please help a girl out with stomach issues...

Okay ladies i need some advice on what is going on with me. My stomach is always bloated to the point where i look pregnant. I have cramping all month long and sometimes the cramps are extremely painful. I have been diagnosed with IBS but i feel there is more going on. My periods are very irregular and I usually i spot the week before & after.  My breasts are almost always tender too. Does anyone have any similar symptoms? I could really use some advice on where to turn next. I do have an OBGYN appointment next month. Thank you ladies.

I know this might be a bit forward, but are you sexually active?

It's cool. Yes i am. I have been with the same partner for 9 years. :)

Have you taken a pregnancy test? Sorry, I know this might be painfully obvious (or possibly impossible), but constipation, lack of period, and tender boobs all immediately made me think "pregnant?" Heh.

That did cross my mind about being pregnant. :)  But i just had my period last week & it was extremely heavy.  So that cancelled that idea. Thanks for the suggestion though.  

Hm. Alright.

Did you get a lot of painful cramps, back pain, more than usual? Have you felt sick lately or been needing to wee a lot? Because, ah, another possibility? If you were pregnant but then had your period come on, given how heavy it was, you may have miscarried. x: I'd maybe take a test anyway, but I don't know so much, there. Or just speak to your doctor, always a good call x__x

i actually did have a lot of cramping in my back. i never get cramps in my back so i though that was weird. i also have been peeing a LOT. It is getting annoying. :) i have an appointment with my doc in Feb. I really hope this is not the case as i really would like to have baby. thank you so much for your insight. :)

From BUPA: Fact Sheet: Miscarriage

The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding, which can range from light spotting to heavier than a period. You may see blood clots, brown discharge or other tissue that is not clearly identifiable.

Often there is cramping, with pelvic or back-pain. You may find that the usual symptoms of pregnancy, such as breast tenderness, feeling sick and having to pass urine more frequently than usual, stop unexpectedly.

Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms of miscarriage and pregnancy symptoms continue, and the miscarriage is only discovered in a routine scan.

It'd likely be worth raising the possibility with your doctor, particularly if you and your partner have had unprotected sex in the past few months or there is a possibility you could've gotten pregnant. And you're welcome :]

wow. Thanks for that info. The beggining of my last period i had the back cramps & my period was (graphic sorry) brown and thicker than normal. After a couple days it went to the normal color but extremely heavy. i am going to mention this to my doctor when i go. Ugh...

Have the doctor check to see if this is abdominal fat or if it's fluid building up in the abdomen.  There are many causes for abdominal fluid retention and it needs to be ruled out.

Also, if you are on birth control pills (or another form of birth control) and have recently changed which type of pill or birth control method you use, that can really have an effect physically.  Not sure that's your situation, but just a thought.

My periods used to be like that and the cramps would be so painful that i would be nauseous and unable to leave the couch.  Never had issue with spotting or irregularity, but bloating, back pain, tender breasts, and peeing all the time are all menstrual symptoms too, not just pregnancy.   It's possible to cramp during the month.  I notice cramping when I'm ovulating which occurs about 2 weeks after your period. Birth control has relieved that for me, but that may be counter-productive for you since you'd like to have a baby.  My OB-GYN recommended exercise and begin taking whatever OTC pain reliever that works for you every day for the few days preceding your period or as soon as you start cramping.  I highly recommend ibuprofren and try to avoid a lot of salt, since that causes you to retain water and bloat. 

I hope you feel better!

Original Post by fattyfully:

That did cross my mind about being pregnant. :)  But i just had my period last week & it was extremely heavy.  So that cancelled that idea. Thanks for the suggestion though.  

 It IS possible to have a regular/heavy period while you are pregnant. I did not discover that I was pregnant with my second child until I was six months pregnant because of this.

How long have you had these symptoms? I have endometriosis and have some of the same symptoms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis

I've had some periods that were like that- bloated, extreme backpain, heavy flow, bad cramps, tender boobs, etc. but it usually stopped when my period ended. except I still get cramps all the time.

being only 16, I would have no clue whether or not you are or may have ever been pregnant, lol. sorry if this wasn't too helpful. but I think you should definitely bring it up with the docor and remember to tell him/her all of your "symptoms." and personally, even when I'm not on my period but am having bad cramps/bloating, I'll take 2 midol or ibuprofen.

and also, maybe a stupid question, but could it have possibly been something you ate or have been eating? just throwing that out there, lol.

hi ladies. Thank u so much for the input. I have been having these issues for a few years now. However my last period was the one that was really out of the norm. My doc wanted to put me on birth control during my last visit but i declined. I just started to exercise more over the past few months ... so i am hoping that will help regulate my body. it hasn't yet though. ha.

I didn't know that you could have a full period and still be pregnant. I am def going to talk to my doc about that if my symptoms don't improve.

Also thank you for the info on endometriosis! My mom has that so it is a good possibility i may as well.

Thanks so much again. Now i have some starting points to talk to my doc with. :)

Original Post by fattyfully:

hi ladies. Thank u so much for the input. I have been having these issues for a few years now. However my last period was the one that was really out of the norm. My doc wanted to put me on birth control during my last visit but i declined. I just started to exercise more over the past few months ... so i am hoping that will help regulate my body. it hasn't yet though. ha.

I didn't know that you could have a full period and still be pregnant. I am def going to talk to my doc about that if my symptoms don't improve.

Also thank you for the info on endometriosis! My mom has that so it is a good possibility i may as well.

Thanks so much again. Now i have some starting points to talk to my doc with. :)

 You're welcome. It does run in families.