Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Anti-Depressants and Contraceptive Pill

Kerrie,
I can certainly relate to your situation as mine is almost exactly the the same.
My IBS was awful before I fell pregnant and is only just settling since my periods have started properly again and also since I have been taking anti-deppressants. Before my pregnancy, my periods had been non-existant for years. After a miscarriage, things weren't too good again but once I fell pregnant the second time, I have to say that my symptoms did seem to settle down a bit. I am sure a lot of my problems are linked to hormones and in particular a lack of progesterone. I actually took progesterone at the beginning of my pregnancy '(three months) which was really helpful. I wouldn't like to make any reccommendations but you may like to get your homones checked out and talk it over with your doctor or better still, a gyneocologist. I still have symptoms of IBS-D round about the time when estrogen peaks (ovulation and a week or so before my period) which makes me even more convinced that estrogen dominance or low progesterone have an effect on me.
As for the anti-deppressant, I am taking cipromil which is similar to floroxetine and at night, a small dose of amytriptyline (a tricylclic as opposed to an SSRI). I really don't know whether these have been helpful as my symptoms continued when I was on them. I think the amytriptyline has been more helpful for me as it slows down bowel movements and I think it has helped to calm my nerves. My symptoms have also improved enormously since starting Heathers diet, as for me, it brought the pleasure and took away the fear of eating .
I wonder how long it has been since you stopped the medication and whether you stopped it gradually (in the case of the anti-deppressant) as I believe if you cut it out to quickly, you can experience bad side effects.
I would say give it some time for your body to get used to the changes and if things don't settle within a month or so, go to a doctor or gyno to see if hormones are at work. Otherwise, maybe you are going to have to accept to have to go through a bit of a difficult period to achieve the wonderful reward of a baby at the end.
I would also suggest, if you don't already, doing yoga. That too has brought an amazing improvement in my IBS symptoms and in general made me feel calmer. Yoga is great to do during pregnancy too.

Well, sorry I can't help you that much but I just though hearing someone elses story may bring you some comfort.

Good luck,a nd let me know how you get on,
Claire

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