Hello! New to forum, but NOT new to Crohns...Looking for some advice

[Blessedmommy]

My story is long, but won't bore you with all the details. Basically, I am a 38 year old mother of 3 beautiful girls ages 9, 6 and 5. I was officially diagnosed with crohns 14 years ago. I haven't had a major flare since my resection in 2004, between my first and second pregnancy's, but have the bad days very often..... I also suffer from most of the ugly side effects of the disease, horrible and several kidney stones, joint pain and just the bad days in general but do the best I can because as a divorced mom of 3, full time student, giving up or in isn't an option. I am shocked by my most recent "side effect" of Crohns though. After missing 3 periods (and my tubes are tied so wasnt too concerned about pregnancy) and being described by my boyfriend as "someone he didn't even recognize", I went to my ob/gyn. Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and a constant feeling of pms (moody, grumpy, sad, etc). I saved all my energy and patience for my daughters, but when they would go to their dads for his day, I would be virtually unbearable to be around. Ob said it was most likely my thyroid, which is more common at my age than menopause (which is what my symptoms were suggesting) but also mimics the same symptoms of menopause. After a thyroid test and a hormone test just to cover our bases, it was discovered that my thyroid is normal and I am in menopause, AT 38!!!!! My fsh hormone levels came back 99.8 (menopause level is 23-116.........) I finally did have a period, and I feel much better emotionally as I now have answers and it wasn't as bad as some of the things I was thinking. But do still have some of the blahs (pms like) and definitely still having the night sweats, hot flashes, and not sleeping well. Just curious if any other women on here have suffered early menopause with their Crohns disease? How are you treating your symptoms, what are your doctors telling you? I do not want to start hormone therapy this young...... Would appreciate any and all advice. Thanks!

 

[Angrybird]

Hello there, I myself am not experiencing menopause but I did just want to pop and say 'hi' and welcome to the forum There is lot of helpful info here so hopefully you will find the answers you need here.

All the best

AB
xx

NB Out of interest what treatment are you on for your crohns? What does your GI say about the fact that you still have bad days a lot with it?

 

[Blessedmommy]

Hi, thanks. Since shortly after my obstruction in 2004, I am on no treatment per say. They allowed me to come off my meds as long I continued seeming to be in remission. 2 pregnancies after that surgery furthered my remission. Because of the area of intestine that was removed, my bowels are always water as that section controls what "form" your bowels take (tmi......sorry). Insurance constraints right now prohibit me doing much, unless of course I massively flare and have no choice to be seen. So, for now, I deal with the bad days and pray to maintain the level that I am in. Now with this early menopause diagnosis, I will probably end up going in to my GI just to let him know all that's going on and see what I should or could be doing on the Crohns end. It's all so frustrating. I've been diagnosed 14 years yet still feel like I find out something new about the "side effects" of this disease every time I turn around. The kidney stones, joint pain and now early menopause????...... Ugh.......