Reds1261
07-22-2002, 06:57 PM
Hi Everyone...I'm 41 and I'm also on this rollercoast ride of perimenopause http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences strange stomach discomfort before and during their cycle, symptoms like empty feeling in your stomach, nauseas and alot of acidity. I have been tested for everything and I have GERD, but really gets worse during this time. Does anyone else get this and also the weird aches and pains.
Thanks all :wave:
Thanks all :wave:
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DottieMae
08-10-2002, 04:31 PM
You're asking the same question that I wanted to ask!!! I haven't been diagnosed as perimenopausal yet, but I'll be talking to my ob/gyn about this next week, I hope. I saw my Internal Medicine doctor last month for a check up and brought my list of complaints with me ... I was having such severe stomach upset that I had lost my appetite ... I was suffering from serious nausea, mostly in the morning, then I'd throw up. I was under a great deal of stress at the time but had also noticed three abbreviated periods before these symptoms went into full swing. I was also becoming increasingly nervous with mild flushing from my neck and all over my face and scalp ... sounded like hot flashes to me, but who ever knows?!! Dizziness was a problem right before each of those periods that came too early, too ... but this doctor didn't even do a hormone work-up ... told me that I'd be skipping periods at my age (I'm almost 51) and not having them come early. I just knew she was wrong, although well meaning ... she tested for all kinds of other things. All of that is a longer story ... from a chest x-ray they actually misdiagnosed a lung tumor!!! Another specialist sent me for a CAT Scan ... no tumor after all ... check that one out for anxiety!!! After reading some of these messages, I know that I must be on the right track. Oh, and your other disorder: GERD. Not sure what that is, but I have acid reflux and that has kicked up lately, too ... so has my spastic colon. I just know that all of this has to be related to hormonal changes; don't you feel the same?
Sure hope this helps ... :wave:
Sure hope this helps ... :wave:
sresje
08-11-2002, 12:07 AM
I've had some stomach/intenstinal problems since I started. Sometimes hungry, sometimes not. I've had a problem with (I hate to say) diarrhea. Is this normal for menopause? Help!
nesaby
08-12-2002, 03:45 AM
I too have the same type of stomach upset.
DottieMae
08-12-2002, 04:12 AM
Well, the stomach problems sure are miserable. I didn't think this sounded normal for menopause, but when I read up more ... well, nausea is mentioned as one of the possible symptoms. I guess that would especially hold true for those of us who've had trouble in that area before. In my case, it seems to be connected to anxiety. I know that, in my family, other members have had nausea & diarrhea in connection with stress and anxiety ... menopause aside ... so if anxiety & depression can be symptoms of menopause, then it would stand to reason that the symptoms we're describing are normal for us. Have any of you ladies talked to your doctor about this? I'm hoping to see mine in another week or so ... I'll be asking lots of questions about all of this and I'll post a new message with whatever results we come up with.
Hope this helps ... :wave:
Hope this helps ... :wave:
Reds1261
08-12-2002, 07:40 PM
Hi Dottie....yes I have spoken to my doctor about this and she said..yes..it is very common to have stomach problems with perimenopause, she said it was all connected with the hormones, I suffer from Acid Reflux disease, I;m currently taking Prilosec, but even on the Prilosec ..right before and during my period the acid reflux becomes more intense, she told me that was perfectly normal.
I have read on this board about the Natural Protestrogane cream and how everyone was raving about it..I mentioned this to my doctor and she strongly recommended that I DO NOT use it, she said I would be doing myself more harm then good.
Good luck with your doctor and keep us posted on how you make out
I have read on this board about the Natural Protestrogane cream and how everyone was raving about it..I mentioned this to my doctor and she strongly recommended that I DO NOT use it, she said I would be doing myself more harm then good.
Good luck with your doctor and keep us posted on how you make out
Reds1261
08-12-2002, 07:49 PM
I've had some stomach/intenstinal problems since I started. Sometimes hungry, sometimes not. I've had a problem with (I hate to say) diarrhea. Is this normal for menopause? Help!
Hi Sresje:
I have the same feeling sometimes hungry, sometimes not...I even get the hollow feeling in my stomach, sometimes I even feel nauseas and hungry at the same time...talk about a weird feeling. My doctor told me, when you are going thru a hormonal change or hormonal imbalance whatever is sensitive or weak in your body ( in my case it is my stomach) it will become my intensifed during perimenopause.
Good Luck and keep me posted on how you are doing.
Hi Sresje:
I have the same feeling sometimes hungry, sometimes not...I even get the hollow feeling in my stomach, sometimes I even feel nauseas and hungry at the same time...talk about a weird feeling. My doctor told me, when you are going thru a hormonal change or hormonal imbalance whatever is sensitive or weak in your body ( in my case it is my stomach) it will become my intensifed during perimenopause.
Good Luck and keep me posted on how you are doing.
DottieMae
08-12-2002, 09:01 PM
Thanks so much for the answers Reds1261. You mentioned some important things for me to consider, especially when you talked about the Natural Progesterone ... I'm assuming that you're talking about the natural creams that they sell at health food stores. My mother-in-law gave me a jar of something called Yinergy Eugesterone 900, but I've been hesitant to use it. They seem to give such precise directions on how it should be used and some accompanying literature warns not to use too much!!! Well, how much is too much for you, me, or the next lady?!!! I'm happy to say that I've called a doctor who is touted to be great in menopause management and have an appointment in less than two weeks ... wish it could've been sooner, but I'm happy that she still had any openings, she's that popular in her field. The nice nurse I talked to this morning while making this appointment said exactly the same thing you're mentioning here, just as your doctor says, that whatever is your particular weakness in your physiology will be the areas that will show more symptoms during hormonal changes. I am on Nexium right now for the acid reflux, and that does help. The Xanax helps with both the nervousness and the irritable bowel, but they plan to take me off of that as soon as they find the right formula to treat the whole menopause problem. Here go more tests!!!
Are you on any type of hormone replacement therapy? The whole scare lately has me kind of wondering about using estrogen and whatever else the doctors may be prescribing for us ... but, at least this new doctor I've found is famous for using as many natural methods as possible. Sounds like someone who cares about her patients; sure hope so.
And this for Sresje: I was wondering if you've had a previous history for stomach/intestinal problems even before reaching this point in your life. And, like you, I also have a terrible time with diarrhea lately. I'm thinking it's all connected, too. Do you, by any chance, have any problems with anxiety? That's one of the big issues with me for the last three months ... I just hate this feeling. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm being anxiety-stricken about. I just keep thinking: "No, this can't possibly be happening to me!!!"
Anyway, I'm really encouraged by everyone's output here and hope we keep each other posted.
Bye, all ...
Are you on any type of hormone replacement therapy? The whole scare lately has me kind of wondering about using estrogen and whatever else the doctors may be prescribing for us ... but, at least this new doctor I've found is famous for using as many natural methods as possible. Sounds like someone who cares about her patients; sure hope so.
And this for Sresje: I was wondering if you've had a previous history for stomach/intestinal problems even before reaching this point in your life. And, like you, I also have a terrible time with diarrhea lately. I'm thinking it's all connected, too. Do you, by any chance, have any problems with anxiety? That's one of the big issues with me for the last three months ... I just hate this feeling. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm being anxiety-stricken about. I just keep thinking: "No, this can't possibly be happening to me!!!"
Anyway, I'm really encouraged by everyone's output here and hope we keep each other posted.
Bye, all ...
sresje
08-14-2002, 12:32 AM
Hi Reds & Dottie Mae!
Thanks for writing back! Glad to know I'm not alone! I'm 51 years old and having been going thru this peri-menopause for awhile now! No, I have no history of stomach problems but I do have a history of anxiety problems. The anxiety got worse last fall. Got that straightened out and then saw my ob/gyn this past April. She put me on prometrium for day 1-12 as I am still producing some estrogene! That has helped the anxiety a lot! So I guess the diarrhea is either menopause and/or anxiety related. Sorry you both have to go through other problems. Keep me posted!!! I want to call the ob/gyn with the latest news on HRT but I don't want to go off 'cause I'm feeling better. Good Luck! Stay in touch!!!! :)
Thanks for writing back! Glad to know I'm not alone! I'm 51 years old and having been going thru this peri-menopause for awhile now! No, I have no history of stomach problems but I do have a history of anxiety problems. The anxiety got worse last fall. Got that straightened out and then saw my ob/gyn this past April. She put me on prometrium for day 1-12 as I am still producing some estrogene! That has helped the anxiety a lot! So I guess the diarrhea is either menopause and/or anxiety related. Sorry you both have to go through other problems. Keep me posted!!! I want to call the ob/gyn with the latest news on HRT but I don't want to go off 'cause I'm feeling better. Good Luck! Stay in touch!!!! :)
Reds1261
08-14-2002, 07:45 PM
Hi Dottie and Sresje...
Your very welcome and I'm glad I could help you in some way. Good luck with the doctor I hope she answers alot of questions for you..maybe a good idea to write all your questions down and ask her. Please let me know how you make out.
And in answer to your question about the natural cream, no I do not use anything...like you I'm very..very hesitate, especially after taking to my doctor. I wish I had found this board in the beginning of the year, because I thought I was losing my mind with all the weird and strange symptoms I was having..the doctor kept sending me for test, catscans, ultrasound, endoscopy for my gallbladder and everything came out normal..I have had acid reflux for years, but never as bad as it was right before or during my period, then I kept getting this weird pain underneath my right rib cage and thats what made them think gallbladder. Sometimes I felt dizzy, confused..brain fog, nausea then hungary...I just didn't feel like myself...back to the doctor I went..he told me it was a form of depression ( I had lost my father a year ago, and Iwas very close to my dad) so he convinced me that it was that..but I started reading up on things and Perimenopause kept coming up, then I watch Oprah,she was having a special on perimenopause and BANG...that was me...and I realized I was not losing my mind.
I wish you both the best and please keep me posted.
Take care and hang in there :wave:
Your very welcome and I'm glad I could help you in some way. Good luck with the doctor I hope she answers alot of questions for you..maybe a good idea to write all your questions down and ask her. Please let me know how you make out.
And in answer to your question about the natural cream, no I do not use anything...like you I'm very..very hesitate, especially after taking to my doctor. I wish I had found this board in the beginning of the year, because I thought I was losing my mind with all the weird and strange symptoms I was having..the doctor kept sending me for test, catscans, ultrasound, endoscopy for my gallbladder and everything came out normal..I have had acid reflux for years, but never as bad as it was right before or during my period, then I kept getting this weird pain underneath my right rib cage and thats what made them think gallbladder. Sometimes I felt dizzy, confused..brain fog, nausea then hungary...I just didn't feel like myself...back to the doctor I went..he told me it was a form of depression ( I had lost my father a year ago, and Iwas very close to my dad) so he convinced me that it was that..but I started reading up on things and Perimenopause kept coming up, then I watch Oprah,she was having a special on perimenopause and BANG...that was me...and I realized I was not losing my mind.
I wish you both the best and please keep me posted.
Take care and hang in there :wave:
DottieMae
08-17-2002, 11:21 PM
Hi, Reds .... It was interesting to read how someone other than myself has gone through the amount of testing that I've been through with all the stomach problems!!! My husband has always commented about how odd I've been all my life with these weird and not really explainable stomach ailments. It's all genetic though because my dad has problems with his digestive system that are never textbook cases, just like mine. When I was 19 I went through every test in the book for my stomach problems ... after two days in the hospital my doctor just said I had a "nervous stomach". Then, for years I just lived with that kind of thing, off and on. After my 8th child, when I was about 42 years old, those stomach problems came back with a vengence. Horrible aches and stabbing pains up under my rib cage and right shoulder blade. I began not eating just to avoid the pain, and a lady gastroenterologist just knew I had a pancreatic or gall bladder problem ... just like you mentioned. Nope, all the sonograms came back great. Seems they had begun calling "nervous stomach" by new names: IBS or spastic colon or spastic intestine ... depended on who you were talking to. Now, I'm scheduled to go in for an upper GI series and abdominal sonogram on Monday but my husband is already making his prediction about the outcome ... I know my new doctor is looking for a peptic ulcer, but she probably won't find one. I think this most recent discomfort, nausea, and sensitivity is due to this perimenopause thing because so many other symptoms are present. You know, I bet everytime I had a really serious attack of some type of stomach or intestinal problem, it has always somehow been related to some sudden hormone changes!!! What do you think?!!!
Also, I was wondering ... do you feel weird-weird? Like somehow you got dropped into another universe? I seem to be having so much trouble staying constant at anything, not in touch with my family sometimes, drawn to tears at other times, very uncomfortable in my skin, and really not very happy and confident anymore. This is just the strangest I've felt in my whole life ... not at all like myself ... just can't seem to shake myself back to being me!!! Sob, sob.
Oh, well ... hasn't been my best day today.
Hope tomorrow is better. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif
Also, I was wondering ... do you feel weird-weird? Like somehow you got dropped into another universe? I seem to be having so much trouble staying constant at anything, not in touch with my family sometimes, drawn to tears at other times, very uncomfortable in my skin, and really not very happy and confident anymore. This is just the strangest I've felt in my whole life ... not at all like myself ... just can't seem to shake myself back to being me!!! Sob, sob.
Oh, well ... hasn't been my best day today.
Hope tomorrow is better. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif
Reds1261
08-18-2002, 04:01 PM
Hi Dottie
I know my new doctor is looking for a peptic ulcer, but she probably won't find one. I think this most recent discomfort, nausea, and sensitivity is due to this perimenopause thing because so many other symptoms are present. You know, I bet everytime I had a really serious attack of some type of stomach or intestinal problem, it has always somehow been related to some sudden hormone changes!!! What do you think?!!!
Also, I was wondering ... do you feel weird-weird? Like somehow you got dropped into another universe? I seem to be having so much trouble staying constant at anything, not in touch with my family sometimes, drawn to tears at other times, very uncomfortable in my skin, and really not very happy and confident anymore. This is just the strangest I've felt in my whole life ... not at all like myself ... just can't seem to shake myself back to being me!!! Sob, sob.
Yes...Dottie....I know EXACTLY how you feel about feeling like you just dropped off the universe, sometimes I get the strangest or weirdest feeling that comes over me...and truly believe that, that feeling and the stomach problems are ALL related to perimenopause, I would swear to it..
Good luck with your new doctor and you upcoming test..please let me know how you make out.
I know my new doctor is looking for a peptic ulcer, but she probably won't find one. I think this most recent discomfort, nausea, and sensitivity is due to this perimenopause thing because so many other symptoms are present. You know, I bet everytime I had a really serious attack of some type of stomach or intestinal problem, it has always somehow been related to some sudden hormone changes!!! What do you think?!!!
Also, I was wondering ... do you feel weird-weird? Like somehow you got dropped into another universe? I seem to be having so much trouble staying constant at anything, not in touch with my family sometimes, drawn to tears at other times, very uncomfortable in my skin, and really not very happy and confident anymore. This is just the strangest I've felt in my whole life ... not at all like myself ... just can't seem to shake myself back to being me!!! Sob, sob.
Yes...Dottie....I know EXACTLY how you feel about feeling like you just dropped off the universe, sometimes I get the strangest or weirdest feeling that comes over me...and truly believe that, that feeling and the stomach problems are ALL related to perimenopause, I would swear to it..
Good luck with your new doctor and you upcoming test..please let me know how you make out.
greekgirl
08-22-2002, 07:43 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by sresje:
i too have been having stomach trouble, sometimes my stomach feels very full, i feel nauseas, but at the same time feel hungry, othertimes my stomach feels very hollow and i cant eat at all. as for the diarrhea this starts two weeks before my period. i get unbelievable cramps and then diarrhea. sometimes in the middle of the night i get all hot and cold and clamy, my heart races, i feel nauseas and faint, terrible cramps and sometimes can't make it to the loo with the diarrhea, its pretty awful. i take naproxen for the pain. also suffer from extreme stress, so i assume all this is related. i am 51 and on hrt. the dr said i am going through perimenopause. i just nope it doesn't last very long.
i too have been having stomach trouble, sometimes my stomach feels very full, i feel nauseas, but at the same time feel hungry, othertimes my stomach feels very hollow and i cant eat at all. as for the diarrhea this starts two weeks before my period. i get unbelievable cramps and then diarrhea. sometimes in the middle of the night i get all hot and cold and clamy, my heart races, i feel nauseas and faint, terrible cramps and sometimes can't make it to the loo with the diarrhea, its pretty awful. i take naproxen for the pain. also suffer from extreme stress, so i assume all this is related. i am 51 and on hrt. the dr said i am going through perimenopause. i just nope it doesn't last very long.
sresje
08-26-2002, 01:04 AM
Hi Everyone! I've been reading your posts. I've been avoiding calling the doctor knowing that the problem with the insides is most likely due to either stress/hormones. I've talked to several of my friends about this and they are having the same problems. My mom who suffers from irritable bowl syndrome said to try Metamucil as that will help with the bowl movement. Now I must get brave and call the doctor and tell her about my concerns: #1 progesterone treatment & #2 bowl (Yuck!) changes! I wish this was all over with. Yes, there's a lot of stress in my life. I'm 51 and will be 52 in September and have not gone through menopause completely (lucky me!) So I must be brave and call about the HRT treatment she's giving me as I've been concerned about recent news on it and also the problem with the bowls. I'll let you know when I get up courage to call the doctor! By the way Metamucil really does help!!!!! And it is completely safe to use! No medical interactions with any medications! ;) Keep me posted on how you are all doing!!! :bang
denise48
07-12-2004, 01:20 PM
Just read this post on stomach problems with diarrhea. I too have the same problem at least once a month. It is so stressful, one momemt I am normal and then diarrhea kicks in. I do have IBS, acid reflux, and a hiatal hernia. I have always had problems with my stomach, especially when I eat certain foods. I had a partial hystrec in 1992, but I still have my ovaries. Lately I have been feeling spacey and wanting to be alone. I keep having negative thoughts floating thru my head which leads to the stomach problems. Is there anything out there that can control the nerves in my stomach plus the diarrhea that will not make me sick.