You might consider food allergy testing. I found out that I am allergic to oats, strawberries, celery, nutmeg, almonds, walnuts, and shellfish and a couple veggies that I never eat - think cauliflower was one.

I initally had it done due to sores in my mouth but the allergy doctor said most food allergies are more stomach issues than rashes or sores, exceptions would be swelling due to peanut allergy. However, I had about this time been trying to lower my cholestrol and was eating quite abit of oatmeal since we were having a very cold winter for us and its supposed to be good for lowering cholestrol.
I was also eating fruit with it - yep strawberries mostly.

Well, gave up the oatmeal and strawberries and noticed no gassy feeling whatsoever! I always loved celery with peanut butter and had been eating that as well. Gave that up too for awhile but have gone back to having it occasionally. Haven't noticed any real problems with it so far.

Nuts do bother my mouth - walnuts especially.

So maybe testing will help you. You don't think about stomach issues but food allergies can develop later in life - its more like not being able to tolerate it than being allergic to it, unless you have swelling.

Yes Sue, Me...everything you said and more! Today was particularly bad. Its summer and in the summer I like certain foods. I like lunch or dinner for breakfast and something light for dinner. Today's breakfast and lunch was a half an onion bagel with salmon cream cheese, red onion, smoked salmon, a squeeze of fresh lemon and a thin slice of tomato. I am at the moment like a tortured helium balloon expanded over two counties and ready to explode.It's painful. I am also pre-menopausal. I'm not crazy...yes I am (head swinging from side to side). I am also having a bit of more than usual arthritic problems. Yesterday I got teary watching a stupid movie that was so unmemorable that I can't even remember why I was weepy. I just remember that I was. If anyone see's Terri, that spritely little life of the party gal can you tell her to come back home and get back into my body.

As I've gotten older mine is bothering me more. I think I'm becoming lactose intolerant, but I like milk and stuff too much to stop. lol.

Have you had your gallbladder removed? That can cause major problems after eating.

I have severe food allergies but have outgrown many. I can eat nuts, but my symptoms is throat swelling and bad itching.

One time I thought I literally was going to die by drinking milk from a coconut.

Our bodies change drastically as we get older. Now I'm allergic to penicillin! lol

Basically it could be anything we least expect. It's a good idea to see the doctor again though.

Sue, are you seeing a regular doc or a GI specialist? If you are not seeing a GI specialist, I'd really recommend that you do. Have you had an upper GI and/or colonscopy? Not the most fun things to do but they can see so much from these test and quick results also. I'm thinking you are younger than 50, which is the age you should start colonoscopies, but even so, it might be a good thing. Didn't you mention before that you have a history of ovarian cancer? If so, I certainly understand you going back to the GYN.

tina

A few years ago I had severe pain/bloating that started every day around the same time, and it was accompanied by all-day burping. Altogether, it was pretty awful. Did your regular doctor refer you to a gastroenterologist? And did you receive blood tests/ upper GI endoscopy/ ultrasound/ CT scan/ gallbladder function test? Those are all things that I received while they were trying to pinpoint the problem. I would be concerned by a doctor that jumped to proposing elimination diets without referral to a specialist and/or additional testing.

I agree with the others who feel that further diagnostics are called for. I suffered from what I thought were "stomach problems" for years (foolish of me not to be checked out sooner), and all along it was my body trying deal with scads of gallstones. I ended up being rushed to the ER in the middle of the night when one became lodged in a duct, and I wouldn't wish that kind of excruciating pain (or two surgeries - one to remove the blockage, the other to remove my gallbladder) on anyone.

If you suspect celiac disease or mere gluten intolerance...it is important to EAT gluten, and a fair amount of it, until your bloodtest, or you can throw the test of. High blood antibodies are not definitive--definitive test involves and endoscopy and a biopsy of one's small intestine.

Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder and can appear at any point in one's life. I got diagnosed two years ago at the age of 50. I was shocked. Did the doctor test you for gluten antibodies?

Perimenopause can certainly bring about all of your symptoms. It also sounds like irritable bowel symdrome. I agree with everyone who said that you should seek the advice of a specialist, probably a gastroenterologist, since you have already scheduled an appointment with the ob/gyn, to eliminate the possibility of ovarian cancer. I went through all of this a couple of years ago, so I understand your frustration. Good luck!

I'm not trying to alarm anyone...but this morning Dr.Oz was on in the background... it was all about warning signs of ovarian cancer... at one time (fairly recently) they said there were no warning signs.

This stomach bloating thingy was a very big one. I ended up watching some of it as I have a friend with these symptoms. There is a questionnaire available at his website with a checklist of the warning signs designed to be taken to your Doctor.

Sea

As I said, I was kinda trying to keep the story short, but I did have a blood test for celiac when I was eating gluten, and tested negative. Of course that didn't mean I didn't have a gluten intolerance, so I went on and did the GF diet anyway. Had no impact.

seashells, I watched Dr. Oz today and honestly didn't learn anything new besides those "super foods" -- guess I'll learn to enjoy endive! My mother and paternal grandmother both died of ovarian cancer so I am highly alert to the symptoms and anytime I think I have one, I go running to the doctor. The main thing now is, I have no stomach symptoms right now, and more importantly, I never had any of the other ovarian cancer symptoms. I watched my mother go downhill very quickly after she ignored symptoms for ages -- then when she finally went to her doctor for stomach pain, she was ignored, basically. This went on for a period of about 6 months where in March, she was so exhausted on a vacation to Bermuda, she could barely leave the hotel, over that summer she lost at least 40 lbs. and was taking naps every day, and FINALLY just before Labor Day she was diagnosed and given a 40% chance. She died exactly two weeks later. My grandmother -- I know less about her specific story because I was younger, but she was so bloated at age 64 that people were teasing her about being pregnant. Duh, no on suggested she go to the doctor. Trust me, I had the ultrasound within 2 days of my original doctor visit, and the good thing is that I go to this same ultrasound dr. in Boston every single year for a transvaginal ultrasound, so they can tell right away whether anything is "different" from the year before.

Okay, so that was my long way of thinking although I really, really don't think I have ovarian cancer, I am still keeping the GYN appt., and if the symptoms do come back, I will also see a GI dr.

After reading a great web site on menopause emailed to me by someone from this group (THANKS!) I definitely think I am entering that lovely era and I'm not too excited about it.

Do you think it's true (anyone) that if you are highly reactive to hormonal changes (pregnancy, pms), you'll have a worse time with menopause? I had very unpleasant pregnancies (morning sickness for 4-5 months, preeclampsia, etc.) and my PMS is wretched. Makes me wonder if I should just have myself committed for the menopausal years. I think DH might actually help me move into my own apartment.

Do you think it's true (anyone) that if you are highly reactive to hormonal changes (pregnancy, pms), you'll have a worse time with menopause?

I've heard that, but can't cooroborate it. I never it bad during my menstrual years. Did start menopause a few years earlier than my mom and sister. It's been 12 years now and I still have hot flashes at night ... very rarely during the day. Never experienced the mood or memory issues that some report. I'm just sick of waking up half a dozen times or more every night.

You can have a blood test to determine whether you're entering menopause.

With that family history, I would have the ovaries removed.

I am someone who suffered with awful PMS, hormonal hell, physical symptoms w/menstruation, etc...and for me, menopause has been almost completely a blessing and a godsend! Actually my sisters (all of whom had the same bad pattern) formulated a theory. Women who never had the experience of that kind of nightmare probably have a worse time with menopause because suddenly the mood swings, period effects and so on are really severe and unpleasant. Whereas, for women like us that stuff is par for the course and the final cease fire of menstruation is mostly a huge relief.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it-or should I say living it. My last menstrual period was 2+ years ago and I can't honestly say I miss it for a second. I feel great, no more mood swings, and not having to deal with periods from hell (perimenopause was a horror show too of course)...what's to miss or mourn?! As far as symptoms, I have hot flashes but then again my skinny bones husband is constantly cold so usually when I feel really warm I discover he's turned the AC up to 88 degrees again. Otherwise, so far so good.

Sue, this may be way too simple, but you mentioned that on one occasion you had onions and then experienced the stomach issues. I have heard from countless women, inluding my GYN, that they can no longer eat onions once they approach or enter menopause. Just a thought, and hope that it isn't something scary.

Here is a link that shows some of the symptoms that women might experience during perimenopause and menopause. They say there is about 34 symptoms.

I think I have suffered through 62 of them at any given time. ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: 34 Symptoms of Menopause

Hm, I don't recall mentioning eating onions...

Allison --my mother had a complete hysterectomy about 10 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So, though so many people think otherwise, removing your ovaries isn't always the answer. Apparently some ovarian tissue can be left behind, or something. I never got the whole story on how exactly it was possible.

I will see a GI dr. if I start having problems again, for sure.

Hm, I don't recall mentioning eating onions...

Allison --my mother had a complete hysterectomy about 10 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So, though so many people think otherwise, removing your ovaries isn't always the answer. Apparently some ovarian tissue can be left behind, or something. I never got the whole story on how exactly it was possible.

I will see a GI dr. if I start having problems again, for sure.

I've never heard of that, Sueb20. That's terrible. I used Google - maybe Ovarian Remnant Syndrome - which is rare, according to all the websites.

With today's technology and improvements, I would think it's become even more rare.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ovarian Remnant Syndrome

I had my gallbladder removed years ago and had occasional issues when I ate fatty foods, but nothing compared to what I deal with now that I'm post-menopausal.

I started taking probiotics and that helps. DH heard that taking acidopholous is helpful too. Can't hurt, esp since you've had other tests done. Good luck! There is nothing more miserable than GI issues.

allison, thanks for that info. That may be what she had, I don't know. She did have pretty bad endometriosis but it was never diagnosed until she had the hysterectomy (in fact, after the surgery the dr. commented that she probably didn't have children, but she did have me -- I am an only child -- so after that, I never missed an opportunity to remind her that I was a miracle child). She wasn't one to talk about "female problems" and when she had the hysterectomy I was away at college, and when she was sick and passed away about 10 years later, I was 29 and living in another state so I didn't have first-hand knowledge of what was going on. And she was weird about sharing details. My father was so devastated when she died that he didn't investigate anything with the dr. or the hospital.

Anyway, one of the questions on my list for the GYN is whether it makes sense to have my ovaries removed. My grandmother was 65 when she died; my mother was 55 when she died; I'm 47... on my paranoid days, feel like there's a ticking time bomb...

55 and 65 are certainly not old. Too young to die from something preventable if caught early, that's for sure.

I had the Davinci robotic machine total hysterectomy over a year ago - found precancerous cells after a D&C. He even removed a few lymph nodes. Thank goodness everything was clear of any cancer cells, but if I had passed off the heavy bleeding as "normal," as several women told me (since they experienced it during menopause) it would have led to cancer. If the GYN/Oncologist had not suggested complete, I would have asked for it. Why take a chance?!

Sometimes you need to listen to your gut. Better safe, than sorry.

Since the bloating comes and goes, I don't think it would be the bloating of Ovarian cancer. I don't believe it would come and go.
Sounds a lot like Irritable Bowel. I've developed it post menopause. No fun!
Probably a good idea to go to a Gastroenterologist to be checked out.