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[MINNIE]

Afternoon ladies.

 I would love to personally message some of the postees who know about IBS but am not upto my 100 yet, so, are we still under the impression that at some point the menopause symptoms will run their course, whether it is 5, 10 or whatever years? I am still not clear if we will have some weirdness for the rest of our lives unless we take HRT to the grave!

 The reason I ask is, my worst symptom is digestive disruption that actually causes the other symptoms to be more acute, only arrived with the menopause and is not cured by ANYTHING at the moment, not even HRT or dietary selection, it is really affecting my work, with levels of concentration and enthusiasm for anything, I know that digestion is causing these symptoms, as I can feel my stomach churning, gurgling and letting me know that I need to rush to the loo, when actually I don't!!

 I have had a rubbish morning, and am actually now wondering if I should call it a day at work but if I knew that there is hope, either through medication or a natural end to the menopause, I would grit my teeth and hang on, and even if the other symptoms go away, eventually, is the digestive system now wrecked?

 I have an appointment to see my GP again in two weeks, and would like to arrange a referral to a consultant, but should it be a meno specialist or a gastro specialist, bearing in mind that there is no cure!

Please help, utterly fed up today!

MINNIE. XX

[honeybun]

Hi Minnie

Can I ask what kind of IBS you have. Is it the C kind or the D kind. I have the D kind and I manage to control it through herbal drops. The drops that I use are called Tormentil. They really stop the churning and gurgling. My stomach sounded like a washing machine and was so embarrassing especially in places like the dentist. These drops also stop the frantic trips to the loo in the morning and after lunch and dinner.

Hope this may help.

Honeyb
x

[MINNIE]

Hi honeybun again.

 Well, I don't know what type I have, as I haven't been to see anyone, other than a colorectal consultant who carried out an 'oscopy but told me nothing about the condition, they seem to not be interested when they know it is hormone related! All I know is that I have rolling, gurgling, squeezing, a feeling of loose bowels, twitching in the bottom etc......... but no diarrhoea, just a little constipation, I don't get cramping either, thank God! The peri area feels sore, and when the digestion is at it's most disruptive, seems to irritate the vagina, even though I use Vagifem and it is not dry! Probably I don't have classic IBS, just hormone deficient digestive disorder, caused by anxiety etc.. All I want to know is, will it ever get better? !!!

Sob. MINNIE XXX

[honeybun]

Hi Minnie

You can use the herbal drops as an anti spasmodic and it may help the discomfort that you have.

Lots of meno ladies get gastric problems and I like you hope they will go away when this meno lark is over. The best you can do at the moment is learn to manage it through diet or alternative medicines and of course the GP can prescribe. Buscopan which you can buy over the counter is quite good at calming the gut.

Someone else will be along with some ideas that may help.

Honeyb
x

[Joyce]

Minnie my problem is different from yours as mine is a food intolerance problem.  When I've inadvertently had any dairy produce it takes about 2/3 days for it to hit me.  But in my case it's more a case of run for nearest loo asap! (See my post on A near miss) But I've known it to knock the stuffing right out of me, where all I want to be is at home, wrapped up cosy.

I used to work with a girl though who suffered terribly with IBS.  She would be doubled up in agony for days immediately after eating something which disagreed with her.  On many an occasion she had to go home from work, until her gut settled.  If it wasn't her IBS that made her cranky it was PMT.  She really had a rough time with it.

GP should keep you right as far as who you really need to see.  He/she may even try a few things first to see if it helps.

Hope you get some relief soon though!

[MINNIE]

Thank you ladies for your prompt replies!

 Not hopeful for a cure, as had it for over a year now. I am on low dose HRT since February this year, but I think it is barely going to scratch the surface, and I have a very nice, but unsavvy HRT GP, who won't change it! Wonder if a dietician would be able to help as well?

Thank you.

MINNIE XXX

[Bette]

Hi Minnie
I'm not sure where you live but "the" guy to see re IBS seems to be Prof Peter Whorwell at the South Manchester Functional Bowel Centre:-
http://ibs-care.org/
Bette x

[MINNIE]

Bette, knew you would come through, I was going to message you but I can't yet, nearly there though! You gave me loadsa of information ages ago and I did read all the information, the trouble I have, is that it is not classic IBS, more like digestive inflammation, do you think they would still be able to see me, Manchester is about two and a half away, a small price to pay for advice and, maybe help!

MINNIE XX

[CLKD]

Give them a ring, you may get a consult over the 'phone initially?

My IBS was caused by being anorexic-type from aged 3 - by the 1990s my gut spasm had all but stopped so I was unable to eat even when hungry because nothing was being passed.     My GP gave me Motillium and something else (name escapes me) which helped within 48 hours and after 3 weeks I was a different Girl. Saved my Life actually ..........

Since I have had to notice what does/not upset me.  Baked beans  ........ not eating regularly .......... fortunately i don't have spasm often but do get the need to 'run to the loo' even if when i get there nothing happens  .......... usually co-incides with an event which raises anxiety levels

Whoops T is served 

[meno lesley]

Hi Minnie

When all my meno symptoms kicked off my stomach was all over the show. It felt like my system was on the go all the time. I had a camera down and up which showed absolutely nothing. I cringe when I think of the camera that was put down my throat as walked into the theatre and thought the nurse said to sit on this chair that was fairly high. So up I climbed to which the sniggering nurse said "I asked you to take your dressing down off not get on the chair". As if this wasn't enough I then climbed on to the bed and I thought the specialist was asking me about where i had been on holiday to which I answered Croatia and then realised he was asking the nurse! Was a nervous wreck at the end of it all.

Although some symptoms linger on my stomach for the best part seems to have settled most of the time. I do think hormones has such a lot to do with it.

Lesley x

[Bette]

I'm sure that it would be worth contacting them, Minnie. I expect that a lot of their work is actually diagnosing whether someone has IBS to start with and it looks like people go there from all over the country.
Bette x

[Firewalker50]

HI Minnie.  If it is any encouragement, I had IBS for ages before it was widely recognised.  Not sure what type it would be defined as.  Spasms, pain and feeling of bruising for days.  Sex was impossible.  Could not sit down.  They nearly gave me a hysterctomy and they sent me to a psycho sexual counsellor who examined me and worked out it was either bowel in spasm or spastic bowel.  somehow, knowing that helped it get better.  I avoided certain diet and it more or less resolved itself, only recurring occasionally over the years - and I could pinpoint what was causing it.

I have unpredictable bowels now.  I don't label it as IBS now.  I know that caffeine irritates it and so I take coffee consciously.  But caffeine is in many things.

I can go from normal to explosive (sorry TMI) and have to be at a loo immediately.
I worry less about it now because I know it is something I have eaten or drank but cannot work out what.

When I have extreme stress (like when my marriage broke up, my company was closing down and I had a lump in my breast all at once) then it goes for my stomach and reproductive system and I suffer the most extreme pain and feeling that my insides are falling out.   I have collapsed with it.   I have learned it is emotional and it will pass.

My daughter has IBS with wheat.

I know it is not the same as yours.  Just letting you know that there are sometimes different reasons.
Candida can also be a cause of or contribute to the gurgling and gases.

Perhaps the tincture HB uses would help you too.   Good luck.

Fx

[pj44]

I have had IBS for as long as i can remember. I have terrible pain with it. i have to do the breathing exercises that i was told to do when in labour the pain is that bad.  My IBS is far worse now that i am in permenopause and its upsetting as i am scared to be far away from the house as im never sure if i am going to have the runs, But i have to say most of the time its just wind. One day last week i only just made it home and that was agony trying to walk and get home, i was nearly having a panic attack as i was so frightend i would not make it home.  I am taking iron tablets at the moment they are making it much worse as well. I eat fruit to try and help me to go to the toilet but then the fruit makes the IBS worse.

[Bette]

Have you tried Fybogel, pj44? My constipation is finally under control now that I take that.
Bette x

[pj44]

No sorry bette i'm sure you mentioned it to me before. Can you buy it over the counter from the chemist?