hi ladies,

just tell me, HOW BLOATED ARE YOU? .. lol ..well this is because, this month, i seem to be so darn bloated, it is about a week before my period, and i noticed this yesterday, the bloatedness was SO bad, i mean, it was getting a little hard to breathe! I've had that before, but i cant seem to get rid of it. It came on me rather quickly the other day, and then went away, but now, it's back, with a vengence! This is the kind of bloatedness that makes you look about 5 mos. pregnant! lol ... and it's just so darn uncomfortable. I've tried a few diff. OTC things, and only sometimes do they help, and even then really, not to much.


so, i'd like to know, how bloated are you? (and when does it hit, the same time each month or not?)

thanks girls

WE must be getting toward the end since I now have this too!
Has to be some kind of sign!
Have you had swollen ankles yet?
Another new symptom for me!

hi snow ....

well, here we go! I just KNOW we're having fun! lol ... anyway, i don't know if i'm nearing the "end", bec. i still have my period .. now, it's getting to where it's about 2 weeks late now, every month for the past 2 mos...so, whatever that means, i don't know. (so, i don't THINK i'm near the "end", but then again, how would we know, i mean, if you're still having your period, then what?) Bloatedness is really nothing new for me, i'v had that so much, but right now, is really something! I've had it now on and off for a few days, but today, is far out! I mean to tell you, it feels lke i'm pregnant! seriously! it's as if it's "hard" in there,.... and then, it'll suddenly "lessen" and feel a bit flatter, but then, a little later, it's BAck! sometimes it matters what i eat, and sometimes it doesn't. This time, it's actually bloating out around my waist on both sides, it feels so "tight"! (like when you were 9 mos. preg. and ready to "go"!), i just want to POP my belly with a pin, and let some air out! lol


but truly..........this is really uncomfortable! i was having trouble actually breathing when i was laying down today, on my right side, i had to turn over, bec. of the severe bloatedness! UGH! I HAVE had BM's, and then, for a short while, it'll feel better, flatter, etc....but only for a short while, and then it comes back!

DO YOU HAVE IT LIKE THIS?

Wow MD,

You sound exactly like me when it comes to bloating -- I couldn't have described it better! I don't have any of the breathing problems, and I only get it during my period, but its awful, especially at night. I can never find a comfortable position in bed. If I lay on my side I feel so heavy inside. Same if I lay on my back. I usually sleep on my stomach, but forget that! I'd pop if I turned over! Then in the mornings I have to push myself out of bed, or have my husband pull me, and I feel like my whole insides are dropping. Sometimes its been so bad that I've gotten up in the middle of the night just to curl up in a chair and watch TV. I posted about this problem on another board around the first of the year and someone suggested ginger tea. I now buy ginger roots at the grocery store and make my own tea, drinking it often. I don't know if its a placebo effect or if it actually works, but my bloating symptoms have decreased. I blame most of it on fibroids!

Anna in Texas

Have you still go those swollen ankles snowmoon??? It is summer over there for you now though isn't it?? Maybe it's just the heat?? Oh who knows anymore, but I had those bad swollen ankles this past summer after standing all day with work and I didn't like it one little bit

One thing I did find good for them was lying on the couch at night with my legs in the air massaging the ankles and lower legs towards my heart to remove the swelling and by morning it was mostly gone. Not very sexy looking but did the trick

Rox

I have this bloating and it is horrible. I feel pregnant when it comes. I get it off and on but most of the time it is a few days before I start a period and last until a few days after. It seems half the month is consumed with it. I would love to think I am at the end but I am still having monthlies even if they are never at the same time of the month.

Rox, when I wake up my ankles are back to normal but it doesn't take long before they puff up again. At least the pain is almost gone. Been more active this summer, even taking my dogs for a walk everyday. shall not matter but guess it does.

Don't walk very fast through since my old dog pokes, bless her heart> she still loves to go since she gets to smell all new smells.

I see my regular doctor next month so will ask him about it.

Laura, I'm still having periods pretty regular too! But hey I'm 51 so it has to stop sooner> then later!
What's really nice my anxiety level has been low> wow love that!

Wow--wish I could say the same thing about the anxiety, Snowmoon. Mine is through the roof most days. Starts out with just a worry or two, and then, without any provacation--BOOM! almost a full-blown panic attack. Today we went for a bike ride on the trails in the middle of the city. I love riding my bike--it ALWAYS relaxes me. Not yesterday and not today. Yesterday's ride was stopped short because I felt consumed--paralyzed--by anxiety. Today I rode for two miles and could barely contain the tears and gulping for air before I find a quiet place to "let it all out." That has NEVER happened to me on my bike in public before. I wasn't impressed.

And yes, my ankles ARE swollen--and sore. I don't eat that much salt--or salty things--so I was wondering what the heck might be going on.

I would LOVE to have this almost be the end. I've only skipped one period in the last year, so probably not. I turn 50 on Thursday, so probably have a bit more to endure.

BJ

Oh my goodness! What perfect timing for this topic! JUST today I was saying to my husband how BLOATED I am, and showing him this distended tummy! I actually said it felt "tight". And then to come on here and read others' comments about the "tightness", etc! I feel SO much better! AND last night I had the swollen feet/ankles!
Although..perhaps some of this I can attribute to being on my feet ALL day yesterday, as it was my daughter's college grad party,and I had dinner for 50 people in my back yard! AND the dinner included coleslaw and beans...well, needless to say THAT combination will DEFINITELY make one bloated! LOL!
But I am also on Day 71 with no period in sight...altho I might have ovulated a week ago, so am wondering if something is brewing???
Its all weird....its all wacky.....but I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!

OH, THIS STINKS! i wish I could tell myself somehting, but i can't....this is just awful! the bloating is INSANE! AND YES, i feel SO TIGHT! i feel like i'm about to give birth! i mean, the tight feeling, like a overly stretched rubberband, is so darn bad!
I'll try the ginger tea, can't hurt! ginger is also good for ovarian cancer, so, why not! but honestly, this came out of nowhere, well, it started a few days ago, and i'm about a week before my period now (UNLESS of course, i am 2 weeks late again, like the last 2 mos.), and i've had bloating plenty of times, but THIS is unbelieveably uncomfortable. It even seems to be bloating around the waist! oh gosh, talk about a SPARE TIRE! and this HEAVY abdominal feeling! HOLY COW! i feel like i have to walk around, holding up my abdomen! LOL .. i kid you not! Bec. otherwise, it feels to HEAVY!!!!

oh girls...............this is really to much! what i'm thinking is poor digestion? that is a peri symptom.....so, i'm going to get some digestive enzymes tomorrow....like papaya, or maybe a mixture of a few diff. ones....it's best to buy them at health food stores.

so, when you ladies have had this, how long has it lasted? now, this is day 3 for me...with TODAY being the WORST!!!!!!

I LOVE that this was written at 1:07AM, I"m not the only one!!! Went to the doctor today with feet so fat I couldn't fit them inside my "fancy" holey crock shoes! SWOLLEN ANKLES AND FAT FEET!!!ohhhhhhhhh how they hurt! Have missed two periods and am just oooozzzzzzzzzing with symptoms!!!How do I know???? OH , I know!!!! Now the doc is gonna take blood tests to tell himself I "really " am in meno. I about DECKED him today when he said that, "we'll take a hormone test to make sure!!!" I yi yi!!!

How bloated am I ? Hhhhmmm, can hardly stand to wear clothes!!! that's how bloated I am!!! Darn!no naked smiley!!!LOL!

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

JoniTX50 is right there with ya ladies!!!! UGH!!!!

I have always had nice ankles, last summer I was still wearing ankle bracelets> not this summer, don't want to bring attention to my fat ankles!

This is GREAT!
AS I'm plucking chin hairs today I look down and notice my boobs have shrunk and now instead of breasts I see my belly fat!
I swear I was taking a bath the other night and because of the fat in my middle I was buoyant in the water!

And my thighs> what has happened to my thighs?

OH GOSH................ME TOO!!!!!!!

i am a bloat club member. i am still waiting for the benefits to kick in.

to my darling, re: how long it lasts - i don't even track it anymore. i own 3 different sizes of pants, including my emergency bloat ones. it doesn't seem to matter what i eat, though i could probably make it way worse my binging on salty things. sometimes it sticks around for days, other times it swings in & out on the same day. discomfort level varies. i have heard that some folks are helped by fennel tea.

i still recognize my thighs, but not too many other things.