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[WANDERER2]

Good morning ladies. It has been some years since I last posted. My journey started eight years ago, at the age of 54, when ALL of my symptoms arrived in a very short space of time, anxiety, digestive issues, weird metallic taste in mouth, dry hands and feet, pelvic pain etc.., you name it, I had it! I eventually found the wonderful Michael Dooley at The Poundbury Clinic, near Dorchester, after seeing an extensive list of so called "menopause specialists"! Most of them old, bored male gynaecologists, who had done 5 minutes menopause training at med school back in the '70's! Anyway, he put me onto Evorel Conti patches, as my periods had stopped, and MOST of the symptoms retreated.

Now, this year, I have weaned myself off the patches, although Mr Dooley said he was happy for me to stay on them for ever, providing I attended my regular smears and mammograms. A few symptoms have crept back, mostly dry skin and a FEW flushes, those I can cope with, but the thing I CAN'T cope with is the awful digestive issues I still have, even when I was on the patches.

As a child I now know I had GERD, although my poor mum and GP thought that the pain between my shoulder blades and sternum was a bad mattress! I had an an endoscopy about 20 years ago, and all they could see was a "tide mark" of acid having bubbled up. Now the GERD is terrible, in both directions, bloating, back pain, dizziness, I even passed out when I hadn't eaten all day. (This was checked out at an A/E unit, and nothing was found). It effects my breathing, and my quality of sleep.

So really, what I am asking is, how have other ladies coped with digestive issues please? I have tried cutting out dairy, refined sugars, high acid fruits, tomatoes, caffeine, alcohol and refined pastry goods. I take Ranitidine (GP won't give me Esomeprazole), live bacteria, and Silicogel, and I walk my dogs every day. So, what on earth can I do? I know menopause affects the digestive system badly, but why am I still suffering? I guess I was predisposed to it, but can't face anymore clinicians! I dread to think how my medical notes read!!!

Thanks for reading this!

Wanderer2 xx

[AgathaC]

When my GERD was terrible (summer 216), I was  prescribed omeprazole and I was advised that it is a very safe drug to take Long term.  Having said that I did not take it long-term because it gave me bad headaches and a bit of a hung over dehydrated feeling.  I know you said you've tried all sorts of dietary things but have you got and read Dr Koufmann‘s acid reflux diet? I found the following absolutely  to the letter helped me enormously  Xxx

[CLKD]

As oestrogen levels drop so the muscles may become lax which includes the digestive tract = hiatus hernia.

Have a chat with the Pharmacist they have private rooms these days.  How are you bowels in general?

I find that I have background reflux nearly all day.  As soon as I lay down in the bath or in bed I can feel it rising - sometimes it's bad enough to have a lot of saliva  .

I find 'rennies' or 'milk of magnesia' my go-2 meds..  Also don't eat too late at night nor take my meds B4 bed.  Eating little and often helps me keep most symptoms at bay.  I had salted peanuts last week in the evening and woke at 3.45 with awful indigestion  - twice.  So won't buy those again 

I had 'colpermin' peppermint capsules for a few years - the idea is to swallow one within an hour of eating to ease any upper gut wind.  After a few days my poo would smell of peppermint  but it certainly eased symptoms, the idea was to layer the digestive tract from top to bottom prior to eating.

I would also consider returning to the HRT.  Why did you wean off 

[Whatsupwiththis]

Hi Wanderer...I was diagnosed with GERD two years ago.  I had to have my esophagus ring enlarged due to GERD.  You need to get this under control.  GERD is a main contributor of Barrett's Disease which can lead to esphogal cancer as well as rings in esophagus close up and then swallowing becomes difficult.  Proton Pump Inhibitors are usually prescribed to prevent this from happening.  I am on rabeprazole and will be for life. 

[Wolfie]

Hi,
I too have been having terrible trouble with my gut. It feels so inflamed, bloated and the feeling of being full so therefore not eating great. Does anyone know if  this is due to being per menopausal or other? I went to the Dr he mentioned it could be IBS and prescribed meds, not really made a great difference. I'm going for bloods on Wed to try and get to the bottom of this as it's causing me a lot of worry and stress.
Any advice would be most welcome.
Many Thanks

[Sally S]

Wanderer2 my mum has suffered with GERD for a while now and the only thing that has worked so far is Lansoprazole. I'm hoping she can stay on it as she also takes warfarin.  The Lansoprazole worked within a couple of days. She was barely eating due to feeling full and gassy and other awful symptoms but this medication is helping. I hope you find some relief soon. X

[Foxylady]

I also have GORD and IBS, take Ranitadine twice daily and probiotics twice daily. I have noticed an improvement since losing weight and starting on HRT. Take Buscopan if I get really bad cramps. Been on Omeprazole and Colpermin (peppermint capsules) in the past however these were changed as medical professionals thought it might be Omeprazole causing my 'peri' symptoms!!. I don't think there is one answer for everyone, depends on individual symptoms and how it impacts on you. x

[Chihuahuachick]

I haven't read all of this thread but I can sympathise.

I started having bad acid reflux last Oct. I had burning streaming eyes, pains in chest, pain in roof of mouth and worst of all aerosophigha, swallowing air.

I was put on strong tablets, two lots.

I was left on them for 6 months as I had two operations on my eye. But the doctor asked me to come off them two.months ago, which I did and I used gaviscon tabs, half x 3 times a day.

One night I fancied a burger from the golden arches and I had coke to drink. I have stayed off coke forvthe last 15 years, just to aid a good diet and save my teeth!

Well after drinking the coke I felt so much better. So the next morning I had some more, felt better, basically the coke was stopping the reflux.

Now I drink coke every day and I don't take the gaviscon and thete is no reflux!

I have been drinking the coke for 4 weeks now and even if I feel a bit of reflux, the coke shifts it.

I think the reflux is all part of the peri menopause symptoms. I had never even had indigestion before the peri menopause!!!!!

I think my peri symptoms come, take their course and go. I just get through as best as I can.  I have to say my doctors have been amazing.

[Gillydlf]

Hi Wanderer

I sympathise with you so much! You have described my symptoms to a tee. Dizzy heads chest pain are so horrible. I also have pains in my ribs & the top of my stomach feels sore.

I'm taking otc Randitin which seems to help a little.  Have you tried Slippery Elm or ACV?

I think when it's this bad I need something from the Gp to get symptons under control, I'm going back to see my Gp but 1st available appointment isn't till 8th November so will have to suffer till then.

Do you feel nauseous & full? I couldn't eat dinner tonight felt horrible. Just wonder how long this will go on for?? Its getting me down & most days I feel horrible, it's not fun😪

[Lyncola]

I'm having my own stomach issues too. 32 days now off sore stomach everyday. Had a blood test and poo test all normal. I've now just cut out dairy.
I also get the upper chest pains right under my ribs and flutterings under my ribs right side. These menopausal symptoms seems to keep on coming, it's amazing how many you can have.
And I can't go on HRT as I've got ovaries problems 

[WANDERER2]

Good morning ladies! So sorry for the late response, I haven't had access to a computer for a while! You have been, as usual, truly wonderful with your replies. The reason that my GP won't give me Esomeprazole or Omeprazole, is that she has read some research that they can actually themselves cause stomach cancer over a long period, I have been taking medication for about 25 years! If I had thought about it, I would have asked why "Nexium", (Esomeprazole), is available over the counter? Damned expensive, at £1 per tablet, that's why the NHS won't prescribe it anymore!

Anyway, it was suggested to me that I try Turmeric capsules twice a day with meals, and I have to say, that I think there has been some improvement. I can't stand the teabags, but the capsules are fine, if a little large! I also bought a "wedge" pillow that I use for the early part of sleep. That keeps the acid down and helps the breathing. I can't use it all night as it makes my neck ache!

I was told that we have hormone receptors in our bowels, and that as oestrogen drops off, the bowel doesn't work so efficiently, hence constipation during menopause. Mine was bad during the early days but seems to be ok'sh now.

I think breathing is so important too. Deep abdominal breathing just as you drop off to sleep really helps to reduce tension that produces acid. Hand on the chest, and the other on the stomach, and the one on the chest must NOT move, only the one on the stomach. It really helps insomnia too.

Thank you so much.

Wanderer. xx

[dangermouse]

Chihuahuachick - there is actually a cocoa cola liver cleanse if you google it!

I suspect it is aiding your digestive enzymes so that food isn't just sitting in your stomach refluxing back up.

[donnarob]

Hello There,

It's been ages since I've been on here but still having symptoms and have tunred 60 this year!

If anyone had told me that I'd still be having so many symptoms at this age, I would have laughed as I had my last period at age 53.

Just recently, I've been getting digestive issues mainly bloating, gas and an awful lot of burping.  I think it's all hormone related as I hav been having almost like PMT symptoms at the time of which my period would have been due.  This sounds mad I know, but I have also been getting left handed rib pain. 

I have been trying to up my walking as we have a very energetic collie called Loki and he's coming up to 18 months. 

My late mother suffered from a hiatus hernia and kept Rennies in production.  My sister is medication for her's too.  So far, I have steered clear of HRT and only take Vitamin E and Starflower oil but the bloating is really getting me down and I don't think the medical profession pay nearly enough attention to menopausal symptoms.

Donna