Time of the month and IBS flare up

[Dora-ex-pad]

Im still on a working diagnosis for IBS...bloods say im low in iron but not anaemic thats all. I've been prescribed mebeverine but havent had to use it yet until tonight. Wow the pain just comes on out of nowhere doesnt it. I literally have to get on all 4s like im going to have a baby and then cant stand up straight. I feel like im having contractions. I cant stand up straight, the pain feels like someone has got a piece of string inside and has pulled it so tight. The symptoms started about 6 months ago but would only come when it was the time of the month? First times i thought it was a sickness bug... But now its random although be sure when it is time of the month its still appears...worse than ever. Its concerning that the pain seems to get worse every episode i have...is this normal? I dont get the runs, but can be constipated after having a bowel movement. I exercise, i drink lots of fluids, Id say my diet is good. I put it down to stress but ive just been on relaxing holiday so would say my stress is low at the moment. How do people manage the pain, ive tried hot water bottles, buscopan, paracetmol...can I try anything else?

[Thorswife]

My Ibs D initially started during my period too, I would get swollen as you describe, I struggled to walk and eat. If I did eat, whatever I ate always left me within an hour. This was really the start of my Ibs life, I just didn’t know it…My GP advised Buscopan and Peppermint tea which does help to a degree for me, if I’m out I ask for peppermint cordial on its own and that seems to work better than the tea. I haven’t been prescribed anything for it yet..I’ve just got to get on with it. 😔 it’s been about 7 years for me now and the flare ups of a swollen tummy are less frequent than they were in the start, but it still only happens during that time of the month.

[Dora-ex-pad in reply to Thorswife]

Awh thank you for replying and if nothing else its nice to know some others experience the same. Yeh i dribk the tea but might try the cordial too so thanks for this.

[PinkPenguin96]

I used to feel a bit worse during my period, mainly constipation. (Now post-menopausal, thank goodness.) But have you considered the possibility of endometriosis, since you describe it as severe pain during your period? I hope it's not but that came to mind when I was reading your post.

[Dora-ex-pad in reply to PinkPenguin96]

Yes that was my initial thought but its now coming in between my periods too and the bloating is ridiculous...i cant even fasten my trousers today

[PinkPenguin96 in reply to Dora-ex-pad]

The bloating is the worst, isn't it? Hope you can find something that helps.

[SingC]

Bless you, Dora! I’m sorry to hear you’re so unwell. I’m on Mebeverine, too. I was told that it’s really important to take it 20 minutes before every meal. It’s not a medicine you can dip in and out of. I found that if I forgot to take it and ate a meal anyway, I would get really bad stomach cramps. So, maybe try taking it consistently before every meal.

The correlation with the menstrual cycle is concerning me, and I wonder if it’s worth getting that checked out. Sometimes these things can work in combination, in which case it’s maybe good to work both parts of the problem. I have fibroids in the wall of my uterus, and they can cause extra pressing on the bowel, which can cause additional IBS pain. I’m guessing endometriosis in combination with IBS would also add to the suffering.

It may be that they can take action on the gynaecological front that would ease your condition overall. For example, there are contraceptive pills that stop the monthly bleed altogether (Cerazette is one). So that's a possibility if the monthly cycle is still an aggravating factor. Or there are various treatments for fibroids that might be worth considering if you feel they are adding significantly to your pain. Maybe worth discussing with your doctor and getting a scan to see if there is anything gynae-related that is making your IBS problem worse.

For me, I’ve had IBS for 20 years, but was coping more or less. Then I started getting consistent pain in my left side for months, which led to lots of investigations and the discovery of the fibroids. Now we’re trying diet changes. So far, cutting out lactose seems to be significantly reducing my symptoms. If there are still problems after the diet changes, we’ll maybe look at treating the fibroids. Usually they don’t need treatment if they are small, but if they press against the bowel and cause pain, then treatment will be considered.

Anyway, sorry for the long answer, but I hope at least parts of it are useful to you.

[Dora-ex-pad]

Thank you for your support and its certainly something to think about. The medication seems to be subsiding the pain but my tummy is very bloated today. Ill keep on with the tablets though and see how i go. Thank you again

[frances1]

I have had IBS for years. I’m 66 now, it’s got better either with age or very little sugar. I’ve tried nearly everything, only worked for a while. Hope you find something.

[Edith0]

hi Dora-ex-pad

Sorry to hear you are having such a painful time and I can completely relate to the pain you describe. Mostly now this lasts for a short time and I usually try and sleep through it and stop eating. I did take mebeverine for a while but found it not very helpful and depending on the manufacturer some would be only slightly better than others. There was an occasion a few years ago when I had to go to hospital via 111, the pain was dreadful and would not go despite the mebeverine etc. the doctor I saw was great and said to stop taking the mebeverine and take buscopan instead and he prescribed me codiene. The codiene knocked me out so I got a good nights sleep and the buscopan (probably along with a relaxing sleep) calmed the spasms. I would only take the codiene if I was in so much pain that I couldn’t manage it or as in that case it’s gone on for over a week with no food and little sleep. In fact it’s never been that bad since and the first sign of pain/bloating I take two buscopan and keep doing that every 4 hours until the pain is manageable. I’ve been FODMAP for some years now and that too has helped enormously.

I hope this helps and I do hope that the pain calms soon and you are more comfortable. All the very best.

[Dora-ex-pad]

Thank you so much 🥰

[ImReallyAnElf]

Hi Dora, I've had IBS for about 30 years, and I really sympathise with you. I take a mix of Mebeverine and Buscopan together, as my GP & I worked out over the years that neither is as effective on its own. I have one 135mg Mebeverine 3 times daily and two 10mg Buscopan also 3 times daily. That's normally enough to keep IBS at bay; however stress genuinely does cause recurrences, that's not a myth, and this past few months have been pretty stressful for me.

So, IBS attacks complete with the "red hot needle up your bum" (!) symptom had recurred - and by sheer coincidence I discovered how to beat them. This is the bit I think may interest you: I also have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which ordinary painkillers just weren't making an impression on. So, I was prescribed a painkiller which apparently operates in an entirely different way to the ones most people are familiar with - it's called Nefopam - and, somewhat miraculously, I haven't had the slightest twinge signalling an IBS attack incoming for two whole months now.

I take 90mg three times a day. (It doesn't kill the pain as well as it does the IBS I'm sad to say!) The only fly I might foresee in your ointment if your GP will prescribe Nefopam for you, is that it does have a constipating effect. However if constipation only troubles you when you're already suffering an IBS attack, that won't matter, as of course the hope is that by taking it you won't have any more.

For me that part was actually really positive as I suffered from the opposite problem - anyone else reading this who has to regularly abandon their shopping trolley and knock down old ladies in their sprint to the shop's loo, take note! 😅

I hope something in this helps you. 💐

[Readmeastory]

buscopan helps my pain but not always . I drink peppermint tea and take peppermint caspules 30 minutes before I eat . It helps but I suffer from constipation . So only pain killers I can take is parcetomol . But I’m a 67 onl had this for last 3years and tobe honest everyone is different. . But I would try peppermint tea . As well .

[potblodyn]

Hi Dora-ex-pad, I have similar experience with ibs, ive had it for 30 years but never as severe as i have lately. I did have mebeverine, but didnt find it did a lot to be honest, ive altered my diet, i excercise regularly and eat a lot of salads, chicken and rice, but i still have the awful pain. I have been waiting on the nhs to see a gastroenterologis for 2 years, and have now approached a private health care to help. I am waiting for a reply from them. The pain is unbelievable so i live on pain killers and i rub cbd cream on the area of my stomach where the pain is the worst, which seems to help, I am about to start taking peppermint oil capsules, so my fingers are crossed that they help, i used to take aloe vera capsules, which did help, but the company which did them disappeared after covid, and i have been unable to find any the same. After asking google, " how can i get rid of ibs pain", i did come up with , hemp capsules, which i have also sent for. My Gp has suggested that i may also have diverticular, and when the pain is at its worse its inflamed, so hopefully an investigation via a colonoscopy could help. I hope some of the things i have tried may help you. Because you go about your day and paint a smile on, prople assume you are ok, when in fact anxiety around "accidents" and pain, feeling sick or weak after a flare up, you are far from ok.

[Dora-ex-pad]

Thank you i will try anything tbh....hope you get the answers you are looking for also

[Sunshinefordays31]

hi Dora-ex-pad, found your post really interesting f. I had IBSD develop shortly after my period returned postpartum and in the two years since it’s settled into a pattern that correlates to my cycle (the days before my period arrives). I’m convinced there’s a hormonal cause but am not getting very far with this line of argument through the Nhs sadly. I am planning to see someone privately though and will update this thread with anything more detailed/medically based that I learn on managing the relationship between the menstrual cycle and IBS. Sending well wishes in the meantime and hope that the suggestions of others here will make a difference for you. X