Betta dropsy / swim bladder problem?

Question
QUESTION: Hi Linda!
My 3-year-old female betta started exhibiting signs of dropsy (bloated belly, no appetite, severe pine-cone scales). At some point I put her in a smaller tank and treated with epsom salt, maracyn II and maroxy. She was exhbiting same signs for a couple of weeks, and then the bloating and pine-cone scales grealy diminished. Right now her scales are as smooth as before... However, somewhere in the middle of treatment her swim bladder started protruding from the bloated belly, and now is halfway out of her body! The belly bloating is almost gone, but the swim bladder is still out (I can see it increasing and decreasing as she swims up or down), and it is so white that it looks like the belly skin split and let it out... The betta swims more or less normally, and able to go up or down as needed, and eats a little once a day or so. I wasn't able to find anything similar to our situation on the web... Would you know about this strange disease? I'll provide pictures if needed. Thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Lana,
Dropsy is very hard to cure as it may leave internal problems.  He could have a tumor, internal parasites, over medicating could also do this, or a virus that as attacked one of his vital organs. I don't want to tell you to medicate him again, as I don't believe this would help him.  This is very hard to diagnose, even with a picture.  However, I would keep his water very clean, and feed him peas, and good quality food.  Frozen brine shrimp may help, and frozen bloodworms once a week.  I am convinced that there is not much more you can do for him, and I hate telling you this.  Bettas are prone to Swim Bladder disease, which leads to constipation, and then dropsy.  If caught in time it can be curable, but Dropsy is very hard to cure.  You came a very long way, but medicating him again, would do more harm than good.  Make his life as comfortable as possible, if you don't have a silk plant in your tank, buy him one so he can rest on the leaves.  Medicated food may help.  I cannot guarantee it.  I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.  To get to the real problem I would have to dissect him, something I would hate to do.  
Maybe with water changes, medicated food, and good quality food, he might pull through.  I hope so.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again, and thanks for your quick reply! Perhaps my question wasn't clear, so I'll try to rephrase. My betta has a white bubble hanging alongside her, attached to her somewhere mid-belly. It inflates and deflates as she swims up and down, which leads me to believe (erroneously, perhaps) it is her swim bladder. Now, the questions are - how can I identify for sure if it's a swim bladder; and - do you know of any disease/virus/parasites/etc. which produces similar symptoms? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Lana,
Dropsy is a mysterious disease.  We do not know the cure.  No Betta has completely recovered from it.  A secondary infection of some sort always appears.  Swim Bladder must be caught in time to be able to cure it.  I think that this bubble has something to do with infection inside your Betta.  It could be a boil.  If this is the case, it will erupt on it's own, NEVER try to POP IT or SQUEEZE it or you will kill your betta.  White puss will come out of this, if it is a boil, then, and only then you could treat him with Melafix (half dosage) if this is the case.  I know of nothing else you can do for him.  I will be completely truthful with you, I don't think there is much chance for survival...unless this lump is a boil and you manage to save him, through some miracle.  Maybe ask another expert about this, sometimes they have experienced something similar, and could help you more.  I would keep his water clean, feed him good food, make his life happier, treat him with kindness.
Lynda