Menstruation and IBS

Oh YES!! I am prodomintaely C sufferer however I ALWAYS get D during the time of the month. The cramping is horrible and it radiates to my back. I'm constantly switching the heating pad back and forth between my front and back (I just need to get a second one). I do get nauseaus too and have vomited from the cramping but that is once in a blue moon. I also get headaches and dizzy spells. Thiamine was mentioned to me before and I always forget about it when I'm in the drugstore. It supposedly helps relieve the pain of menstrual cramps (make sure you check with your doc if you decide to try it).

Hi goddess,

Don't worry about repeating a question... If you don't see it in the recent history then ask away. 

YES, I am in the same boat as all you other ladies.  Cramps, cramps, and more cramps.  I get D, nausea, loss of appetite, and more cramps.  Like shadow, I take Advil at the first sign of pain.  If nothing happens after an hour then I take more.  I also drink lots of tea and keep a heating pad on hand.  Sucks because now with the hot weather who can stand the heating pad?     Taking a bath, exercising, and reducing stress is good for cramps.  Having sex and orgasming is great to reduce cramps (they don't have to go hand in hand).  I also read once that zinc, vitamin B, and calcium help reduce cramps (check with your doc or pharmacist before adding supplements).  I think that's all I can remember at the moment.

Usually the first day or 2 are the worst, I hope you're feeling better today....

Wow... may be another good reason to try Thiamine (especially where I live)... excerpt from Wickapedia:

Thiamine as an insect repellent
Some studies suggest that taking thiamine (vitamin B1) 25 mg to 50 mg three times per day is effective in reducing mosquito bites. A large intake of Thiamine produces a skin odor that is not detectable by humans, but is disagreeable to female mosquitoes.[6] Thiamine takes more than 2 weeks before the odor fully saturates the skin. With the advances in topical preparations there is an increasing number of Thiamine based repellent products. Whilst there is considerable anecdotal evidence of Thiamine products being effective in the field (Australia, US and Canada), there has yet to be any clinical trials run to demonstrate the efficacy of these products.

Hi there hon, I am so sorry to hear you suffer so much .... To cut a long story short...been there, done that...and bought the t shirt!!!!

For the tummy cramps and associated ibs, take a product called BUSCOPAN ( god I wish someone had told me 20 years ago!!!) its technical name is hyoscine Butylbromide.  It can be purchased over the counter, here in Aust anyway.  Believe me when I say, this product actually works.  That dreadful feeling that you get when your legs belong to someone else and you feel like a total bowel evacuation is only the beginning......yep!!!...how much fun is it being a woman...lol. .sounds a bit pedantic, but I also used to take a hot pack to bed and put it on my back or tummy, that definately helps and for during the day, a chinese product :" Salon Pas" or Tokuhon Plasters, placed in the small of my back or over my ovarian area, gave such relief.....whatever works...try it...best of luck.

Post Edited By Moderator (7Lil) : 6/14/2007 9:07:58 AM (GMT-6)

keriamom

Thanks for the info on birth control. I actually had my tubes tied about 10 yrs ago because I had so much trouble with birth control pills and I don't want children. The irony is that last year the docs wanted to put me on birth control pills to help my fibroids (smack head with hand!).

dbab: I am in the US. Read up a little on the buscopan and yes it seems the same as the Bentyl I am trying (anti-spasmodic). Thanks for the clarification, so glad you guys are here!

Today is a little better I just hate having to go to the bathroom at work so often. I work at a great place and they don't care but sheesh it feels like I'm in there every 10 mins! Between the period and IBS....maybe I should move my desk in there ....have to try to keep my sense of humor :)

Also I appreciate 7lil suggesting the heating pad. Sometimes the littlest thing helps and I hadn't thought of a htg pad. I'm going to try it, even tho, yes I live in the hot hot south!

Post Edited (goddess0728) : 6/14/2007 8:55:41 AM (GMT-6)

Crikey,

Where could we possibly start with such a barrage of abuse??? OK, firstly allow me to take this opportunity to welcome you to HealingWell, this is probably the best website there is for offering support, advice or just being a shoulder to cry on. There are several reasons why people come here allow me to list those reasons:

1. Those that are recently diagnosed with IBS.
2. Those that have a family member or friend with IBS.
3. Those working or studying in the medical profession.
4. Those attempting to advertise.
5. Those fooling about and have nothing better to do than cause as much disruption as possible without a thought for any damage inflicted on others.

As moderators are all volunteers on here and usually suffering with the illness relevant to the forum there are certain editing rights/privilages and rules specifically to allow moderators to carry out their duties without people disrespecting them, these include the following:

a. The right to edit posts.
b. The right to delete others posts.
c. Rule 13.

At this time I am totally confused why you are here, but make no mistake I will not allow you or anyone else to contravene rule No. 13 or any others.

I have attached a link to the forum rules as well as deleted your replies. I suggest you read the rules, you can even print them out if you wish, if you don’t agree with them don’t bother coming back to this forum, because if you do and I see you have contravened any of the forum rules I will simply delete your work which will mean you have sat and typed for however long!

At this time I am not recommending your account gets locked, I will allow you the benefit of the doubt, however make no mistake, your account will be locked should there be any repeat violations from you! Furthermore, every Moderator has been informed of your presence with the instruction to monitor your posts.

Don’t hesitate to hit the alert an admin icon and make any complaint regarding my reply to you.

Take care.

Dave

  Forum rules -----> https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=46&m=106997

Shy Spincters unite !! LOL

I have that problem a little here, not as bad as other places, I just wish the bathroom was down a long lonnnnnnnnggg hallway with soundproofing. Surrounded by concrete blocks. With guard dogs. And motion sensors so I know when someone is walking by.

I also have a great co-worker, who although she doesn't have IBS, has a lot of symptoms like it when she is having her period. So we joke about wrestling for the bathroom. It all helps..like all of you here, I am so glad I found this site!

Just started on the Bentyl today, will keep you updated.

Thanks for the humor!

Wow...I actually have IBS-C (well I consider it more like slow transit C) and it seems to get worse during that my period...only occassionally do I get D, but mostly I have to take in more fiber and water than humanly recommended to not be in constant pain from C.

Goddess, BC has changed a lot in 10 years, so you might now be able to find something that you can tolerate, both to try and help with the IBS and the fybroid tumors. The continual-use stuff is very low dose, but even some of the non-continual use pills are pretty low. Definitely a LOT lower than 10 years ago.

I've had my tubes tied too, just to be on the safe side; I don't want children either.

I was reading all the posts about finding a "safe" bathroom at work and wanted to share a funny story.  I have worked at my company for 9 years now and most people there know about my IBS and are sympathetic.  Recently our company changed hands and life was a little scarry.  After a few months we found out new CEO was a really nice man and has brought great things to our company.  I work directly for him and wasn't excited having to tell him why I go running out of the office at times.  I always try to play it off as a joke because the nearest bathroom is like a 1/2 mile away so I tell him I have to start out early so I make it.  He has a private bathroom which he offers to let me use but.....I don't think so, it is attached to his office...yikes!

about 3 months ago we were informed we were moving.  We were all very excited about a new building and new technology.  We were talking one day and he was asking me what kind of new furniture I wanted, chair etc.  I replied that I would happily use old furniture if he would just put bathrooms evenly through the building.  After we took over the building 4 or 5 of us working in the project move team toured the building.  After walking the area my CEO said this is going to be your new work area, I looked up and like 3 giant steps away was the private executive bathroom.  I actually did a little dance right there on the spot.  Needless to say I got a few strange looks  but I don't care, I have never been so happy.

We moved in a week ago and while life is a little stressfull getting settled I don't have to run a 1/2 mile when that feeling hits.  Who would of ever thought such a thing would make me so happy.

 

Hi,

In regards to the birth control tablets I found that the usual pill(3 weeks on, one week off) made my periods and IBS a lot more intense. However the mini pill/continuous pill is great! I used to dread my period, especially the first day-I would feel so sick, and this would only be relieved by visiting the toilet. This meant that I was unable to plan much for around the days of my period, affecting my social life considerably.

If you experience this too, I would really recommend the mini pill, the disadvantages(in my experience) being that it must be taken at roughly the same time each day, also without a period it can be harder to become aware of a pregnancy. The more I think about it, it seems that IBS may in part be linked to sex hormones, which can also cause changes in stress levels- another commonly believed trigger.

I would say that I still very occasionally get symptoms in the evenings, where I feel very bloated/gaseous, but this is a lot less intense and for the most part not a problem.

Other than that, chewing slowly, less dairy, maybe less gluten, leaving time to digest...
Hope this helps.

This is some info on women and IBS and Menses, as well as some other info.

Evidence for Exacerbation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome During Menses

http://www.mindbodydigestive.com/mbdc/women-and-ibs/#84