Can perimenopause cause this?

[Posypointshoes]

Since the beginning of this year my periods have been really painful and much longer and heavier. My smears are up to date and clear and I’ve been in to the doctor many times about it but they’ve said it’s likely hormonal changes due to my age - I’m 40.

ive always had digestion issues with my periods, upset stomach, horrendous cramping and bloating etc. but it’s getting worse and worse and I now get it with ovulation as well.

my last period ended 18 days ago and now I have some pink spotting and some horrendous digestion issues again.

im also getting mucus in stools and I had a random bout of upset stomach a few weeks ago which was bloody twice, before clearing up completely. I’m now getting a bit of pink blood when I wipe and occasionally red mucus.

none of this seems right to me. I’m very worried about bowel cancer or other stomach issues but my GP doesn’t seem to be taking me seriously and just saying it’s likely peri menopause? Surely that can’t cause bowel/colon bleeding?!

im not losing weight in fact im gaining it, and while
mg diet hasn’t been great I can’t see that it would cause any of this.

has anyone else experienced this?

Just realised I’ve posted this in the wrong sub forum @mnhq could you move to general health please?

I am experiencing the same symptoms at 43, and have put it down to perimenpause. My once washboard flat stomach is so bloated it looks like I am 6 months pregnant, and it feels heavy, like a hige water balloon. However, as there is no blood in my stools, the gastrologist at the hospital said they think it is IBS (eye roll)>

Periods all over the place, heavy painful, more frequent
mucus as you have described
boobs two sizes larger!!!

I exercise daily, watch what I ate etc, so it feels like I am being betrayed by my body.

Going to pay private for a trans vaginal scan just in case.

Also spotting between periods- am experiencing that now and shouldn't be on for at least 10-12 more days :(

I have been trying to get answers for 18 months but keep being told IBS.

@Freckles81 sympathies its grim isn’t it? Have you had any bleeding with bowel movements or had it mainly been the discomfort. The bloating is ridiculous.

It really is!!
I feel your pain.

No bleeding at all with bowel movements. I used to have quite loose stools (sorry it tmi) as I had lived in Asia for 7 years and was never the same afterwards lol...but since this has all started happening I have become constipated.

Similarly to you I feel I know my body and that these are really quite dramatic changes, but even after 3 doctors' appointments, not one had asked to see my bloating. The 4th appointment I made I even told the receptionist I want to be examined.

I feel I am going mad trying to be listened to. My partner cannot believe the bloating, especially since I have always been petite and struggled to keep weight on before. He has had kids with an ex and says I now look 5 months pregnant.

The only thing we can put to down to is perimenopause. It is not IBS....I can eat everything and not have any cramps, wind etc.

My upper stomach, belly and bowels all protrude more as soon as I eat or drink, though, but there is no cramping or upset stomach.

I'm goign to pay private for an internal trans vaginal scan, as they are about £!30.

That sounds really uncomfortable.
i think im worried because my issues seem to be linked to my bowel and bowel moments and since i had the episode of bloody diarrhoea (it was bright pink and only happened twice) I haven’t been the same! Now im getting a bit again when i wipe.
i think im going to see if i can push for blood tests and a stool sample at least.

After I had DD2 I had the copper coil fitted when I was about 35, as I thought it might be "better to have my own hormones" after being on the combined pill for so long. Had loads of IBS type symptoms, bloating, diarrhoea, and struggled with depression, anxiety, lack of energy and struggled to lose weight. I thought it was burnout/stress from work or diet and managed to lose a bit of weight and go running regularly, but then I started getting pain on my left side near my ovary. One time staying at my parents it was so bad I thought I had a an ulcer. I would always get constipated and in pain on day three of my period - so badly that I couldn't do anything.

Went to the GP who took it all very seriously (now in 2015 when I was 39), had a blood test and scan done quickly. They suspected ovarian cancer but found endometriosis and an endometrial cyst. Had a lot of tissue and the cyst removed in keyhole surgery- apparently all over my bladder and bowel as well, which the surgeon couldn't get all of as it may have caused further problems.

Had the copper coil removed and went on desogestrel and the symptoms have never returned. Not even after going back on the combined pill after low oestrogen about 18 months ago. In fact I feel bloody brilliant and far better at 48 than I did ten years ago, plus I am now 15kg lighter than I was in 2016.

They really should be doing blood tests and scans and not just brushing you off with IBS and perimenopause.

Thanks for sharing @shearwater2 that all sounds really stressful and I’m glad you got your symptoms under control.
im just baffled that bowel issues are being brushed off as peri. Especially as bleeding is one of the red flag symptoms they push you to look out for

They should be taking it more seriously for sure. I know that they see fresh/pink blood as not a typical sign of bowel cancer though. They are concerned if the blood looks brown/darker.

@Posypointshoes have they tested your thyroid? Heavy periods becoming very close together was a sign of hypothyroidism for me and your weight gain may be an indicator and bowel / digestive issues can also be linked. My IBS issues have certainly become worse with peri.