Distended belly need help

I hate to post this but this is something I’ve been struggling with the past year or so. I assumed it was from my AAS usage and being on TRT for so long. I was hoping if I stopped TRT things would go down but no such luck. I’m 44 almost 45. I’m currently recovering from surgery but planning to get lean for summer. My gut has gotten hard and distended.

It is mostly my lower abdomen but I’m getting really self conscious. I’ve put on a bit of fat over the past several months because I needed my hip replaced and was in pain etc. I’ve read online it could be from carbonated drinks which I drink a lot of, eating too fast etc. I’m thinking it might be something else. I’m planning on doing a colon cleanse and removing all carbonated drinks and really cleaning up my diet. Cardio will be a slow go for at least another 6 weeks.

Not sure if anyone else here has had or has a similar issue. I’ve never taken Insulin but have taken HGH but typically only 2ius per day. I’ve wondered if I could have delayed gastric emptying which my son has. I tried taking Miralax daily for several months but that did nothing. Just at a loss and looking for help

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Originally Posted by PistolPete33

I hate to post this but this is something I’ve been struggling with the past year or so. I assumed it was from my AAS usage and being on TRT for so long. I was hoping if I stopped TRT things would go down but no such luck. I’m 44 almost 45. I’m currently recovering from surgery but planning to get lean for summer. My gut has gotten hard and distended.

It is mostly my lower abdomen but I’m getting really self conscious. I’ve put on a bit of fat over the past several months because I needed my hip replaced and was in pain etc. I’ve read online it could be from carbonated drinks which I drink a lot of, eating too fast etc. I’m thinking it might be something else. I’m planning on doing a colon cleanse and removing all carbonated drinks and really cleaning up my diet. Cardio will be a slow go for at least another 6 weeks.

Not sure if anyone else here has had or has a similar issue. I’ve never taken Insulin but have taken HGH but typically only 2ius per day. I’ve wondered if I could have delayed gastric emptying which my son has. I tried taking Miralax daily for several months but that did nothing. Just at a loss and looking for help

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I've always had stomach issues and have been self conscious. I threw in the towel for a shredded 6 pack years ago. However, I did have a lot of success removing all artificial sweeteners from my diet sometime in early 2020. My personal, unscientific opinion is those products can cause those issues and destroy our gut health in the same fashion as how gluten affects a celiac.

The second step I've taken (which is still a work in progress, food addiction is real) is removing everything that has "Natural Flavors" in the ingredient list. That ingredient is complete oxymoron due to the garbage FDA & WHO policies. Any company can start with a natural ingredient such as watermelon seeds, then food engineer the hell out of it to make it as addictive as possible and gets used for flavouring in supplements (example = Watermelon flavoured BCAA).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PistolPete33

I hate to post this but this is something I’ve been struggling with the past year or so. I assumed it was from my AAS usage and being on TRT for so long. I was hoping if I stopped TRT things would go down but no such luck. I’m 44 almost 45. I’m currently recovering from surgery but planning to get lean for summer. My gut has gotten hard and distended.

It is mostly my lower abdomen but I’m getting really self conscious. I’ve put on a bit of fat over the past several months because I needed my hip replaced and was in pain etc. I’ve read online it could be from carbonated drinks which I drink a lot of, eating too fast etc. I’m thinking it might be something else. I’m planning on doing a colon cleanse and removing all carbonated drinks and really cleaning up my diet. Cardio will be a slow go for at least another 6 weeks.

Not sure if anyone else here has had or has a similar issue. I’ve never taken Insulin but have taken HGH but typically only 2ius per day. I’ve wondered if I could have delayed gastric emptying which my son has. I tried taking Miralax daily for several months but that did nothing. Just at a loss and looking for help

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Whew, that's a long time for daily Miralax. Personally, I would start with adding in plain Greek yogurt and plenty of water. If the distention continues, go see your PCP. They may think an upper endoscopy is in order.

I've been thinking the same thing. Increasing my water as obviously that is the key to digestion. I've often had a shredded six pack and def. want that back. I'm thinking of making an appointment to a Gastro to see what's going on. I've always had digestion issues. My son has delayed gastric emptying and his stomach gets distended and hard if he doesn't go regularly. I've never been looked at but I would be curious if I have the same or similar. I always feel like I have to go the bathroom. I've been eating a lot of sugary foods and soda over the past year and that could be the issue as I'm getting older. Time to just quit that crap and see what happens.

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Originally Posted by Windex

I've always had stomach issues and have been self conscious. I threw in the towel for a shredded 6 pack years ago. However, I did have a lot of success removing all artificial sweeteners from my diet sometime in early 2020. My personal, unscientific opinion is those products can cause those issues and destroy our gut health in the same fashion as how gluten affects a celiac.

The second step I've taken (which is still a work in progress, food addiction is real) is removing everything that has "Natural Flavors" in the ingredient list. That ingredient is complete oxymoron due to the garbage FDA & WHO policies. Any company can start with a natural ingredient such as watermelon seeds, then food engineer the hell out of it to make it as addictive as possible and gets used for flavouring in supplements (example = Watermelon flavoured BCAA).

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My son has Delayed Gastric Emptying and his Gastro has had him on Miralax once per day for years now. That is why I decided to try it. In reality it prob. wasn't two months that I took it but I don't remember how long it was. Def. need to increase my water and prob. just make an appointment to see what is going on instead of always trying to self diagnose.

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Originally Posted by almostgone

Whew, that's a long time for daily Miralax. Personally, I would start with adding in plain Greek yogurt and plenty of water. If the distention continues, go see your PCP. They may think an upper endoscopy is in order.

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Artificial sweeteners cause a lot of distension. I'm not sure how all sweeteners work, but from what I've read, our gut essentially cannot absorb the sweetener. It stays in our gut and bacteria feeds on it and produces gases, which causes distension.

For me, pasta-based products also cause a lot of distension. Veggies seem to help.

I definitely would. They should be able to tell a lot by scoping you. Since you've been consuming a lot of sugar, I would consider adding in the plain Greek yogurt as well.

Just out of curiosity, you haven't been using any old whey protein, have you? I made that mistake once and it totally fvcked my guts. My belly was so bloated/distended that it was borderline painful. I very rarely consume protein powders now and opt for whole foods with any eye towards avoiding preservative laden foods.

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Originally Posted by PistolPete33

My son has Delayed Gastric Emptying and his Gastro has had him on Miralax once per day for years now. That is why I decided to try it. In reality it prob. wasn't two months that I took it but I don't remember how long it was. Def. need to increase my water and prob. just make an appointment to see what is going on instead of always trying to self diagnose.

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Originally Posted by Windex

I've always had stomach issues and have been self conscious. I threw in the towel for a shredded 6 pack years ago. However, I did have a lot of success removing all artificial sweeteners from my diet sometime in early 2020. My personal, unscientific opinion is those products can cause those issues and destroy our gut health in the same fashion as how gluten affects a celiac.

The second step I've taken (which is still a work in progress, food addiction is real) is removing everything that has "Natural Flavors" in the ingredient list. That ingredient is complete oxymoron due to the garbage FDA & WHO policies. Any company can start with a natural ingredient such as watermelon seeds, then food engineer the hell out of it to make it as addictive as possible and gets used for flavouring in supplements (example = Watermelon flavoured BCAA).

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What are your thoughts on hgh related gut distention? And do you think using mk 677 could eventually lead to a distended gut?

Very interesting. I'm curious if it could be a change in my pre and post workout products and BCAA drinks. I'm pretty sure all have artificial sugars. I'm going to eliminate soda from my diet. Instead of going cold turkey I'm going to cut my consumption in half for a week and then half the 2nd week and come off. My PCP recommended doing this. I'm sure that alone would greatly help my digestion and gut health as well as overall health.

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Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

Artificial sweeteners cause a lot of distension. I'm not sure how all sweeteners work, but from what I've read, our gut essentially cannot absorb the sweetener. It stays in our gut and bacteria feeds on it and produces gases, which causes distension.

For me, pasta-based products also cause a lot of distension. Veggies seem to help.

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Become a powerlifter...

You'll be able to call your extended gut a power belly.

Works for me.

Have you had your colonoscopy done yet? if not might be a good time to go see a GI doctor and ask him while you are there to schedule your exam. I can say if they put you to sleep for the procedure its not that bad, just the night before is horrible. Make sure they give you a good drug like prepopik (sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and anhydrous citric acid)

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Originally Posted by David LoPan

Have you had your colonoscopy done yet? if not might be a good time to go see a GI doctor and ask him while you are there to schedule your exam. I can say if they put you to sleep for the procedure its not that bad, just the night before is horrible. Make sure they give you a good drug like prepopik (sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and anhydrous citric acid)

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I haven't yet. I def. think I need to see a Gastro though. Even aside from the issue I'm having I've always had gastric issues. I basically always feel like I need to poop and it's been this way forever. I also have Acid Refulx.

You all are scaring me with this gastro shit. What age are we supposed to have a colonoscopy?

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Originally Posted by fit_deskjocky

You all are scaring me with this gastro shit. What age are we supposed to have a colonoscopy?

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Typically 50 if you don't have a history of Prostate cancer in your family

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Originally Posted by fit_deskjocky

You all are scaring me with this gastro shit. What age are we supposed to have a colonoscopy?

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Originally Posted by PistolPete33

Typically 50 if you don't have a history of Prostate cancer in your family

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Yes, and i think if there's not a history of colon cancer, you can opt for the cologuard test. Take a crap at home and send the sample in by mail. Must easier! Did mine a couple years ago.

Have you heard of FODMap? there are people who recommend the FODMAP or staying away from FODMOP foods or something to that effect. Foods that have lots of gases such as garlic, bread. Have you heard of this? I ignored it as I believe garlic is 1 of the miracle superfoods that make many live very very old lives in the mediterranean...that and they have an easy going outlook on life. If you ever saw the film "Beverly Hills Cop," the original, 1 of the 2 cops in the squad car on a stake out on Axel Foley, the younger one says at a certain age there's an _ x amount of lbs of red meat in the intestine that hasn't been digested. Leaky gut is an intersting relatively new phenomonon, too...a lot of these things are basicallly part of living...in my humble opinion. I wouldn't worry too much about them. But fasting seems to be a good thing to do also, let these organs rest. Especially since bodybuilders eat a lot and thus cause the digestive organs to work harder than the regular person who works in the service industry as like an accoutnant or lawyer.

Shit, again - I’m lucky with “just a brain hemorrhage”

I’m trying to lose the last 1/4” or so bellow my belly button right now

But, bad bloat does happen to me too. Usually when I get my gi issues - like when my gallbladder goes to hell, I gain an inch over nite - my gut feels all hard and full all the sudden, kinda like the wife when her period rolls in

This is why I am on my shit so much now - I eat healthy af now. . . Life’s too short to look like commoner crap - not when I can help it at least

Could be visceral fat too - all of my ex juicer
ex friends had this shit < it looked nasty af


Thought I’d add this in - Greek yogurt is always a staple in my diet. Not plain, that stuff is just gross - I do about 2-3 cups of vanilla per day

What always worked for me, and still does, is bone broth.

It's ability to reduce inflammation in the gut is really something else. It just works.

Beef or chicken.

If it's beef, fill a pot with knuckle bones, shanks and any tendon type stuff you can buy. If it's chicken, then one hole chicken and and some chicken feet or wings.

Bring the pot to a boil, then dump in your choice of bones. Give it a couple minutes. Shut it off, drain it and rinse the bones and pot. This will make it much more palettable.

Refill the pot with bones and water. Add salt and an onion. Maybe a couple carrots that sort of sweeten it up. Bring it almost to boiling but not bubbling.

Let it stew like that till the cartilage and tendon matter dissolve. 12-24hrs usually.

Then let it cool off, remove the bones and stuff put it in the refrigerator for a few hours.

When you take it out, all of the fat will be a solid sheet on top. Just skim it off.

Then strain the rest into jars.

If you got good bones and did it right the broth when refrigerated will be thick like gravy. Sometimes more like jelly.

It's pure collegen.

Salt to taste. Drink one to three cups a day like you would tea.

Your gut will heal, your joints will feel better and your hair and skin will too.

And I'm jnot ust saying that. It's what I use to shrink my belly when I get extended period of bloating. I've used it for the past ten years.

It works. But it is an aquired taste.

How long does it take to work? Instead of doing it that way could I simply buy bone broth and just drink that? When you say that you drink it like tea I'm assuming you heat it up? I've never heard of anything like this before but I'm def. willing to try.

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Originally Posted by Hughinn

What always worked for me, and still does, is bone broth.

It's ability to reduce inflammation in the gut is really something else. It just works.

Beef or chicken.

If it's beef, fill a pot with knuckle bones, shanks and any tendon type stuff you can buy. If it's chicken, then one hole chicken and and some chicken feet or wings.

Bring the pot to a boil, then dump in your choice of bones. Give it a couple minutes. Shut it off, drain it and rinse the bones and pot. This will make it much more palettable.

Refill the pot with bones and water. Add salt and an onion. Maybe a couple carrots that sort of sweeten it up. Bring it almost to boiling but not bubbling.

Let it stew like that till the cartilage and tendon matter dissolve. 12-24hrs usually.

Then let it cool off, remove the bones and stuff put it in the refrigerator for a few hours.

When you take it out, all of the fat will be a solid sheet on top. Just skim it off.

Then strain the rest into jars.

If you got good bones and did it right the broth when refrigerated will be thick like gravy. Sometimes more like jelly.

It's pure collegen.

Salt to taste. Drink one to three cups a day like you would tea.

Your gut will heal, your joints will feel better and your hair and skin will too.

And I'm jnot ust saying that. It's what I use to shrink my belly when I get extended period of bloating. I've used it for the past ten years.

It works. But it is an aquired taste.

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I do broth and light chicken soup when my gallbladder goes to hell

The sodium & other nutrients seem to help - I don’t make that shit myself. It’s just chicken soup out of a can with broth added.

I’m kinda used to it now - ever since this gallbladder shit started happening

Def helps me


But, who knows - our body is a complex machine + you came off gear & ran a ton of PCT < I still don’t even wanna know what that shit will do to me if I decide to go that route for a bit

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Originally Posted by PistolPete33

How long does it take to work? Instead of doing it that way could I simply buy bone broth and just drink that? When you say that you drink it like tea I'm assuming you heat it up? I've never heard of anything like this before but I'm def. willing to try.

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You'll have noticeably less bloat and intestinal inflammation within a week. Tapering down from there.

Yes, you'll want to heat it up, then salt to taste. It won't taste great, but not awful either.

You may have mild diarrhea the first few days as your intestines shed the toxins and begin to use the collagen to repair and heal.

It will help.

I've never bought bone broth before because it just recently showed up for sale with the yuppy organic crowd I've always made my own, so I can't speak on the store bought stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hughinn

What always worked for me, and still does, is bone broth.

It's ability to reduce inflammation in the gut is really something else. It just works.

Beef or chicken.

If it's beef, fill a pot with knuckle bones, shanks and any tendon type stuff you can buy. If it's chicken, then one hole chicken and and some chicken feet or wings.

Bring the pot to a boil, then dump in your choice of bones. Give it a couple minutes. Shut it off, drain it and rinse the bones and pot. This will make it much more palettable.

Refill the pot with bones and water. Add salt and an onion. Maybe a couple carrots that sort of sweeten it up. Bring it almost to boiling but not bubbling.

Let it stew like that till the cartilage and tendon matter dissolve. 12-24hrs usually.

Then let it cool off, remove the bones and stuff put it in the refrigerator for a few hours.

When you take it out, all of the fat will be a solid sheet on top. Just skim it off.

Then strain the rest into jars.

If you got good bones and did it right the broth when refrigerated will be thick like gravy. Sometimes more like jelly.

It's pure collegen.

Salt to taste. Drink one to three cups a day like you would tea.

Your gut will heal, your joints will feel better and your hair and skin will too.

And I'm jnot ust saying that. It's what I use to shrink my belly when I get extended period of bloating. I've used it for the past ten years.

It works. But it is an aquired taste.

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I like extra chicken feet in mine

Cut all Gluten.

All good tips, cutting out all the crap and drinking lots of water as well as seeing a PCP if the problem continues or is severe.

However if nothing else works here is one more thing to consider,
My brother had stomach distension and abdominal pain and other issues and went to many doctors and had a bunch of tests over about year. Finally it got so bad that he was going to be scheduled for exploratory surgery.

Luckily he saw another specialist prior to the surgery and the doctor asked him if he had undergone much dental work. He replied yes a ton of it (many cavities and cosmetic bonding) but that it was about 20 yrs ago. The doctor told him this would be a possible source as some people were very sensitive to amalgam. His PCP and the surgeon told him this was quackery, but not being to excited about exploratory surgery he went ahead and had all the amalgam filling stripped out and within a week he started to notice less pain/digestion problems as well as a reduction in distention and within a month he was doing much better with the distention almost back to normal.

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Originally Posted by Wannabhuge14

What are your thoughts on hgh related gut distention? And do you think using mk 677 could eventually lead to a distended gut?

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If the MK677 gives the ravenous hunger and it causes someone to make poor diet choices I suppose it could indirectly contribute to the gut issues. On a whole I have not noticed any issues.

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Originally Posted by BG

Cut all Gluten.

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I was thinking this also. They thought my son had Celiac and we went Gluten Free for a bit until his colonoscopy came up negative. Might be worth a revisit.