Does anyone else have IBS flare-ups? I’ve been going through menopause for 14 years and manage to keep things under control, but every few years I’ll get a flare-up. It eventually goes away after a couple of months and with the help of over-the-counter medication to manage symptoms. I’m wondering if this happens to anyone else and how you deal with it?
– Suzie, UK
Had IBS from childhood, but my bowel issues stem from my autoimmune disease Graves. I’m 58, well through change. Bowel inflammation can be caused through stress, poor diet – heal the gut your whole body feels well. I’ve also been diagnosed Coeliac disease too, gluten out of my diet since 3 yrs ago. Hormones can cause havoc & statistics show bladder, bowel & depression caused by low oestrogen. Hard on us women as we age. I have boosted my immune system with extra important vitamins I was lacking due to my health issues and thyroid problems & all stems from the gut…
Yes, IBS for five years now.
Change of diet helped (FODMAP) but still have bad flare ups when life is stressful. Bloating, cramps, loose stools and constipation.
It’s rare to have an IBS free month.
That’s me. I have a flare up like every week. I’m retired military and my post traumatic stress disorder from Afghanistan triggers my IBS a lot. I don’t take any meds to manage. Diet has been very helpful. I eat a variety of foods but I separate my starches from my proteins for better digestion. This is a tip I learned from a book called “Great Taste No Pain” by Sherry Brescia. It was recommended by my friend who is the sister of the author. It has fantastic recipes too.
I also do a lot to try to reduce stress like mindfulness and exercise. This helps my PTSD. Meditation and mantras are big hells for me.
Good luck everyone. Peri is a wild ride!
14 years? Oh… I’ve been peri since 2015, so I was hoping I am getting closer to actual menopause! Anyhoo…Yes, IBS has been a problem for me. I had a trying time with it last year and after many scans and trying many natural and medicinal options, the eventual saviour was antidepressants for anxiety. I’m curious as to what “over-the-counter” meds have worked for you, though? Regardless, all the best with your journey and may the “ride” end for you soon! ?
I have had IBS for years, I managed to calm it down and managed to cope with it. Since my periods have ceased I seem to be much better and don’t seem to be having as many attacks of IBS. Trying to cope with it I cut out various foods from my diet which seemed to help a lot. I have now started to reintroduce all food again. Cutting out the ones that give me IBS symptoms. I am gradually reintroducing all foods to my diet. It takes a while but I am getting there. Totally cutting out the foods that give me symptoms. (There aren’t many that I cannot now eat)
Omg yes! I never had it before the menopause, now I eat certain things and boom.
I’m vegan and I’ve found eating a ketogenic diet really helps. I was in agony. I love bread, but it’s a small price to pay!
Oh that sounds interesting – where is the best advice for a vegan ketogenic diet?
Same here! IF/Keto changed my menopausal quality of life (and stomach ;).
I take Celexa Snd Clonazapam daily. It has made a huge difference, but I was diagnosed GAD as a teen, so this is just part of me.
In general, I would say to everyone suffering with tummy troubles – try a pre and probiotic like Lepicol. My latest find has been probiotic cranberries . Keep trying – we all have our own individual solution.
PS keep a cat, dog or small child handy so that you can blame all weird noises and smells on them…
Thats really interesting – i have had IBS (or very similar) for the past 2 years. Foods I’ve never had a problem with made me extremely unwell. I’ve been following the FODMAP diet, which has helped a lot, though i tended to get episodes if I eat a little too much of a frw food groups. Weirdly, I’m almost back to normal (more or less since lockdown). Just hoping it doesn’t come back. It had crossed my mind that it might be hormonal/menopausal. I have also become intolerant to NSAIDs since the menopause which manifests as Chronic Urticaria. I haven’t had an episode for about 18 months which was triggered by HRT patches.
Same here. Although when the IBS started I wasn’t aware of peri (or perhaps ignoring the signs 🙂 ). Doctor prescribes Buscopan for me and that helps but still get flare ups – usually when I’m due to start my period even if it doesn’t actually happen until weeks/months later. Just recently I eliminated white and wholemeal bread and that’s helped enormously, could be worth a try. Good luck.
I’ve had quite regular bouts of gut issue flare ups in the last few months and not really sure what all the causes are. I’m coeliac and so have to acknowledge with 3 omnihungry, messy, non-coeliac teens in the house, chances of me being accidentally glutened from time to time are high. Especially with them all home all the time atm.
But, I’m seriously starting to wonder if the HRT I started about 6 weeks ago, is making me horribly constipated? Has anyone else has had this as a side effect of HRT?
Honestly! The HRT has been amazing at improving my mood, energy levels and lifting the awful brain fog, which was beginning to feel like I had dementia. I no longer feel extreme rage at everyone over things I’d normally shrug off. But the constipation!! OMG!!! I seriously don’t know how much longer I can cope with it for! And nothing helps! Not exercise, increased dietary fibre, increased water…. I fear I may implode!!
Why oh why wasn’t I born a man?
Get all your blood tested including thyroid. I have Graves’ disease, rage, and brain fog, some is hormones but what you’re saying was me 6 yrs ago bouts constipation then flare up of the runs, lost a lot of weight, became very ill, had overactive thyroid autoimmune disease Graves, massive goitre growing in my neck, bulging staring eyes, had bowel issues since gallbladder surgery, now use bowel pump to wash out daily. Also found I had intolerance of dairy & gluten makes me ill, gf for 3 yrs, dairy free for 5 yrs.
I’ve been on HRT for 7 weeks and it’s made such a difference. But I’ve had terrible pain in my upper abdomen, where my gall bladder should be (it was removed a few years ago). Breakfast moves through me very quickly, then the rest of the day my tummy hurts. Does anyone else recognise this?
For constipation you can try prune juice, it’s supposed to help.
As for being born a man, nah… wouldn’t want that despite everything.
I have Crohn’s and that keeps flaring up. I also get IDS depending on what I eat. I find that stress makes them both worse.
Hi Suzie… I’ve had a really horrible 12 months with IBS, gut issues. So much so that my consultant thought I had Crohns. I had MRI and CT scans and other tests and everything was fine which was reassuring. However I’ve kept losing weight but this is also down to not eating when the pain gets too bad and waiting for things to calm down. I’ve followed a gluten free diet for years now as gluten has always affected my stomach and my dad is coeliac. I also have to be really careful with lots of other foods but mainly since peri menopause symptoms increased. One thing I rely on is a drink you can buy called Huel, it is full of nutrients etc so when I’m having a bad day I try to at least have a Huel drink. I can only tolerate the vanilla one though as chocolate irritates my stomach too. You can usually buy them from Sainsbury as a ready made drink or you can buy direct from Huel. I really hope it settles down soon for you it really isn’t nice on top of everything else. I usually also take Buscopan as soon as I feel the pain starting. If I let it get out of hand and wait hoping it might settle itself I find the Buscopan don’t work the same. My consultant said to take them as soon as the pain starts. Take good care.
I also for a long time thought I had to cut out all foods that I thought were causing my flare ups. But after reading the book “Great Taste No Pain” by Sherry Brescia and learning to separate my proteins and starches, I’m eating foods I cut out for years without trouble.
Good luck.
Yes I’ve just started in the last 6 months to have IBS symptoms. I have been working my way through peri menopause and I’m now in menopause. Couldn’t understand what was setting my stomach off
Check that there is no Lime Disease. Or parasites. Do a gentle detox. Support the Liver with digestive enzymes and bile salts.
Need D Mannose. The bad bugs/ bacteria has little ‘legs’ that attach to the bladder and are not expelled through the urine. D Mannose or cranberries unswweetened stop the attachment and pass out in the urine. Otherwise the bacteria/bugs get recycled. Probably explains why cyclical nature of problems. Good luck.
My whole adult like was IBS, then my youngest sister was diagnosed with Celiac. Low and behold all of my parents children (4 daughters) have celiac! My son also had tested positive. The only time I experience IBS now is if I was anxious.
Anxiety and diet are huge triggers for my ibs. I stick to the “fodmap” diet when I have flares. Meds to manage my mental health, along with CBD have been instrumental in having a “normal” tummy!
I feel like I’ve had IBS my whole life, although not sure if getting more flare ups now due to perimenopause/menopause or Covid related anxiety….
Hi I’ve been diagnosed with IBS a few years ago, on meds. Mostly ok, but now and again I get stomach cramps, diarrhoea. Can be annoying
I have had terrible IBS for the last 9 months my doctor and I have tried everything I am also in the middle of menopausal which I believe as started this off and stress is also involved
Not much is said about this in the uk
Hi yes IBS was my first peri symptom. It took me years to address it and i finally found that cutting out all meat and processed food from my diet helped. I know eat a pescatarian diet. I so find if I have dairy, alcohol or a sugary snack it will come back but at least when it does I know what caused it
Hi, my name is Tanya, and I’ve had IBSC for at least 20 years. I try to get exercise in daily, as well as taking several stool softners and I use a prescription medication called Linzess I should take daily, but with my schedule I take it 3 x’s a week ! and since I don’t want to have an accident in public I follow my schedule and only take the Linzess at home ?
I have had terrible
IBS for many years but I am turning 49 in about a week and now seem to have clear stretchy mucous like I am ovulating during my period and after and randomly. Which seems to be triggering more IBS symptoms – does anyone else have this? Is it normal during perimenopause?
Yes. Just recently was able to piece together that my IBS symptoms started at the same time I was beginning to go through peri menopause and that was five years ago. I had a flareup a few days ago and it was the worst flare up I’ve ever had to date. The day before I noted irritability, slight mood swings and the next day after flare up full on peri menopausal symptoms – heat flashes and insomnia and skin dryness are the most intense ones for me so far.
It’s a journey and having a space to help me figure out what’s going on with my body how to manage it to have people who are going through the same thing is so comforting. Thank you.