Menstrual Cycle and UC

Anyone else have the worst period ever? Does it trigger uc symptoms? :( today I got my period and it did the usual of kicking my ass, I vomited, had diarrhea, extreme cramping, weakness, numbing in the belly, numbing in the hands. Barely could walk had to leave work early. Then I noticed I had rectal bleeding too :(. It seemed like when I was on a higher does of pred this stopped happening but ever since the lower dose my period is back to being a psycho scary monster. :(

I get this too, every single month. I had about 4 months this past summer where my UC flared only for those few days surrounding my period. Last August, the flare didn't stop, and that's what I'm in now. I'm just a few days away from starting my cycle, trying to taper prednisone, not knowing which symptom is coming from where.

I had looser BMs before UC during my period. You ladies? My guess is that it must be something to do with inflammation with hormone changes. I had drastic improvements with my period when I went low carb a few years back, but also speculate that the lack of starch may have compromised the mucous of my bowel lining which made me susceptible to UC. Just my thoughts, throwing it out there for comment. The doctor just says, "ya, that happens for some ladies".

I told my gi he didn't care. He said get birth control. Lol :( I took it for 12 years :( now I'm trying to start scd so I was on the intro diet, got my period and my gi symptoms are a mess. So now I just want a sandwich anyways :(

I was thinking to call my gyno

My sympathy for having a doctor who doesn't listen. My GI was the one who told me to have a hysterectomy. I was extremely anemic and I am allergic to iron supplements and infusions. I will not have a blood transfusion. Before I had my surgery food was a big issue before my periods so food elimination was a good idea. A good idea is to talk to your obgyn there are lots of different meds to manage the pain and nausea without too much bad reactions. Good luck to you! I wish you the best!

My period would definitely bring on gastro symptoms (even before UC). Before suffering from UC I started taking Seasonique. It gives you four periods a year. You basically take active pills for three months straight. I have to say that it was a game changer for me. I had severe periods (heavy bleeding, almost passing out, severe pain, etc.). Every month it was like I lost my life for a few days, even when I was on other birth control pills. Seasonique fixed that all.

I'm not saying that Seasonique is the answer to everyone, but maybe there's a pill/shot/implant/etc. that would work better for you if you wanted to control your periods?

Yep, yep, yep.......I had a very much hate/hate relationship with my cycles. They were alway bad even before UC, extreme cramping, nausea, vomiting etc. But after getting UC, it became 10x's worse. It became so bad that it felt like someone was taking a pry bar to my hips while trying to yank my uterus out with a dagger. It usually lasted for 2 days. Then it got even worse....it would send my UC into a "mini" flare. My GI told me to use enemas a week before my period to help. It did for a bit but then I said to heck with it and I ended up having an endometrial ablation. Best move I ever made! I haven't had that gut wrenching uterus ripping feeling in 5 years, it's been bliss! Lol

How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

Okay...too young for an ablation or hysterectomy. But you are not alone with your issues. I have found that many women here have a lot of issues around their period time and their Uc. Heck, normal healthy women still have bowel issues around that time....our is just more pronounced except for us, hormonal changes can affect our Uc in a negative way. And you're young enough to possibly get away with hormone replacement such as the progesterone.

I'm older than you and when I was having period issues, my primary put me on progesterone. My GI about had a cow! Having Uc increases the chance of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), but add it the age of over 35 and using hormone replacement increases that chance - so that is why my GI told me to stop it immediately. But since you are younger, you may not have that problem.

But honestly, it sounds like you need a new GI. Especially if he doesn't seemed concerned about your flaring around your period. You have to remember that your doctor should work WITH you. It's a partnership. I know that we are raised to respect the word of our "elders" or someone of authority, but you have to override that emotion and remember that this is YOUR body, YOUR life...you have the right to question and talk about what is affecting you without feeling like you are being talked down to. I was your age once and that is what doctors did to me too. I was always so frustrated with them because they wouldn't take me seriously. But now that I'm older and "feistier" I don't care...I speak my mind.

Then by all means switch. You are going to have Uc for life and would you stay with a partner that didn't listen to you? No, so you need to find a doctor that will. There are some really GREAT doctors out there and it might take a while to find him or her but you will. I've seen people on here go thru many GI's before they found the right one for them.

I found my gem of a GI. I've been with him for 17 years. He listens to ME, not his ego. I feel blessed to have found him because I have seen some horror stories by our members.

It's all trial and error Chrissy. You need to find your happy place with food. Yes it takes time, patience and perseverance. I'm sure you heard this a zillion times, but what works for one may not work for another. Forget about following everything to a T - follow your gut. It will let you know what you can eat and what you can't.

In that case, listen to your elders ;) but seriously, just follow what your body is trying to tell you. Try to find that happy medium. No, it's not easy and it takes a while to figure out, but you can do it :)

Like I said, you don't have to follow a diet to the exact. Alter it if you have to. You can always try incorporating various things and when the time is right, do more. Don't think of it as a failure if you don't get it right; whatever you do is right for you at THIS time. The future is not written in stone and we can change it at will.