Abdominal pain, bloating, and rapid weight gain- NOT PMS!

I have had these symptoms and they 100% were food allergy related. When I have a diet full of foods i shouldn't be eating, I experience stomach/intestinal pain, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, gas, but not back pain though I have known people who experience this as well - this is apparently the next level, when the body is in true crisis mode. My additional symptoms that I always thought were unrelated were chronic acne especially behind my ears, and on my chin and jaw area and frequent yeast infections in both vagina and anus, as well as in the armpits.

Since I cut out all foods that I am sensitive to, even those on the borderline, I feel fantastic and all the symptoms have disappeared.

When I went for help from my Western doctor, he told me my symptoms were unrelated and tried to help me treat each one separately (i.e. acne cream, pills for gas, etc.). He wouldn't send me for allergy testing. Since he's such an incredible GP, I knew I had to look elsewhere to find help when his solutions didn't work.

So I put myself under the care of a naturopath. She sent me for allergy testing immediately upon hearing all my symptoms - thanks to her approach, all of what I was experiencing turned out to be linked directly to what I was eating. She gave me options to cut out all the things I couldn't eat and I turned to a Chinese based rice noodle and congee diet.

I save tons of money by cooking myself, even though I buy raw/unprocessed/organic as much as possible.

I LOVE my new diet! Not only do I feel fantastic now that I've been doing this new regime for about 2 months, my bowel movements and gas are back to normal levels (1-2 BMs per day, no gas unless I cheat and eat something I shouldn't!). It has taken time to fine tune exactly what I can eat, to discover what and in what quantity I can get away with from the allergy list, and to find some restaurants where I can eat out to be sociable, but it's all worth it.

Seeing a naturopath may not be cheap, but going at least to find out what you can and can't eat will be an empowering experience. All you have to lose is all the uncomfortable symptoms you experience right now - how can that not be worth it?!?!

You CAN have a life free from these symptoms no matter how long you have suffered from them!!! I noticed a difference in how I was feeling pretty much immediately when I made the changes, and now I can't imagine eating the way I used to - my new foods are so tasty!! I've also lost a lot of weight...

As my naturopath said, 'It's the way your body wants to be'.

Good luck and happy eating!

I started experiencing these symptoms for the first time early in the year. Had all the tests and bloodwork and Ultrasound showed a cyst on my ovary. Other tests revealed that I had C-Diff. I was treated with a heavy-duty antibiotic for the C-Diff and had a follow-up of ultrasound which revealed the cyst went away. Things were going good again until now which is how I found this board. I have same symptoms this week and am HUGE! In the last 6 months, I've gained close to 15 lbs and probably close to 10 this week. The bloating is outrageous but the pain isn't too bad - was worse a couple of days ago to the point where it hurt my backside to sit (pain in my anus). I guess I'll go get the charcoal pills at lunch today and see if they help. It's embarassing to be so huge and frustrating to not have any answers. I'm ready to have my insides removed! I too, also had surgery - an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured in 2003 and have an IUD. Have had the non-hormonal releasing IUD for several years but only started experiecne these horrible weight gain and bloating problems this year. I am 42 yrs old. Is surgery a common factor as cysts seem to be? I've also wondered if I have the C-Diff again since it's supposedly higly contagious and my husband wasn't treated.?????? Being a woman is sooooo hard! :-(

im getting what all u women are getting and i cant organised anyhing like going out coz its so painful i look so bloated in my dress nights out are a no no!! its happens 2 weeks before my period and last 2 to 3days of bloated sharp pains to the lower right ot left abs!!??

by reading all of this is there any point of going to the doctors if yous all havent got any answer to why we are getting these bad bloated and pains

Please keep me posted if you find out ANYTHING. I have put on almost 40 pound since july. Sounds like you are going thru the same thing. I go Dec 3 for my GI the only thing different was i stop smoking in June and they put me on a diet and excerise program that i just started but i put on 20 pound this last month. my gain was only like a pound or two at first. US sounded my liver was fatty, I look PG and also have going thru all the diet restrictions finding nothing except my suger did go up some. my labs showed high levels in my liver profile. i am past the menstral thing. too old for that. i am low vit D and c and have to take B-12 shots. I am getting really upset. thanks for sharing.

I feel for all the woman on here, because I am going through the same thing and know how awful it feels. I haven't felt like myself in over a year now. Last Jan. 2010 I had some random sharp stabbing pains in my lower left pelvic region, so severe that I took myself to the ER several times. I put myself back on birth control (after 5 months) the sharp stabbing pain is gone but now it is a constant cramping/swelling sensation that at its worst can feel like early labor pains which also radiate to my back. The swelling increases throughout the day till I look several months pregnant by evening. I have always been super fit, but when these pains started no amount of exercise or dieting could stop me from gaining pounds and inches. I went from a size 2/117 lbs. to a size 6/128 in less than 6 months. I am continuing to gain in waist girth although the scale stays at 128, I am only 5'3". The pain seems to increase right before my period and almost disappears during my period and then right after I am in lots of pain for 2 weeks. I have had every test done, from ovarian cancer, colonoscopy, internal/external ultrasound, CT scan of abdomen and brain, STD tests, pap smear, celiac disease test, EKG, thyroid/hormone tests. I am going for a laproscopic exploritory surgery on the 14th. This has to end I can't be buying a new wardrobe every 3 months or less! I am at the point where I am forced to take 800 mg motrin every 8 hours just to make it through the day, I work and have a 3 year old son to keep up with. I am also tired all the time and have frequent night sweats and low libido. My confidence, self-esteem and hope are dwindling and this isn't great for my marriage either. Anyone is welcome to email me if you have suggestions, questions or just for support for one another. ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed **
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Amy

I have the same issues! its depressing not finding a solution... someone please help us woman.

I have spent about 7 of the last 10 years on contraceptive medications (mainly depo ralovera, the 3 monthly hormone injection) the other 2+ years I was trying to get pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding my two sons.

I came off all contraceptive medications in about October of 2009 and my husband had a vasectomy in January of 2010. It has taken many many months for my body to start behaving normal and cyclical. It took 8 months just to get my period. Another 4 or so months for it to level out and regulate to any sort of predictability. Currently it is roughly 4 days long with heavy bleeding in the first day, moderate for the next two and light for the fourth with some spotting on either side... Total duration I would say around 6 days and roughly 23 days in my cycle (what did we do without iPhone applications??? LOL'.

Then last mentrual cycle for the first time, I had significant cramping (prior to that my major symptoms were moodiness and sore breasts). Moreso than I have had even in the initial period after the 6 or so year lull between the birth of my second child and coming off contraception. Now 2 weeks after my last period I am constantly uncomfortable. I have said to friends I feel as though I am in the first trimester of pregnancy. I have a noticable 'bump' which was non existant a month ago and I have gained over 3kg since Christmas less than 2 months ago (without a major change in diet). I feel tight and bloated in the general area of my uterus and a more frequesnt need to urinate. If I sit down or stand up too quickly I feel a sharp pain in the general area of my uterus (I would describe it as a feeling somewhat like a deflated balloon being expanded and reaching the point where it stretches and thins). I am NOT pregnant. My husband has had a vasectomy, I had a period less than 2 weeks ago and I returned a negative pregnancy test just this morning.

I have a thicker, more unpleasant smelling discharge than pwhat I would consider normal and my husband has told me my breath also smells (a clear sign things aren't quite right with me). I am tired, short wicked and just generally out of sorts and constantly uncomfortable. I wouldn't say I was in pain... Just uncomfortable. Aware of my abdomen more than I feel is necessary or reasonable!

Although sex isn't painful in the moment, I find I have a flare up for a day or two after where I generally itch and hurt like a bad case of thrush but then it settles back into this general bloated, uncomfortable, heavy, pregnant feeling.

I am booked into my GP tomorrow for a pap smear for which I am way overdue :-( I am hoping this is 'just' a mild bacterial or fungal infection but I must say it does have me worried. No history of fibroids or cancer or endometriosis in the family which I hope is a good sign though!!

I am 34 and the mother of two. I have only ever had 2 sexual partners, the second being my husband and my only sexual partner for the last 15 years.

If anyone can shed some light I would be most appreciative!!

I guess I'm the old lady in this bunch (57) and while I have the same symptoms as everyone else, it's not associated with my period because I've had a hysterectomy. I thought it was due to aging but I can see that's not necessarily true. I've tried charcoal caps with no luck an have been on probiotics for 2 weeks but the situation is getting worse. I've always had a flat stomach so this is very irritating. I wonder about the ovaries because I do still have them and when I was in college, I did have an ovarian cyst (found during surgery) that was huge and was on the verge of bursting. But this pain doesn't feel like that did.

The pain started as a bubble, or fullness just by/under the rib cage on the left side. It would pierce thru to the back sometimes. It was diagnosed as diverticulitis when I started throwing up and couldn't keep antibiotics or anything else down and had to be hospitalized 3 years ago. But that pain never went away and since January, I've been swelling up and gaining weight. Went from 114 up to 122 and if anything, I eat less than I did. Doctor went thru tests and there's no gluten allergy, celiac, etc. And no ulcer tho the pit of my stomach always feels nauseous and if it's pressed upon, there's horrid pain.

I'm just curious if any of the folks here have had ANY luck since they posted? Seems like people post and then they go away.

Well I still am not getting anywhere yet. They did a GI and found that I still had food in the stomach but when they did the next test Gastric emptying test that was normal. I think i hit the top of the weight , I have stayed steady at this weight for about two month now.Still don't know what is going on. I don't have my appendix or gall baddler anymore. They was my liver if fatty but the only then i can do is lose weight. Working closely with the diet and nuturetionist. STill have the big belly and pain in the area right under the rib cage. Waiting for them to do something different.

I guess I'm the old lady in this bunch (57) and while I have the same symptoms as everyone else, it's not associated with my period because I've had a hysterectomy. I thought it was due to aging but I can see that's not necessarily true. I've tried charcoal caps with no luck an have been on probiotics for 2 weeks but the situation is getting worse. I've always had a flat stomach so this is very irritating. I wonder about the ovaries because I do still have them and when I was in college, I did have an ovarian cyst (found during surgery) that was huge and was on the verge of bursting. But this pain doesn't feel like that did.

The pain started as a bubble, or fullness just by/under the rib cage on the left side. It would pierce thru to the back sometimes. It was diagnosed as diverticulitis when I started throwing up and couldn't keep antibiotics or anything else down and had to be hospitalized 3 years ago. But that pain never went away and since January, I've been swelling up and gaining weight. Went from 114 up to 122 and if anything, I eat less than I did. Doctor went thru tests and there's no gluten allergy, celiac, etc. And no ulcer tho the pit of my stomach always feels nauseous and if it's pressed upon, there's horrid pain.

I'm just curious if any of the folks here have had ANY luck since they posted? Seems like people post and then they go away.

wow, I am googling my symptoms for the first time ever and I am amazed how many people have similar issues. Gambler- like you, I work out often and find it odd that still in my 20's I have randomly gained 10 lbs in the last couple months, all in my mid section. I have severe bloating, pain, and constipation. They have done all kinds of tests, from colonoscopy, to ultrasound, to blood tests and saliva tests. They haven't found anything and I am very discouraged. I have tried to lose the weight but it won't budge in that area. The pain, bloating, and constipation are not relieved with anything I've tried. I'm very anxious to hear if anyone finds answers.

I have had the same type symptoms for about a year now, severe bloating under my rib cage, I look pregnant! I've gained 40 lbs! I eat organically and do no wheat, eggs or dairy. this is ridiculous! Could it be canadid? A form of yeast over growth? Anyone? I ordered canedex, I pray it works Ill keep you posted Thanks

so i've basically gained 5-8 pounds in the past week. my stomach is so bloated that i look pregnant and i cant suck it in because the pressure hurts too much. i don't really have any serious pain just discomfort. also, the bloating isn't just in my lower stomach area, but also my upper abdomen. i am a normally thin and in shape 17 year old, but now my stomach looks horrible and i feel fat (my stomach is coming out over my jeans). at first i believed the cause to just be bloating from my period (this all started on the 5/6 day of my period) but now my period is over and the bloating is still there.  i've noticed that i have not had the energy to go on my daily runs and i still have a healthy appetite. what i have noticed is that i have had to go to the bathroom a lot more frequently and i have had major gas. the gas seems to relieve the bloating pressure, but only for a few minutes. Im not really sure if i just have a build up of gas or if maybe i've just started to gain weight all of the sudden, but i've never had weight problems before. 

sadly grateful wrote:
I can relate 100%  I am 36 years old and have been dealing with this since my 20's.  It seems to be getting progressively worse as U get older.  This year has been the worst...just unbearable.  I have gained 12 pounds since september and can't fit into any clothes that I own. Not only do I gain weight every month during PMS, but my stomach is so bloated that I appear to be 8 months pregnant.  Unlike the other posts, I also gain weight in thighs.  I also get this tingling sensation in my thighs when I pms. I am so unhappy and desperate to find answers as to why I have been struggling like this for so long.  This has had a negative impact on my job (also a teacher and counselor) my relationship, friendships...everything. It is so frustrating.  I have gained so much weight that I refuse to leave the house. The unfortunate thing is, although I used to go to the gym at least 3 times a week, I can't even go because not only am I embarrassed by the weight gain, but I am so uncomfortable with myself that I can't do anything.  I force myself to to go to work everyday and have been taking off lately because I am severely depressed by this. My depression and inactivity has caused me to gain more weight. I am stuck. Please HELP!