Digestive system has gone to pot since hitting Perimenopause.

[Septemberintherain]

Has anyone else experienced this?
I am 49 now and although I have had IBS since the age of 25 it wasn’t until I hit my mid 40’s that everything went haywire.
My symptoms are daily.
I have awful upper issues like acid, indigestion, burping and a really gurgling tummy. I get awful nausea, especially mid cycle (I still have a cycle and periods).
My lower gut also gurgles excessively, I have loads of gas, urgency in the mornings, sometimes diarrhoea and sometimes harder to go.
The tummy gurgling even wakes me up at night (along with the hot sweats!)
Its as though I hit this age and everything stopped working/functioning as it should.
I have been under the gastroenterology department for a few years and have had loads of tests. A gastroscope, colonoscopy and ct scan 3 years ago. Lots of ultra sound scans, a pill camera endoscopy this year too. I’ve been tested for coeliac disease and h pylori. I’ve had pelvic scans and a ca-125 blood test too.
The gastroenterologist says it’s just my IBS but it’s been so much worse since my mid 40’s. I asked him last week if peri could cause this? He said he had absolutely no idea and to ask a gynaecologist! Very helpful, especially as he is fully aware that a referral to a gynaecologist could mean a year long wait!
As luck would have it, I do have a gynaecologist appointment next month as I had a uterine ablation a few months ago, so I will ask him.
I am low fodmap, diary and gluten free. Only drink water. I’ve tried probiotics, kefir and all stuff recommended for IBS and indigestion etc.
But still the symptoms persist.
My only other conclusion is that my out of whack hormones must be causing this?
Has anyone else had issues since hitting Perimenopause or menopause?

I’ve been checked out by the GP - had a series of blood tests to rule out anything that might need looking at which came out clear apart from the FSH one for testing whether you’re in menopause and that was 51 which he said meant I was definitely in perimenopause and that was the end of the discussion really. It just leaves me thinking that it’s hormones and trying to manage it as best I can.

ammeg very similar symptoms to me. Are you in peri or post menopause? My GP won’t do any hormonal tests, she says that as I’m in peri my hormones will be up and down but she also won’t prescribe me HRT, keeps peddling antidepressants which she knows makes my symptoms worse!

My IBS got worse early to mid 40s and can now really interfere with my life. I use medication but it can still flare up and be really painful.

Stripyhoglets1 I’m sorry you have this too, it really interferes with me life as well, it’s so annoying. Can I ask what meds you use?

Mebeverine
Omeprazole
Amyltriptiline
Occasionally immodium

I was on the Amyltriptiline for pain anyway and then the gastro doc said it was useful for ibs too.

Hi, I know you posted this ages ago but I wondered if you had got to the bottom of this? I am the same especially the awful nausea mid cycle and am fed up trying to figure out why 😩

Hi, not exactly. My appetite has just completely changed and is less. I have hypothyroidism diagnosed now. It’s common in menopausal women but the symptoms overlap with menopause ones. I’m medicated for this but it makes your system run slower so maybe I’m not feeling the need for as much food. I’m also post menopause now with zero of my own hormones (blood tests show this) so on HRT and just started testosterone. I’m trying to eat for nutrition now as and when I’m hungry. So nutrient dense foods and less processed stuff. I haven’t felt nauseous really just disinterested in food somehow. I think the shifting hormones do all sorts of weird things but don’t dismiss symptoms as menopause if you think a trip to the GP is required.

@Robinmcbobbin

Oops, I replied but forgot to link you. You’ll see my response if you scroll up.

@Fififizz Thanks so much for replying. That’s really interesting as my thyroid has been mentioned before by a gp. Thanks again x

@Robinmcbobbin
I’m glad it helps. It’s been a long journey to trying to get my thyroid and hormones sorted. I’m better than I was but my appetite is definitely different now.

Septemberintherain sorry I have realised I hadn't replied to you now that this post has been resurrected. How are you? Yes, I agree about the pushing of the anti-depressants. Also the same with hrt which I also tried and found it did nothing to help my symptoms.

I'm taking Omeprazole every other day for my acid heartburn. The GP I spoke to said I shouldn't stay on it long-term and when I said the heartburn was linked to menopause and hormone imbalance, he completely disagreed and said it was diet related. But I know my body and the last time I had acid this bad was when I was pregnant!

I have the chuckling goat kefir. I think goats milk is usually fine where dairy isn’t

Does it taste 'goaty'?
We changed my ds over to goats milk when he was a child as he had huge eczema flare ups, it did the job and he enjoyed the milk. I tried it a few times but didn't enjoy it at all, it tasted how goats smell lol!

Cane to say i definitely got a lot of the same issues in peri. Since starting HRT they are loads better so i definitely can see they were associated.
mid cycle nausea still there though!

I think I am going to have to try hrt, I am really apprehensive as my mum has breast cancer but I am going crazy with all of these issues.

Did you try HRT in the end and has it helped? I know its only been a couple of months.