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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Cause Of Weight Gain In Stomach And Chest Area?

Strange Symptoms: Since October 2010 I have gained weight in the stomach and chest areas. I eat as i feel like i can not get full. I thought it might be a tape worm til one day I went jogging with some co workers and the next day I was putting away cases of dough ( work at a restaurant) and my stomach tighened into a ball and stayed that way for a week. Since then my stomach has gotten bigger i went from a size 18 to 24 since sept 2010 I have gotten my period every mo. just not as heavy and sometimes hardly nothing. I have taken many htp all negative. I am scheduling a doctors apointment cause even though there is no pain associated to any of this I find it hard to bend over forward and i get short of breath very easily when doing any activity. Im thinking maybe hernia? Maybe you could explain this?
Mon, 1 Jun 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,

Without being able to do a physical and examine your abdomen, it is hard for me to be able to tell you what is going on, but it's possible you are describing an umbilical hernia. Hernias can happen anywhere in the body that there is a weak area and the umbilicus is one of them. But usually umbilical (abdominal) hernias do not continue to make your abdomen progressively larger over time - at least that's been my experience with patients who have had these.

Usually with an umbilical hernia, when you sit up from lying on your back, or strain, the herniated area becomes more prominent with a soft bulge near the navel.

If your doctor feels it isn't a hernia, an ultrasound or CT may be helpful in providing more information.

Here is a link with some information about umbilical hernias. https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/education/patient%20ed/adultumbilical.ashx

There are other possible things on the list of what might be going on, but given that it came on abruptly after lifting something heavy, I think a hernia is possible.

You are doing the right thing to get this checked out by going to your doctor. If it is a hernia, it can get repaired. If it is not a hernia, it is time to look into what is going on.

I hope this information helps.
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What Is The Cause Of Weight Gain In Stomach And Chest Area?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Without being able to do a physical and examine your abdomen, it is hard for me to be able to tell you what is going on, but it s possible you are describing an umbilical hernia. Hernias can happen anywhere in the body that there is a weak area and the umbilicus is one of them. But usually umbilical (abdominal) hernias do not continue to make your abdomen progressively larger over time - at least that s been my experience with patients who have had these. Usually with an umbilical hernia, when you sit up from lying on your back, or strain, the herniated area becomes more prominent with a soft bulge near the navel. If your doctor feels it isn t a hernia, an ultrasound or CT may be helpful in providing more information. Here is a link with some information about umbilical hernias. https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/education/patient%20ed/adultumbilical.ashx There are other possible things on the list of what might be going on, but given that it came on abruptly after lifting something heavy, I think a hernia is possible. You are doing the right thing to get this checked out by going to your doctor. If it is a hernia, it can get repaired. If it is not a hernia, it is time to look into what is going on. I hope this information helps.