ‘inflating’, from under my ribs down to the inguinal fold. The abdominal skin is tight, but not painful. It is rounded and looks like a pregnancy ! My belly button has always been an ‘inny’, but now it is swollen like an ‘outy’ although still in a dent in the abdomen.There is no particular ongoing pain, although I touched my belly button and it went in like bubble wrap and was very painful while touching. I used to just be a 36” waist, but now the waistband of 38” trousers cuts painfully into my skin when I sit down – I’ll need to go up a size further. When I bend down, or sit down to drive, this mass pushes my lungs and takes away my puff. can you advise ?
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
Hello,
Thanks for posting your question to Health Care Magic.
We understand your concern.
I am Dr Alok Sinha, MD from india. I will try to help you with best of my effort.
The problem you are suffering is called "ascites".
Let us make you more aware of your illness. Ascites is an illness characterized by accumulation of excess fluid in abdominal cavity. Initially when accumulation is small it hardly produces any discomfort, but gradually when accumulation increases it causes abdominal discomfort, heaviness in belly, difficulty in respiration, compromised cardiac function, stretching of skin over abdomen making it shiny and susceptible to easy bruise. Pain occurs late in this illness. Due to pressure of fluid from inside of abdomen the generally inverted umbilicus protrudes out.
At present you have many of the above symptoms pointing towards this problem.
Now coming to its cause and therapy. This illness may arise due to various reasons like liver problem, Kidney problem, Heart failure etc. In any of the above cause, it is advisable to consult a good physician/gastro-enterologist who may screen you with ultrasonography/abdominal CT scan and suggest you the suitable therapy.
'Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help". I wish you all the best.
Thanks for posting your question to Health Care Magic.
We understand your concern.
I am Dr Alok Sinha, MD from india. I will try to help you with best of my effort.
The problem you are suffering is called "ascites".
Let us make you more aware of your illness. Ascites is an illness characterized by accumulation of excess fluid in abdominal cavity. Initially when accumulation is small it hardly produces any discomfort, but gradually when accumulation increases it causes abdominal discomfort, heaviness in belly, difficulty in respiration, compromised cardiac function, stretching of skin over abdomen making it shiny and susceptible to easy bruise. Pain occurs late in this illness. Due to pressure of fluid from inside of abdomen the generally inverted umbilicus protrudes out.
At present you have many of the above symptoms pointing towards this problem.
Now coming to its cause and therapy. This illness may arise due to various reasons like liver problem, Kidney problem, Heart failure etc. In any of the above cause, it is advisable to consult a good physician/gastro-enterologist who may screen you with ultrasonography/abdominal CT scan and suggest you the suitable therapy.
'Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help". I wish you all the best.
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