Early menopause anyone?

[carolhew]

I am 47 and have been in peri menopause for the last 4 years. It started with shorter and missed periods and now I just spot a couple times a year. The women in my family have not had these symptoms until their 50's. I thought I had read somewhere where Crohn's patients can go into menopause early, but I can't seem to find where I read that. I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this or can tell me where I read it.

My sister is 6 yrs older than me and as a kid I wanted to do everything she did and followed her everywhere (which she was not fond of). Now we are having the same peri menopause symptoms together! Too funny! :lol2:

Carol

 

[meandmine]

Carol
I was in peri menopause at 40 for about 10-11 yrs before I stopped completely.

 

[carolhew]

Thanks meandmine! I know if varies for every women, I am just curious if Crohn's or UC affect menopause. Oh 10-11 yrs, I guess I am close to half way there!

 

[Irishtarheel]

I was early, too.

That's such a good question! I always wondered if there was a link, too. In my case, I had a (partial-ovaries still there) hysterectomy at 40, as did my mom. I started peri-menopause at 43ish and am still going through it at 51http://www.crohnsforum.com/MedC/smilies/voodoo.gif Too much fun, right?! I've heard that it is somewhat hereditary and also that a hysterectomy can kick it off a bit earlier. My mom was on the same timetable, and so is my sister who didn't have surgery. My sis is more or less over it now at 55... Haven't found any clear correlation.

However, I have heard a lot about Crohn's correlating with a worse PMS, a more difficult peri-menopause, and flares during hormonal spikes, all of which I have. I had to go on HRT because I had ridiculous hot flashes at one point-- almost every 2 hours--when I was 47. HRT got rid of the hot flashes, helped me sleep great, feel great, and lessened the severity of my monthly mini Crohns flares each ovulation and period.

I hope none of these symptoms apply to you. It only happens to some. Best of luck!

 

[Kendra]

Im 37 & i have all the symptoms of early Menopause, but because of my age Dr said not gonna test for it, that its too soon. I started my Period at the age of 10, is it possible I am going thru early Menopause? Hot Spots like back of my neck & under my breasts & one particular spot on my side & back, mood swings daily, cold sweats, hot flashes, night sweats only on my P for 2 days so light i only have to wear a Panty liner. Dr told me that the Ablation took the bleeding away but i hurt sooo bad when im on my P. It puts me on the couch for 3 days with heating pad. How can I cramp so hard, Fibroids? I already know I have plenty of those on my Ovaries. Just wondering.

 

[Irishtarheel]

Kendra, so sorry for all your discomfort. All I can add is that since my Crohn's is so closely tied to my hormonal cycle, and both my period&mini-flares have coincided for over 30 years now, I have personally seen a correlation between the two. In addition, on the CCFA website there is this info., which my own doc, from a major teaching hospital, corroborates:

"It’s interesting that there’s an overlay of IBD symptoms that may increase during the menstrual cycle, whether that’s during PMS or the actual week of menstrual flow. And it’s interesting that menses suppression with birth control medication can actually be very helpful and needed if debilitating symptoms are present. So ladies, if you find that you have these mini-flares once a month, it’s worth mentioning to your physician because there are ways potentially to change the medication schedule that you’re on or maybe going on to hormonal therapy to help ablate some of these peaks and valleys of your symptoms."

Here are two links in reference to this on the CCFA website, and you can do further searches on that site, of course:
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/FactSheets/womenfactsheet.pdf
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/IBDandSheTranscript.pdf

Also, keep in mind two things that may be helpful. You may want to consider a female GI specialist at some point...just because . I'm not saying that will always guarantee better or more sympathetic treatment (there are good fellas out there, haha), but if you happen to have heard really good things about a female doc, it could be worth the try. It has made a world of difference for me. But even if you love your doc, or don't have access to a good female alternative, you can always feel in charge of your health and tell your doc you want to have certain tests done for your own peace of mind. You definitely deserve that for all you go through. Even your regular internist can run an FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) test in your routine blood work, as my internist did. If that FSH is really high, as mine was, it means that your body is putting out lots of FSH to "kick" your ovaries into a higher gear because they are slowing down. You may need to have this taken a few times because it is a snapshot, like a thyroid test, that can vary from time to time.

Over the past 20 years--I'm 51--I've tried various BC pills and have been on Premarin and now Estradiol to improve my symptoms, and they have helped TREMENDOUSLY with everything: my Crohns flares, my PMS/periods and now, going through menopause. Keep in mind that I did take one BC pill that aggravated my Crohns, but as soon as I dropped it, things calmed down immediately. So, you do have to find the one that works for you personally. I've had lots of chats with my GI spec. about this, and I believe at this point, they may even have some thoughts about which BC pills bother most people. Next time I see my doc I'll find out which one it was...I took it 12 years ago.

Hope this note is helpful to several to just considering how seriously your hormones and cycles can play into your IBD symptoms, and can worsen them. I am a living example of it and exist well with merely hormonal/HRT treatment of my Crohns. I've been told that the stomach and intestines have estrogen receptors that react to changing hormone levels. High progesterone levels during menstruation cause menstrual cramps and can also cause intestinal spasms.

Geesh, it summed it all up perfectly when I read the post title, "Crohns + Period = Aaaaaaaaaargh!" You said it, girl!!! Hang in there, honey. Hugs.

 

[Kendra]

thanks

Kendra, so sorry for all your discomfort. All I can add is that since my Crohn's is so closely tied to my hormonal cycle, and both my period&mini-flares have coincided for over 30 years now, I have personally seen a correlation between the two. In addition, on the CCFA website there is this info., which my own doc, from a major teaching hospital, corroborates:

"It’s interesting that there’s an overlay of IBD symptoms that may increase during the menstrual cycle, whether that’s during PMS or the actual week of menstrual flow. And it’s interesting that menses suppression with birth control medication can actually be very helpful and needed if debilitating symptoms are present. So ladies, if you find that you have these mini-flares once a month, it’s worth mentioning to your physician because there are ways potentially to change the medication schedule that you’re on or maybe going on to hormonal therapy to help ablate some of these peaks and valleys of your symptoms."

Here are two links in reference to this on the CCFA website, and you can do further searches on that site, of course:
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/FactSheets/womenfactsheet.pdf
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/IBDandSheTranscript.pdf

Also, keep in mind two things that may be helpful. You may want to consider a female GI specialist at some point...just because . I'm not saying that will always guarantee better or more sympathetic treatment (there are good fellas out there, haha), but if you happen to have heard really good things about a female doc, it could be worth the try. It has made a world of difference for me. But even if you love your doc, or don't have access to a good female alternative, you can always feel in charge of your health and tell your doc you want to have certain tests done for your own peace of mind. You definitely deserve that for all you go through. Even your regular internist can run an FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) test in your routine blood work, as my internist did. If that FSH is really high, as mine was, it means that your body is putting out lots of FSH to "kick" your ovaries into a higher gear because they are slowing down. You may need to have this taken a few times because it is a snapshot, like a thyroid test, that can vary from time to time.

Over the past 20 years--I'm 51--I've tried various BC pills and have been on Premarin and now Estradiol to improve my symptoms, and they have helped TREMENDOUSLY with everything: my Crohns flares, my PMS/periods and now, going through menopause. Keep in mind that I did take one BC pill that aggravated my Crohns, but as soon as I dropped it, things calmed down immediately. So, you do have to find the one that works for you personally. I've had lots of chats with my GI spec. about this, and I believe at this point, they may even have some thoughts about which BC pills bother most people. Next time I see my doc I'll find out which one it was...I took it 12 years ago.

Hope this note is helpful to several to just considering how seriously your hormones and cycles can play into your IBD symptoms, and can worsen them. I am a living example of it and exist well with merely hormonal/HRT treatment of my Crohns. I've been told that the stomach and intestines have estrogen receptors that react to changing hormone levels. High progesterone levels during menstruation cause menstrual cramps and can also cause intestinal spasms.

Geesh, it summed it all up perfectly when I read the post title, "Crohns + Period = Aaaaaaaaaargh!" You said it, girl!!! Hang in there, honey. Hugs.

Thank you so much for the links & advice.

 

[Irishtarheel]

Good Luck, Kendra!

I really hope you are able to find some answers/good information and some relief. Let us know how it goes...Take care.

 

[ComaGirl]

To Irishtarheel - Thank God I read your posts!
It took me a while to find this thread, because not many things came up with menopause on the general search, but I finally found the place just for us ladies.

I had horrible periods. Nightmares. I was trying to stick it out, but the pain was so intense I would vomit and I finally gave in and had the hysterectomy after I could feel my heart racing with the pain. I decided I had tried long enough to wait for menopause that was still too far off and I wasn't going to get any relief soon. I did the hysterectomy.

But now I'm struggling with brittle nails, fatigue and several other common menopause symptoms at the same time that I was finally diagnosed (after 25 years) with Crohn's. I still have my ovaries, but I'm not sure what is perimenopause, possible menopause now that I'm almost 41 or just plain Crohn's.

After reading these posts, methinks it is time to bring my GYN in on the Crohn's diagnosis before my next annual exam, so we can work it all out.

So thankful for this forum.

 

[Irishtarheel]

Hi CGirl! I just responded to your post in the other forum and referenced this forum, so I'm glad that you found it already! Good luck and hope you start feeling better.

 

[Blessedmommy]

Im 37 & i have all the symptoms of early Menopause, but because of my age Dr said not gonna test for it, that its too soon. I started my Period at the age of 10, is it possible I am going thru early Menopause? Hot Spots like back of my neck & under my breasts & one particular spot on my side & back, mood swings daily, cold sweats, hot flashes, night sweats only on my P for 2 days so light i only have to wear a Panty liner. Dr told me that the Ablation took the bleeding away but i hurt sooo bad when im on my P. It puts me on the couch for 3 days with heating pad. How can I cramp so hard, Fibroids? I already know I have plenty of those on my Ovaries. Just wondering.

I am 38 and my fsh hormone test just came back last week as early menopause, though looking back, I've been dealing with the symptoms on some level for the past 2 years. It just got so bad recently I had to get checked out. No period for 3 months, mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, etc..... Menopause range is 23-116 and my level was 99.8, so menopause it is. Go to your doctor or even a different one and demand a hormone test! I'm now trying to figure out how to treat the symptoms as I feel too young to start hormone replacement. Go back for my pap in August and will get more answers then. Good luck!

 

[ComaGirl]

From research done by Dr. Neil Nedley and his team, a plant based diet reduces many of the undesirable side effects and risks of HRT. I'd definitely look into the bio identical first and foremost. Watch your medications, because your doctors aren't always able to keep up with it. One doc put me on Yaz and ibuprofen at the same time. That's like mixing baking soda and vinegar and it exploded in painful swelling in my feet - kept me off work for two weeks! I'm the one that discovered it. So double check contraindications for yourself!

 

[Irishtarheel]

I have a question and I'll be able to check the site tomorrow, but then I'll be away for two weeks taking care of my 84-year old mom after a surgery. She doesn't have a computer or internet connection, which may be a blessing as I'll be able to concentrate on my mom and enjoying her, doing some reading and knitting, yoga, cooking...

Ok, my question is that it seemed like overnight I developed really dry hair and it's been falling out at a rate that I would say is twice what I'm used to, for the past year. No clumps or anything, but more coming out when I wash my hair or put a brush or my hand through it. Because it's gotten so dry, it does not look thinner yet-- except to me--right around my bangs and part. I am using a creme-conditioner shampoo now that doesn't have any SLS or parabens, etc. and a heavy-duty natural conditioner (the once a week kind) every time I shampoo (only twice a week now since it's so dry, and I don't want to encourage fall-out) and that's helped a lot. I don't use a flat iron and just partially blow dry my just-below-the-chin length hair.

I know I'm in menopause, I'm 51, have been on HRT for 3 years and I just had a blood panel done and my B-12 and iron, thyroid, etc. are within the norm. I eat a well-rounded diet (all the "good hair" foods, haha) and take supplements.

Has anyone else had a sudden onset like this with their hair during menopause? I was thinking perhaps it was a nutrition/malabsorption, or systemic stress problem, because I had SIBO twice in the past year...but other than that I've been healthy--haha--all things being relative. I'm not too fussed about it, unless it gets worse. Am thinking it's just part of lower hormones, since my skin is drier, too. My Crohns has been pretty calm and my inflammation markers are nil.

I'm all ears about thoughts and suggestions, or even products that have helped anyone with REALLY dry hair. Thanks a bunch, girls!

 

[ComaGirl]

Ditto what Irishtarheel said. I wouldn't call my hair dry, but it had started doing everything she says hers is doing a few years ago and yes, you can tell the hair is thinning. And yes, all my b12, iron and all comes out normal. I am in a small flare right now, but I'd like an answer to this one as well.
I'm kind of attached to my hair. Or, at least, I was.