Upper stomach protrudes?!
Question: Okay... no one answered this the last time I wrote it so I'll make it shorter.
I am 19, 5'7" and 122 pounds, and lately when I've been looking at my body in the mirror to the side, my upper stomach (above belly button), protrudes out over the lower. It appears to be bloated, but I have never experienced bloating in just the top half of my stomach. Any ideas why this could be happening? I have had IBS-like symptoms for the past month and I have been under a lot of stress and I have been eating less, and just last week i first noticed this protrusion. I have also been taking gas-x for the past week.
My lower stomach is fine, fyi. I can also suck my stomach in, but when I stand normal, the top protrudes. It isn't hard, unless I press down really hard and it feels uncomfortable. It looks weird....
Also, I have been straining a lot on the toilet, if that could have anything to do with it. :/
Answers: Okay... no one answered this the last time I wrote it so I'll make it shorter.
I am 19, 5'7" and 122 pounds, and lately when I've been looking at my body in the mirror to the side, my upper stomach (above belly button), protrudes out over the lower. It appears to be bloated, but I have never experienced bloating in just the top half of my stomach. Any ideas why this could be happening? I have had IBS-like symptoms for the past month and I have been under a lot of stress and I have been eating less, and just last week i first noticed this protrusion. I have also been taking gas-x for the past week.
My lower stomach is fine, fyi. I can also suck my stomach in, but when I stand normal, the top protrudes. It isn't hard, unless I press down really hard and it feels uncomfortable. It looks weird....
Also, I have been straining a lot on the toilet, if that could have anything to do with it. :/
I have had stomach issues for 5 years and i'll be 18 the day after tomorrow. My stomach does that too. You're fine.
I'm not a doctor but in my opinion the straining on the toilet shouldn't have anything to do with it unless you're constipated; if so then that could be some of the issue with the stomach protruding.
You're eating less because of stress and likely eating less healthy than your normal diet, that can add to the stomach issues.
Gas-x would be relieving any bloat from gas obviously, have you tried a mild diuretic such as Diurex (available over the counter)?
The only other suggestion/idea that I have is try some abdominal crunches to work the upper part of the abs, perhaps they've decided to not be as strong as they once were.