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Menopause

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Original poster

Indigestion-am I doomed to eating Rennie’s forever?!

27 replies

LittleMy77 · 30/09/2023 21:23

I know peri & menopause can play havoc with your digestion, and you start to not be able to tolerate certain food, but is there a tipping point of ‘not normal’?

After another evening of crippling indigestion and 4 rennies eaten in 1 go, I’m reflecting on what I now can’t eat / find v difficult to digest. Tonight was chicken tandoori and cauliflower aloo - never had an issue but now I’ve got more gas than a soda stream! I’ve also found thoughts of certain food elicit a ‘nope’ reaction when i think of them (I’ve never had any issues with food / ED etc) namely

  • apples with skins on (indigestion)
  • peppers with skins on, and green peppers generally (indigestion)
  • tomatoes make me feel weird, and some tomato sauce / passata I find way too acid
  • cauliflower, celeriac and broccoli 80% of the time gives me gas
  • plain yoghurt and sometimes egg make me feel weird (altho tbf i used to have dairy and egg allergy as a kid so i think thats psychosomatic)
  • big mushrooms make me want to heave (small ones weirdly are ok)
  • spicy food - love it, but it’s starting to hate me
  • citrus fruits (prob unsurprisingly) are also gas giving

And there’s a few more. I suspect a trend with nightshade and root veg but can’t pin it down. I try and eat a lot of veg and this is massively impacting that! i’m basically down to courgettes, types of peas and beans and carrots (i’ve never been able to tolerate lentils so stay away from them and go easy on pulses) and fruit is berries

I had allergy and intolerance testing done this year and it didn’t mention any of the above (i’m not sure i fully buy into whether it works anyway) I’ve also done two stints on low carb which did help a bit, but i don’t love the high dairy / meat content to keep protein up

Is this all inevitable with peri?!

OP posts:
SillySausagez · 30/09/2023 21:24

Going gluten free stopped mine overnight

Mehmehmehmehmeg · 30/09/2023 21:25

If I were you I would eat extremely simply for a few weeks and slowly reintroduce food to see how you react.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 30/09/2023 21:31

Have you tried esomeprazole or some other PPI to reduce acid, rather than antacids after the fact?

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 30/09/2023 21:33

Do you still have your gallbladder?

WinterDipper · 30/09/2023 21:34

I’ve had Omeprazole which has been amazing And I’ve gone gluten free together it sorted the issue - however there’s a thread in here about how being on Omeprazole longer term isn’t great, so I’m trying to wean myself off them and I’m back to burning heart burn & lots of wind again!

Remaker · 30/09/2023 21:36

I lived on Rennies for years then when I was hospitalised for a different issue I mentioned my reflux and my surgeon prescribed Pantoprazole which is a PPI. Absolute game changer! I haven’t had reflux for 6 months and I don’t even take the meds every day (maybe every 3 days currently). I can eat anything including foods that were once guaranteed to give me terrible heartburn.

Original poster
LittleMy77 · 30/09/2023 21:40

Interesting on the GF! I love bread so much the thought of giving it up is a sad one, but maybe it’s time

@XDownwiththissortofthingX no, not yet, but basically because it’s just dawned on me what a recurring issue it is! will take a look at that

@MooseBeTimeForSnow yep, still gave my gallbladder. I’ve had friends who had terrible issues with theirs and no longer have them - i don’t seem to share most of their classic symptoms tho

OP posts:
MrsDeaconClaybourne · 30/09/2023 21:40

I’m sorry you are all suffering but so glad to read this! I had never thought of putting this down as a menopause symptom but have heartburn so often! I did take Ompeprazole daily in the summer on holiday and it definitely helps but don’t know if I want to do that every day. I haven’t noticed any sort of pattern with what causes it. I had wondered if it was to do with being a bit heavier than I’d like but I’m only about half a stone or so overweight so shouldn’t be really significant.

Silverdogblue · 30/09/2023 22:26

I don’t think Rennie’s are a great long term solution. Chronic reflux can cause changes to the lining of your oesophagus so definitely get it checked out by your GP, maybe after you’ve tried some of the exclusion stuff recommended above so you can give a really clear history.

Badatmostthings · 30/09/2023 22:31

Not eating after 7pm is the only thing that works for me. Otherwise I'm using 3 pillows and chugging on gaviscon.

LonelyFlans · 30/09/2023 22:33

Probiotics have got rid of the need for omeprazole here

GuardiansPlayList · 30/09/2023 22:36

A third vote for gluten free here.
Also have a look at Becky Excell’s books - she states how to make the meals low FODMAP as well as dairy free.

Moopyhereagain · 30/09/2023 22:37

Depressingly I can’t eat bread or pasta any more or I’m a farty/bloated mess with indigestion. Virtually cutting out made a lot of difference to me. I occasionally have a small bit of home made sour dough as that seems a bit better. Flipping menopause messing with our guts!

mynumber · 30/09/2023 23:17

I recommend Omeprazole.
@WinterDipper can you please link to the Omeprazole thread - it's can't find it.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/09/2023 23:22

Instead of just accepting this I think you should see your GP.

JinglingSpringbells · 01/10/2023 09:03

@LittleMy77 It doesn't sound like indigestion.

All your symptoms sound like an intolerance to certain foods that are high FODMAP.

Any allergy tests you have had a are pretty useless (unless done as skin prick tests by a specialist doctor- not a 'nutritionist') as the only true test is an elimination diet.

Research FODMAPS and start by following the 8-week elimination diet.

https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/

Fodmaps were first discovered at Monarsh University (Australia) and it's now pretty mainstream treatment in the UK for IBS and digestive issues. There are specially trained dieticians and ideally you should work with them. One is Marianne Williams, see her website WiseDiet.co.uk

iamthattree · 01/10/2023 09:25

Oh the heartburn! I have seen gp and have a ppi on prescription which keeps it under control but I don't like taking every day.

Also bloating and burping and farting (oh my!)

Things which help me are less bread/oats, drinking kefir everyday, staying away from acidic foods. Exercise. Magnesium.

I am quite overweight and have a family history of hiatus hernia though so perhaps it's just that catching up with me.....

Beginningless · 01/10/2023 09:28

If you are on TikTok Barbara o neill has some great videos about this.

WinterDipper · 01/10/2023 15:16

@LonelyFlans any particular ones? As I’m keen to try anything to ease these symptoms

Squirrelsnut · 01/10/2023 15:19

Lanzoprazole did the trick. I had heartburn so savage they thought I was having a heart attack.

LonelyFlans · 01/10/2023 15:19

Biokult are the ones we're using at the moment. I was really surprised that they made such a difference.

Original poster
LittleMy77 · 02/10/2023 11:53

Thanks all! Some interesting info and follow up on here -certainly good for thought (crap pun intended 😉)

OP posts:
BucksOxonMum · 02/10/2023 11:57

I suffer with awful heartburn/acid reflux. Well, used to - I’ve recently trained as a reflexologist and do a hand sequence that literally stops it in its tracks! I’ve not had to take a Rennie in about 4 months! My clients have had a lot of success with it too. I have the video on my website, not sure if I’m allowed to post it here though?

Aworldofmyown · 02/10/2023 12:03

Probiotics also helped me. I haven't taken omeprazole in months.
I got mine from Nutriadvanced.
I do also have to avoid bread and fatty foods, but that is still the same with Omeprazole!

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