Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: pants46 on March 13, 2019, 08:20:00 PM
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Hey. I'm really struggling with stomach issues. My stomach is really bad. I have pain under my ribs on my right side and have had multiple bowel movements, particularly in the morning. Some times regular diarrhoea, sometimes soft stools in orange liquid (sorry).
This has been going on since Friday. I am really struggling to eat anything. Having to force myself to eat a banana for breakfast, soup for lunch. But tonight I could only manage 2 small mouthfuls of chicken. Last night I got through half a jacket potato before I had to stop.
I havent drunk any coffee or tea for well over a week. I havent had any dairy at all today. The pain under my ribs was slightly better today, until about 6pm, when it felt like my stomach was eating itself.
I had one ovary removed 6 weeks ago, and am having some peri symptoms.
I started on Sertraline 3 days ago.
I don't have a gallbladder any more. Or an appendix.
I was diagnosed with IBS 2 years ago. Cut all wheat out of my diet and have not had a major problem since.
Until now. Same symptoms, except the lack of appetite.
Am exhausted. And fed up with it all. Don't want to take codeine for the pain, even though I know it will help with the toilet issues too, because I've just started on the Setraline, and I don't want to mix things up.
Anybody got any ideas?
Thanks.
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Wind? Have you tried an antacid? Can you move your shoulders round gently to move wind which can get caught under that area. Your gut could be hungry/empty.
You have cut out coffee and tea which may impact on the bowels. As can medications.
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Sertraline did that to me,3 days in and I was soooo ill
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CLKD, thanks for tbe quick response.
It doesnt feel like gas, I've been drinking chamomile tea today, and that is good for shifting wind, isnt it?
The pain started before taking the Sertraline. Although that may have made my loss of appetite worse.
I do think my tummy is quite empty. But I just can't force down any food.
:( I've never really been unable to eat before !!!
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Jaypo - stomach pain or diahhorea or loss of appetite, or all of the above ?
How did you get through it ?
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SSRI antidepressants are known to cause digestive upset especially during the initial few weeks. Have you checked the patient info leaflet to see if it's mentioned.
Taz X :bighug:
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Sorry pants, I didn't & had to stop taking them,I'm too much of a wimp.ive also a wheat allergy but other things can set my gut off,last weekend I was ill for 3 days,just back and forth to the loo,pains in gut, I put it down to something I ate that didn't agree with me, I was diagnosed with ibs 25 years ago but I tend to think it's food,I've an appointment at the immunology clinic soon,so they're testing me for more foods.try not to worry as you'll only make it worse,easier said than done I know x
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Taz2 - I did read the info. Gave me anxiety for 2 days. Was so sick over the weekend. Thats when the pain started. I just had to make a decision to go for it on Monday morning. Because I really need to deal with my anxiety. But with the pain and the loss of appetite, I'm struggling with energy levels. Feel weak and wobbly. I've lost 5 pounds in 5 days. Not that I'm going to waste away. But that can't be good for me. Im going to try and eat some grapes. I've got a really dry mouth, the chicken is going in the bin. :'(
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I lost over half a stone in under 2 weeks down to anxiety,it really can cause a hundred other symptoms
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I just want to feel ok again.
And be able to work. I only started this job in October and I feel like they bought a lemon !!
I've done absolutely nothing in the last 3 days. And didn't do all that much last week. I'm getting worried that I'll be found out. And get sacked.
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If you can ride through the effects of the sertraline you will hopefully start feeling ok,other ladies on here swear by it but I just couldn't cope with it,there's a LOT of women on here including me that have been where you are right now,you'll get there,just keep fighting
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Oh also mebeverine,is great for gut spasms,think the other name is colofac, I take it 3 times a day before food.
I've heard of kefir milk,how does it help hummdinger?
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I'll definitely give it a go,thanks xx
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So I thought I'd give you an update. I took some bog standard probiotics last night. They have helped already. This morning's toilet visit was less dramatic !! And I've been in less pain today. It's still there, pinching under my ribs, but less so.
I didn't sleep well last night. And my back hurts. I think because I took the memory foam mattress topper off my bed yesterday. To stop me getting hot in the night and waking up. But I couldnt get comfortable.
One step forward, one step backwards!!
My wrists and knees hurt too. But I gather that is pretty normal.
How is everyone else this evening ?
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Brilliant pants 😂 you're gonna have to change your name😆
Small steps girl,don't you have a fan by your bed? I couldn't live without mine,you also get those cooling pillows,think I'll try one for summer
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Hey Jaypo.
I do have a fan by my bed. Its been there for years, for the white noise.
But I've been getting chills. So I go to bed with 2 hotwater bottles down one side and the fan going on the other. Trying to cover all eventualities :)
But have been waking up at 5am every morning for about 4 weeks (2 weeks post surgery). Am not sweaty. But I guessed I was getting too hot. Even though the hot water bottles arent hot any more.
Will try without the mattress topper afain tonight. If I still can't get comfortable, it can go back on tomorrow.
As you say ... baby steps. And trial and error.
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Ha, I need the noise from the fan too,just can't sleep without it,terrible isn't it.what a bunch we are,I switch my electric blanket on before I get washed as I'm usually cold before bedtime but by the time I've got washed etc I'm having a hot flush and bed too hot,there's no winning is there🙄
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I don't need my fan anymore, no hot sweats anymore, but I can't sleep without it.
It far too quiet without it on.....strange, because, years ago, I couldn't stand any noise at all when trying to sleep. Funny how things change...
Our mattress topper done more harm than good for our backs....ours is off permanently now....xxx
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So latest update - 1 week on from my first post ...
I did a proper poo on Saturday ... yey !! TMI possibly. But it was an important moment. Poops have remained proper since, although I still had the pain under my ribs. I think that was a rwzult of the probiotics.
Yesterday I did EFT (emotional freedom technique) and today the pain is gone. But I realised about mid morning that I didn't eat any apples yesterday. Previously I had been eating 1 or 2 a day, because it was the only think I could stomach whilst on the setraline.
So tonight I'm going to be tapping again. I'm going to keep taking probiotics (2 a day for now) and research which are the best for long term gut health. And I'm not going to eat any more apples !!
Thanks for all your support.
I'm going to post seperately about the sertraline, because I hijacked someone else's post a few days ago !!
Best. xx
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It really is trial and error,our gut is such a complex thing,my daughter has an ibd so we talk poop a lot 😳😂
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Apples are acidic. I can't be bothered to chew them. Oranges too. I can't stomach those but grapefruit don't give prolbems - however, due to statins I'm not allowed those >:(
Keep up with the probiotics. Once the bowel becomes regular any trapped wind which may have caused bruising under the rib-cage will ease. Today I had a fast exit and felt quite queasy for about 20 mins. after but my belly felt less 'full'. As my husband reminds me 'fart Girl, fart' ;D
As for toppers: when they were first in the news his mother bought one - we couldn't abide sleeping on it. Too hot. Smelly. Not at all comfortable. Why would one want a memory mattress anyway :-\ - might just as well fill a palliase with straw ;)
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I've started the probiotic drinks now too clkd
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Actimel - several pots a day.
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Yep,it's actimel,they taste nice too,there was another lady on here who recommended kefir?have you heard of that? I saw it in Tesco today,either a drink or yogurt
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YUK! don't fancy it :-X but it is supposedly good for the gut. I think that it's the colour :o
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Yep,it's actimel,they taste nice too,there was another lady on here who recommended kefir?have you heard of that? I saw it in Tesco today,either a drink or yogurt
I drink half a glass of kefir most days, so it could have been me who mentioned it! It's a sort of yogurty drink but fermented. Very good for the innards. I understand it makes a palatable smoothie with a banana for those who don't like it neat.
CLKD, the colour of kefir is white! Why would that be off-putting?
JP x
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Oh maybe it was you JP,it's quite expensive,do you know what the difference is between it and actimel'the yogurt is 0% fat and I think 0% sugar
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Oh thanks hummdinger,sorry, I couldn't remember 🤪🤪
Do you think the yogurt would be just as good?
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Yes I just read the link,thank you,I'd love to try and make it myself,seems pretty easy...........she says 😆
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That which I have looked at were green :o :-X
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Hi Humdinger - thank you so much for your post on Kefir. I mentioned it to a friend who suffers badly with IBS and in the short time that she's been taking it she is already experiencing great relief. Apparently it was tested against others of a similar nature on the Michael Mosley, Trust Me,I'm a Doctor series and came out tops!
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I bought the yogurt today 😊
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I've put myself back on Actimal Live yogurt.
I tried the kefir ones, but the bits in it I found hard to swallow,
My stomachs been bad for a while now, and I've started eliminating foods, and thankfully
it's settled down a lot now, plus the yogurt has helped, I think...
I buy the kefir milkshake, when I can get some, that's not too bad....x
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I drink actimel too,flippin stomach,I remember when I used to be normal
Shut it Jill 😆