IBD and hormones

[jetsma]

I noticed that I get symptomatic for about 1week to 2weeks before my period.

I never had any symptoms prior to getting pregnant (although had fatigue and random unexplained raised inflammatory markers) but by about 8 weeks preg. I was in agony with I thought trapped wind diarrhoea and then constipation. The pain was throughout the pregnancy and always unexplained.

After having the baby I had the same agony in my chest/stomach. I had it three times in her first year, and one big long time since Christmas in her second year. It was jan/feb it got so bad I was ill and send for colonoscopy, and looking back I'm thinking it was at its worst leading up to my period.

Just had one there and in a lot of pain but my bowels have calmed down a little. Just the stomach pain.

Is there a known connection between IBD flare ups (probably crowns but won't know for a week) and hormones/menstrual cycle. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the hormonal aspect? I am on birth control pill Yasmin and have been for 6 years.

Do other women have menstrual cycle related flares? How do you deal with them?

(as yet not on meds for IBD )

 

[Nyx]

I don't have 'flares' per se, but a day or two before my period always get diarrhea (I'm at the constipation end of the Crohn's spectrum normally). So, I'd say that it's totally related. I, unfortunately, don't have any advice for you as I usually just deal with it since it's not really that bad for me. I hope you get some responses here and some help!

 

[StarGirrrrl]

If Yasmin isn't working as you'd like it to, then perhaps discuss the progesterone only pill (aka mini pill) with your GP or Nurse.

This contains only one hormone, instead of two, and doesn't increase the risk of blood clots as Yasmin does, so would be more suitable for you anyway as an IBD sufferer.

It might be that once you are on IBD meds the hormonal issues get better- but lots of women here on meds say they get the flare-up's you describe, and the mini-pill would be better for you as IBD raises blood clot risk, and Yasmin (which is the combined pill) raises it again.