Digestion problems Options

[sulah]

It is a bit overwhleming at times, isn't it. It is so difficult to keep the "upper-chin" when you feel so rotten most of the time and when you consider how healthy we used to feel and then, like one of you said, we've been robbed........we MOST certainly have!!!!!!! And don't you love it when you are around other women who breezed thru this and say, "hmmm, I never had nor ever heard of those problems, have you been to the doctor? Maybe you should get a good physical?" I despise that! If they only knew. I would not wish this on my worst enemy, but for the women out there who have not ever experienced this, please do no be condescending to those of us who really suffer w/this curse. I have been told that this usually passes after about 5 years....well, I am going into my 5th year and I too see no end. I am now at the stage where I am afraid to look around the corner to see what new and wierd symptom/malady I am going to be stuck w/next. About the only thing that keeps me going is realizing that the alternative does not look very attractive.

[WhiteHorses]

Hi Krista, thanks for your encouraging post.

[chriscarol]

Condescension is something I've run across. I had a taste of peri, because of miserable PMS. I tried to tell my sister about this ages ago. She informed me my severe PMS was AN EXCUSE. I said my family noticed the cyclical changes in mood, anxiety etc. She told me that I had convinced them of such. Well, she believes I suffer hormonally now, as peri has been a living hell. I find myself furious at those who have suggested all I needed was a job. Last job, I was in the bathroom constantly bleeding from Ulcerative Colitis, as the stress was so intense. I also have IBS, on top of it. Does anyone else get rectal spasms, as I don't know whether it's the Inflammatory Bowel Disease of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The IBS has been so intense at times, I was literally doubled over. The fluctuating hormones can screw up the neurotransmitters in the gut, causing IBS. Not to mention the neurotransmitters in the noggin'. Hope you guys feel better.

[chriscarol]

I have my 2 year colonoscopy coming up soon.

[ej]

Chris Well, I finally saw a GI because I was getting concerned about the gas/bloating issues although funnily enough they seem to have disappeared for now. Everything that he could check externally was normal but i thought you'd be happy to hear that I did finally schedule a colonscopy for May 7th. Of course my biggest stressor is not the prep or even the exam but rather the what ifs. Oh well, better to know in that case! Take care, EJ

[WhiteHorses]

Chris, I have continued to have low pelvic / groin pain on and off. I talked to a doctor about it before, the whole way it has been treated on both sides (the doctors' and mine) is "wait and see". Which is of course extremely foolish and casual if it is cancer of some sort. Anyway I have self-diagnosed with some kind of spastic colon condition. Actually I was diagnosed with that 7 years ago or so, probably the start of peri. The doctor did not think that gas and bloating were significant. I am beginning to believe that that was the start of peri., and that the part where digestion gets messed up and our bodies' nutrition becomes poor and mixed with toxic, half-digested materials is very significant. "You are what you eat." they say. Of course what we eat is only part of the picture, what our digestion does with it is important too. My condition must be now where near as painful as what you have. Of course it could also be something else. (EJ, my condition comes and goes in connection with stress.) Anyway I am slow getting to the point, I wanted to know if you make fennel tea out of fresh fennel or from tea bags? How much of it do you drink, are there any precautions or limits?

[ej]

Beth I have found that ginger tea is helpful. I think it's called Ginger-Aid. In addition, I started taking enteric coated peppermint capsules which also helps with gas. I think there is a definite connection w/gastro issues and peri. It can't just be a coincidence that I have minimal gas just as I got my period yesterday (which is the first time in 2 months). Absolutely, anxiety and stress make it worse. Most of my anxiety is related to what if it's more than just gas and bloating. Hopefully the colonscopy will eliminate that worry. Hope this helps. EJ

[WhiteHorses]

Hi Sulah Hi Chris About the condescention (sp?). People really can't understand when they have experienced nothing like this. I also wouldn't wish this peri/meno hell on anyone. Also it is human nature to want to survive, also by tuning out other people's pain if necessary. I believe that I will need *healing* after all this sickness. (This is traumatic. Yech I'd better not go there, don't want to be too upsetting. ) Unless this "natural" process comes along with its own pain numbing features, such as the poor memory. Actually do you ever remember thinking how hard it is to remember how sick you felt during a bad cold, afterwards?

[WhiteHorses]

EJ I need to take a colonoscopy too, at least in the next few years. Hard for me, so I am delaying it.

[ej]

Beth I'm sure you don't need me to be nagging but you should really have one. My internist was quite happy w/me waiting another few years (I turned 50 in October) but everyone around me including the gastroenterologist said do it now. So I'm doing it now...hopefully it will provide me with the peace of mind that I need in order to make room to worry about something else.

[chriscarol]

EJ and Beth, Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer prevention. Everyone over 50, should have one every 10 years. I'm glad the insurance companies have finally realized this fact, as they wouldn't cover colonoscopy before, unless you were at higher risk, which I am due to the colitis. I've had about 9 colonoscopies and it really isn't as horrid as it sounds. The prep is actually worse, than testing. So don't fear!! The sigmoidoscopy was dumb, since it only examined the lower colon. Sort of like doing a mammogram, only on one breast. What you guys have sounds like irritable bowel. I suffered for at least a decade with the gas pains. I just use fennel capsules, or make a tea from fennel for gas. I remember I walked in an Indian market to buy rice, then noticed the fennel seed. I picked some up, and the man said,"Stomach ache." It is used commonly for this purpose in India. I never noticed ginger did much for the gas. Nausea, yes. Enteric oil of peppermint is suppose to help, as well. You have to take this regularly. When my gut gets better I forget. To my knowledge fennel is non-toxic, as the herb is used for cooking. I never had any side effects from usage. Peri, hormones, stress, anxiety can all upset the stomach. It also seems like some cruel joke that the most healthy foods seem to produce the most gas. I understand IBS gets better with age.

[chriscarol]

Beth, You can also lightly toast the dried fennel seeds, then munch on them. This is how I've seen them served at the end of an Indian meal. Last time I ate Indian, I got so sick, I haven't since. The fennel didn't help that time. Usually, I just make a super strong cup of tea, from the dried fennel.

[WhiteHorses]

Thanks EJ, after you finish your colonoscopy maybe I'll tell you more of my story. Chris, thanks for the tips about the fennel. I didn't even think of the seeds, I was thinking of the green vegetable, did you ever see that? I think it has a yummy light licorice flavour, or am I confusing it with "chicon". Probably you haven't heard of that vegie? I am feeling so much better this afternoon, even a bit too talkative and hyper. Yeah! Think I'll send myself off for a walk. I need to make the most of the hours when I am functional without overdoing it. I like to take my peppermint and ginger from the teas or as fresh as possible. It is cheaper and seems quite potent. So I would like to do the same with fennel. The ginger helps nausea, which I get a mild case of in the evening and morning (adrenal stress I think), and also boosts energy gently. The peppermint helps digestion and gas and is also a mild stimulant. Green tea (make mine decaf.) seems to soothe my digestive tract a bit, and also dulls the extreme hunger which I am getting after eating. Maybe after eating apples? Anyway I think I'll go off for that walk. Take care.

[chriscarol]

Yeah, I've seen the fresh fennel, but use the fennel seeds for tea. Actually, I sometime make a peppermint, fennel seed and chamomile tea. I use green tea capsules, as it's a wonderful antioxidant. I wonder if the decaf process strips the green tea of some of the antioxidants, as it seems I'd read this somewhere. Tea contains a third the caffeine of drip coffee.

[chriscarol]

Glad you feel more perky Beth!!!!!!!

[chriscarol]

Fennel does taste like licorice. I still can't figure out why I can't view the previous posts, while posting a reply.

[EveningPrimrose]

Sulah and ej, I just wanted to say thank you for your advice and support. I should keep up though! This thread is busy and it takes me awhile to motivate myself to write back. I just wanted to say something to the lady who wrote in recently and feeling desperate and overwhelmed. There were times I felt the same way and sometimes I still do. If you read my post " I feel like I want to give up" I think its under the thread " "Feel like I'm losing my mind" you may draw comfort from it and know that youre not alone. I get through the bad days because of the wonderful girls here on the board. We're all in this together so when things get really bad for you please post so we can try and get you through it. Gez

[Suri]

I have been having such digestion problems due to being perimenopausal. I have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The good thing is I got a great gastro who I adore that I am working with. Also I hope to get a very healthy gastro tract out of the deal. There is an end in sight I welcome any comments. Suri

[whoamitoday]

I also have IBS with constipation. I take Miralax for it. I started on the estrogen patch last week and now I have been experiencing bouts of acid reflex..and I do take medicine for it. Not working, however. Less stress and lots of rest is the best thing for IBS. Do you take any medication for it? I also take Donnatal 4x a day before each meal...that's a stomach relaxer. Ativan is also good. I take it at bedtime to sleep.

[chriscarol]

My stomach was awful last week, right before menses. Since I have both IBS and was having a bout of Ulcerative Colitis, I never know what is causing my HORRENDOUS gas. I get such bad gas, the pressure makes me nauseous. Metamucil worked well for my sister's IBS. I struck out there, as it makes my gas worse. Next lifetime, I get a new gut.lol

[chriscarol]

I take Librax, as needed, but have never been impressed with anti-spasmodics. Does anyone get rectal spasms? They hurt and are always worse before my period. Once again, both IBS and Ulcerative Colitis can cause the spasms, so I flummoxed, as usual. The hormones do screw up the neurotransmitters in the gut, as well as the brain. This is why low dose tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed. They don't help either. Actually considering I was once literally doubled over with stomach cramps, it's better. Now, why do all the healthy foods cause gas. LOL

[alice3]

A close family member who suffers from IBS said they get rectal spasms too. On a couple of occasions I have been woken by them, as though I've been kicked up the ass. Unless there's some invisible being in my room, I cannot explain why! The pain lasts for a short-time and then I'm fine. I don't even feel the need to use the toilet! Today I feel nauseous with a gripey tum!

[Kleeo]

Alice, I've had that SAME feeling before! I thought it was a hemroid or something. It's the strangest pain, and it only lasts for a short amount of time and then goes away, and is very infrequent. I'm glad to hear someone else has had this happen. It scared me at first but then after it went right away I figured it must be some kind of spasm or something.

[Juliann]

I can relate, in our family it is known as the "Butt Pain". My hubby gets it, my son gets it and I get it to. My sister told me that if the spasm comes on, try sitting on a heating pad, and take an advil. This kinda gently eases the pain. My biggest gripe, I get unrelenting indigestion a few days before my period. It seems to run in this cycle. If I take the tiny "purple pill" it helps greatly. Also have bouts of IBS that comes and then goes away for months, only to come back again. I guess the hormones take their toll on us in this way. My newest endevor has been a painful hemorrhoid. I have been dealing with this for a couple of weeks, I finally am getting better, I think!!! Someone said, its one thing or another, well it really seems to be. I want to do what I want to do, and eat what I want to eat, but at this stage of the game, that is not possible. Love to all Juliann

[maggiecttr]

Hi--I'm new on here, and am a 48-year-old college chemistry teacher from northwestern PA. I was on the Pill off & on for about 20 years, so my hormone levels were always regulated & steady. In the fall of 2003, I started experiencing, while still on the pill, reflux-related esophagus flutters. I read that progesterone could increase reflux symptoms, so I wemt off the Pill a few months later. It's been 10 months since I went off the Pill, and I haven't noticed significant improvement.

In fact, I had one normal period after going off the Pill, then no normal ones since. I have had a few hot flashes & night sweats, spotting between periods, I easily tear up and am often very weary, with more back-and-muscle aches. BUT, my biggest problem is the development of IBS/Functional Dyspepsia symptoms as well. I get full after just a 500-or-so calorie meal, have a lot of gas & sometimes diarrhea. Probiotics seem to help a little, as has ernteric-coated peppremint-oil/caraway-seed oil capsules and very low-dose Xanax, but nothing has proven to be a substantial help. I've had every test known to mankind--including an abdominal-pelvic CT Scan --all negative except for reflux during my upper GI. I've been worried that there is some nasty underlying cause for all this digestive system mess, but do you think that it is probably perimenopause-related? I plan to see my ob-gyn in a couple of weeks to see if she has suggestions.
I may ask to go back on the Pill awhile to seee if it helps. Any thoughts?
THanks so much,
Maggie C.

[alice3]

I take Acidophilus Bifidus and have read if you take a digestive enzyme as well it does help.

My digestion has been really wierd lately. I can no longer eat cream or cheese, onions or prawns. All of them I previously enjoyed...now give me almost instant diarrea!

[GoldenFrost]

I take Acidophilus Bifidus and have read if you take a digestive enzyme as well it does help.

My digestion has been really wierd lately. I can no longer eat cream or cheese, onions or prawns. All of them I previously enjoyed...now give me almost instant diarrea!

I am post and in the last 2 months my digestive track is squirrely
I have major bouts of diarrea and it don't take much to set it off.
It usually is worse in the morning as soon as I get up. During the day it seems to straighten out.
What's worse now is that on Saturday I was snowmobiling and flew myself off. Cracked my tail bone so now going to the bathroom so much bothers it.
LOL If it ain't one thing it's another.

[alice3]

Ouch!

[GoldenFrost]

Ouch!      

LOL I should start to realize I'm 55 NOT 25
I have to learn not to try to keep up with the kids LOL

[sally13]

had severe gas problems whenever I ate. Finally found out that now that I am in menopause I am lactose intolerant. As cheese use to be my main protien I was VERY sad. Lactaid does not help. So As long as I am careful and eat NO dairy it is fine. but the littlest bit of milk in any product and terrible stomache ache. I have found that taking an acidophilis tablet after every meal seems to aid my digestion.
So if you have gas problems try cutting out ALL dairy for a week. Even pretzels, bread and margrine have milk in them. so you really have to read the labels. Hope this helps others with gas problems. because it is not fun!