Dr ML-Pre-Period Bloating

[bee20]

For the past year or so my stomach swells by several sizes in the week before my period, then collapses back down to regular a few days after my period starts.  I haven't changed my diet, my OB and general doctor say nothing is unusual, but this is incredibly painful and uncomfortable.  It is about a 30% increase in my waist size, and makes it painful to eat or exercise. 

Has anyone heard of anything like this that I could talk to my Dr further about?  The OB said she doesn't think it has anything to do with my period but it's like clockwork. 

[joy]

No info just commiseration. This happens to me, as well.

[goldengirlz]

This happens to me sometimes. In my case, it seems to be related to perimenopause. It started around the same time my periods started becoming more irregular.

[bee20]

joy, goldengirlz, awesome. I talked to my doctor about perimenopause and if HRT would be helpful for this and other symptoms (waking up with hot flashes, mental symptoms), she said she wouldn't recommend it because I'm so young (33 when this started). I wish we had better womens health options!

[mysteriouswife]

I was about to say this started for me recently. after reading replied glad to know this might be normal. I have an gyn appointment in May. I’ll bring it up then

[gummybear]

This happens to me too. My breasts also swell at least a cup size. It started in my mid-forties so I’m assuming it’s hormonal.

[mysteriouswife]

Mar 14, 2023 21:50:51 GMT -5 gummybear said:

This happens to me too. My breasts also swell at least a cup size. It started in my mid-forties so I’m assuming it’s hormonal.

Oh the boob growth is annoying! I hate that almost more than the stomach bloat.

[charlatti]

More solidarity, no help. Mine seems to be periomenopause related. It’s so uncomfortable.

ETA I just started taking Beano before lunch, because my bloating seems to be the worst in mid afternoon, but I didn’t try it until I was close to my period starting anyway, so I don’t know which helped more. I’m also going to try switching from the straw water bottle I normally use. Those won’t help hormonal causes but still might ease the symptoms.

[abs]

Yep. This started in mid 30's and I turn 45 this year and still experience so. PMS during perimenopause is the freaking worst.

Lots and lots of water helps as does making sure I really cut down on salt intake. I am not the best at it though because life happens.

[ssmjlm]

Yes, it started around the same time that other peri-menopause symptoms came about.

I take a 5mg CBD every other night for the hot flashes and night sweats.

Right now, my ablation seems to be keeping othering hormonal fluctuations at bay. I don't even get a period anymore, maybe a day of spotting every 6ish weeks (it's only been since July and my doc said it could be 6m for things to even out).

[amandakisser]

My PCP told me that our period symptoms get worse as we age, which was...not comforting lol.

I get MAJOR bloating as well as a host of other physical and physiological symptoms about a week before my period that I never got before. The stomach bloating is really the worst - though I do think it's partly caused by PMS-related constipation. By day two of my period I've, uh, emptied myself out and that seems to help a ton.

[dancingirl21]

I think I get this too. I turn 40 tomorrow, and this has been happening for the last couple of years. Bad bloating, but also really bad pain in both of my sides, and sometimes my middle back. It also happens for me when I ovulate. I’ve wondered if it could be endometriosis, but I brought it up to my GYN at my last visit and she didn’t think so.

[macmars45]

Yep, I get the bad bloating and the nights sweats. My flow has gotten so much heavier in the last year AND it added a day back to my cycle. Now I'm back to 7 days. I went down to six days for 13 years or so. Before that it was 7-10 days. All my same age friends and my twin sister are on bc so they can't relate. Damn my epilepsy meds taking away my choices.
I will be mentioning it to my NP at my yearly appt in June. I fully anticipate her shrugging and saying "thems the breaks. Sucks to be a women".
I'm 37 fwiw.

[dontlook]

Just here to say I’m in the same boat and so happy (but sad) to know I’m not alone. Starting about 10 days before I start feeling bloated and terrible, just as that ends terrible sleep and headaches start. Oddly enough my period is the time I feel the best. It’s helpful that I can now see a pattern but still awful to experience.

[sunshineluv]

Dealing with this right now, and heading to a water park tomorrow so super thrilled I look pregnant with the bloat. I assume it’s all hormonal 🤬