IBS-C Severe ab bloating,distention,weight gain

[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 seem to only have a "flare up" two days prior to my period and lasts for about a week.  I have severe doubts that this is IBS related.  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

[jml1986]

I feel your pain, I have had the same issues and I too run and workout. The finally diagnoised me with insulan resistance. They have tried me on several medication such as metformin and glucaphage, both witch my IBS overdrive. I am not taking gliburide and it is not bothering me, except I still have not been able to get the weight off no matter how hard I workout. It really sucks!

[Niffer991]

You are absolutely right this is not IBS, in my opinion also. The only thing I do know that is related is a fitness client I have who has an alergy to sodium and as I am sure you know, sodium is in everything. It is worth having an allergy test for this as sodium causes excess water retention in no time at all. As well as an allergy to sodium, we need equal amounts of pottassium to sodium and if you are like most people then you are not getting enough pottassium.

Good Luck, it sounds like quite a struggle.