Digestion problems Options

[Laurie]

Hi,I have suddenly had to be SO careful about what I eat because spicy food, any starch with protein, etc., results in hours of pain.  It's tolerable, but pretty uncomfortable.    Gas-X isn't powerful enough to help.

So far, as long as I take care to eat slowly and watch what I eat, I'm fine.  Is this a premenopause thing?

[Liz51]

I certainly have had more gas and digestion problems since starting perimenopause.  I've read that hormones definitely effect the digestive system, but so do a lot of other things.  I've always had Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but this was only diagnosed after extensive testing to rule out other things, and I believe that the hormones are making this condition worse.  I'd mention this to your doctor next time you see him/her, because other problems could be causing your gas and discomfort.  

Isn't this period of our lives something?  If it isn't one thing it's another.

[Carol S from PA]

Liz:  One of the things my doctor asked me was if I had unexplained gas.  Yuk!  Unfortunately, I did.  SOOOO, this is just another one of those little annoying symptoms of meno.  Was also very bloated at this time.  Just loved the incontinenance!!  I remember I would sneeze, laugh, cough, or even yell, and I would p----.  That did improve BTW.

Carol

[Laurie]

Thanks Liz, I will be talking to my MD when I see her.   Unfortunately, she's been unavailable for a couple of months and I don't want to start with anyone else.  From your comments and Carol's, sounds like it's part of the deal.  sheesh.   Well, I haven't had any problems since I've been so careful what I eat, and not to eat much - maybe I'll lose this annoying buddha belly!! :biggrin:  There has to be a plus in this somewhere... Oh, and thanks Carol for mentioning that this improved for you - there is hope then.

[Patricia]

Quote: from Laurie on 4:39 pm on June 14, 2001[br]Hi,I have suddenly had to be SO careful about what I eat because spicy food, any starch with protein, etc., results in hours of pain.  It's tolerable, but pretty uncomfortable.    Gas-X isn't powerful enough to help.

So far, as long as I take care to eat slowly and watch what I eat, I'm fine.  Is this a premenopause thing?

Laurie....Hi sister I am exactly like yourself...have to watch everything I eat....it seems to have become worse now I am in peri ......and the budda belly...well enoughs enough......but its good to know we are not alone and this is one of the many varied symptoms we come to expect.....as for myself I love peppermint teas with a touch of honey....very soothing....Take Care:)

[Laurie]

Hi Trish,Thanks :smile:  I keep thinking that since I have to be so careful not to overeat and so careful of what I eat....I ought to lose some weight, and consequently some of the buddha belly, right? There has to be a plus here somewhere!   The worst thing is to have any kind of starch with animal protein, so it's light dinners fo rme now.  

Good idea about the tea, thanks!  

LaurieP.S. I was an exchange student to Aussie a long time ago...spent a wonderful year in N.S.W. and got to travel a littl while I was there.  You have a beautiful country!

[GGc0ok]

Hi ladies its me GGI'm Postmeno by 3 yrs now and I can relate to the increased bloats, gas, and the digestion problems.  I posted on this thread as well, under digestion problems constipation.  There might be help there for you as well.  GG

[Joannaran]

Tried acidophilus tablets???  I swear, they will help with any digestive problems, they seem to settle down whatever's going on down there.  

[June Swederofsky]

Sometimes I have gas as well.      Sometimes I'm constipated,sometimes I have diareea.  So I am glad to know I'm not the only one that has that problem.

[EileenG]

I'm a big fan of Acidophilus too (like Joannaran)  All it does is put the good bacteria back in your intestines so that everything functions the way it's suppose to.  For me, it's been a real blessing.  While I take it, I don't get gas or acid reflux -- when I stop, I do!  Sometimes takes a week or two to really work -- so, don't give up!

[EileenG]

Just want to add that it's also in yogurt (if you don't want to take any more pills)  I think you have to eat a lot though -- with no sugar or fruit juice. YUK!  Good luck!

[Kalanie]

This acidophilus discussion is quite interesting.  Eileen, I am wondering how much of it you take?  I have been taking it everyday for sometime now because I have to take a low-level antibiotic for periodontal disease, to keep from getting "the itch".  I am real interested because it doesn't seem to help me with gas or other stomach problems.  Hmmm... wondering what am I doing wrong here?  :confused:

[EileenG]

Kalanie,  I doubt you're doing anything wrong.  I think it probably doesn't work as well because you are taking the antibiotics and it's hard to keep up with that.  When I take antibiotics, the best I can hope for is to stay sort of even.   When I go off them, it takes two or three months to get everything back to normal again.  Sayin all this, I wouldn't want to give the impression that I knew everything about why people get gas and reflux.  I think there can be a lot of reasons besides a lack of good intestinal bacteria.  I do take one or two tablets (depending on how I'm doing) with each meal.   LIke I said though, it works for me (the placebo effect?) but it may not be a solution for anyone else.Oh yah, it also has helped with my bladder inflammation problem! :biggrin:  When I stopped taking it in March, sure enough I had another bout!  Hope it didn't/doesn't sound like I'm "Miss Know it all" !   I'm still learning -- believe me! Take care my friend!

[Kalanie]

Hi Eileen...  Well, your answer makes some sense to me, so you must know something!  :biggrin:  I do take the antibiotic all of the time, except have to go off of it for 3 months a year.  I think I will try taking 2 tablets a day... will double check with the dentist first, have an appointment in 2 days...eyukkkkkkk!!   Thx again!  

[shyzelda]

I used to suffer terribly with bloating, gas and constipation once I figured out the problem I was able to treat it , now have a normal digestive track again. This is what I found out;

Candida, short for Candid albicans, refers to yeast that usually lives companionably on our skin and (sometimes) our mucous membranes. On mucous membranes (mucus), candida form whitish patches visible to the eye., The patches do not scrape off easily and cause itching and irritation.  In the mouths of babies and young children, candida infection is called thrush. Under normal conditions our immune syst3m protects us very well from unwarranted yeast overgrowth. However, if our immune system is dysfunctional, candida overgrowth becomes rampant, infecting the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract, mouth and lungs. Another factor in candida control is the many helpful bacteria that live with us. Bacteria and yeast compete for sustenance. Bacteria suppress candida growth. When prolonged, potent antibiotics kill these helpful bacteria, candida overgrowth can result.

Candida likes to live in the vagina. They grown well wherever it is warm, moist, and well supplied with their favorite nutrient---glucose. Skin and vaginal mucus contains glucose. Estrogen dominance increases mucus glucose, thereby facilitating candida growth.

While numerous medications are very effective at suppressing candida growth, the conditions within the vagina are such that reinfection is probable. Successful treatment of candida includes a diet low in sugar and simple carbs.

Estrogen dominance is usually the culprit in women in premenopausal years. This correction is accomplished by supplemental natural progesterone. When hormone imbalance is restored  to normal balance using progesterone, candida growth is less likely to persist. The normal benign bacteria are restored and the body heals itself of its candida population.

[Kalanie]

Shyzelda... Thank you for that information!  :)

[ourjen]

Hi Shyzelder,  Could you tell me what  supplemental nature progesterone you used for Candida, would be very interested to know.  Thanks Jen

[MountainMama]

A few years ago I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. I was 39 at the time and none of the doctors I saw suggested a connection with IBS and perimenopause. Now I've been learning, in part from this site, that IBS is often a side effect of perimenopause! My IBS symptoms went away with my pregnancy a year and a half ago, so I really believe it was hormone related! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will not return. Hopefully yours is just a temporary stage too. For what it's worth, I used to use activated charcoal tablets for a day or so during times of especially bad gas and also, sometimes I used beano along with a spicy meal, heh heh. Hey, it worked! Good luck. I hope you get some relief.

[chriscarol]

Hi, <br> &nbsp; &nbsp; My gastroenterologist said the hormonal<br>swings can mess up the neurotransmitters<br>in the gut. &nbsp;I know it affects the neurotransmitters in<br>my brain.<br> &nbsp; &nbsp; I've had painful gas particularly before my <br>period. &nbsp;Some natural remedies, I've found<br>helpful are fennel and charcoal. &nbsp;When it's<br>really bad I take prescription anti-spasmodics.<br>I've also heard low dose tricyclic anti-depressants<br>help. &nbsp;My tummy has been better lately, thankfully.

[CathyAnn]

Hi all,   I know that this original post is old, but I just saw it.  I have been having extra worse G/I problems for several months.  I'm in the middle-end of perimenopause.  I get the stomach muscle thing too!  It happens especially when I go to bed, but it's there alot during the day, especially after I eat.  It feels like Braxton-Hicks contractions to me.  I can actually feel my stomach/diaphragm muscles contracting.  It is very weird.  I personally don't think it's an anxiety/stress thing.  I think our wacky hormones actually make some of our muscles spasm.  It's VERY comforting to know that alot of you are also experiencing this.  Instead of freaking out and running to the GI doc and having a million dollars worth of horrible tests, I'm just going to wait it out.  Good luck to you all.

[Suzie]

Hi Everyone,All of my perimenepause terror started with the gastrointestinal gas, bloating and spasms and constipation. I went through hell for a year with these symptoms before my other perimeno problems kicked in! I had tests, drugs , laxatives you name it. At the time I was only about 123 lbs. and I'm 5'8! I was afraid to eat anything and almost became anorexic. None of the Drs. I went to even hinted at perimenepause....  even now when I have numerous other symptoms, my Dr. calls it anxiety. I plan to have another FSH test this summer and hopefully something will show up this time to suggest I'm perimenepausal. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll get some of the acidopholis tablets tomorrow!

Suzie

[Nina Bellanti]

cathyann i also feel this muscle tension thing but it is at the top of my stomach. Latley i feel like my stomach is raw and i have tons of gas.  It almost feels tight like i have been doing tons of sit ups.  is that what you feel.  I am alo getting acid relux-yuk

[minou]

Hi Nina, I have upper abdominal sensations too.  I don't know if it is muscle tension as it feels more internal, but I do have the raw feeling that you mentioned and a feeling of tightness.  Flossie on another thread mentioned that she felt like she had a concrete football under her ribs.  Sometimes I feel like that!  No fun.  Kate

[Dor]

I have had a great deal of stress lately and thus a great deal of indigestion - often feels like someone is standing on my chest!!  Also get gas, constipation, etc.  At first I thought it was my heart as I also get missed beats, but the EKG showed everything normal.  I am also in perimenopause and my emotions are very raw.  Does anyone get this feeling like someone is standing on their chest or that their chest is just filled with gas and will not release?  And, if so, what do you find helps?  I seem to walk around in constant pain or heaviness and laying down makes it worse.  I know my stress level is affecting this, but any advice would really help.  Thanks sooo much.

[Nina Bellanti]

ive gone to dr. with this sensation of tightness in my chest and she says it might be acid reflex or stomach problems. she told me to take enzeymes for better digestion and use something to reduce the acid and if this doesnt work she may have me take some tests to check my esophogus and stomach.

[Suzie]

THANK-YOU    THANK-YOU    THANK-YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank-you you ladies for recommending the acidopholis tablets!!!! I went right out and  bought a bottle after I last posted and have been taking 2 or 3 a day! I did notice a slow improvement each day. Today, I must say I feel like my system is back to normal! If any of you are bothered by constipation it is just wonderful! I really hated taking the laxatives with the stimulants. Even the mild ones in senecot bothered me. Now I really feel like I can keep myself regulated with the acidopholis tablets!!!  I wonder , is it ok to just take the indefinately? or should I only take them if needed?  

Thanks again.Suzie

[CathyAnn]

This GI problem has continued for me.  It makes me feel so full around my neck, that it gives me the sensation that I can't breath.  My intestines rumble 24 hours a day.  I couldn't get into my GI doc for 6 weeks.  I even went to the ER one day because my upper stomach felt so tight and my neck felt so congested.  They ran lab tests, EKG, and chest and abdominal cat scan and everything was negative.  I then went to a cardiologist for a stress test, but got so anxious my pressure was way to high to continue the test (anxiety being another wonderful perimenopausal symptom for me).  Now I'm on BP medicine.  Bummer.  I also have an appointment to see a psychiatrist to ask to have an antidepressant.    This time of my life is no fun at all!   Eating meat (steak in particular), seems to really make this upper GI problem the worst.   I am taking 1-2 enteric coated peppermint oil tablets a day, and it really seems to calm down all this constant rumbling.   I think eating lots of fiber helps too.  This is such a drag.  I keep hoping, one day soon, I'll wake up and all this stuff will be gone.  Yay!!!

[Suzie]

Cathy, You sound alot like me with intestinal, anxiety and B/P problem. I know my b/p problem is caused by my  constant anxiety and panic attacks. Do you get those too? It really stinks. I have found the acidopholis tablets are really helping my digestion and constipation  significantly. I would give it a try if I were you. Take one after each meal for a few days and see if it helps. Sometimes it makes me gassy after I take one, but it usually releives the pressure feeling - which is alot of gas.

Suzie

[Irene Crites]

Greetings ladies......for those of you dealing with bloating, gas and other intestinal issues and more fiber is reccommended consider Psyllium Husk capsules.  They offer the fiber we need and are very effective in relieving the discomfort of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, bloating etc.  I have several clients who have added Psyllium Husks to their daily supplements and feel much improved.  Just a suggestion.  Hope you all feel better soon.

Blessings and be well.

[Suzie]

Thanks Irene! I'll plan to add that to my list! I'm bound to find a cure for all my ailments sooner or later! Ha ha! Are you busy at your wellness center? It looks so wonderful on the web site. Just what we need at this time of our lives.Hugs,Suzie