IBS diet and menstruation
#253525 - 03/21/06 01:50 PM
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Flipada
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 1026
Loc: West Michigan, USA
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I was diagnosed with IBS about a month ago. I'm sure I've been dealing with this for well over 10 years. I've been on Heather's diet for about a month as well. In some respects I'm doing better...feeling a little better but I still suffer from gas and bloat and my C seems to be getting worse. This is my first period since I've been on the diet and I'm miserable. This is my worst period since I was a teen (about 20 years ago)! I woke up at 2 a.m. last night with cramps and had to sit in the bathroom for awhile and take some ibuprofen to get back to sleep. I have TERRIBLE gas and bloat, some cramping and bad C. Is there any connection between the IBS diet here and my unusual period?
As a teen I had very bad periods...10 days, heavy for 5, hard cramping and I was an A. When I was 18, I went on the pill (my miracle drug). It changed my periods from 10 to 5 days with one day heavy and almost no cramping at all. I've been on Nuvaring for about 8 months and love it. But this is the first time I've had such bad symptoms. Is it just coincidental that it's so bad now and started the diet a month ago?
Anyone with the same probs?
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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Yep IBS tends to get worse with your period. I went to the doctor and was just put on BC to help with keeping my hormones more level. If all goes ok, Ill skip my period & get it every 3 months. I cant bear the cramps/ibs all at once!
Your story sounds exactly like mine!! Horrible cramps, so much pain for some reason only in the middle of the night. Buy Heathers fennel tea, awesome for bloating/gas. Also the Acacia really has helped me and others swear by it. It helps with both C & D. Also it will take a bit for the diet to kick in, its not a quick fix.
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What's BC?
Yes, I don't have Heather's tea but I have Aliva (sp?)...both Fennel and Peppermint teas. The peppermint was a life-saver tonight. I had awful nausea. I think it was that oops this afternoon. I had a small piece of my son's bday cake after work today. Ohhhhh. What a dummy. Might have been the frosting. Sometimes I just pick something up without thinking ...guess I haven't been on the diet long enough to where I don't have to think before I eat. I haven't noticed a big difference using the fennel tea for the gas/bloat though. I'm nervous about trying the Acacia because there's so many people that have said it made them feel worse. I just don't feel ready to try something that might make me feel bad because I'm feeling so rotten right now.
I feel like I'm a walking symptom. I've upped my AD's because I'm having a hard time dealing with all of this right now. I'm thankful that I don't have D like many on this board. I feel for you all. I don't know...just feel like with as yucky as I feel, I shouldn't complain because it could always be worse. Ever feel that way?
Maybe I just need to find a way out of my job. I teach High School and it's my biggest source of stress. Wouldn't that be nice.
Well....glad to hear I'm not alone.
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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Finding this website really saved me. I can finally go out and not have to worry about having an attack. My lifesaver is peppermint caps before a large meal, drinking lots and lots of peppermint, fennel, & camomelle teas, and starting a probotic.
As far as the bday cake, we all have been there, sweets are my weakness. Try and stick to the diet for a couple months, it really works. Try keeping a food journal, see what foods agree with you. I cant eat onions/garlic spicy foods dont agree with me. Pay attention with what works for you. Also, when you have a bloated upset tummy, a heating pad works wonders! Good luck! Your definately not alone!
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BC is birth control.
From what I've read Heather's teas are more potent than the ones bought at health food stores. I plan on buying some soon because I get lots of gas and bloating around the time of my period.
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Thanks everyone. I know I'm not alone....as is evidenced by this site but it sure does feel that way sometimes! At least now I don't feel quite so crazy...
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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I thought that I have read that BC can make IBS worse? DOes BC really help with the muscle spasms aka gas and gas sounds when you are PMSing?
I have IBS-C and that is the biggest thing that I notice and can't seem to make better.
I usually schedule a healing touch therapy session around that time, but it has not helped me the last few months.
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I'm in hell! I'm out of work today because of these cramps. I was in misery for about 6 hours with terrible cramps last night and they started up again this morning. I don't understand why this is happening. I was recently diagnosed but I've had IBS as far as I know, for about 10 years. So why now? I did switch to Nuvaring 8 months ago but..why? I'm so miserable and so frustrated. I took ibuprofen and used the heating pad and I'm afraid to eat anything. Could this be something else?
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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It definetly could be something worse. If you haven't normally experienced this much pain, then I suggest you go to the doctor.
Is the pain from cramps just overall worse? Or any localized cramping worse? And also, do you have endometriosis?
I hope you feel better soon,
Kat
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Kat
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It's been bothering me since Mon....when my period started although I was able to make it through the day at work. It was bothering me most in the morning and the evening. I'd feel better during the afternoon. But last night was unbearable. The closest thing I can compare it to was labor. Not just before delivering...but the beginnings of labor. It was a near constant achy and cramping. My mom told me to call the doctor but I didn't know if I should. Apparently she had fibroid tumors and had to have a hysterectomy. She also put endometriosis in my mind. As far as I know, I don't have either. I just had a check up with the OBGYN earlier this month. But maybe I'll call. I just hate to right now when now...right now...I'm feeling better. But, I'll kick myself if I start hurting again after the office is closed. Okay....I'll call.
Thanks for listening.
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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Not that this helps you know, but my periods used to be brutal IBS wise. Now that I am menopausal symptoms are much more managable. I feel bad for you. I never new what was wrong with me until after I stopped having my periods. I thought it was just the way my periods affected me. I didn't know until know until now that there was an actual diet for IBS.
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Definetly call you obgyn, she may want to do an ultrasound just to make sure. Maybe she can recommend a better pain medication to take as well. Since you are calling now, then if it's bad next month too she'll be able to know that ok, this isn't a one-time bad luck thing.
Don't suffer in silence!
Hope you feel better,
Kat
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Kat
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Well, I called and they didn't seem too concerned. She told me I could take 4 ibuprofen every 8 hours and that I should do that continually for a couple of days to keep ahead of it. She said though that if I have another couple periods like this one to call back and prob. come in.
So far I'm okay today. Tired, I'm sure from all that pain last night but I'm planning to be back to work tomorrow. Boy o boy that was a rough night...
Thanks everyone!
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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If your periods are regular or if you can tell about when they are going to start, start taking your IB a couple days before your period starts. I use to have to take 800 mg every 6 hours because the pain was so bad I couldn't even stand up. Horrible stabbing pains when I had even the slightest amount of gas moving around in me. And the cramps themselves were incapacitating. It turned out I had ovarian cysts, which they had to do an ultrasound to find. A regular gyno exam isn't enough to see them. Until they were taken care of, I used the IB the week before and the week of my period. 800 mg every 6 hours with a meal. And lots of hot tea. The heat helped to relax my insides so I wouldn't spasm. And hot baths whenever I could also to relax my stomach. I would insist on an ultrasound even if they aren't concerned. This is unusual and it is interfering with your life. They should be doing something to help you instead of telling you to experience a couple more first. It is also possible that it's related to the BC. Sometimes several months can pass before side effects turn up. The easiest way to test that is, of course, to stop using it and see what happens. But you may have to be off it a few months to be sure.
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If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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Thanks for the advice. I'll probably talk to the dr. again tomorrow. I was feeling better this afternoon before it started up early evening and here I am in bed again. I can't believe I'm taking time off of work for this! Another day out of school..I'm trying not to feel guilty even though we have no subs that can teach in my area so now two days are basically a waste.  But, tomorrow is supposed to be the end of my period so, we'll see how this thing ends. Ughhh.
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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Re: I agree
#254094 - 03/23/06 06:49 PM
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K2
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: Canada
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Good advice on how to deal with the pain, especially starting the Ibuprofen before your cramps fully start (at least for next month).
Wait for the next period and see how it goes, and the next.. That's exactly what I went through and for no reason. They can help you now, at least by doing an ultrasound to rule out anything like cysts. You should also talk to them about the BC and what options you may have there.
Sorry to hear you're having another bad night. Hang in there, and give the doc a call in the morning.
Kat
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Kat
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I also had horrid periods as a teen and pre-teen (started up with my 2nd period, when I was 11), and the Pill is definitely my friend! However, when I was a teen, I got introduced to naproxen sodium, which is a lifesaver for cramps. You can now buy it OTC as Aleve. You definitely have to take it with food, and start it at the first hint of cramps, but it does amazing things!
Now, I can generally handle my cramps with heating pads and peppermint (tea and pills), but I'd definitely pick up some Aleve if I thought the really bad stuff was coming back.
--AC
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I was just poking around here for ideas on how to deal with bloating before/during my period when I cane across this thread. I am SOOOOO blowing up right now! I was going to take Pamprin or something like that, but they all have caffeine! I'm not a big fennel fan, though. Any other ideas?  Thanks as always!
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IBS-C
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Hey I just wanted to see how you were doing. I can SOOO relate. I am doing my student teaching this semester in library science and when its time for my period- I cramp really bad. The first day and sometimes the second day of my period I cant do anything or go anywhere. The menustral cramps make my IBS 10000 times worse and I am IBS D. I dont know whatin the heck I am going to do when I am actually working. Did you get to go back to school on ur last day?
Let me know how you are doing..
Cindy
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Cindy,
I'm feeling better, thanks for asking. I had 3 days of really bad cramping...worse than I've had since I was a teen. I took lots of ibuprofen and used the heating pad a lot. I missed two days of school and then had the weekend to finish recovering. By Monday, I was feeling well enough to go back. Of course then my cold got really bad and I've had no voice for two days! But since I'd already taken those days off and several for my kids this year, I had to be in school. I sure had to be creative with lesson planning. I did a lot of writing!
My prob now is bad C....going on 5 days without more than just a couple strained little pieces. I've been taking Benefiber and eating prunes. Man, when I finally go, it'll be something!
I appreciate your concern. I was really freaking out for awhile. I was so sick. I don't know what I'd do without the support and input from everyone on this site. I would really feel alone otherwise.
And hey...good luck with that student teaching! This is year 13 for me.
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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