Period & flares

[MaryK]

I have "mini"-flares every month just before and during my period: diarrhea (with subsequent pain from hemorrhoids and recto-vaginal fistula) and some loss of appetite (nibbles here and there and fluids, but not always enough to stay hydrated). I try to control it with Imodium but once the flare starts it just won't stop until I get a few days' worth of prednisone--which, since I've been on it periodically for about 13 years, is losing its effectiveness.

Any ladies have some tips on how to control menstrual flares with either
a) something over-the-counter other than Imodium, or
b) something other than prednisone?

I'd really rather avoid anything that messes with my hormones, by the way.

*PS: I'm currently on lialda and asacol, but it's been ineffective to the point where my doctor's talking about removing my ileocecal valve.

 

[penny3]

Hi MaryK,
I see you wrote this in January, have you figured anything out since? I always get more problems around my period too. I don't take medicine for it, but I just really watch my diet and make sure i get enough sleep around that time - changing work schedule around it even sometimes.
this sounds like a strange thing to say, but I find that making fresh juices with a juicer that I got for about 30 bucks always helps me, when i'm in a bad flare. nothing too acidic, but like apple juice, some greens, a tiny bit of lemon, some ginger...
did you ever try that? hope you're feeling better by now ..

 

[valleysangel92]

Hello, I'm sorry this has been missed for so long, I have only just seen it myself after being missing in action for a while. Are you any further forward?

I've struggled with my periods for as long as I can remember now, I used to take a medication called mefanamic acid, but its an anti inflammatory so I was told to stop it when I was diagnosed with Crohns disease and soon after that I was put onto the mini pill. This worked great for me and I actually stopped having periods for a long while, which was a big relief.

There's a few routes you could go down. You could use a medication like tranexamic acid to reduce the amount of blood you loose during your period which in turn can make them less painful or you could manage the symptoms during the period with pain killers like cocodamol which I always found helped but bunged me up. The other symptom relief I use when I get periods now is buscopan, it may sound a little random but it really helps me as periods are essentially contractions and buscopan works to stop spasms.

The other route you could go down is hormonal birth control. As I mentioned above this is what I chose, and it really did work, there are some risks associated but with careful thought you can find one that suits you. I went with the mini pill because I couldn't use the combi, and my periods dissapeared and I got maybe one a year. Unfortunately I now have absorption issues and my periods are very sparodic and unpredictable as sometimes I absorb the pill and sometimes I dont. Due to this, I'm having the implant fitted later today in an attempt to help control them a bit better or at least reduce the symptoms I get when I have them. There are a number of other options available of course, and it might take a couple of attempts before you find what's right for you, but it may be worth looking into if you don't have any plans for a baby in the near future.

 

[dejavucandace]

I was just the opposite. I have struggled all my life to have bowel movements and while on my period its much better. Loose and without strain or pain. Now that im 50 though it seems that I have developed the real crohns symptoms of a flare.