I have googled distended and hard stomach and water retnetion and stomach ulcers came up a lot. I have been drinking a lot of water in the past year. I don;t know why, but I have been extremely thirsty for a long time and drank about a gallon of water or juice in a day. I have cut back since because I am not a thirsty, but still thirstier then I ever have been. Could it be water retention? I think my liver is ok? but idk?
The belly you are describing sounds a lot like ascites (fluid retention in the abdomen), but that's liver related and I can't imagine what liver issues a 21 year old would have. I have heard of people on this board talking about being bloated with gas, too, but I don't know what it looks like.