Can menopause trigger or exacerbate digestive issues?

[Dustmaiden]

I am 50 and feel I’ve been in peri from the age of 45/46 when things started to go tits up with my physical and mental health.

I can’t say I’ve had too many day or night sweats although I do get them from time to time but I do have zero libido these days, aches and pains worse than ever before, anger and rage, low tolerance to many things, dry and sore down below, dry and itchy skin etc.

Tbh, I can put up with all the above but the issue(s) which are a huge concern for me is awful, awful anxiety and depression (trying to work on this) and the most terrible exacerbation of my 25 year long struggle with digestive issues (diagnosed with IBS).

I have had endless gastro tests over the last 2 years and (thankfully) all come back clear but I just can not get a grip of these daily digestive woes and that alone is causing me untold anxiety and depression (actually feel I’d be free of my mental health issues if only my guts were calm, vicious cycle , I know).

I have nausea, burping, acid, bloating, farting excessively, gurgling and growling guts, I’m IBS-d so often have an upset tummy and urgency in the morning.

I’ve tried everything, literally everything to ease these symptoms (diets, various foods, eliminating certain foods, probiotics, live yogurt and kefir, medication, alternative medication and hypnotherapy), you name it, I’ve tried it. I tried hrt patches and they made things worse.

The more I look into this (I keep a symptom and food diary) the more I’m convinced that a lot of my symptoms are becoming cyclical with my menstrual cycle. The nausea is worse mid cycle for instance.

Has anyone else found this to be an issue?

Oh and for the last 18 months I have also been experiencing this weird thing where I can smell cigarette smoke. This seems to come about during mid cycle too and that really exacerbates the nausea.

AFAIK yes, a lot of women experience digestive symptoms during peri/menopause and women like you (and me) who have IBS as well are bound to be affected even worse.

I have IBS-C and around the age of 46 I had a sudden onset of severe acid reflux. It was so bad that if I lay on my back I'd feel the acid coming up my oesophagus and nearly vomit. After two months of investigations I was put on Lansoprazole (a proton-pump inhibitor), which I now take every morning, and that largely solved it, although I do sometimes need to chew a few Rennies in the evening.

I'm certain it was peri-related however, as around that time I also managed (after several attempts) to get my GP to let me try HRT. I already had a Mirena coil for erratic periods and was then put on Oestrogel as well. The combination of the three medications has completely changed my life and any symptoms I have now are very manageable. I also eat Kefir regularly, carefully avoid my trigger foods, don't eat gluten and took up regular, vigorous exercise in my mid-40s - all of which are also key to my health, happiness, good sleep, etc. I hope you find a solution

I recall being told by colleagues when I was late 30s (they were approx 10 years older) that digestive problems increased in menopause.

With me, I think I have slight IBS anyway but have tried to manage it myself and avoid trigger foods.

Stomach upsets and diarrhoea is more common but I have peppermint tablets which help with that.

I've definitely noticed a change and it's not for the better. I wouldn't normally have digestive issues, but I'm a lot more unsettled without having done anything to change my diet or habits. Sympathy, Op.