Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Noticed Abdominal Inflammation. Had Hernia Surgery. Cause?
Question: Inflamation of the lower abdominal, inner inflamation. I am noticing more and more each day that my lower stomach is inflated and hollow sounding to the tap. I am 30 years old, work out 4-5 times a week in a gym, bike each day and surf every other day on average. I have a slender athletic build so the lower abdominal inflamation is very noticeable and starting about 1 1/2 months ago I began to receive comments from friends joking around about how I am in great shape and a six pack upper abs but at the same time have a "pregnant" looking lower stomach. I had hernia surgery mid January 2013, I did not work out for two months following the surgery until mid March. I worked out lightly through march and have hit the gym hard again ever since and have been extremely active. I have noticed the inflamed lower stomach since some time after the surgery but as I did not work out for 2 months it wasn't as noticeable. Now 5 1/2 months post operation it is very noticeable and concerning as it is not going away nor getting smaller. about 3 weeks ago I took antibiotics for an infection I had, bacterial or intestinal infection (I had diahria for about a week). Euring that time of taking antibiotics, I felt as though my lower stomach began to deflate, however I am not sure if it was coincidence. Now it is as it was before. The only other important information I can think of is my eating habbits have not changed, lots of fruits and veggies, eggs and meat is fish or chicken. I eat all home cooked meals and not deep fried etc. I drink alcohol about 1 a month and live a relatively healthy active lifestyle. Last thing, to the touch my lower abs are hard, skin is stretched and you can not grab onto a lot of the skin, the inflamation is happening from inside my stomach.
What is could be causing my lower stomach to be inflamed? what do I do to resolve this inflamation?
The pictures below are to show the lower ab inflamation.
What is could be causing my lower stomach to be inflamed? what do I do to resolve this inflamation?
The pictures below are to show the lower ab inflamation.
Hello,
Medical history clearly shows that there are so many sports injuries ,but there is no relation at present with your problem which you are facing.
No doubt your grandparents are patients of heart problem.
Your father also operated for colon cancer.
No relations with your problems , so please don't worry about that.
Now coming towards your present problem.
You are a male of 30 years and very active in your life.
First of all note one thing that this is not an inflammation of stomach ,as you stated in your query.
I have seen your two reports attached with this query.
How & why this occurs ,I will try to explain you.
You operated for hernia in January 2013 and rested for almost 2 months ( you were not able to do exercise during this period).
During this period ( few days before surgery and almost 3 months after surgery ) you consumed excess amount of calories as you were not able to burn calories due to surgery.
This excess amount of calories deposited over abdominal muscles as clearly shown in slide ( in your report as tags with query).
As this fat deposited over abdomen ( as you stated stomach inflammation) will take long time to burn that too with vigorous exercises or under the guidance of an expert physiotherapist.
Even after 5 and 1/2 month fat is there, this is absolutely normal.
When you took antibiotics for diarrhea , deflation was there, you are right.
There was no coincidence but deflation was due to diarrhea.
As you mentioned in your query that your food is mainly composed of fruits , vegetables, eggs, meat ,fish, chicken.
Keep one thing in mind that our body normally requires only 1500-2500 calories per day depending upon the work , which we do.
If you consume calories more than as requires ,the extra calories will deposit in the form of "FAT".
First of all fat will accumulate in ( over) abdominal muscles as in your case.
As more fat more more stretching of muscles underneath this.
same thing is in your case.
So please don't worry this is not a disease but simple "OBESITY"
So please consult a physiotherapist and do exercises of abdominal muscles and you will get result within a short period.
Please one thing remember that you have operated for hernia ,so be aware about this.
Tell expert about the surgery.
Hope I have answered your query.
Good luck for healthy life.
Dr. HET.
Medical history clearly shows that there are so many sports injuries ,but there is no relation at present with your problem which you are facing.
No doubt your grandparents are patients of heart problem.
Your father also operated for colon cancer.
No relations with your problems , so please don't worry about that.
Now coming towards your present problem.
You are a male of 30 years and very active in your life.
First of all note one thing that this is not an inflammation of stomach ,as you stated in your query.
I have seen your two reports attached with this query.
How & why this occurs ,I will try to explain you.
You operated for hernia in January 2013 and rested for almost 2 months ( you were not able to do exercise during this period).
During this period ( few days before surgery and almost 3 months after surgery ) you consumed excess amount of calories as you were not able to burn calories due to surgery.
This excess amount of calories deposited over abdominal muscles as clearly shown in slide ( in your report as tags with query).
As this fat deposited over abdomen ( as you stated stomach inflammation) will take long time to burn that too with vigorous exercises or under the guidance of an expert physiotherapist.
Even after 5 and 1/2 month fat is there, this is absolutely normal.
When you took antibiotics for diarrhea , deflation was there, you are right.
There was no coincidence but deflation was due to diarrhea.
As you mentioned in your query that your food is mainly composed of fruits , vegetables, eggs, meat ,fish, chicken.
Keep one thing in mind that our body normally requires only 1500-2500 calories per day depending upon the work , which we do.
If you consume calories more than as requires ,the extra calories will deposit in the form of "FAT".
First of all fat will accumulate in ( over) abdominal muscles as in your case.
As more fat more more stretching of muscles underneath this.
same thing is in your case.
So please don't worry this is not a disease but simple "OBESITY"
So please consult a physiotherapist and do exercises of abdominal muscles and you will get result within a short period.
Please one thing remember that you have operated for hernia ,so be aware about this.
Tell expert about the surgery.
Hope I have answered your query.
Good luck for healthy life.
Dr. HET.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you for your response. My concern is that it my stomach is hard , skin is hard and there is not any skin/fat I can grab with my hands which indicates that the swelling is on the other side of the muscle tissue as from my understanding it basically goes in order; skin, cells, fat, then muscle tissue then on the other side of the muscle tissue is organs/intestines etc.
If it was fat tissue as you responded, I would be able to grab a hold of the skin and fat (soft matter) with my fingers. But instead, my stomach is very hard to the touch and the muscles are pushing outwards and hard as if something from the other side of the muscle tissue is expanding and pushing the muscles outward. Could it be anything else or is it 100% the answer you have sent?
Thank you in advance for your time to respond,
XXXXXXX
If it was fat tissue as you responded, I would be able to grab a hold of the skin and fat (soft matter) with my fingers. But instead, my stomach is very hard to the touch and the muscles are pushing outwards and hard as if something from the other side of the muscle tissue is expanding and pushing the muscles outward. Could it be anything else or is it 100% the answer you have sent?
Thank you in advance for your time to respond,
XXXXXXX
Hello, Info (shawn),
Once again thanks for posting the question.
Yes, there is skin,epidermis,dermis( skin layers) ,fat deposited, muscles.
There is a misconception that fat (Deposited) is soft underneath skin, rather it is hard ( some what).
Skin is so adherent with fatty tissue, you can't separate it, that's why unable to grab between finger and thumb.
All the organs in abdomen remains in a sac (bag).
2nd thing is that the pictures which you have tags in your query clearly shows deposition of fats underneath the skin of lower part of abdomen ( as you stated is actually lower part of abdomen above pubis).
I am 100 % sure that this is deposition of fat, so don't bother about this.
You are disease free at present, so enjoy life.
Good luck.
Hope I have answered your question up to your satisfaction.
Still, if, further any question I will be happy to help.
Good luck once again.
Dr. HET
Once again thanks for posting the question.
Yes, there is skin,epidermis,dermis( skin layers) ,fat deposited, muscles.
There is a misconception that fat (Deposited) is soft underneath skin, rather it is hard ( some what).
Skin is so adherent with fatty tissue, you can't separate it, that's why unable to grab between finger and thumb.
All the organs in abdomen remains in a sac (bag).
2nd thing is that the pictures which you have tags in your query clearly shows deposition of fats underneath the skin of lower part of abdomen ( as you stated is actually lower part of abdomen above pubis).
I am 100 % sure that this is deposition of fat, so don't bother about this.
You are disease free at present, so enjoy life.
Good luck.
Hope I have answered your question up to your satisfaction.
Still, if, further any question I will be happy to help.
Good luck once again.
Dr. HET
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
