My period keeps throwing me into what I can only imagine are flares

Since I started keeping my food log/diary 6 months ago, I've noticed a distinct pattern of having problems the week prior to and the week of my period. It starts with nausea the week prior and increased softening of my stools. Then the week of it's like all hell breaks loose. Frequent bm's, cramps both menstrual and intestinal, and all the other fun stuff that goes with being a woman around that time.

I mean, what can I really do for this? Lialda does nothing. I get maybe 1 good solid week out of each month before it just repeats all over again. I don't want to have to go on prednisone again and I don't want to go on birth control again either (both cause too many mental problems).

Have you been checked for endometriosis? Are you otherwise in remission? You could take Imodium for the diarrhea.

I have similar issues--diarrhea (like up to 30x/day), vomiting (dry heaving if nothing to vomit), nausea, cramping, heavy bleeding, etc. It's worse than a flare, and I've had to go to the ER a couple times for it.
I'm going to be checked for endometriosis (laparoscopy) in May. My GI says it's normal to have looser and more BM's during your period, but it shouldn't be at the intensity that I'm having.

I can completely relate.. I had the same issues before and during my periods. Then it stopped once I was put on bc. Has been fine for the 6months or so while I was in abit of a remission. But this last month I've had my period 2x and a significant increase of bms and problems. My diet hasn't changed much. Not sure what I'm going ot do. I started doing Canasa suppositories, every other night, and thinking about doing the enemas now... but kinda dread it.