A woman in China has had her life 'seriously impacted' from a strange condition that's caused her stomach to grow 'uncontrollably' over the past two years.
Huang Guoxian, 36, says her belly weighs 44 pounds and is still expanding, and is now looking to fund treatment that can help her.
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The mother-of-two, of rural Guizhou Province has made a plea through local media to raise £3,290 to go to a specialist so that her condition can not only get properly diagnosed, but also treated.
Huang, who lives in the village of Dazhi of Songqi Town outside the city of Anshun, spoke to Guizhou Urban Daily about the huge mass, which makes it impossible for her to sleep, walk or look after her children.
She explained that her abdomen began to swell two years ago, seeking medical help when it began to feel painful.
Doctors gave her medicine and the pain went away, but mysteriously her stomach continued to balloon - and it's carried on doing so despite several trips to various hospitals in Anshun and provincial capital Guiyang.
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Medics told her she had a number of illnesses - including liver cirrhosis, ovarian cancer, as well as an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen and chest - but could not work out the cause of her strange swelling.
One suggested she may have a benign tumour, while another tried to remove excess fluid from her - only for her body begin to inflate again after the operation.
Huang, who now weighs 121 pounds, now faces many difficulties with day-to-day life, and said the huge mass has also made her more temperamental.
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She told Guizhou Urban Daily: "I would become enraged by the slightest movement."
Often mistaken for a pregnant woman, Huang explained that she's been unable to sleep properly, and either ends up leaning against cushions or sitting on the bed to get some shut-eye.
She's also unable to walk far or stand for prolonged periods, adding: "I used to do homework very quickly, but now my big belly has seriously impacted my normal life.
"My two children are still young. Their grandmother and grandfather are helping to look after them now.
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"I hope to recover and become healthy as soon as possible."
Huang has had money donated from the local government and Good Samaritans to help cover her growing medical bills, but a local hospital recently told her that an operation from its specialists would cost her 30,000 yuan (£3,290), meaning she now needs to raise further funds.
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Topics: World News, News, China, Health