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Perimenopause and digestive issues

2 replies

ReeseWitherknife · 09/10/2020 09:27

I’m 47 and feel that I have been in peri for a couple of years (although gp disputes this as I have regular, heavy periods and no regular hot flushes). Alongside many peri symptoms the one thing which is really controlling my life right now is digestive issues.
Although I have had IBS for over 20 years, these last 3 or so years have been awful. I never suffered with upper gi issues before but I now get regular awful nausea with endless burping (can sometimes burp for 2-3 hours!), heartburn, acid, gas, gurgling and growling guts. I had a clear gastroscope, colonoscopy and CT scan last summer and a us scan a few weeks ago found my ovaries to be ok.
I have tried endless gut ‘diets’ and eliminated certain foods but still suffer.
Gastroenterologist and gp don’t want to help and I am at a loss as how to help myself.
I’m wondering if my hormones are playing havoc with my digestive system?
Is this a symptom of peri? Can anyone relate?

OP posts:
IwishIwasyoda · 09/10/2020 09:30

Me - I get hideous bloating and/ or nausea sometimes. It's really crap. It's definitely hormonal and fluctuates depending on where I am in my cycle. I hate the bloating more than anything and avoid all the foods that are meant to make bloating worse, and exercise. BUT nothing helps. I look pregnant it is so bad

Dilbertian · 09/10/2020 09:44

I've always been slightly sensitive to wheat, but it was a non-issue. I just farted a bit more when I ate a lot of wheat. But with peri-menopause my sensitivity increased dreadfully. And I developed GORD, which of course is made vastly worse by eating wheat. It's not coeliac, I've had a negative blood test for that.

It's even worse now that I am post-menopause , even though I'm on HRT.

The best thing for me is to follow a wheat-free, low carb diet. Not necessarily for weight loss. I feel so much better when I eat that way: no wind, bloating or cramps, no oesophagitis, minimal reflux, no fuzzy-headed tiredness, and my itchy, cracking skin heals.

I am prescribed omeprazole, but rarely need to take it when eating wheat free and low carb. Gaviscon is also helpful when I go off track.

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