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Ladies: Which do we blame for our troubles?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/13/2009 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
 

The Uterus OR The Ovaries??????

I would sooo love to have an excuse to have my uterus out, but I have always believed that it was the ovaries to blame for all the troubles I have with my monthly cycle since they are more like the brains of the operation while the uterus is just the muscle. 

I have been reading ALL these posts (there so many of us!!)about the extra pain we go through when our periods and our colitis collide once a month. 

Has anyone EVER been given any options for relief or an explanation of why this painful wreck of symptoms happens at all?  Or should we just blame it on Eve?

 

Posted 2/13/2009 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi madabs,

I wish I had an answer for you! I do have a woman question though. Since I have been on asacol I have had tender breasts ( for many weeks now ). Does anyone else experience this?
Posted 2/13/2009 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Im on asacol to. The only time I go throw that is about a week or two before I start my period.
Posted 2/13/2009 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
I believe that it may be the ovaries. Because isn't it the ovaries that help produce the hormones? I believe that is our hormones that cause us to have extra "flaring" during our TOM. However, I had an endometrial ablation done in 2007. I haven't had a period since AND I don't have hormone activated flares anymore. I tend to have a slight increase of symptoms during my "cycle" but not nearly as bad as it was before. Some women with Uc have great success controlling their flares by being placed on a birth control pill. Madabs, if you are not going to have children or are done having children, look into the endo ablation. I was a great candidate for it because not only did it help my Uc but I was also having excruciatingly painful cramping - like fall to your knees type pain. Not to mention my cycle was very messed up. But the main reason for me anyway was because of the flaring.

Whatsaflaredown, I can't comment on the Asacol and sore breasts. But I can definately relate to the soreness. I have fibrocystic breasts and hormones play havoc on them. The pain gets very intense some months and I can't even move in my sleep or it wakes me up.
Posted 2/13/2009 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not as physically strong as men. I can't open jars without using a spoon.
Posted 2/13/2009 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hormones are known to exacerbate IBD and even IBS symptoms for most women....myslef included, so I'm going to look into having my periods stopped, I don't need them anymore, I'm done having kids (was done 16 yrs ago after the second child and then I got the clips put on my tubes as a birth control) and I'll be 42 this yr so I'm close enough to menopause now and my periods really do interfere with both my CD and IBS.

:)
Posted 2/13/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in my late 40's and am just too old for anymore kids. If my mom is any indicator, I won't being seeing menopause anytime soon either.

Red: I'm psyched that you have seen improvement. Do you think you had endometriosis? I have very painful periods as well, though better since having my last child 8 years ago.

Pb4: How do plan on stopping your periods? My sister takes birth control that does that and she only has one a year now. (I cannot tolerate birth control, unfortunetely)

Flaredown: I can't say I noticed any difference in breast tenderness from asacol. I have had more breast tenderness in my forties than before in my life.

Joy:  Most men are stonger than me, but I have big strong hands and always opened my own jars and all I've got to show for it is arthritis in all my fingers and my wrists. 

Posted 2/13/2009 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Blame the ovaries. They're the ones that secrete all the hormones that bring hell upon females. The only way I could help it was birth control. I'm a little young to be thinkin about anything else :)
Posted 2/13/2009 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Madabs, I was wathcing "The Doctors" show and they mentioned using an IUD which could be worn for 5 yrs, I figured 2x at 5 yrs each time would slip me into menopause age. I cannot tolerate BC pills either so I'm going to talk to my doc about the IUD...it's weird though because my one sister uses it and she still gets her period so maybe there are certain kinds or something?

:)
Posted 2/13/2009 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
No, I don't have endometriosis. I had a D&C and hystoscope before I had the endo ablation. So no signs of endo and the GYN couldn't find the cause of my intense cramping. After the D&C, my Uc flares lessened for about 3 months and then they started again as well as the horrendous cramping which is why I opted for a more permanant solution.
Posted 2/14/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I find it interesting that I'm the only one, at least so far, who's monthly cycle doesn't affect my UC.

I am 47, but my gynecologist said that I can still conceive. I was hoping she was going to say that the chance was unlikely due to my age; however, she said that it's very possible for me to be able to conceive again given that I still get monthly periods and haven't seen any symptoms of menopause yet.

I don't take the pill though. Never had. My family has a history of getting blood clots from the pill. Nor have I ever had or used birth control such as an IUD or sponge. I'm at risk for getting inflammations. Spermicide gives me bladder infections. So I don't even use that.
Posted 2/14/2009 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I went through many yrs with my IBD that I didn't notice any changes during my periods but that has all changed the last 5yrs and now I do find my symptoms very exacerbated during my cycle (a few days before, during and a few days after my cylce).

:)
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