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[lozleigh]

Hello,

I am new here - what a relief to find this fourm. For the past 2 years I have suffered terribly on and off with IBS flare ups. I have had mild IBS all my life but recently the flare ups are starting to last months, and are increasing in intensity and time. I am 48 and have recently begun to wonder if this is menopause related. Having read a number of postings here about IBS and meno I think this is definitely my problem. So I am off to the doctors tomorrow to ask for HRT. Please can anyone recommend what I should be asking for - patch versus tablets and any particular brand they have used to help with IBS.

Other things I want advice on - does any of this sound familiar?

Tiredness - I am physically exhausted at the end of the day
Forgetfulness - memory, never great, now shockingly bad
Pins and needles in hands at night
Palpitations and anxiety in the shower each morning

Plus all the IBS symptoms: pain, nausea, gurgling stomach and so sooo bloated I look pregnant.

Please can you advise? I feel very emotional and scared about all this. i don't have the classic hot flushes (yet) but don't want to be brushed off by the doctor as not needing some help.

TIA x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM
The menopause can effect so much - you haven't told us what is going on with your periods?

IBS can also be caused by so many things i.e. stress, food sensitivities, etc. And when meno hits these things can certainly become an issue.

If you aren't getting flushes or other meno symptoms you may find your GP won't necessarily rush to offer HRT and some women find that HRT in pill form can upset the stomach. Unfortunately hrt patches only come in medium dose and I wouldn't recommend starting at this level.
If possible, a regime of low dose oestrogen as patch or gel with progesterone as pills ( possibly Utrogestan, which you could use vaginally) would be a good option , however GPs are rarely familiar with this type of HRT so you may need to get a referral to a menopause clinic to get more specialist advice.
I assume you follow a specific diet and eat small meals regularly? Do you get regular exercise eg brisk walking for 10 minutes three times a day, every day ?
Supplementing with Vitamin D and magnesium might really help with fatigue and palpitations.

Hrt might help but it won't fix everything and it's very important to improve our lifestyle at this time in our lives.

Discuss your options with the GP - do write down all your symptoms and questions and print things off from this site to help the appointment to go well.
Good luck. DG x

[Kathleen]

Hello lozleigh and welcome to the forum.


All your symptoms can be menopause related and will be familiar to many ladies on this forum.

If I were you I would ask for HRT patches as they by pass the digestive system altogether. Another good alternative is an oestrogen gel that you rub on your thighs or arms everyday and this is used with a progesterone tablet called Utrogestan which is listed as micronised progesterone in the GP's formulary.

I hope you are able to get the help you need from your GP, many of us have not had the classic hot flushes but we were still suffering from a range of other menopausal symptoms.

Wishing you well and let us know how you get on.

K.

[CLKD]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be related to hormones, many ladies suffer during pregnancy for example.  One can get specific splints for night use.

We have a thread "doing stupid things" that may give you a giggle 

Anxiety is a problem for many of us at this time of Life.  Can be the waking up hormone, Cortisol, playing silly b**gers.  I have a beta-blocka to take at night which eases those surges which can start any time after 3.30 a.m. 

Eating regularly can help many symptoms.   

[Taz2]

Hi lozleigh. I agree that patch or gel HRT would be the best option for you but wonder if you have had these new type of IBS symptoms investigated? If not then I feel you should ask your GP for advice re possible food sensitivities (lots of us develop allergies as we go into meno) or other bowel related problems. It could be IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) rather than IBS and there could be treatments to help you. Please don't just leave it - my doc always says that it is too easy for women to blame everything onto menopause and it is always wise to get stuff checked out.

Let us know how you get on.

Taz x 

[Tempest]

Sorry to correct you again, DG - but HRT patches do come in a very low dose - the 25mcg Estradot and the next size up, 37.5mcg. xxxx

[Dancinggirl]

Tempest - I was talking about combined patches - not the oestrogen only patches. When advising ladies, one has to take into account that GPs are very rarely up to speed on the various HRT treatment options and suggesting women ask for oestrogen only patches with separate progesterone from the outset will often cause confusion, confrontation with the GP and upset.
If you had read my post carefully, I did mention ‘low dose oestrogen patch or gel with separate progesterone as a possible HRT regime option - so before your criticise and correct your fellow forum friends, I suggest you read through things properly.   I am certain I do not get things right every time but I do speak from a caring view point having had many years of menopausal problems and treatment.
If you have an issue please either personal message me or you can always report me if you feel my comments are damaging.

I do understand you wish to be precise but I take an holistic approach and try to put myself in someone's shoes when offering support. The menopause and the treatments are a minefield so I try to give simple, pragmatic advice that women who first visit this site can take on board, as this whole process can be quite daunting. DG

[lozleigh]

Thanks for your replies. Doctor tried to put me on anti-depressants and send me for CBT FFS! Having done substantial research into IBS and perimeno, I refused, and instead got referred to a gastro consultant. I also have an appointment with a specialist menopause doctor in 2 weeks. My IBS is not stress-related, I am convinced it's hormonal related, why oh why try to put me on antidepressants???

[thegregs52]

Make sure the doctor tests you for Hypothyroidism (under active Thyroid) as that gives the same symptoms as the menopause as that is what happened to my mum.  It is also a known cause of IBS as well.

[grumpy2008]

why oh why try to put me on antidepressants???

This happens to me pretty much every time I go to the GP with anything hormone/meno related. They just don't seem willing to get to the root of the problem.

Perhaps go back and ask for blood tests, to include thyroid and vit D. It's not uncommon to be vit D deficient (tiredness). I now take it D supplements and my B12 is being monitored, because that was low too. I hope you get some answers.

[PS I had terrible gut problems (including some IBS) in my late 40s, and after various prescriptions didn't work I tried acidophilus capsules and they helped a lot - but please follow the medical advice, this was just my personal experience]

[Toodle Pips]

Hi, I have had mild IBS for around 25 years now, but it has definitely got worse in the last few years. I have IBS D and these past two summers have been awful. For some reason it is worse when it is hot. Also I had to have a course of anti biotics last year and that really made things worse still.

Have you tried the low Fodmap diet? Lots of info around on it. I have started to take silicole gel, which tastes disgusting but does keep my stomach calm. And since I started taking it, only a week or so ago, I haven't had so many trips to the loo. And I have been able to have a slightly more varied diet.

I also have downloaded the headspace meditation app which has helped me stay calmer, which of course means less stress on my stomach.

I am just turned 54 and still have periods regularly, and my stomach does play up even more around period time. It always has done. But seems extra sensitive due to peri. I don't take HRT, because my father had a DVT around my age, and I am very wary of it happening to me.

I recently had blood tests for thyroids, hormone levels, b12 etc they all came back fine. The doctor said i am not even in peri! But at 54 with night sweats, insomnia and some anxiety issues, I know I am.