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[Shellyjayne]

Wondered if any ladies had any experience of digestive issues being resolved or helped by using hrt. I am 63 and post menopause by 11 years on Vagifem only. Sailed through menopause around 52 age but since turning 60 horrible va and digestive issues kicked in. I have the va under control now - thank goodness but the digestive problems are ongoing, have weeks of acid and ibs type symptoms. Had been on lanzoprazole for about 2+ years but have come off it three weeks ago as don’t like taking things long term. Although appreciate Vagifem is for life. I know we have receptors everywhere including our stomachs and wondered if any ladies had had their stomach issues resolved by going on full hrt.
I still get sweats during the night and early morning aniexty sometimes, not great sleeping sometimes too along with stomach issues. Have had lots of scans and bloods as nurse practitioner wanted to rule out thyroid as she didnt think this was down to menopause as it had been so long ago. These came back clear.
Do you think hrt will help me or is it too late.
Thank you for reading.

[CLKD]

Morning.

Sweats etc. can continue for years.  Early morning anxiety can be problematic.

As oestrogen levels drop off muscles may become lax = aches and pains as well as affecting the digestive tract. It is common in peri to develop hiatus hernia which increases reflux, indigestion-type symptoms.

Did the Lanzoparzolol help?  I found Milk of Magnesia liquid effective as well as 'Rennies'.  I take Lanzoprazolol for the irritating clearing-of-throat cough. 

I don't know of a specific HRT that would tackle digestive problems.  Perhaps someone will be along later.

Browse round. 

[Dotty]

Hi yes HRT should help with your problems and you’re not too old to take hrt x

[Taz2]

I agree that HRT may help. Also, I found that my bowel problems (IBS urgency) were made much worse due to low VitaminD so its worth making sure this was checked during your blood tests. I had no idea that Vitamin D affected digestion.

Did you come off the lanzaprazole gradually as the rebound effects of stopping can be quite severe?

Taz x

[Shellyjayne]

Thank you ladies
No I didn’t I just stopped the lanzoprazole but as I am now three weeks down the line I don’t really want to go back on them and just controlling it with gaviscon advanced when I need to.
Vista in D was ok I believe.

Had an endoscopy and was told all ok, so presume no HH, sometimes the doctors Andy consultants just look at you gone out when describing symptoms.

I must admit I am a little tempted to try hrt but really nervous about it, if indeed they will let me go on it.
So grateful to you all for bothering to reply, it’s such a comfort.

[Mary G]

Shellyjayne, problems with digestion, IBS etc come up on here all the time so rest assured, it's very common and it is connected to menopause.  I had a consultation just over a year ago with a gastroenterologist who explained how hormones/menopause affect the gut.

It's complicated I'm afraid.  In my case it was connected to low/poor circulation of serotonin and silent migraines but very often IBS and digestion get worse post menopause.   If you search for menopause and digestion you will find a lot of helpful info out there.

Bile acid diarrhoea is also quite common.

I'm 61, 15 years post menopause and using low dose, continuous combined HRT with 50mg amitriptyline (an antidepressant) every day for migraine prevention and it's working very well.   Amitriptyline also works well for pain relief, IBS and digestion issues so it's multi pronged medication.

If you are sweating as night you need HRT so I would start with that and then add in further medication if needed.   So it's a question of which type of HRT to try and I would say definitely transdermal and preferably Oestrogel.

I hope that helps.

[Shellyjayne]

Thank you so much Mary.  I hope they let me try hrt. These digestive problems are taking over my life at the moment.
So glad you have found relief though. It’s great to hear positive outcomes.

[plum 54]

 A somewhat belated reply but I have found that my digestive issues have definitely got worse since being post meno. I am now 61yrs and had last period at 54yrs. I know that I have a HH as have had it for decades; possibly since birth but it has never really caused any issues until now.  What has really helped my digestion is taking Digestive Enzymes when I have my main meal. I learnt about these from watching Dr Berg on Youtube. He has quite a few videos on digestion/acid reflux/HH etc. and seems to talk a lot of sense so may be worth a look.  As we age the level of acid decreases (apparently) so by taking acid reducing medication we are making the problem worse. This is just what I have read as I am definitely not medically trained! I hope you find some relief soon.

[Shellyjayne]

Thank you plum 54.
I had a endoscopy as I thought I had a HH but gastro doc said everything was ok. I will def look at Dr Berg on YouTube.
Hope your HH settles down.
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