Could perimenopause be causing all of these digestive issues?

[MoonDanceDiner]

Although I have always had a very sensitive digestive system and was diagnosed with IBS way back in 1998 I felt I had everything under control for many years with a combination of low fodmap diet, watching what I ate, avoiding my trigger foods, practising gut directed hypnotherapy and exercising etc. I would have flare ups before and during my period and when I was very stressed etc but would have many ok to good days so I could live with that.

However, seven years ago at the age of 45 I started to experience what I now realise where the start of perimenopausal symptoms. Low mood, high anxiety and agitation, disturbed sleep, a worsening of my periods to the point I was flooding and became very anaemic (since had a uterine ablation) and other more minor but nonetheless irritating symptoms.

The worse thing for me during this time was an exacerbation of my digestive issues to the point that I have ended up having 2 colonoscopies, a pill camera endoscopy and BAM scan over the last 6 years as well as various stool tests. All came back as ok.

Over these years I have started to experience an awful amount of nausea. I would describe it as a gnawing empty acidic type of discomfort in my actual stomach which makes me feel so nauseous, it builds up in waves and then I have to burp it away. It will ease for a few seconds then build up again. This can go on for hours. It usually comes around day 12 of my cycle and will last around 10-14 days. I then can go days without anything nausea or acid and hardly ever get these symptoms during my actual period (however, I do have other lower gut issues). I have come to the conclusion that hormones must be playing a huge part. I keep a diary of my symptoms and what I eat etc and do see that it appears to be cyclical.

I don't know how to deal with this or who to consult with to get help. My GP has prescribed the standard PPI's but they give me awful migraines so she says she doesn't know what to prescribe other than to suggest Gaviscon which does not help at all (makes me burp even more). I follow a careful diet but it hasn't helped with this gnawing acidic nausea.

Can anyone relate to this? Is there anything that I can do to make this go away or at the very least control it so it doesn't make me feel like crawling in bed and giving up.

Maybe ask your GP about a H2 antagonist like famotidine instead of the PPI. The most well-known one Zantac was great but sadly now withdrawn, but some of the others are still available. Not a doctor just a fellow sufferer.

I had a merina coil = hardly any acid reflux for months. It appeared in the second half of cycle. When progesterone is high the food pipe muscle relax and allow acid back up.

I had a BSO hysterectomy 10 years ago, and that’s when all this started for me. I can end up going 3 days barely eating, it’s so awful.

Low FODMAP does help but I still seem to get flare ups.

Im currently trying to gradually replace PPIs with Peptobismol. It’s not easy.

It is not completely unheard of to develop coeliac disease at menopause (rare but not impossible)

Thank you. I'll ask my GP for an alternative to the ppu, hopefully she can give me something.

I think that's definitely what is happening with me.

Oh no, I'm on a waiting list for a hysterectomy, I really hope this doesn't get any worse.

I hope the pepto helps you a d you manage to get it sorted.

I'm awaiting another gastroscope. I had bloods taken last month and my IgA levels were low, my GP says that could possibly indicate ceoliac disease. My gastroenterologist has agreed to another scope even though I was tested for it via a gastroscope biopsy in 2019.