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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/25/2006 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
i know we spoke of this topic before...
but what is the deal with IBS d going haywire once the old period starts? i was doing really good, taking all my supplements and then yesterday i got stressed out about money, and the hormones from an impending period caused an attack while i was changing buses at a metro station!!! i skipped out on work because i was feeling terrible--and now this morning the period and all its' wonders are reaking havoc on my system--including feeling diarheaish. i have to work tonight, and i am wondering if i should go in, or wait this out at home...
also--i am on the pill, but the last three months i have been early, but this month i feel right on time...

so is ibs more of a hormonal/stress thing? and if so why do men get it? can a stronger birth control pill ease this, or should i consult my gyn about trying one of those 4xa year pills... (i will have insurance in about 2 months...)

and i am getting really tired of having to tell people i am sick and can't work/visit/play/whatever... it seems that no matter how much meds i pump myself full of, the first couple of days of menstration i feel like this... any suggestions?

--bunnybabe
Posted 5/25/2006 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
bunnybabe,
I think it was Lil that said that her symptoms were better when she went off the pill and I have seen that periodically on different websites as well. As far our IBS symptoms being worse when we have our periods, yes I can totally relate!! Since its all in that one area, it makes a lot of sense. We have to be careful about every little thing that will set our symptoms off so we are so careful about what we eat etc and get on this daily routine and then everything goes crazy because we start menstruating. I would definitely suggest talking to your doc about your BC options when you get your insurance.
Posted 5/25/2006 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Bunny, I'm on Depo and it keeps you from having periods all together. I don't seem to get worse at any time of the month because my hormones stay level. You can also, if you are on the low-estrogen pills, skip that week of sugar pills and jsut start the next set of hormone pills and you won't bleed. I was just reading about doing that at www.noperiod.com. It's a website by a female OB/GYN that says we have too many periods anyways. In caveman days we'd have been pregnant or nursing all the time, not cycling through hormone swings constantly.

You should talk to your OB/GYN and say, hey look, my periods make my IBS worse, so we need to stop the periods. Can you prescribe me extra pills or something different so I can get them to stop? I've heard that more and more OB/GYNs are getting on board with doing this, especially the female ones (who know what it's like to have the darn things in the first place!). There is some evidence that going without a period actually lowers your risk of uterine cancer since you don't build up a uterine lining at all, and something about not sloughing your uterine lining fully can increase your chances of cancer. Most women do slough completely, but the more periods you have, the higher the chance that you won't.

As to your question about men and IBS and hormones, hormones aren't just for running the sexual organs: they run everything in the body, including the intestines. So men can have the hormones that run the intestines out of whack too. But because women cycle through hormones more, they have a better chance of getting the intestinal ones out of whack on a regular basis--thus why more women than men have IBS. But men DO cycle hormones as well. There are some studies out that show that men's testosterone levels rise and fall with some regularity and that there may even be a male equivalent of PMS. I don't remember, though, if they have it once a month or less often. Not much is known about it because, apparently, no one cares to study men's hormonal fluctuations. Unlike a woman's period, it's not messy and painful for them to have this little cycle, so I guess no one sees any point in checking it out, despite the fact that it may better explain why some men suffer from depression or fits of rage.
Posted 5/25/2006 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, but I would seriously not recommend skipping the placebo pills in the BCP pack. A friend of mine, a pharmacist, did this & landed herself in the hosptial with a visible blood clot lodged in her arm. It is a very serious thing to play around with.
Posted 5/25/2006 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi bunny!! It's been a while...
Like Des said, it is true, my IBS got better when I stopped taking the pill. I think the extra hormones caused havoc. Maybe you could talk to your doc about a LOW hormone pill. Maybe even try what Des and Sarita are on, NuvaRing. The hormones go straight to your uterus/ovaries/etc., instead of having to travel through you digestive system and into your bloodstream.
Now that I'm off the pill, my IBS symptoms ARE NOT much worse when I get my period. Yes, I may still get cramps, bloating and D (rarely), but it is not excruciating.
I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 5/25/2006 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with rgrwfe, I did actually ask my GYN about skipping the sugar pills once and she said its very dangerous to do that. Remember that all BC options aren't right for everyone. I tried the Depo shot that Keri suggested and I blew up, gained 30 lbs and that is not unheard of. I do use the Nuvaring that Lil mentioned and would suggest it to anyone however I know also that that is not for everyone as well. The best thing is to talk with you GYN when you see her in a couple of months and really discuss the pros and cons of all of your options and given that she knows about your history, she would be the best person for this. Good luck, I hope you let us know how it goes. :)
Posted 5/25/2006 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone, i will be talking to my doctor as soon as i can, in the meantime its' OTC help!
--bunnybabe
Posted 5/26/2006 2:08 AM (GMT 0)

Hi bunnybabe,

You've already received some excellent advice - isn't this site great?  Just thought I'd add some of my experiences too..  I also deal with increased GI problems with my periods.  I have endometriosis, which causes me to deal with lots of pain, and the IBS symptoms on top of the pain can often be overwhelming.  Therefore, I completely understand your situation.

During our periods, prostaglandins are released, which are hormones that cause contractions of the uterus.  Also, however, the prostaglandins can cause cramping of the GI tract and lead to diarrhea and intestinal pain.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like Advil (ibuprofen), inhibit the production of prostaglandins and often help with uterine cramping.  I've also noticed that Advil helps my intestinal problems as well.  Have you tried taking Advil during your period to see if it helps with your intestinal cramping?  It may be worth a try, if you can tolerate that class of drugs.

Also, I agree with everyone that you should definitely talk to your doctor about possibly changing your BCP.  Often, women have to try several different brands, with differing hormonal levels, before they find the one that works best for them.

Good luck, and take care.

Ali

Posted 5/26/2006 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
how interesting!
i have been off advil/ibprophen for several months due to the fact that all my doctors told me to stop taking it due to i had blood in my stool, pretty much on a daily basis...
since i have not seen much blood, maybe it would be safe---but i should ask a doctor first... (darn no insurance!)
thank you everyone...

so any suggestions for the crabbiness associated with periods? i am sick of apologizing to my husband... (but honestly, do i have to do EVERYTHING around the house????)
Posted 5/26/2006 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Are you taking a multivitamin? I take a many supplements however the B vitamins are supposed to help with your moods. I'll have to google and see what I come up with or if you find anything out. I'm not sure where I heard that but I believe that is what is recommended.  You may want to try a B vitamin complex. Oh and I hear you about doing everything... I feel the same way most of the time.  My hubby's family is very old fashioned and the women take care of the house, he's gotten better but still has more to go. :)
Posted 5/26/2006 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
i take a multivitamin and a vitamin B complex everyday... (and i got fluorescent pee to prove it!!)

--bunny
Posted 5/27/2006 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
men have hormones too just as women also have some testosterone...but IBS is not limited to just hormonal changes I'm sure.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. Testosterone is secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females. It is the principal male sex hormone and the "original" anabolic steroid. In both males and females, it plays key roles in health and well-being. Examples include enhanced libido, energy, immune function, and protection against osteoporosis. On average, the adult male body produces about thirty times the amount of testosterone an adult female's body does.[

 

 

There are two types of hormones known as steroids and peptides. In general, steroids are sex hormones related to sexual maturation and fertility. Steroids are made from cholesterol either by the placenta when we're in the womb, or by our adrenal gland or gonads (testes or ovaries) after birth. Cortisol, an example of a steroid hormone, breaks down damaged tissue so it can be replaced. Steroids determine physical development from puberty on to old age, as well as fertility cycles. If we are not synthesizing the correct steroidal hormones, we can sometimes supplement them pharmaceutically as with estrogen and progesterone.

Post Edited (pb4) : 5/27/2006 1:08:34 PM (GMT-6)

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