GI Issues? Weight gain/edema/ab distension

[chopperchickie]

I was diagnosed with IBS-C a few months back.  I've had every test possible (upper GI with SBF, Endoscope, Colonscopy, celiac test, 2 cat scans, hornones, thyroid, bowel transit, gastric emptying-all came out normal) and I only show anemic.  I seem to only have a "flare up" two days prior to my period and lasts for about a week to 10 days(happening since Jan 08).  I have severe doubts that this is IBS related as every month for the last 6 months around two days before my period, I get gain roughtly 20 pounds of weight or fluid, my stomach gets severely distented and bloated, I get flu like symptoms (chills and sweats, running nose) loss of appetite, soft pitted edema in right leg.  My stomach blows up so bad, I cannot breath or walk.  It gets so distended that if I touch my abdomen it burns and hurts.  I end up sleeping all the time during this period especially after eating something small.  I was 136 pounds in January, and last friday I was 180 pounds.  On Memorial day, I went up to 201 pounds.  I am so frustrated and depressed because I am an avid runner and lifter and I am dieting like crazy to gain 70 pounds in 5 months.  The Gyn says it is a metabolic problem, the Primary dr doesnt know what it is and says I may have to live like this for awhile and the Endocrinologist is waiting on Cortisol but doesn't think its endocrine related.  Everytime I get like this I call the GI doctor and she will not see me as she says its not Gastro related...Has anyone  experienced anything like this with IBS?  I am not buying the diagnoses since these flare ups only occur within days of my period.  I cannot continue to live like this.  I am miserable and don't know where to turn.  Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

[beatingtheodds336]

i was quite sick for 2 years from strong immune system to catching everything i decided to go to a doc specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement i also did a major allergy testing cost 400.00 but in the end discovered i was serverely allergic to dairy when i was thinking it was glutin causing my bloating attacks always bad around my period attacks would be terrible bloating and burning in the abdomin (abdomen) the reason i couldnt figure it out was because these food allergies take 2-3 days to appear though i was getting so sick just before my allergy test ,which was 1 vial of blood sent down to the states,that i ate 3 tsp of yogurt before making supper and i was sick all night it was instant and the test confirmed it now i stay away from dairy but have had 2 attacks in 3/4 of a month due to the fact milk is in so much read the labels if eating something pkged even an oil dressing they stick milk so read all labels if elliminating milk now i have minor bloating and when i take a fullspectrum enzyme as we are deficient in enzymes to help dygest food since alot of our food is cooked killing the enzymes and as we age the enzymes our bodies create are decreased so supplement with enzymes when eating something cooked this will decrease your enzymes.have any questions email me at ***@**** or facebook a message to wendy spezowka i sure hope this helps so start with the enzymes with cooked for this for sure will work elliminate your dairy its so bad for you anyway packed with hormones increasing estrogen and find a bio ident doc and see if you are estrogen dominant which just means your progesterone is dropping which starts at 30 or even younger if you are estrogen dominant you want to get back a balance and bloating around cycle will stop though this takes a while as you increase progesterone a bit at a time though you cant overdose on it as the symptoms of too much is easy you will have a hard time to stay awake so then you decrease but you will know when you are not there since you will have pms symptoms and know you need to keep increasing its a work in progress ive been supplementing with bio ident hormones for 3/4 of a year and am still increasing though my weight is coming off without changing much in my eating habits though to achieve this balance you must eat very healthy increased fruits veg as much  raw as possible no sugar or alcohol but your health will return your body will heal and all naturally!!