Can perimenopause cause digestive issues?

[Thewholeshackshimmy]

I’ve had IBS since I was 26 and over the years I had good and bad weeks with it but it was never daily.
However, since hitting my mid 40’s (I am now 48) my digestive system gives me grief virtually every day. I have regular bloating, a very noisy gut with gurgling and growling, I get acid, I suffer awful, awful nausea, burping non stop sometimes (today I burped on/off from 8am-2pm), alternative between constipation and looser and lots of farting in the evenings. I feel like a huge bag of grumbling gas.
In 2019 I had a gastroscope, a colonoscopy, an ultra sound and ct scan, nothing found other than uterine polyps which I have had for 5 years and a small ovarian cyst which I have scanned every 3-4 months.
I have tried everything I can think of to tackle it, lots of meds which haven’t helped, I am on the low fodmap diet, dairy free, gluten free, no fizzy drinks, no alcohol, no tea or coffee, very little fatty food (basically no life atm!). I listen to gut directed hypnotherapy.
The doctors and gastroenterologists are no help at all. Say it’s ‘just’ IBS and leave me to it.
It’s the absolute worst of all the symptoms I have. If my digestive symptom was calm I could put up with the excessive anxiety, the restless nights, the low libido (although my husband may disagree lol), the achy muscles and joints, the tinnitus, the tiredness and general craziness but I can’t tolerate these daily digestive woes.
Anyone else out there suffering too? Is it a peri thing? No medical person has said it is but I don’t know what else other than my up and down hormones could be causing this?

Yep, my mid 20s IBS that has been under control for the last 20 years is back with a vengeance, along with the new joys of insomnia, itchy skin, anxiety, aching joints, horrendous menstrual flooding, fibroids, brain fog . . .

GCAcademic It’s enough to drive you insane. Bloody hormones, I had to have uterine polyps chopped away yesterday. My body is turning on me lol

Probiotics, 4 cups of strong peppermint tea a day and a stress free as possible life was my only cures.

Also have ovarian cysts.

I'm 48 and have had IBS all my adult life but like you I've had phases where it's been bad and other times where I've been more OK. For the last year it's been truly awful (I'm 49). Mine manifests as tummy cramps and diarrhoea, which makes working really, really difficult as I do a job where I can't just go to the loo when I need to. I feel like it can't be food-related as the slightest thing can set it off. I have also gone back to GPs and they have offered anti-depressants, which they say help for some people. I can believe they might work for people for whom stress is a cause, but it's just as likely to happen to me in the middle of a lovely relaxing lunch with a friend as when i am super stressed. I can't believe they would make any difference to me - and I am not depressed, just made miserable by this bloody condition. I do wonder if being peri-menopausal is making it worse.

Whoops, I have also clearly lost the plot and forgotten how old I am. Am 49. Was awake with tummy cramps all night and then up at 5 for work so somewhat past making sense today.

Yes! I have had mild IBS and a mild intolerance to gluten since I was young but when I hit about 42, I had constant bloating and burping, sleeping difficulties, acne..... it was awful.
Did a bit of reading and apparently, the change in hormone levels can exacerbate existing allergies or intolerances. I went gluten free and it changed everything. Sleeping better, my skin is clear, no bloating. It's worth trying.

Sorry, just re-read and seen you're already gluten free.

Are you by any chance using pessaries for vaginal dryness? Can't remember what they are called but GP prescribed them for me. After a few weeks I had digestive problems which is something I never suffer from. I stopped using them and those symptoms went away.

rjacksmiss I do need to try probiotics, it’s one thing I haven’t tried yet.
Biscuitsneeded it’s so inconvenient isn’t it. I drive as a job and live in constant fear of being caught shirt whilst on the motorway!
Mamalovebird I would so love it to be gluten or food related. I’ve kept a food diary for the last few years but just can’t see a connection.

Raera no I don’t but will remember that if I ever need them.

I think so. I'm 51 and I'm fine tbh no real menopause symptoms not even hot flushes but I had to give up milk as it was making me feel so nauseated. I only drink almond milk or soy milk now. Can't face real milk at all any more as it just makes me want to hurl. It is not the most common meno symptom but I did read it on a list (a long list!)

@Thewholeshackshimmy

GCAcademic It’s enough to drive you insane. Bloody hormones, I had to have uterine polyps chopped away yesterday. My body is turning on me lol

funny, I had uterine polyps removed about five years ago and my gut seems to be very noisy in the last couple of years too. Like, I'm not farting, no gas is escaping, but there are noises which other people could hear if they were standing near me.

thewholeshackshimmy
Just seen your post hence the delay

I am 49 and have been having digestive issues for a year

Constipation/ diarrhoea

Had investigations and blood tests

What has worked-

Reducing bread/wheat (only eat sourdough very occasionally)

Minimal milk/ replaced partially with soya, still have ice-cream and in tea/coffee

Also upped veg and fruit (to mitigate constipation)

Its awful and GP not interested

Yes definitely. I have something called a hiatal hernia which gives me indigestion. I had to have a gastroscopy last week and the lovely dr who did it said permimenopause can basically wreak havoc on the digestive system.

Absolutely. I've turned into such a fussy eater. Some things feel like I've drunk concentrated acid, particularly citrus and more than a smattering of tomato. Some run straight through me. I was already lactose intolerant, ffs! Chocolate and cheese give me full on pukey migraines. Pork grinds everything to a painful halt. Pastry gives me heartburn. Sugar and fermented foods like soy sauce give me palpitations. I made the mistake of making a big healthy stir fry with oyster sauce, before my first covid jab. Thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest (according to my fitbit, my he was already up before I started walking to the vaccination centre)

I can understand why old people like "plain food"