Menstration and IBS?
#273243 - 07/09/06 09:37 PM
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Now, after diagnosis with IBS-C after 3 painful attacks landing me in the hospital 8 months ago, I've bought the books, changed my eating habits, added a digestive aid, a pro-biotic, multi-vitamen, as well as an anti-spasmodic to my eating regime, and lost about 30 pounds through diet and exercise. Lots of trial-and-error, but finally towards the end of May to the month of June I felt control returning to my life. It was working well, and aside from afew gas-related issues after going to sleep too soon after eating or having something made of soy, was pretty satisfied with my ability to handle things. However.. the past three months have confused me. Every single time I have had my period I have had an attack. Each period they only seem to worsen. This latest has been the worst I have seen since my time in the hospital. I was awoken from sleep not more then 30 minutes after having laid down with increasingly bad gas pain. I took a levsbid, hopped in a hot shower, and settled again. No good. I eventually found sleep with the aid of 1 extra-strength tylenol. I awoke perfectly fine, took another levsbid, and went about my day. Only.. I now believe myself to have been constipated, as this only made it worse. More pain killers, and about 9 hours in intense pain with doctors telling me nothing more then "hang in there and wait it out". Do you have any idea how hard it is to simply "wait it out" when you've been reduced to your knees? It's traumatizing! Now it's two days later. With the aid of a stool softener I was able to have a minor bowel movement, but no more since although I can certainly feel it in there, and am certain to be constipated. As levsbid only worsens constipation for me now, I am roughing out the whole "eating" thing with some beano and walking after every meal to promote digestion. I did have some pain, admittedly, while walking, but a maximem strength gas-x assisted so I could continue. While I think my system is still re-starting, it's scary for me. I'm only 19, I'm supposed to be going off to college, but am now seriously wondering if I could make it on my own. I feel like an invalid, stuck inside the house only to be forced to tough out what I can only call a torturous situation that I have to look forward to every month? I can't stand it. How can a person witness this much pain without being mortally harmed? I'm scared this will kill me, despite being assured otherwise. I'm sure you lot have faced this all before, so help a girl out.. what should I do?
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Yea...
#273251 - 07/10/06 03:40 AM
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Natalie1985
Reged: 08/09/04
Posts: 1329
Loc: UK - Leeds for uni, Merseyside for home!
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IBS and MENSTRUATION are NOT a good mix...funny you should post this now as I am on my period at the moment and have had an aweful attack this morning...its the one time a month when I find it VERY difficult to control...I've talked to countless doctors, professionals and people on here about it...and heather suggests the best way to try and control it around tha time is to eat SUPER SAFE just before and during you're period. I know it definately makes a difference with me...I sometimes just eat super bland to make sure I have no problems or atleast very little.
I just wanted to ask....you have been properly tested for all other things apart from IBS havent you?? ie colonoscopy, endoscopy, gastroscopy, bareum, scans???
I remember going through a time when the pain was absolutely HORRENDOUS and I understand you completely when you think you might die...I have had pain thats made me pass out before and its aweful....you really do wonder how you stay alive when your body feels like its caving in inside of you.
Have you considered hypnotherapy?? That is what changed my life...the hypnosis was AMAZING for pain management and also for dealing with the time of the month. I used the hypno cd's and then was lucky enought to see Michael in person and he did a special sessions for me all about controlling the IBS during menstruation....its something to think about because it has definately helped me. I haven't had the pain I used to have for a long time.
However, this morning my period is affecting it, but to be honest thats my own fault for having porridge for breakfast....unfortunately porridge and period and me don't like each other! 
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 Natalie
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I had a lot of problems too with IBS and menstruation. I found a lot of relief from both by going on the birth control pill. I'm not sure how bad your menstrual symptoms are, but going on the pill pretty much got rid of my C. I used to have C the first 4-5 days, then attacks of D the rest of the time. Now I'm never C (unless I take too much Immodium). I think it would be worth it for you to consider it, and also to talk to a doctor about your menstrual cycle. It could be that your IBS is only acting up because of worsening menstrual symptoms.
Goodluck,
Kat
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Kat
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Thank you for the reply!
Yes, I've certainly had my share of testing. Colonoscopy, barium endoscopy, blood tests, etc. That alone has given me enough fear and eversion of the medical science without the whole, you know, IBS thing.
My mother had actually suggested hypnotherapy and up until now I was skeptical. However with all of the mentions in the book and considering I've just about exhasted all of my resources as far as pills are concerned, what could it hurt? I'm willing to try anything at this point.
I am happy in a bitter sort of way that I'm not the only one who has felt that before. I really felt so alone going through that as my mother here could do nothing but watch the preceedings. Times like those you wonder how you're going to recover, you know? Slowly and surely, I suppose, but it's so tiresome going from one day eating normally to the next half the portion size and blanded down. How depressing!
What was hypnotherapy like for you?
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Hey Mermaid,
I was reading your post from last month, and thought I'd respond in case someone (you?) still see it...
I also experienced some crazy IBS flares during PMS time. I get pain and some pretty intense nausea/bloating with my IBS, so no fun around this time. Eating is pretty much out since I'm thisclose to gagging anyhow...so no food help for me.
I've been doing Hypno (Audio 100) CD's for about 50 days - give or take a few. Hypno has been GREAT overall!! I slept SO well after starting which helps me a ton with symptoms, and I didn't see terrible IBS symptoms for a couple months after (around PMS time) like I had prior.
One caveat (& I'm sitting in this situation as I write) - No amount of hypno - or even really good eating - will prevent an attack if you fall prey to the PMS munchies. Nowhere in the diet does it say subsisting on popcorn and M&M's and Starbucks drinks are a good thing. And that's what genius me has chosen to do the last couple days. I'm paying for it tonight. =(
So you should see success from the hypno as long as you don't go hog-wild breaking all the rules in other areas. 
~ E.
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East Palo Alto, CA (San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley)
IBS-C, pain, nausea
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