Can peri mess with your digestive system?

[ImaHogg]

Although I have had IBS for over 20 years the last few years (I am 48) have been a tough time for my guts.
I have upper issues such as bloating, burping, acid, indigestion and nausea. Lower guts gurgle, growl and grumble all the time. I get this feeling that I need the loo even when I don’t need to go. I get very gassy especially in the evening. The whole of my digestive system always seems unsettled these days.
I had a full endoscopy and colonoscopy in July 2019 which was thankfully all clear including biopsies for Coeliac. I had an abdominal and pelvic ct scan that year too, it didn’t pick up anything in my digestive organs, it just showed up uterine polyps and an ovarian cyst which I am already aware of.
The gastroenterologist wasn’t particularly helpful, told me it’s ‘just’ IBS and to get on with it as there was nothing more he could do.
I am dairy free, gluten free and low fodmap but still suffer.
I don’t get much help from my gp either.
My only conclusion is that it’s hormonal related.
Can perimenopause cause such unsettled gut issues?

Would love to know this too...am similar age and have had some similar investigations, all negative so far.
May be diverticulitis tho. DM had that.

I think I've read somewhere that it can affect it, but I can't remember where.

Yes, from my experience it can

I thought it was ibs but it is definitely connected to my cycle.

Absolutely it does.

Never had a single issue until I was 45 and menopausal. Got GERD and told to take PPI's. Don't, but avoid anything acidy now. Can no longer even drink wine.

I'm 44, have one ovary and have had peri symptoms for a good eight years now and my bowel is steadily getting more and more temperamental as time goes on.

Yes to the gas...I'm having to take charcoal tablets every day.

It's bizarre :(

Yes, I got increasingly bad wind (really painful at times), bloating, rumbling noises etc.

Also the feeling of needing the loo, or urinary frequency or urgency can all be symptoms of peri.

HRT has sorted those issues out for me.

Yep, these are all side effects of the menopause.

My stomach has always been noisy but it’s absolutely ridiculous now - if I’m in a quiet office or meeting it’s mortifying Thank god for Teams and remote working.

Thanks all, I don’t feel so worried now. Bloody hormones!

I'm 49 and keep having these bouts of a few days where I wake up with diarrhoea then feel very creaky and gassy inside for a while. I often have a headache too and feel generally grotty, and then it all gets better in the afternoon.

I'm not sure whether mine is peri or something else, I need to phone the GP again, but mostly find them a bit useless.

@ImaHogg what did you say to your GP to get referred for investigations of endoscopy and colonoscopy and abdominal and pelvic ct scan?

I was considering getting a private pelvic and abdominal ultrasound to see what is going on in there in case there's anything wrong, but as you mention ct scan I'm now not sure if ultrasound would be the right thing.

Mine definitely misbehaving at the moment, although sounds like they're milder than yours.

I'm drinking peppermint tea, abdominal massage two/three times per day and being disciplined about not sitting too long - have a timer set up to get me on my feet and walking around every thirty minutes. Think it's helping - the "good spells" are getting longer.

@SunglassesSeventy I have just been referred for abdominal and pelvic scan. They didnt say CT or ultrasound typically. Anyway, I just told them I have been experiencing diarrhoea, stomach pain resulting in lack of appetite for 2 weeks straight and I am concerned it doesnt seem to be improving. She asked about menopause (I am in peri), so she said she would refer. Also have blood tests booked for CRP. I am also going to ask for folate levels to be checked as I am already B12 deficient.

Good luck

Thanks @Theforest I'll make an appointment with my GP I think.

What is CRP?

@SunglassesSeventy

Thanks *@Theforest* I'll make an appointment with my GP I think.

What is CRP?

I have been told its to see any causes of inflammation which may be causing the diarrhoea.

SunglassesSeventy After being dismissed by several NHS gastroenterologists I paid to see one privately. She recommended that I had the colonoscopy and endoscopy because of my age and the fact I'm anaemic, I was put back on the NHS for that as it's quite pricey privately. After those procedures I asked my GP if I could have an upper ultrasound scan just to check the upper digestive organs were ok. That showed up a cyst on one of my kidneys which resulted the CT scan of my abdomen.

I'm post menopause now and find I cannot drink. It's very boring! But alcohol just messes with my stomach.
My GP said the meno sends your inflammatory markers sky high and that can impact your digestive system. I haven't researched but I am taking her word for it

Thanks Theforest & ImaHogg :-)

There's a good facebook group for perimenopause and menopause where a lot of the more unusual symptoms are shared and acknowledged. I've been on that group for over a year and I'm sure during that time people have shared these type of digestive symptoms as being symptoms of their peri or menopause.

www.facebook.com/groups/Surgettes/?multi_permalinks=4301888979865843