Could the Pill help ease my IBS

[She3PO]

I suffer from IBS which swings from mild constipation to quite painful stomach cramps and diarrhoea. I tends to come and go in waves and I think it's linked to my cycle, for example the constipation is at it's worst mid-cycle and then just after and before my period the diarrhoea seems to be worse. I also suffer from lots of mouth ulcers which only occur in the days either side of my period.

So, could the Pill help to ease the symptoms or am I grasping at straws. I haven't been on it since we began ttc dd1 at the end of 2006 but the IBS was nowhere near as bad as it is now, though I was also 5 years younger. I'm not a fan of the Pill, we're not ttc atm or at any time in the near future, but I feel like it changes my moods (though they don't swing as erratically) and I lose my libido. I also don't want to gain weight. But, is it the lesser of two evils as my IBS is getting me down too and makes some social occasions quite awkward.

Any advice would be appreciated, even if it's just to say that I'm talking rubbish. :o I'm off out after the school run but will check back later this morning. TIA

Some women who are diagnosed with IBS actually have endometriosis (this can also play havoc with the bowels also and cause pain).

If this pain is consistently linked to your cycle I would ask the GP to refer you to a gynaecologist. This is a problem that is outside a GPs remit hence the suggestion of a referral. If your periods happen to be painful as well this is yet another possible indicator of endo.

What I would also suggest you do in the meantime is keep a pain/symptom diary; this can also provide clues.

The pill will ease symptoms if the underlying cause is endo but it will not get rid of any endo deposits that are already there.

Thanks for the reply Attila. I'm not sure I've got endometriosis unless it's very mild as the pain does seem to be linked to my bowels and goes once I've been to the toilet. I'm quite in tune with my cycle, in that I can feel ovulation and there are obvious changes leading up to my period. My periods have got heavier after each child, but they're not massively painful and I had no trouble conceiving.

I'll start another symptom diary though, I've done this before to try and identify food triggers but there was no pattern there. It's alway worth taking some evidence in for the gp.

Thanks again.

Just posted this on another thread but have you thought about going to see a nutritionist?? I thought my IBS was a gynie thing as sex could be pretty painful.
Anyway, I went to see a great nutritionist and she totally sorted me out.

Did they link it to a particular food group, because that's what I'm struggling with. I can eat a meal one day and be fine and eat it the next week and I'm rushing to the loo.

I think I started with a gut cleanse which involved eating vegetables for a week or so - and led to some fairly horrendous farting!! But, it was totally worth it.

Well that's easy, we deliver fruit & veg boxes so have plenty left over for us. Might be worth a try.