Persistent abdominal distension + breathing restriction for 2+ years — feels mechanical, not IBS. Anyone experienced similar?
Hi everyone,
I’m posting because I’ve been dealing with a very strange and persistent issue for over 2 years now and I’m honestly running out of ideas.
The main problem is constant abdominal distension/pressure along with a feeling that my breathing is mechanically restricted, almost like my diaphragm can’t properly move downward.
This is not occasional bloating that comes and goes after food — it’s there constantly, even when fasted.
Main symptoms:
Constant visible abdominal distension
Feeling of high internal pressure/fullness
Abdomen feels heavy, firm, and sometimes almost fluid-like
Symptoms are much worse standing up
Symptoms reduce somewhat when lying down
Feels gravity-dependent rather than gaseous
Deep breathing feels mechanically resisted, like hitting a “brick wall”
Feels like the diaphragm cannot descend properly
I rely heavily on chest breathing because stomach breathing feels restricted
Relaxing my abdomen makes it feel worse
Bracing/tensing my core slightly improves stability and breathing comfort
Abdomen sometimes feels like it shifts position depending on posture, almost like a “waterbed” sensation
Not relieved by passing gas or going to the toilet
Symptoms are constant rather than flare-ups
Important context:
IBS medications, diet changes, and FODMAP diet have made no difference at all
Ultrasounds and routine tests haven’t shown anything at all
Symptoms don’t behave like normal gas/bloating
It feels more like there is physically pressure or something mechanically affecting the abdominal cavity/diaphragm
The issue massively affects my breathing comfort and quality of life
Oddly, during highly engaging physical activity (hiking uphill, dancing, skating, etc.) I notice the symptoms less temporarily, but they return immediately afterwards
I had a groin hernia mesh repair many years ago, though I don’t think that it’s related.
I’m currently trying to push for further investigation such as CT or MRI because this genuinely feels structural/mechanical rather than a standard functional GI issue.
Has anyone experienced anything remotely similar? Especially:
breathing restriction linked with abdominal pressure
symptoms worse standing
“heavy” or fluid-like abdominal sensation
diaphragm feeling restricted
normal scans/tests but persistent symptoms
Even if you never got a diagnosis, I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who relates to this because it’s been incredibly difficult to explain to doctors.
Thanks.