Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Afternoontea on September 14, 2021, 05:58:56 PM
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I’ve had IBS since I was 26 and over the years I had good and bad weeks with it but it was never daily.
However, since hitting my mid 40’s (I am now 48) my digestive systems gives me grief virtually every day. I have regular bloating, a very noisy gut with gurgling and growling, I get acid, I suffer awful, awful nausea, burping non stop sometimes (today I burped on/off from 8am-2pm), alternative between constipation and looser and lots of farting in the evenings. I feel,like a huge bag of grumbling gas.
In 2019 I had a gastroscope, a colonoscopy, an ultra sound and ct scan, nothing found other than uterine polyps which I have had for 5 years and a small ovarian cyst which I have scanned every 3-4 months.
I have tried everything I can think of to tackle it, lots of meds which haven’t helped, I am on the low fodmap diet, dairy free, gluten free, no fizzy drinks, no alcohol, no tea or coffee, very little fatty food (basically no life atm!). I listen to gut directed hypnotherapy.
The doctors and gastroenterologists are no help at all. Say it’s ‘just’ IBS and leave me to it.
It’s the absolute worst of all the symptoms I have. If my digestive symptom was calm I could put up with the excessive anxiety, the restless nights, the low libido (although my husband may disagree lol), the achy muscles and joints, the tinnitus, the tiredness and general craziness but I can’t tolerate these daily digestive woes.
Anyone else out there suffering too? Is it a peri thing? No medical person has said it is but I don’t know what else other than my up and down hormones could be causing this?
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Hi AfternoonTea
I suffered bad with my stomach , but they said it was my aniexty that I was suffering that caused it.
I would be bloated , gas ,burping , acid and felt like was rising , loose stools , normal stools , diarrhoea
Burning ribs .. nausea
I lost weight because of no appetite because of the pain and nausea
But all was ok and they put it down to my aniexty
I take omperzole 20mg daily which helps somewhat but also my aniexty as not been so intense either.
It’s deffo to do with hormones as I had never suffered aniexty until my hormones decided they would like too & on top of that was aches pains , palpitations, dry skin , no sleep , hot flashes
I would however take the pain from Tummy rather than the aniexty lol was so bad tht was for me.
Are you on HRT ??
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Yep. I've been to the loo twice 2day and prior and after this evening opening, I have felt windy and queasy :-X. I HATE it. I've always had a 'weak' digestive system >:(
Some ladies can't tolerate alcohol as well as some food stuffs what were enjoyed. MayB keep a mood/food/symptom diary ? which may be useful.
Milk of Magnesia or 'Rennies' might help?
Do make a note of your overall diet for 3 days/nights as well as what you drink. Some drinks may cause windiness! There is no 'just' or 'only' issues in this world. I try not to use either ........... (my Mum told others that "She is only a secretary, you'd think she was a surgeon the way she talks". She never bothered to find out the position that I actually held!)
How are your bowels? I have slow transit - most days the bowels open mid-morning ; other days they feel as though they want to open but nothing happens 'cos as soon as I sit, everything is relaxed. Worse if I am going somewhere !!!
You may not be eating enough !!!!!! which will leave a gap in the digestive system = wind.
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Also - if I get wind/hold up feelings below my belly button I start to feel very sick. What's that about :-\ ???
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I’m not on HRT atm.
I have kept a food dairy for 5 years and just can not see a connection. I follow the low fodmap diet but it’s not helping at all. I can only put it down to hormones as I just don’t know what could be causing these daily issues.
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Hi again
It would more than likely be hormone related as I’ve read a few suffering with this
I was on HRT when I experienced it , but again the GP always put it down to aniexty which was very bad at this point.
Some women on here said drink hot lemon water .. she said she used tablets & didn’t help and then before each meal she would have lemon water and it helped
Not sure if that’s worth a try.
Sorry I can’t help much.. but I would put money on it that’s it’s all to do with hormones
I didn’t know half the stuff peri menopause was gonna cause .. I was expecting few hot flushes and no period
Shock to system all these added extras
Xxx
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Thank you. I must admit that I have awful anxiety and have had for about 4 years, which is a bit of a vicious cycle, I think that’s another peri symptoms for me but it probably exacerbates my tummy issues. I must admit, stupidly, I too had no idea just how much perimenopause affects us. It’s not a fun journey x
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Hi afternoon
I agree it’s a awful journey
Aniexty could be making your symptoms worse .. do you take anything for it ??
Mine only started this year and , I don’t take anything for it but I’m trying to deal with it better & hoping it stays not so intense and daily
Do you still have regular periods ?
Strange how our bodies change & make us feel like this .. when it should just be a natural thing as it’s part of us
Some people are lucky and feel nothing , others like me just seem to get things Willy Nilly
I’m trying CBT to help with aniexty & also being off the HRT now I’m hoping my hormones become more levelled off
Hope you find something for the relief .. the nausea and dry heaving was worse for me , I still wake up somethings and dry heave ..
Let us know how you get on and remember to rant on here anytime you want :) someone is always reading and some ladies have more knowledge than GPs
Xxx
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Never had stomach problems until menopause, that I have IBS. I burp about 100 times day. And had loose bowels all this year :'(
The low fod diet did help me, but I know it only helps about 70% of people. I’ve heard the Amitriptyline is very good for IBS, maybe something you can talk to your doctor about?
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Hi there
I've always had tummy problems. IBS symptoms since my teens and indigestion, acid reflux, burning, burping, farting, stabbing pains in stomach and back, pain around my belly button, nausea etc etc. I've had a camera down and been diagnosed with a small hernia. My symptoms got MUCH MUCH worse over the past 18 months so definitely due to hormones I believe.
Do you take a probiotic? Or Kefir? Or something like that? I take a probiotic everyday and also try to include lots of gut friendly food into my diet. I've also just started taking a digestive enzime, too early to tell if it's made a difference but I'm hopeful. The probiotics definitely help. Gaviscon also helps if I'm really acidy.
I also think that the anxiety contributes to it massively. Mine is sometimes a catch 22 situation, I'll start being anxious because of the pains and then this exacerbates it.
Sorry no real help, just wanted you to know that I'm the same. I'm trying to learn to live with it ::)
xxxxx
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Also meant to add that when my blood sugar is low, I get shaky and feel very sick and get that horrible gnawing empty feeling. I try to eat little and often and not to have too much sugar so that it doesn't spike and drop.
xxx
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I was the same as you. Started at 47 and ended up on 80mg of esomeprazole and 300 ranitidine a day (which didn’t actually help much) just so I could function. I had a cough, lots of mucus and horrible nausea plus ibs symptoms but that was inconclusive. Mine turned out to be an allergy to milk I’d suddenly developed, discovered by keeping a food diary. I think it was hormone related because that was my peri time too. I was post menopausal by 55 and by 57 had stopped taking any medication after gradually reducing it.
I’m now 61 and fine. I can even eat chocolate occasionally. It did settle down so don’t lose hope.
I don’t know if you’ve tried it but I have flaxseed every day. I started using it for the oestrogen angle as I have bad v a. It didn’t actually help with that but I did notice a change in my stomach. Later I read an article that said it’s used to heal stomach ulcers and inflammation. The ‘journey’ through all this is horrible but at least we can find support on here now. I always wonder what my poor Nan’s generation did. 😫
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I’ve had IBS since I was 26 and over the years I had good and bad weeks with it but it was never daily.
However, since hitting my mid 40’s (I am now 48) my digestive systems gives me grief virtually every day. I have regular bloating, a very noisy gut with gurgling and growling, I get acid, I suffer awful, awful nausea, burping non stop sometimes (today I burped on/off from 8am-2pm), alternative between constipation and looser and lots of farting in the evenings. I feel,like a huge bag of grumbling gas.
In 2019 I had a gastroscope, a colonoscopy, an ultra sound and ct scan, nothing found other than uterine polyps which I have had for 5 years and a small ovarian cyst which I have scanned every 3-4 months.
I have tried everything I can think of to tackle it, lots of meds which haven’t helped, I am on the low fodmap diet, dairy free, gluten free, no fizzy drinks, no alcohol, no tea or coffee, very little fatty food (basically no life atm!). I listen to gut directed hypnotherapy.
The doctors and gastroenterologists are no help at all. Say it’s ‘just’ IBS and leave me to it.
It’s the absolute worst of all the symptoms I have. If my digestive symptom was calm I could put up with the excessive anxiety, the restless nights, the low libido (although my husband may disagree lol), the achy muscles and joints, the tinnitus, the tiredness and general craziness but I can’t tolerate these daily digestive woes.
Anyone else out there suffering too? Is it a peri thing? No medical person has said it is but I don’t know what else other than my up and down hormones could be causing this?
Hi
I've just joined this forum. Hello! I suffer from M.E and I'm 48 and definitely in the perimenopause of which I have at least 40 new symptoms. My main issue though is digestive problems that have got so bad now I'm barely eating. I feel sure it's hormonal as all tests done are normal and from what I've been reading/researching, so many women suffer from digestive issues where before never had a problem or only had mild IBS.
Mine started last September when I had a bout of vomiting and dioreah. Thought maybe gastroenteritis but I think possibly the start of a perimenopausal. Having a very sensitive intolerant stomach it always takes weeks for my stomach to settle barely eating until tummy is OK.....then it happened again! Back to square one, barely eating due to bloating and feeling sick.......then at Christmas I needed antibiotics which was the last straw for my tummy....I've gone downhill since.
Since then I've tried to resume eating gradually but it's like my stomach absolutely hates everything I eat. I'm only eating bland, then feel I can manage a bit more....then stomach gets really bad and noisy at the point I'm existing on fruit and gluten free toast.
Meals and normal eating are a thing of the past. I feel nauseous 24/7, cant even think of food or even smell it without feeling sick, stomach upset and bloated all the time which gets lots worse if I eat. I feel full after only a few mouthfuls and feel absolutely awful. Loose stools or constipation, violent dioreah at times....
But I'm so distressed. I love food. I love cooking. My lovely man and I love going out for meals and my parter loves cooking too and eating together...now he eats and cooks alone :'( I just have a bit of toast then have cramps and bloating and horrific gurgling and churning and discomfort all night. Burping, wind, like a feeling of food stuck in chest, awake all night feeling awful with my stomach then the next day comes and I'm at my wits end what to eat today with misery all day.
Partner has to go food shopping now as I'm so upset I can no longer ear normally. Its all consuming. I literally don't know what the hell to eat because I have zero appetite and ANYTHING makes my stomach worse :o
I'm so upset with it. My tummy is sooo sensitive and always has been. I suffer from crippling anxiety which has got much worse in my late 40s and despite all my miserable perimenopause symptoms, I always thought 'at least I can enjoy food'......but since September even that joy has gone.
Please someone say this will improve? How can you have a good life when you cannot eat. Life is about food, going out for lunch, meals, picnics, 3 meals a day.....I'm so worried and losing weight.
I've got some probiotics to take but I'm so intolerant to meds and supplements due to my M.E. and sensitivities, I'm scared they will make it worse.
My partner is really concerned and it's so upsetting that I'm not eating properly or barely at all and keeps saying ' you can't go on like this'. But I've done everything I can. Spoke to gp 6 times, had all the tests....
I'm scared. :-\
I've been through times before when I've had a bad stomach from food poisoning or a bad medicine reaction and it's taken ages and ages to eat again....but this time it's 10 x worse. Never had the burping and all the other digestive stuff...I'm literally scared to eat.
Sorry for the long post. Thank you for reading. Xx
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Upset gut is awful. Has your GP referred U to a gastro-bod at your Hospital? What tests has your GP asked for?
Yep peri-menopause can cause gut problems. As oestrogen levels drop then muscles may become lax = hiatus hernia, aches and pains in the all the joints. Oh the Joys. Not ::)
I have a fear of food so when my stomach 'turns' I stop eating immediately. I rely on safe foods: little and often. I have to eat B4 my body requires an energy boost to avoid that nausea. Dried fruits and nuts; toast; rice pudding from a can; Dextrose tablets; honey can sooth the gut lining but OH when queasy, no way :-\. Years++ ago I tried complan :-X.
When I was taking 'taxmoxifen' my sense of smell heightened. This is true of some people with long-covid, have you been infected? 4 me the drug caused problems with any food stuffs - DH had baked a Dundee cake: it was in a sealed tin, in a cupboard with the door shut. When I walked by the cupboard I could smell each ingredient individually, down to the 2 spoonfuls of water that he had added to the mix. If he bought raw meat, I couldn't be downstairs even B4 he cooked it. I don't need to go on, you get the picture: I don't want to make you feel worse!
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Bland is fine! What ever you can tolerate, little and often as well as keeping hydrated. It's about lining the gut from top to bottom. DH used to tell me that the queasiness was due to the stomach being hungry ...... which is probably true ::).
Make a list of what you eat and when. Also what you drink. Has your GP referred you to a dietician?
Creak crackers - predictive text ::)
Ginger is a very good soother for the stomach - DH puts a lot in our evening meal. I have eaten biscuits and some shred fresh ginger into hot water to drink. A step too far?
Sip bottled water often or boil and cool water. Nothing acidic.
I used to make a very watery 'porridge' can't remember the name of the product but it made us glow. Apparently ::). I can't bear anything thick if that makes sense :-\ (readyBrek)
Which probiotics? I found 'actimel' useful for years. It helped my bowels if nowt else ::).
I think that your GP should refer you to a gastroenterologist. Food poisoning can alter the character of the digestive tract and appropriate treatment should make a difference. You could also contact BEAT which is an eating disorders group, based I think in Norwich for advice. Disorders cover a multitude of problems. ;-).
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Hi
Tyvm for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.
I've had bloods done and a stool sample. No referal yet as my rubbish gp just said take probiotics and ring me in 6 weeks ::)
It's difficult to get to hospital appointments etc as I have M.E and bedbound/housebound alot so I'm loathed to go through lots of tests that usually come back normal.
I've not had covid.
I don't know if I had food poisoning last September when I was vomiting etc? I definitely did though in 2017 but fully recovered.
Does this sound perimenopausal? I'm so new to all this but do have a zillion other perimenopausal symptoms. Does it improve?
X
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I’ve had IBS since I was 26 and over the years I had good and bad weeks with it but it was never daily.
However, since hitting my mid 40’s (I am now 48) my digestive systems gives me grief virtually every day. I have regular bloating, a very noisy gut with gurgling and growling, I get acid, I suffer awful, awful nausea, burping non stop sometimes (today I burped on/off from 8am-2pm), alternative between constipation and looser and lots of farting in the evenings. I feel,like a huge bag of grumbling gas.
In 2019 I had a gastroscope, a colonoscopy, an ultra sound and ct scan, nothing found other than uterine polyps which I have had for 5 years and a small ovarian cyst which I have scanned every 3-4 months.
I have tried everything I can think of to tackle it, lots of meds which haven’t helped, I am on the low fodmap diet, dairy free, gluten free, no fizzy drinks, no alcohol, no tea or coffee, very little fatty food (basically no life atm!). I listen to gut directed hypnotherapy.
The doctors and gastroenterologists are no help at all. Say it’s ‘just’ IBS and leave me to it.
It’s the absolute worst of all the symptoms I have. If my digestive symptom was calm I could put up with the excessive anxiety, the restless nights, the low libido (although my husband may disagree lol), the achy muscles and joints, the tinnitus, the tiredness and general craziness but I can’t tolerate these daily digestive woes.
Anyone else out there suffering too? Is it a peri thing? No medical person has said it is but I don’t know what else other than my up and down hormones could be causing this?
Yes I sympathise with you. I’m having this issue again now.
Before I started HRT I had acid indigestion, bloating, gas for no reason. Once I begun HRT for a for weeks it settled. I’ve read and been told by a few doctors (private, gp, dietician) that lack of oestrogen slows down your digestion causing annoying issues like these. Wish you well with getting it sorted.
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Thank you Louise (and all who have replied) I'm so grateful to you 🙏
Yes I've read lots on perimenopause and digestive issues and why it occurs.
It's just difficult to know where to turn and scary.
X
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I have been through my kitchen looking at my go-to safe foods. This includes dry toast; oxo cube crumbled into hot water, sometimes I cook rice to add to the mug; Bovril the same, in hot water. Soothing to hold if nowt else! Marmite thinly on toast. ;) though sometimes, the smell causes nausea :'(
Slow release foods: i.e. bananas, porridge.
Your GP is remiss and not listening! What does he think probiotics will do :-\ and why six weeks? fobbing you off?
Is there an M.E. support group?
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Hi CLKD
So kind of you to help.
I've been obvs researching perimenopause and the diet you're 'supposed' to have which is quite overwhelming basically no junk and a very clean diet...so it was nice to see you recommend the foods I currently eat rather than saying I need fermented this, and whole foods that ;D
Yeh my gp is annoying. I used to have a truly wonderful lady gp but since covid she's vanished and I'm stuck with a load of random gps.
Ik, 6 weeks lol he said it takes 6 weeks for probiotics to work....he doesn't think it's perimenopause (typical bloke blinkered gp) and is just thinking it's a unsettled tummy coz of the vomiting I had last year. But who knows...just seems very perimenopausal to me plus I'm really in the thick of 40+ other symptoms.
I've had M.E for 30 years sadly so I'm totally sorted for support. Xx
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As a recovering anorexic I eat what I fancy. If that's junk then it's what has kept me alive. From age 3 my Mum fed me chocolate buttons or those buttons with 100s/1000s on ;D. Chocolate is good for us!
May I give your GP a :kick: (oh I do love these ......... ;D )
Which probiotics have been suggested, his thinking may be to line the digestive system? Did he suggest why? I use milk of magnesia liquid occaiosnally as well as 'omeprazlol' as reflux can become problematic as muscles become lax :o.
Chicken curry - not hot - is soothing. As is chicken soup: a Jewish recipe to heal all ills. Apparently. MayB look it up on the internet, there are certain 'properties' in chicken that can help. However, again, when nauseous :-X
When I think of what my Grand parents ate: lots of stooge, bread with dripping, meat and 3 veg with gravy; suet puds. They worked it off, unlike our sedentary life style where those types of foods may sit on the waist line ;D. Lots of spuds. Fresh fruits and veg as everyone had a garden in the countryside, which was taken to towns weekly. Seasonal too.
Have you thought of trying baby food which may be less 'smelly'. Or protein shakes a few times a week? It's about getting anything inside you to line the gut, so if you wake in the early hours hungry: then eat ;-).
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Thank you so much for your help and support. It's hugely appreciated.
He didn't specify which probiotics. Just to ' get some'. I found a company called 'just for tummies' that makes live bacteria capsules so I ordered them....just not brave enough to try as I react badly to supplements tummy wise and didn't want to make matters worse....but I gave read they help alot in perimenopause and with IBS etc.
I've always had a very healthy appetite and food was something that gave me joy as being so ill with M.E and bedbound alot, food was something I could enjoy and did. I really hope my appetite comes back and even if I maybe have to not eat anything spicy or greasy, I can at least get back to being able to eat proper meals rather than everything I eat making my tummy hell and surviving on a banana and toast every day.
I've tried the chicken broth. Even that now makes me bloat and my tummy hates it...its so weird! Couldn't even contemplate a curry at moment as snell makes me heave.
I'll just gave to hope it improves. Thank you kindly 🙏
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Nowt wrong with a banana on toast.
Sometimes people are sensitive to the fillers and packaging of food stuffs. Try 1 capsule and see what happens? Can you open the capsule and drink the contents, avoiding the 'packaging'? It's hard ain't it. :-\
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Yes banana n toast is fine but not every day for the last 3 months ;D
Yes the digestive specialist who makes these capsules advised I can empty contents of capsule in water which I would definitely do as those plastic shell torpedo things are horrid.
Tyvm for your replies. X
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Give it go? They are designed to help. ;-). I know. Scarey. When in an anorexic state I can't face anything :'(. I don't cook due to that, DH is the Chef :-*.
What have you managed to get down you today?
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I will. Thank you. You've been so kind.
Please may you tell me what DH is? I see abbreviations on the forum but I don't know what it means.
I've had 2 gluten free macaroons, a pear and 2 slices if gluten free toast.
I'm only eating gluten free as it's less inclined to bloat that normal white bread....and last thing I need is more bloat lol I dunno if it helps. ;D I'm literally just trying anything :o
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DH - Dear Husband
DD - Dear Daughter
DS - Dear Son
DGD - Dear granddaughter
OH - other half or him inside ;D
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I found pepto bismol brilliant. The best thing I’ve ever had for my stomach. And boy, did I have a bad stomach.
Now no one can get any due to some kind of manufacture problem. 😩
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CLKD
Ahhh I see now. Thank you for telling me what they mean. I have an OH. He's so supportive.
Jillydoll
Thank you for your reply. My issue is my stomach seems to now hate all food and causes terrible problems if I eat any....no matter what I eat.
I'm sorry you can no longer get the pesto bismol. :(
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Hi, I find drinking lots of water, including a big glass before each meal, and first thing in the morning I have a tablesp of cider vinegar (the clear kind) in water and drink it straight down standing up helps my gut. I also do the low FODMAP, a very low version of it. Saying all this everyone is unique, but these things help me. Cider vinegar is supposed to help encourage healthy gut flora. Also try to stay active, go for a walk, swim. Years ago when I was going through a bad divorce an Indian friend suggested taking ginger. It did help as back then my tummy issues were anxiety related.
Also I take CBD twice a day, for anxiety.
Hope these suggestions are helpful.
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Thanks Bettina. I appreciate your reply and help.
There's soooo much contradictory advice out there that I'm really overwhelmed. With digestion I've read not to drink with meals as it dilutes digestive enzymes....then others say do.
I should be eating this...I should be avoiding that...I should stop eating this.....and eat more of this ..
I'm literally at a loss. It's a minefield.
I can't exercise as I suffer from M.E (Chronic fatigue syndrome) so much as I'd like to, walking, exercise, getting out in nature is not an option for me.
My body has never played by the rules of your average healthy person and so issues I have always tend to remain a mystery especially to the medical profession and what helps others, generally doesn't help me.
I'm just so sick of being a slave to my stomach issues now. 6 months of hell so far. Whenever I've had any issues I've always gone down the test/investigation route but with no outcome as my body is just a mystery. Anyone with M.E or knows of someone with the condition will understand what I mean.
Has anyone here in time found there digestive issues subside at all? No one has said this so far.........just to continue to eat bland or what I'm able which is very little but this can't go on long term!
I know the gut is the 2nd brain. It's highly sensitive to stress too which I'm under a lot of which isn't helping.
Anyway. Thanks for all who have replied xxx 🙏 😃
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Morning.
Yes to the ginger. It's a soother.
I also had a thunk yesterday, mayB ask to speak to an ENT Surgeon. It may be that the violent stomach upset may have altered something in the nasal passages/throat lining.
When I was on The Pill I lost my sense of smell for nice things - other than for garbage >:(. I can't remember my sense of taste being altered . It was when I stopped taking The Pill that I realised and could again, smell roses, freesias, mown grass.
Tamoxifen did the same, altered my sense of smell. Awful. Even now, my morning cuppa is lovely as the day goes by the taste alters :-\
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Thanks CLKD.
Don't think it's an ENT issue. It's definitely digestive. I know perimenopause can cause lots of food issues including loss of taste, smell etc. I watched a very informative video about it that recently
https://youtu.be/yuXn2V_DKYU
Also thought I know stress and anxiety can change smell and taste too.
Anxiety can cause a wide range of physiological symptoms, including a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. Research has shown that there's a strong connection between taste changes and stress — perhaps because of the chemicals that are released in your body as part of the fight-or-flight response.
This has definitely happened to me in last 2 weeks of extreme stress.
Minefield. 💣
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Oh don't let go of that Mine ;D
My gut is the first thing to 'go' when anxiety levels rise :'( followed by not being able to tolerate the thought of food stuffs. What have you managed today thus far?
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So kind of you to reply. Thank you.
Yeh I think my issues tummy wise have definitely worsened in last 2 weeks due to a house move, including now zero appetite, just the smell or thought of food makes me heave and increased tummy knots, loose stools......a slave to my emotions me......the joy.
I'm just picking really....bit of ham out the fridge, 3 breakfast biscuits, 2 cups if decaf tea...
I think some of my issues will settle once we have moved and we are settled. I don't cope well with change and in the space of 2 weeks we have found our new home, bought it, put ours on market and sold it! Plus I'm very ill anyway with M.E so it all adds into the mix.
Thank you for your communications x
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Criky. That would take most of us off our feet - well done though. Keep nibbling. It doesn't matter what, your body will take energy that it needs from anything that goes through. I would tip the decaf tea leaves into the compost directly ;-).
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Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate your time and help :) xx