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Symptoms » Abdominal swelling » Diagnosis Checklist
 
Dr. Huntley's

DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Abdominal swelling

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Abdominal swelling. These may include a physical examination or other medical tests. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.

Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  1. Where is the abdominal swelling?

    Why: To determine if localized or generalised.

  2. When did you first notice it?

    Why: To determine if acute or chronic.

  3. Have you noticed any change in the abdominal swelling with time?
  4. Family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
  5. Alcohol history?

    Why: To establish risk of liver disease, cirrhosis, ascites.

  6. How long have you had the abdominal swelling?

    Why: If the abdominal swelling or distension has only recently begun, then it may be the result of constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or internal hemorrhage. However, if you have had the swelling for some time then it may in fact be ascites as a result of liver disease or from you being overweight.

  7. Is the swelling worsening or staying roughly the same?

    Why: Abdominal swelling which continues to increase unabated may be of some concern, and can indicate acute conditions such as aortic aneurysm or internal hemorrhage.

  8. Have you experienced any abdominal pain in association with the swelling?

    Why: The presence or absence of abdominal pain is very important in indicating the nature what is causing your abdominal swelling. The characteristics of that pain are also important i.e. colicky pain can indicate intestinal obstruction or irritable bowel syndrome; sharp or "tearing" pain can indicate a ruptured aortic aneurysm or internal hemorrhage; dull pain can be as a result of constipation.

Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. These may include:

  1. Is there any abdominal pain (see abdominal pain)
  2. Is there any appetite change (see appetite changes)
  3. Is there any weight loss (see weight loss)
  4. Is there any nausea or vomiting (see nausea) (see vomiting)
  5. Is there any diarrhea
  6. Is there any constipation
  7. Is there any blood in the bowels (see bloody stool)
  8. Is there any blood in the urine (see blood in urine)
  9. Is there a fever (see fever)
  10. Is there any abnormal vaginal bleeding (bleeding after menopause, bleeding in between the periods or bleeding after intercourse?
  11. Is there any amenorrhea (see amenorrhea), (see pregnancy symptoms)

 » Next page: Types of Abdominal swelling

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