Signs Of Digestive Tract Paralysis (Gastroparesis)

Distended Abdomen

A distended abdomen occurs when the abdomen expands due to the accumulation of elements such as fluid and gas. Patients with this symptom often complain of feeling bloated and dealing with swelling. Ultimately, abdominal distention causes a fair amount of pain in individuals with gastroparesis. Typically, the distension worsens after eating and remains quite painful for some time afterward. The pain triggered by eating can be experienced as sharp and acute or dull and aching. Some patients report strong intestinal cramping or experiencing muscle spasms in the upper abdomen as well, as the system works in overdrive in an attempt to accommodate the newly-ingested food. Regardless of how the pain is felt, a distended abdomen is never comfortable, and experiencing this regularly warrants a discussion with a doctor.