is it possible for ibs to be connected to hormonal changes i.e. menstrual cycle?

I've been diagnosed with IBS for about a year and a half now. I have noticed that extreme stress seems to bring on the worst of it. Although for me that means extreme bloating, gas pains rising into chest pains and major constipation. When I get these attacks I am unable to eat more than 300-500 calories a day, usually some type of rice product. It takes about 2 weeks to slowly get to some sort of regular diet. I have begun to notice that recently (the past 3 months) these attacks seem to start within a week of getting my monthly cycle. They seem to calm down within a week of it ending. Is it possible there is a hormonal connection? My doctor seems to be flaking out lately and every time i ask for more tests she keeps telling me to go to the gastroenterologist. He can't see me till the end of Sept. I won't have a colonoscopy till Oct (or an endoscopy). I have been on zelnorm but I don't think it made a difference, hyoscyamine, and nexium. Anyone have a suggestion as to what I should ask for next?

Yes, there are a lot of women on here who get worse IBS symptoms around their periods. A few of them have found that their birth control also affects their IBS--i.e. makes it worse. That might be something you want to try changing up. I'm on Depo Provera which keeps me from having a period all together and I don't seem to have ups and downs, but I'm starting to hear that a lot of women have problems with it in terms of weight gain and other problems. I've been on it three years and am as normal as I ever was, so I can't complain. They've also come out with a new pill that you take and only have periods four times a year; that might also help you since it will at least reduce the number of IBS flares you have to endure.