Post Trach Bloating

I had an abdominal trachelectomy and total pelvic lymph node dissection in May of this year.  Following surgery I had what was considered normal post surgical bloating.  However, here we are almost in December, almost 7 months later and the bloating is still there.  It's aweful and I am not sure if other people who through a trach are having the same issues?  I have gone up 2 sizes!  I asked my doctors nurse and she said that bloating shouldnb't be a problem, but here I am.  In the past, when I've put on a few pounds that I wanted to lose, I've cut calories and was able to lost it in a matter of days.  Now, I am exercising more than ever, being pretty good about what I eat and the scale won't budge.  I have gone onto hysterectomy support sites and found that bloating was normal with that type of procedure, but my dr's nurse tells me that this procedure is not the same and shouldn't cause the same "swelly belly" as I've seen it referred to .  I think there is just such a lack of data on trach's to be able to know what is to be expected post surgery.  Have a now gotten an intolerance to certain foods that is causing it?  Is it the lack of lymph nodes... although I have been exaluated for lymphadema and they tell me that I do exhibit some of the symptoms, but physically I don't show lymphadema.  I guess basically what I want to know is, is anyone else experiencing this or has experienced this and what have you done? 

I can tell you that my stomach is also not quite the same.. I had the same procedure in June. I still don't feel like I could do sit ups or even start working on my abdomen muscles at all, it's difficult for me to sit up in bed w/out grabbing my leg to pull myself up :) My clothes fit differently, my belly hangs differently. It's a bummer but compared the the alternative I need to get over it. Hope this helps!