Digestive System gone to Hell !

[SuperBlondie28]

Hi all, Hope anyone can offer some advice.

Since 2014 I've really suffered with my digestive system. I suspect it was/it is perimenopause related although I think I'm through peri now.

I suffer with constipation a lot. My insides never feel comfortable. I'm bloated sometimes, sore like a bruised feeling inside after a bowel movement, in pain below my belly button (pelvic region) sometimes. When I say constipation, I'm meaning I just don't go much at all. When said BM's do emerge, they aren't rock hard. I've tried to explain this all to the useless doctor's before and they've palmed me off with Laxido, Movicol and testing my stool for blood which came back 'normal'. I've also said that I can't be doing with laxatives because I have a 10 minute and then a 40 minute bus journey to work each day and don't want to be caught short. Only once a day luckily. I don't drive yet.

The things the Dr's have said to combat constipation food wise are exactly the things which cause me trapped wind and heaps of pain. Such as legumes, brown bread, all bran. Sometimes I'll have a apple or banana for example and my tummy will blow up like a balloon and I'll know the extreme pain is trapped wind and sorry for this, fart out mucus eventually which has been blood tinged.

I do not understand how my husband can fart so easily..😷or it a man thing in general ?

The constipation causes urinary issues too as the poop/wind is pressing against my bladder so i'm either peeing a lot or struggling to get pee out when I need to pee.

I exercise, have a healthy diet but really don't eat that much as the constipation makes me feel full all the time. No, I don't think I have ovarian cancer as I'd be long dead by now if it was that 😟I don't believe I have IBS either as my friend has that and I don't get diarrhoea or really painful cramps.

I'm on HRT but these problems began 7 yrs before I started it.

Thanks xx

You sound impacted and like you need an impaction regimen to clear you out. Does your Dr actually feel your tummy to see if they can feel if your bowel is stuffed full

Hydration tablets or soluble vitamin tablets

Seriously.

Too much extra fibre when your body isn't used to it can cause problems in its own right as you don't adjust your hydration and you need more. It just gets stuck.Too much hydration and you just piss all the time and don't get the salts you need either.

Watch the amount of bread you have too.

You have to get the balance right.

Id actually cut back a little on the fibre and up the hydration.

Also breathing exercises as they use the same muscles as your guts but without straining them. Do a long breathe out as much as you can. Repeat.

Good sleep patterns and general food routine. (Skipping too many meals cause a problem).

I have this too. You have my sympathy. Mine flares when I can't sleep. Amitriptyline and Buscopan help a bit for the pains. I'm the same with diet as you.

You mention blood tinged mucus - Have the docs considered IBD/Crohns?

Have you tried any exclusion diets to see if it’s any particular food that causes it? (Other than fibre which you’ve stated)

Have you tried any probiotics to help your gut?

Mine was caused by vitamin B12 deficiency- who knew!!

I have a similar problem. I've seen gastro and been tested. They think IBS but I don't agree. IBS meds make no difference. I can only tolerate very low fibre diet.

So I've been advised to eat soluable fibre, take probiotics, lots of Laxido and see a psychologist for vagus nerve breathing exercises (I think). I'm told they don't know so much about motility problems.

I'm waiting to see gynae to see if it could be a prolapse causing it. And also having some blood tests to see if anything obvious comes up.

If you haven't yet why not ask for a gastro referral? They can rule out several possible issues.

Thats useful.

This is great advice everyone. Thank you!

No, I've not been to the Dr's for a while. Haven't mentioned the bloody mucus as I only noticed it a couple of times.

I just kinda suffer it. Chug down the peppermint tea. When really bloated, hot water bottle if at home. Constipation side - milk of magnesium Fri night, drink loads next day, usually go at some point and then get that bruised sore feeling in pelvic region. Feel tired afterwards.

I've literally adjusted my wardrobe around these issues. We're talking elastic waist bands lol... Definitely no jeans... I used to love wearing jeans 😢

I've done flaxseed, have Activia yoghurt, tried Prune juice, all sorts. No exclusion diet as I'm aware of what I can tolerate and can't.

Wow! You just described me @SuperBlondie28

I've had exactly the same issues during/since peri/menopause and I firmly believe the two are connected. Not that that helps much.

The slow gut motility - rather than bunged up/constipation and the excessive, uncomfortable, bloating wind.

My GP also fixated on "constipation = hard poo and difficult to go". No! That's not what's happening. I just "don't go" or don't get the urge to go very often but when I do it's soft and easy enough. Possibly TMI but, when I do go it's pretty smelly but I put that down to the fact that food has been rotting/fermenting in my digestive tract for a few days before it's released into the wild.

I found the main aggressor was insoluble fibre - wheat mainly, particularly if paired up with tomatoes/acidic foods. So I knocked brown/wholemeal bread on the head and ate a really bland diet (for me that was white bread, eggs, cottage cheese and chicken) for about a week (loosely based on the FODMAP - fermentable foods theory). The change/improvement was HUGE and noticeable within a few days.

When I reintroduce wholemeal products into my diet in any great quantity, the problems return.

Oh, and dried fruit - that seems to disagree with me too.

Oh and the B12 deficiency? Yes. But I think that is as a result of having the digestive issues and not being able to absorb the nutrients properly. (for me, anyway).

Have you tried taking magnesium supplements? I take mine for a different issue, but they definitely activate my bowel the following morning 😬

I take Ultra Magnesium by Vitabiotics

A couple of friends have found they have diverticulitis as they've got older. That flares up with certain foods and causes digestive issues.

Those food suggestions from your gp are from the 1985 handbook. Try ground linseed in your porridge every day, preferably soaked overnight. Eat more fruit, especially oranges, at least one a day. More importantly, you need to relax: peace & quiet, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises (v important) etc.

I was once told that pregnancy can cause / cure food intolerances as the huge fluctuations in hormones play havoc with your gut biome. Makes sense that peri/menopause would have the same effects.

Doesn't help you fix it, but you're definitely not mad to suspect a link

Oranges are terrible for any IBS type symptoms. Way too acidic and quite a lot of fibre.

The go to is usually apple juice. I drink it every day. Avoid citrus.

Yes, thsi is me too and what I have been describing to the doctor. Infrequent pooing and when it happens , it makes things worse.

I think IBS is a catch all diagnosis.

I confess to a poor diet. But perimenopause made everything worse.

I did have a gallstone removed . This solved some acute issues such as vomiting .

Awful isn't it ?

I used to be a once a day kinda girl. No foods disagreed with me, although I never liked brown bread even as a child lol !

For me, its the lack of loo time that gets me down the most. Leaves me feeling very tired and sluggish. I never even suffered with constipation in my 1 pregnancy. I was 24 though. Maybe age really does slow down the digestive system or speed it up in some cases. Its shite either way 😢

I had this with low B12 aswell.

I don't like oranges although don't mind orange juice. Its a texture thing.
As for peace & quiet, I wish. I can't even read a book without DH or DD wondering if i've been kidnapped and coming to find me.

Can't be having morning poops. My 40 min bus journey would be messy then but thanks for the suggestion.