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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/30/2012 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am 45yrs old and have had crohns since I was 16, I have not had a menstural cycle for 2 months , that has

not happened to me before. I am on humira.  Is this the start of menopause or the humira? Also what are the

symptoms of menopause?   Is my body going to get worse. I hope not I feel terrible already.

Did this happen to anyone else my age....I am just confused up to 2 months ago my cycle was normal.

Thanks

Carmen

Posted 6/30/2012 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Perimenopause, the years before menopause, can be confusing and full of irregularities. Menopause, specifically, means you haven't had a menstrual cycle in 12 months. So according to that definition, you have not reached menopause.

When you have your next visit with your OB/Gyn, talk to him/her about what perimenopause can be like. I believe each woman will have her own experience. Mine started around age 45, but I just turned 50 and I'm still menstruating, although the time between periods is starting to stretch out. There was a 4 months time early in perimenopause where I had no cycles and experienced a couple of hot flashes, but that was followed by 2 years of very frequent periods (like every 17 days!) and no hot flashes. Crazy, yes. And the hormonal swings were extreme and did not really help the whole Crohn's situation. But I don't think it made things worse. Of course, YMMV.
Posted 7/1/2012 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank-you so much, that was so informative..

Carmen
Posted 7/1/2012 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
This is an interesting subject:)

I was dx with Crohns at 36 (2005) and will be 45 in Oct. I had a Hysterectomy in 2005 but kept my ovaries. I was tested recently to see if I had started menopause because of so many symptoms. My PCP said due to the hardships on my body (all my surgeries) Crohns type 2 Diabetes etc... I would probably experience menopause early. Hard telling because I don't have periods anymore.

Tests showed that I HAVE started early menopause UGh! I have two sisters 7 and 9 years older than me who have just started menopause. According to family history I could be in this for awhile! I am experience nightsweats and hotflashes seems worse in the summer. So embarassing... I will just all of a sudden drip drip sweat when I'm in public.  And this could last years?!! I recently was on a bout of prednisone for 4 months which made my symptoms twice as bad. smhair   My poor family!! I have noticed with the hotflashes that it helps to NOT eat hot foods because it just starts up the hotflashes. So right now, I avoid hot food and drink...carry kleenex around to dab up the persperation and I've become a GoldBond powder addict. haha Another day in the life of a Crohnie with menopause!!

Good luck ladies...another medical thing we must endure but sharing does help... 

 

Posted 7/2/2012 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Flowery:
Thanks for the 411. I too had a hysterectomy at 24. I will be 47 this year. I've had thyroid cancer, MS and now Crohns. My doc won't do blood hormone levels b/c "they flucuate so much they wouldn't tell us anything". I have a feeling I am in the "M" word (can't bring myself to write it much less say it It bothers me so much. I freak x ray techs out when they ask me my surgeries and I tell them about the hysterectomy, then they ask when was my last period...I tell them March of 1990...They look at me stuned until I remind them about the hysterectomy....LOL.
Thanks again.
Posted 7/3/2012 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Haha Supernurse...

I've had 9 surgeries to my abdomen and 4 in other places. When people ask me about my hyster I just say "I'm and it" lol...I really love not having to deal with it every month! idk if you read my other post I posted about my brother having MS. Would love to chat with you sometime. I dont know if it is difficult for you to type but there is a group of us who meet on chat at night. Maybe you've been? Sorry can't remember. Anyway, Take Care of yourself. You have alot on your plate! hugs Heather

Posted 7/3/2012 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Heather,
Singingsupernurse here(Annette) No didn't know you guys chat at night. Typing is not a problem(spelling b/c words don't look right and I can't remember how to spell many of the words I used to) CD is much worse. I just can't get over the fact that A, two married people can't be on SSD and have their medical expenses covered(with my husband andI both on SSD we would get 1600 dollars a month and can't get medicaid and medicare won't pay for everything. Tried to get my old job back, they don't want me so know after not being a floor nurse since 1998, I will be working fulltime for NO MEDICAL benefits(the job is per diem). and B so I don't have a lapse in insurance, I will be paying COBRA, which is 1500 dollars a month not including copays....I am soo depressed. It seems hopeless.
Posted 7/3/2012 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hugs Annette!

You and your husband are in a tough situation. It's so sad what insurance has come to in this country and decent people can't make a living or get the insurance they need with a crohnic illness. I would be (and am sometimes) so depressed too. I think that's normal. Sad but normal. I don't know if this would be a bad suggestion but I think legally you have some rights about your job. I know that is would take alot of time and energy but...Your employer (as far as I know) can not fire you due to your illness. They must find something for you to do if you are able and willing to work even part time.  I'm pretty sure THEY need to figure it out. If every disabled person was fired by their employer we'd have many many people on the street. I would seek some legal advice. At this point what do you have to loose right? God bless you for even having the energy to do it!

I am on disability and have been for about 2 years. I was denied 5 times and finally sought out a lawyer and had a hearing. It's not just Crohns that I have but a combo of other things like fibro, type 2 Diabetes (when flaring becomes type 1) and I had back surgery when I was 28 and they couldn't fix it all. And, well mentally it's all taken a toll so I see a therapist too.  

My lawyer told me due to my back problems... I prob could have gotten disability back in 1998 but I really take working serious and I pushed myself until I just couldn't. Probably my worse symptom for me is not being able to work or leave the house alot because of  incontenence and urgency.  I love working (I was a florist/designer/and mom for 23 years) and miss it terribly!

Anyway, If you don't mind me asking ...what does your husband suffer from? At least you have each other to lean on. Mentally maybe not physically..lol. about not being able to spell..no biggy some people on chat have diff problems..we all make it through and are pretty understanding. Stop on in sometime.

Heather

Posted 7/4/2012 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I am 49 and have had irregular periods since about age 44. Sometimes I go two months with no cycle. Other times twice in one month, or one long (15+ day) cycle. It's very frustrating and could go on for several years more - my mom was nearly 55 before she was in real menopause. OB-GYN has recommended I go on birth control pills to regulate but I'm resisting since I worry about side effects with the CD and all other issues. I had tubal ligation in 2007 and it just seems awful to add hormones to the mix now. However, that's my own choice -- many women do use birth control at this time of life and I believe it can help.

I don't have experience with Humira, but I do think it's possible that it could be perimenopause. You should see your ob-gyn and see if s/he has some ideas for you.
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