How do you know if you have fluid in your stomach?

The fluid causes swelling that can make the tummy feel tight and very uncomfortable. It often develops over a few weeks but might happen over a few days. The fluid causes pressure on other organs in the abdominal area and may lead to: clothes feeling tighter or needing a bigger belt size.

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How do I get rid of fluid in my stomach?

Take diuretic medicines to help reduce the fluid in your body. In certain cases, your doctor may need to remove large amounts of fluid from your abdomen through a needle. This may be done if you have trouble breathing or the diuretic is not working.

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What causes fluid in stomach?

Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. It commonly occurs as a complication of liver disease. Symptoms include bloating, indigestion, constipation, and shortness of breath. Although it can be treated with medication and simple procedures, it can recur in people with chronic conditions.

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Can fluid in the abdomen go away on its own?

Ascites may go away with a low salt diet, and with diuretics (water pills) ordered by your provider. But sometimes a provider must drain the fluid from the belly using a special needle.

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What Colour is fluid in the stomach?

Under normal conditions, peritoneal fluid is clear to pale yellow. Bloody ascites is a characteristic of benign or malignant tumors, hemorrhagic pancreatitis, or perforated ulcer,23 whereas clear or straw colored ascites is often associated with cirrhosis.

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Assessment for Abdominal Ascites

28 related questions found

What are the stages of ascites?

The classification of ascites is based on the amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity: grade 1 ascites, or mild ascites, detectable by ultrasound examination; grade 2 ascites, or moderate ascites, characterized by a mild symmetrical abdominal distension; and grade 3 ascites, or large ascites, with significant abdominal ...

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What are the symptoms of mild ascites?

The main symptoms of ascites are a large belly and rapid weight gain. Other symptoms include: Swelling in your ankles. Shortness of breath.

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Does ascites flatten lying down?

Hepatic failure - ascites. Look at the patient, both with them lying down and standing up. The shape of the abdomen often suggests ascites fluid. On lying down, the flanks are full but on standing the ascites fluid accumulates in the lower abdomen.

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What does a person with ascites look like?

Those with mild ascites may have an abdomen that appears normal, whereas those with more severe ascites may have a very large distended abdomen. As the fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity. The belly button can also protrude from the body with severe ascites.

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How do you know if your body is retaining fluid?

Symptoms of fluid retention can include: swelling of affected body parts (feet, ankles and hands are commonly affected) aching of affected body parts. stiff joints.

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Can fluid in the stomach be cancerous?

This fluid is normal in the body, but cancer can cause the peritoneum to produce too much of this fluid. This is called "malignant ascites" and it is often a sign of advanced cancer.

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What is the life expectancy of someone with ascites?

The probability of survival at one and five years after the diagnosis of ascites is approximately 50 and 20%, respectively, and long-term survival of more than 10 years is very rare [8]. In addition, mortality rises up to 80% within 6–12 months in patients who also develop kidney failure [1].

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Is your abdomen hard or soft with ascites?

Both ascites and beer belly result in a large, protruding hard belly that can resemble that of a pregnant woman's belly. Ascites often results in a rapid weight gain in contrast to a more gradual gain with beer belly development.

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What medicine is good for stomach fluid?

Two of the most common diuretics are:
  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone)

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Why do doctors tap your stomach?

Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.

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What does ascites feel like?

The fluid causes swelling that can make the tummy feel tight and very uncomfortable. It often develops over a few weeks but might happen over a few days. The fluid causes pressure on other organs in the abdominal area and may lead to: clothes feeling tighter or needing a bigger belt size.

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What is the best sleep position for ascites?

Relieving Related Symptoms

Common problems with ascites that keeps coming back are leg swelling, breathing difficulty and intestine blockage. Resting in a reclined position with the feet up lowers pressure on the internal organs, improves blood flow and helps drain the fluids.

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Can ascites reverse itself?

Ascites can be temporarily reversed with treatment. Permanent reversal depends on the underlying cause. If liver failure or cirrhosis is the cause, there is no cure, and managing ascites will require continual treatment. In rare cases, you may need a liver transplant.

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Do you feel ill with ascites?

Ascites can affect a person in two main ways. The first is its overall impact on general wellbeing which may include discomfort in and around the abdomen, issues with mobility and posture, nausea or vomiting and shortness of breath.

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What happens if ascites is left untreated?

If left untreated, ascites can lead to infection or allow the fluid to move into the chest and surround the lungs, making breathing difficult.

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Does ascites always mean liver failure?

In general, the development of ascites indicates evidence of advanced liver disease. However, blood clots in the vessels in and around the liver, as well certain types of tumors in the abdomen can also cause ascites.

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How do you test for abdominal ascites?

In medicine, the fluid wave test or fluid thrill test is a test for ascites (free fluid in the peritoneal cavity). It is performed by having the patient (or a colleague) push their hands down on the midline of the abdomen. The examiner then taps one flank, while feeling on the other flank for the tap.

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What does ascites sound like?

In a person with ascites, the flanks will sound dull and the midline should sound tympanic, creating an air-fluid level. Test for shifting dullness, which is a way to confirm that the dullness is caused by ascites.

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Is ascites late stage?

Ascites is common in some cancers that have reached the advanced stages and spread in the abdominal area, including cancer of the ovary, liver, colon, stomach, or pancreas. Sometimes chemotherapy or surgery might help manage ascites. More often, a procedure is done to drain the fluid, called a paracentesis.

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