I was reading through the old posts and noticed a lot of older posts on stomach issues. I have never been diagnosed with IBS but for the last couple months I have had pain on the left side and radiating to my back at times. It is directly across from my belly button and seems to be noticable with movement. I also am experiencing horrible gas. I am neither constipated or have diahrrea. I have no bleeding in my bowels. I have not had a period in 7 months. I went to my dr and he said "You could have colon cancer, I have seen people younger than you with it, I am 50,. He is scheduling a colonoscopy for mid Sept. He scared me to death and also told me that it is not a meno symptom. He said hot flashes and mood swings are meno symptoms, not stomach pain. I need reassurance that this is a common thing, I also have the other symptoms, palps, mood swings and severe hot flashes. I had a vaginal ultrasound and everything came out ok except some fibroids, he says fibroids don't cause pain. Do you guys know anything about this kind of stomach pain I am experiencing, does it go away on its own or am I destined to be miserable and gassy? I am also stressing about the colonscopy, I have a fear of being put out. I am a control freak and don't like to lose control of myself. I am afraid I will stop breathing or something. Please help, I am going to worry about this for a month, you know I also have health anxiety, I am a mess. Gaudy Gal

Hi GaudyGal!
I'm so sorry your doctor has scared you so badly. I can well imagine the hell you're living through now, feeling so frightened. It's good to have it checked, but please try not to worry too much. I have all your symptoms and it's definetly meno. I've had such terrible gas I could hardly move or breath, and the pain was worse near the belly button area. Sometimes it was like knive stabs. Have you tried taking something to get rid of the gas? It helped me, also drinking Tonic water to be able to burb...It all gets really bad when I'm anxious or panicky.
I'm glad you're reading in the forums, you'll find loads of reassurance and help!
Let us know how you're doing!
Hugs, Jonie

Hi Gaudy Gal,
I am having all your symptoms as well. I also have discomfort on my left side, excessive gas. General anxiety is also increased and when I am anxious all these symptoms increase. In addition I have had not had diarrhea but have had looser stools than usual. I have had a colonoscopy recently as well as a vaginal ultrasound and everything came out fine. I also have uterine fibroids and have not had my period for 2 months. You are not put out deeply for the colonoscopy so you should not worry. It sounds like menopausal symptoms, good that you are checking everything out but join the club.
Susan

Your doctor is wrong, Gaudy. I have discussed this with my gastrointestinal doctor, and not only do hormones play a role in stomach distress, but as we get older we lose a lot of our enzymes that help us to digest foods, which causes pain and a lot of gas, of course. I too have your symptoms. I had a colonoscopy recently, and yet I still worry about all kinds of gastro-related things, like poop color, etc. (sorry to be so graphic). I think if we all relaxed, a lot of what we feel would go away. I know -- easier said than done, but I'm right there with you!

Thanks for all of your reassurances ladies. I don't know what I would do without all of my power surge friends. The dr's sure aren't comforting.

I had/have similar pain on my right side, that sent me to ER few times. One time the pain was so bad they had to put me on Morphine drip. They did ultrasound, blood tests- found nothing. Assumed I had severe IBS or stomach virus. My pain was not radiating to my back, but felt like I had acute appendicitis attack ( I still have mine intact) but no tests confirmed it. So to make the story short, I I asked for colonoscopy myself, even my GP said it was not warranted based on my tests. I went for it, and it showed healthy pink colon.
In your case, the left side pain can be IBS (pain+gas) or diverticulitis, which can be treated with antibiotics. Mine was just acute IBS, the pain was due to severe colon muscle spasm, which has been resolved as my body got adjusted to new low level of hormones.
I bet it is nothing more than low estrogen, this is what causes cramping and gas, colon is very sensitive to low estrogen/serotonin levels. If you are not losing weight, have blood in your stool, normal and regular bowel movements, I think it is hormonal. Stomach pain, gas and cramps are indeed directly related to hormonal changes, too bad doctors know nothing better than hot flushes. But I would investigate further, just to stop thinking about it.
Get a colonoscopy done, it will put your mind to ease. It is not bad, trust me, this is what is called conscious sedation. The preparation is really hard, still gives me shivers when I think about Phospho soda and spending entire night on the toilet, but procedure itself is not big deal. I had it combined with upper GI endoscopy and it was just fine. At least, I no longer get panic attack every time I am bloated and gassy. Interesting how powerful mind over body can be. Once I had colonoscopy, the pain stopped for 2 years now. Or may be they "straightened" the "Charlie horse" in my colon, LOL.
HTH, good luck.
I.

dear gaudygal :
i have 2 tell u . i have posted my year long symptoms and no one has had what i have . believe me u r not bad even though iam sure it doesn ' t feel that way 2 u . relax and do not let the drs make u crazy . now 2 make u feel better here is waht i experience . right at the base of my esophegus near the diaphram i have a razor ripping my guts out sensation along with twisting , burning , sloshing like when water comes out of a water machine , also spasming of the gut up and down totally involantary , then it spreads up 2 my chest which tightens like a heart attack 2 me although praise god i have never had one . iam 49 and this goes on 24 /7 never lets up and meds do nothing i have had so many gastro test all great no problem , so u tell me what is in there causing me this horrible pain . hope u feel better .

mookiehantamom@yahoo.com

oh my goodness, it sounds like you really have been suffering. I really feel for you. I also feel like my ribcage is on fire, and am now experiencing the skipped heartbeats along with it. I sometimes feel like this cannot be hormonal. IT is too horrible. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Gaudy

mookiehantamom,
I can second your symptoms, it is me 4 years back. I was in enormous pain, heartburn, lower ribs on fire, chest spasms, burning, trips to ER, you name it, I had it all. All these symptoms hit me like a brick wall, all of a sudden, before I never had any digestive problems. After suffering for 2 years, it stopped as sudden as started. I know that 1st major estrogen drop cause it, so once it sort of leveled out, it all became better.
I too had all possible tests, and still get chest tightness and all kind of scary symptoms but it is all anxiety, and muscle tension, internal and external. I recently got cardiac scan test ( to check arterial plaque) and my score was 0.
It is good to get yourself tested to out rule all possible issues, but otherwise, it does gets better. Now, at 50, I still have my period, and except ovulation and premenstrual anxiety, I feel fine. No longer I go to ER and spend sleepless nights because of abdominal pain, heartburn, and racing thoughts that I am having heart attack.
hugs and HTH

Chlo
I too have your symptoms - pain on left side of abdomen stretching from below left rib right down and radiating round my back. I have awful gas and bloating tho like you no bowel symptoms. I too am waiting to see a specialist but I wonder is this all caused by hormones? I have had this for months with no sign of it easing. Iam 53 and havent had a period since last October. I worry about it constantly and like you feel a real mess, though it helps to hear that someone else is experiencing the same thing.

I've had IBS for many years now and it's been really bad for a month ever since I had a Lithotripsy to pulverize a large kidney stone. I don't know if it's b/c of the antibiotic they put in my IV, or it's stress. Every time I eat, I get pains in my stomach and have alternating constipation and diarrhea. It's a horrible way to live; being afraid to eat and afraid to leave the house b/c I might need to find a bathroom pronto b/c of diarrhea. I'm 57 and post menopausal. I've had gas pains anywhere from under my ribs to the midriff area, especially around my navel and lower abdomen. I even had it in my back a couple of weeks ago. I'm hoping that it was b/c of the air they pumped into me during the surgery that's giving me so much gas. If it doesn't get better, I'll have to have another Colonoscopy. I had one 8 years ago. We're all in the same boat.

Can I join the club? I've had IBS all my life, but it goes up and down, in and out. Right now, it's very bad. Related I think to a couple of things...stress over my life situation, plus my estrogen levels are low. I had a colonoscopy last year and it was perfect. Yet every single time I eat, I get sick. Nausea, gas pains, cramping so bad I cry. I can't even eat jello. I keep wondering if I have stomach cancer or something horrible like that, but I know in my heart it's just more meno stuff. Doctors are unbelievably ill-informed about menopause. My heart goes out to you...here's some of the things I use to help me relieve my symptoms. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but here goes;

1. Spearmint or Peppermint tea. Sipped very slowly.
2. Hot baths
3. Heating pad on my tummy
4. Laying ON my stomach
5. Getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth.
6. Wearing loose fitting clothing, especially around the waist and stomach
7. Eating very small amounts--no more than the palm of your hand at any one sitting
8. Avoiding all spicy foods and anything acidic, which includes all alcohol, coffee, tomatoes, citrus fruits, etc.
9. Pepto Bismol (although it will make your stools turn black so don't let this freak you out)
10. Ginger ale

Hope I helped some!

R.

GaudyGal: I hope you find some resolution to your uncomfortable and worrisome issues. From what everyone says, these certainly can be symptoms of peri. Also remember that anxiety can increase pain/discomfort, so try to relax.

Just my two cents:
You should tell that doctor off but good for making such an out and out blunt and frightening statement! That only makes an already worried person even MORE worried. He could ask questions, discuss things, order tests, be cautious, etc. but to say it like that - there's no excuse for such insensitivity.

Best wishes.

Hi everyone,
I am sitting here all alone on Labor day, perhaps just as well as I am miserable. I have just read these posts and feel a wee bit more reassured but am still panicking. My gastric woes started a week ago (but have had similiar bouts before) when I had a yummy Indian meal. I usually eat high fiber but after this meal, my bowels went into overdrive. i tried to calm things down so i took a probiotic and took a few Activia yogurts over the last few days. my BMs are urgent but I have had that issue for a while --its the bloat, the painful gas and the nausea. I feel dreadful and I am in a state of panic. I have lower pelvic pain and am now consumed with fear.
By coincidence i am having a pelvic ultrasound on Wednesday but am convinced i have ovarian cancer , runs in the family) . i think I am losing it and its mostly due to having a small child and not wanting to leave her. My stomach is distended and feels like i have a tennis ball in there. Sometimes i feel a bit of rectal pressure too.
I am on no meds, just vits and evening primrose oil but if this gets worse I can see Xanax in my future. I feel almost unable to function due to a combination of fear and the abdominal discomfort.This ultrasound should hopefully put me at ease (God willing) but I would love to feel some love from someone right now who understands as my hubbie is not remotely interested in hearing about womens issues
next week, my yoga classes resume but meantime I just keep chugging down Bachs Rescue remedy!
I am not nutty, I am just in "peri-mentalpause"
Thanks for listening,
Nuttylady

I don't know what morning sickness feels like, my son was adopted, but I will tell you my stomach is always messed up now and I know its hormonal. Sometimes runny, sometimes stopped up, no more eating whatever I feel like. Smoothies for breakfast, and little meals or else boy does my tummy feel bad. There are some days, that I too am laying with the heating pad. Yoga is helping a little. I hope the stomach destress goes away soon!!!
Vanessa