Upper belly bloating?

Merrida · 16-Jun-08, 03:23 PM

I'd like to get some other people's takes on this.

A female, not conditioned, who over the past year has noticed for the first time upper belly firmness which she describes as more of a bloating, hard, deep internal feeling, than the fat she remembers gaining (when her weight would fluctuate) which always tended to occur in the lower belly.

That seemd like most women (lower belly, not upper abdomen).

Now a few thoughts cross my mind, given her lower abs are significantly smaller than her upper belly. I kind of question cardiac health (she has high BP), as well as diet.

Yes, diet and exercise for all over body fat loss, but my question has more to do with the recent UPPER belly increase (which does feel firm to the touch beneath gained fat which we both agree on). What would cause this recent development/change, especially when it's never occured before.

She's tells me she's current with her annual physicals, so I have to go on what I'm told.

Anyone? Anyone?

.

16-Jun-08, 03:59 PM

Sounds like a case of male beer-belly to me. Has she been playing cards and drinking cheap beer with the "boys".

Just kidding and don't know.

**LiftGirl** · 16-Jun-08, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrida

She's tells me she's current with her annual physicals, so I have to go on what I'm told.

Anyone? Anyone?

.

She's current on her physicals, but did she mention this specific issue the last time she saw her doc?

Merrida · 16-Jun-08, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

She's current on her physicals, but did she mention this specific issue the last time she saw her doc?

I'm not sure. I did not ask.

Out of curiosity though, anything come to mind?

**Lady C** · 16-Jun-08, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrida

Out of curiosity though, anything come to mind?

All the things that come to my mind are not good (health concerns). She might want to visit her doctor, soon.

Merrida · 16-Jun-08, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

All the things that come to my mind are not good (health concerns). She might want to visit her doctor, soon.

Lady C, -- can you share your thoughts? Now you've definitely got me curious.

**Gooseneck** · 17-Jun-08, 07:26 AM

How old is this woman ??

**Lady C** · 17-Jun-08, 07:27 AM

The fact that it feels firmer than the other areas tells me it can be a tumor or similar.

**Gooseneck** · 17-Jun-08, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

The fact that it feels firmer than the other areas tells me it can be a tumor or similar.

Was my exact thoughts too. Possibly cancer, but thats thinking horribly.

westside24 · 23-Jun-08, 07:58 PM

but I dont think cancer overall just solidifies the body... it would be a tumor like lady c said, whether its benign or malignant, or it could be a cyst or a hemorhage or an ulcer maybe... she could be carrying an baby alien, and its soon to burst out of her torso and et a bunch of people? or like P said, she just couldve drank 1 Michelob Ultra Light too many.

Merrida · 23-Jun-08, 08:28 PM

Thanks everyone for the input. All I know is she passed her recent physical (I asked her about that since seeing her). I'm hoping it's just a matter of weight gain, but honestly I've never seen (in her or especially in any females) this upper body bloat. She's gained weight (overall) but usually when women gain abdominal fat it tends to be lower abs. This threw me (and it still does).

I appreciate everyones comments. I'm not a medical practitioner, so I wonder how I should proceed with this in regards to working with her. What kind of tumor or cyst would do this? (Not looking for a diagnosis here, just conversation and tossing ideas threaded with curiosity back and forth). Thanks all.

PS: Keep in mind she has put on weight (all over obviously) as well. In my (personal) eyes she has probably 20 pounds to lose. But I wonder what any weight loss may do to help out or affect the belly if this is just fat. Just like a beer belly isn't a tumor, I posted this wondering if in a woman it may also be,...she's just too pudgy.

CliffA74 · 26-Jun-08, 07:34 PM

Scary diagnosis of the top of my head: Enlarged Liver. But she would probably have other symptoms if her liver were really that large. And her regular doc would probably catch it.
Non Scary diagnosis off the top of my head: Visceral fat from behind her abdominal wall, giving her a nice firm hard beer belly like many a NASCAR fan.

Chances are it's the beer belly.

Hope this helps.

-Cliff

Merrida · 26-Jun-08, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffA74

Chances are it's the beer belly.

Hope this helps.

-Cliff

She doesn't drink. She has not touched alcohol in about 20 years. This information came up during our original intake a few years ago, and I have no reason to disbelieve her.

I guess if she did drink, I'd be leaning heavily towards the whole beer belly thing, so without it, I think "carb belly" thing, but I've just never seen it manifest in this way.

The more you guys share your thoughts, the more I worry about her and am afraid there's something else going on. Since everyone seems to have at least a little bit of those ideas that are really scary (or actually, more scary ideas, and fewer organic ideas),....so what would you do if working with her and trying to address it?

I'm not a doctor so I certainly can't approach it that way, but she is the one who presents this abdominal fat/fullness/bloating as a concern. So in a regard, I feel I have a certain place to address it or try to. But beats me how to.

Thank you guys, all of you, for giving me food for thought. Granted now I feel more confused than ever, but still, I really appreciate everyone pitching in to give me some ideas. I'm open to all....

**LiftGirl** · 30-Jun-08, 11:41 AM

Merrida, if you're suspecting a medical problem, then a doctor really should be the one to address it.

Merrida · 30-Jun-08, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Merrida, if you're suspecting a medical problem, then a doctor really should be the one to address it.

I'm not suspecting anything, I'm curious and inquiring. And of course if it's a medical problem a doctor should address the problem. I still have to address her inquiries to me. I'm not a doctor, I'm not trying to be one or diagnose or or even scare her, but I wondered how I should respond when she asks ME what's going on (she replies she had a physical and got clearance from her doctor).

I'm just sharing what transpired and why I don't know how to speak with her about this because I'm not a doctor nor pretending to be one. So within my scope, I can certainly recommend she see her doctor (but that's the rebuttal I get,...she did see her doctor, etc.). Given her comments, that is why I came here asking other people what they thought. I also don't want to over-react, I have no way of knowing what's going on.