Betta Dropsy

Question
I have been frantically looking for any answers I can on how to help my Betta, Juan.  Juan has been fighting to stay alive for about 3 weeks now.  It all started with a large buldge forming under and behind his gills.  I took him to PetSmart (where I got him) and had the specialist on duty check him out.  She figured it was Dropsy and I started him on Maracyn-Two.  This had zero effect on him.  So I went back to PetSmart and got him a new, bigger tank with an air pump, and I was then instructed to try BettaFix and Sea Salt.  I have tried all of this with zero change in his condition.  I had read how a woman had performed minor surgery on a Betta with the same symptoms, so I tried it, and it didn't help either.  I had to put him in a clove oil mixture, wait for him to slow down, then take him out, and prick the large, swollen area with a needle.  Then I put him into clean water and encouraged him to swim for about an hour or so.  No change at all once again.  Now I'm at a complete loss.  I know he's only a $3 fish and I've to date spent about $70 on him, but I really would like to save him if possible.  He will swim, but he has a hard time doing it for long, and when he stops, he sinks to the bottom and bounces off the pebbles.  Then he stays there until he's ready to go to the surface again.  He's also been resting in some of the oddest positions.  The strangest was completely vertical with his head facing up.  If you have any ideas PLEASE let me know.  I'm completely at a loss and have tried everything I can.  

Kris

Answer
Hi Kris,
You have been given some very bad information I am afraid.
It is very normal for male Bettas to have large gill openings and growth type things behind their gills.
Here is a picture of a perfectly healthy Betta. He also has large growths behind his gills:
http://www.bettatalk.com/images/Betta_flaring_from_back_copy.gif
If yours looks like this, it's completely normal.

If it does not, could you please take a photograph, and email it to me on kathrynhaldane@yahoo.co.uk, or upload it onto Photobucket.com and send it to me.
Whatever it is, it is not Dropsy.
PetSmart are very unreliable, and I am currently campaigning for their closure. If you look at these photographs and video, I am sure you'll agree with me:
http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=petsmart&Player=wm&speed=_med
http://www.peta.org/feat-petsmart.asp
Is your filter making quite a strong curent? If so, position it against a large rock or against a wall so it is not as strong. This should make him able to swim for longer.

Feel free to send me pictures or ask any more questions,
Kathryn