I have a really strange condition. I've never found anyone with the same issue. The doctor has told me it's IBS.
I am completely fine most of the month (really feel for all of you that constantly suffer) but I get agonising trapped wind the week before my period. Once it passes, I'm fine, but it can take over 40 mins at times and the pain is so intense I'm left dripping in sweat and shaking. This is usually preceded by a couple of days of constipation. The pain is usually worst in the middle of the night but I get waves of it during the day. None of the gas reducing medicine helps at all.
Low Fodmap has made a difference. However, as my IBS is intermittent, I'm always in the total elimination phase. Anyway, my question is, can anyone relate? Have you ever heard of anything similar? I've seen several doctors who don't understand it and have spent countless hours googling it as I lie awake in pain.
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Hi, this is odd. It's not something I've ever come across although I did read an article that talked about the hormones relating to your period having a loosening effect on the bowel, which does explain why I usually have a D phase just before my period starts. But that isn't the issue you are having at all.
Have you been referred to gynaecology or gastroenterology? GPs are general practitioners and not specialists and have a bad habit of dismissing both IBS and gynae issues because there isn't usually a quick fix. Consultants, on the other hand, are specialists and usually like the more unusual cases like you (and me). It might be worth asking to speak to one or both.
Also have you tried using a hormone contraceptive? I'm wondering if this is linked to your hormone changes around your period and something like the pill might just balance things out and solve the issue.
Sorry not to be much help. I really hope you find a solution. Keep us posted on how you go
Thanks! It was a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me but seeing a gynaecologist might be worth a try! Or a hormone specialist. I'll give that a try. I feel like female health is so under researched that there aren't a lot of answers for us, sadly. Thanks for reaching out!
I can relate to this. When I was younger my IBS c was always bad just before I was due. I used to get constipated the week before I was due. I am not a doctor but assumed this was hormones affect muscle of bowel that slowed down transit of food. A bit like when someone is pregnant and the change in hormones relaxes muscles. Not sure if this is why but seemed a reasonable theory to me. Also I used to have similar issues of bouts where I had bowel wind and I would get the sever sweTs where I almost passed out. I have had to lie on a cold floor as the sweats just poured out of me. I wonder if this is like a shock response due to the pain or due to a toxic response to build up of faeces in the colon. That was my theory. No medical training but was how I reasoned it. Hope this help you.
Have you tried an anti-spasmodic like Buscopan? I don't have quite the same but I get really horrible rectal spasms around my period along with more D. x
I've never been diagnosed with IBS but I've always had issues, which is why I'm here. My tendency is towards constipation - slow transit I think.
My bowel movements were always different (more copious and looser) at the very beginning of a period or just before, and this would almost always be preceded by constipation, so I always thought that hormones were playing a part.
It is a long time ago for me now, but I do remember times when I would be in a lot of pain in the week before.
Hi, I am not a Dr & don’t know your full history but has anyone ever mentioned endometriosis to you before? Might be worth having a read about it, inflammatory foods also trigger flare ups and as yours is linked to your cycle it might be worth looking in to (so you can rule it out if nothing else).
Hi, although I had flare-ups of IBS throughout my cycle, it was always worse just before. I was always told that hormones can do this, although I would spend up to 5 days practically crippled with painful cramps. However, I was rushed into hospital two years ago with severe abdominal pain and very high temperature, and was diagnosed with Sepsis. I eventually had a hysterectomy (they found a large cystic mass on one ovary), and I was told after the operation that I also had chronically inflamed fallopian tubes that would have been the cause of all the pain and cramps I had each month. I don't want to scare you but I'd recommend asking for a gynecology ultrasound scan to rule out any problems, I could have saved myself years of pain if I had that!
Oh no I'm so sorry you went through that. Thank you for sharing. Fortunately, I've had ultrasounds already and nothing showed up. For me, passing the gas eases the pain so I'm quite sure it's a gastro issue. I hope you're OK now.
i haven't tried it yet but my friend last night said to take 2 alka seltzers and then after drinking them, warm some water in the microwave and drink that. she said it makes the gas go away.
YES, I suffered with exactly the same when I was younger. On odd occasions I would actually faint. I can still get this sort of pain with IBS now sometimes. It really makes me panic.
Both glad and sad that there's someone going through the same thing. It's complete agony isn't it, I've almost fainted a few times. So it got better as you got older? That's the only hope I have really, that one day it will just calm down.
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