Symptom 3: Feeling Full Quickly When Eating
We’ve all had those hearty meals where we push back from the table, patting our stomachs, and declare, “I can’t eat another bite!”. But for those experiencing the nuances of Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), this feeling of fullness doesn’t necessarily come after a large meal. They find themselves feeling uncomfortably full even after consuming just a small portion of food. It’s not about indulgence; it’s an unusual satiety that creeps in unexpectedly.
This abrupt feeling of fullness, medically termed ‘early satiety,’ can be deeply unsettling. But what’s behind it? With the growth of mucinous tumors in the abdomen, there’s a physical space crunch. The available room for your stomach and intestines gets limited. So, even a minor intake of food can cause the stomach to feel full, as it struggles to expand in the confined space.
While early satiety in itself is vexing, it often doesn’t travel alone. Accompanying this symptom can be a suite of other discomforts, like bloating, nausea, or even a burning sensation in the upper abdomen. These aren’t merely random add-ons; they’re all interconnected pieces of the PMP puzzle. When the stomach feels restricted, its natural processes, like digestion and acid regulation, can get hampered, leading to these associated discomforts. (3)
