Signs of early menopause? And the effects it has on IBS.....
#21205 - 09/19/03 10:21 AM
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Nugget
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 2167
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I am just curious if any of you have gone through the same symptoms I am going through currently.
I am having abdominal pain and cramp like pains in my lower hips (butt cheek muscles) and sometimes down the backs of my thighs. I feel bloated in my tummy (i call it my kangaroo pouch) and tired and irritable. Not sleeping well because of the pains. Am taking Advil for it and it seems to ease for a while. I thought maybe my back was out of alignment so I went to the chiropractor a couple times this week and it eased a little bit, but today it is bad again. I hate to get graphic, but my breasts are tender like the always are before my monthly cycle and I think all this could just be my body getting ready for my cycle because I notice it happening more on a monthly basis. Could I possible be going through an early "change"? Anyone else experience this? My GYN said that I have a tipped uterus and that could be part of the pain and that I am at that age when my cycle could start to change (35yrs old).
I was just curious if this is because of my monthly cycle or if it is the IBS or a combination of the two.
Thanks!
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I am 44 and have the hot flashes, weird emotions, night sweats, tender breasts, and unusual periods, and all that does affect your IBS. However, I've never heard of the cramps in your buttocks or upper legs. You might want to go for a physical. Could be something else is up. Thirty-five would be young for the pre-menopausal stuff, though not unheard of. My hot flashes started when I was 39.
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Hi--I'm going through perimenopause, and I have had some of these symptoms. I was particularly interested when you mentioned the pain in buttocks and down the thigh. I get this too, and doctors have not been able to figure it out. I feel it's actually related to the worsening of my IBS, however. When you have that kind of pain, is it solely related to your cycle, or does it correspond with worse IBS symptoms?
Don't have any answers, but it is interesting to finally hear someone else mention this very same symptom, which I've been trying to figure out for over a year.
Hope you get to feeling better.
Judithg
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Thank you for your reply Judith. I'm like you, it's good to hear someone else is experiencing the same thing. The pain I described doesn't happen regularly, but I notice that when it does happen it is usually around my cycle. I also have very difficult cycles every other month.
Stay in touch.
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Thanks, Busymom....I just recently went for a physical and mentioned all of this and nothing unusual showed up. Said it could just be my cycle is starting to fluctuate. Frustrating to say the least. I always jokeingly say I know God is a man because if He were a woman, men would have to go through the things we go through. Ha!
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this can be from IBS or, more likely, from uterine cramps. The nerves in the abdomen that are affected can radiate pain either up the back into your shoulders, or down the back through your hips and thighs. This isn't all that uncommon, though it's not exactly what you need on top of everything else. 
Heat can work wonders for these type of cramps - hot packs, hot tubs, hot baths, anything that gets direct intense heat on those muscles. And if it's uterine cramping, the NSAID painkillers can help, though you have to take them with food or they can cause GI side effects, so they're a double-edged sword.
The hot strong herbal teas can help too, as they are smooth muscle relaxants, so if anything is spasming they'll work on that.
Sorry...I really hope you're feeling better soon.
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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And yet they die sooner.........
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Thank you Heather....
Could it possibly be uterine cramps even though I haven't actually started my period yet, but am about a week away?
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Ohhh...well that would be a bit odd. I'm honestly not sure, and I'd call your ob/gyn to check on that.
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Sometimes I think this pain is worse around my cycle, but I can't seem to tell for sure. Sometimes it just seems worse when I have bad attacks of C or D. But sometimes those attacks happen around my period, so it's confusing!! I'm going to try to watch it more closely for a couple of months and see.
Let me know if you find anything out.
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So, all of our challenges make us stronger?!
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Could be. I haven't figured that one out yet. 
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Hi Judith,
I'm in the same boat as your are. Tell me have you found anything else out at all. My back, hip, thigh and /or leg pain is unbearable at times. I'm at a loss ! Help!
Thank you!
Kim
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I am in ultra early menopause (I'm only 31) and have been in menopause since my early twenties.
Get a bone density scan. Seriously. I had no idea I had osteopenia. It might explain some of the pain, or be totally irrelevant.
Kate, IBS-D.
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I'm 38, and I am also experiencing some of these same symptoms. The lower back pain, hot flashes ect.. describe my body up to 12 days prior to my cycle. Symptoms vary from month to month but seem to be right before my cycle and getting worse. I've got an appointment to see my gyn in a few weeks.
Let's try to help each other on this one shall we? This is worrisome to say the least! Not to mention so uncomfortable!!
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God is Faithful!
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Based on my description, she thinks my hot flashes are not hormonal but perhaps related to thyroid or blood sugar problems. My cycle itself hasn't changed, so that indicates estrogen levels are fine, and hot flashes are not at night and don't include night sweats, indicating no drop in progesterone. Since I'm still on my pills, and my hot flashes are showing up at the same time every day - from noon to three - that would be a greater indicator of suger or thyroid problems.I am to start a diary of what/when I eat and when/how long the hot flashes last and follow-up next month at my annual. If I'm still having them, I'll have to go back to my internal med guy and get some bloodwork done.
Oh, and she gave me some low-dose prozac to take only during my PMS week. Just wanted to let you know.
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God is Faithful!
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NUGGET!
#228598 - 12/01/05 03:07 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hey Pretty Lady! How WONDERFUL to see you around here!
I've been menopausal for 23 years now. I don't ever recall experiencing what you described. Have you had any feelings of extreme heat flushing up through your body and into your head, such that you feel as though someone suddenly threw you into an oven? And then it goes away in a matter of minutes? Are you having crying fits for no reason? Do you get emotional when you open your mouth to speak but nothing comes out except tears?
Really, it doesn't sound like menopause to me. The tiredness and irritability could be, but the pain isn't at all similar. Don't know about a tipped uterus 'cause I never had a uterus!
Gee, it's good to see you again. I've missed ya, Girlfriend!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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