IBS and menstrual cycle/anyone else?

Welcome, Amy. Sounds like you may have the old one-two punch, and it's good that you will consult with your gyn.I'm an IBS and endometriosis veteran. Was diagnosed with IBS about 24 years ago. Have had endometriosis for about 15 years now. I've had several laparoscopies for the endometriosis. The kicker for me is that the worst endo is actually on my intestine, so the two disorders aggravate each other tremendously. (I also have a thyroid disorder, since 1991. Basically, if I were a car, I would have been junked ages ago.)The worst endometriosis pain for me has always been during ovulation. I could predict my period from the ovulation pain. Still pretty much can. The so-called treatments for endo are lousy, and if you wind up being diagnosed with endo (which can only be done through a lap), there's a lot of information and support on the web for you. I can direct you to some sites if you get to that point. Just post and ask me, and I'll point you in the right direction.I have a wonderful gyn, but he didn't think I had endo at first. This, however, was years ago, when less was known. He thought the pain I had at ovulation was the release of the egg irritating my irritable bowel. We now know, of course, better.I've got endo pretty bad, and am on strong pain meds. I hope you don't have endo, but if you suspect it, knowledge is power.Amy, please reach out to someone close to you if suicide is truly something you've considered. I understand the desperation and the pain and how it can drive you to desperate thoughts. But if you feel those thoughts may become action, you MUST not ignore this. You are worth fighting for, so fight for yourself, hon. Get whatever help you need, and whatever answers you need.You deserve better. Please keep us posted.

Hi Amy:My IBS also worsens right before my period, and makes those cramps worse too! I haven't had problems like this in many years, so really resent it cropping up now! But many of us are in the same boat, so vent alone with us. Welcome to the Board.JeanG------------------Member of "The Advance Guard for the Ozone Rangers".May the "farce" be with you. JeanG

I have to say that I have suffered for many years with the monthly cramps, and in the past year it had gotten worse. To the point that I was almost throwing up too and the cramps were so bad they gave me bad D too and I'm usually a C type IBS. I dont know if it will work for you but this is what I have done. I take one vit B6 100 mg daily, 1 magnesium, 300 mg, daily and trust me on this, the cramps and D are gone. The first month I couldn't believe it, for the first time in 15 years I didn't have any cramps!!!!It has taken about 2 months to work and believe the cramps are gone!!!!! The last 2 periods I have had, there was no need for even tylenol, I am still in shock and the stupid doctors wont even tell you about it. Hope that you give it a shot and let me know if it works for you too. Good luck

Hello AmyI also have both IBS and stage 4 endometriosis. I find I have a lot worse IBS problems during my periods and now, in the last 3 years since my endo has worsened, I have pain during ovulation and the IBS has MUCH worsened. Like KES, I also have a lot of endo and scarring on my intestines which makes my IBS a lot more miserable.Please do try to get the lap so you can know where you stand as far as the endo dx goes. Some women are helped a lot just by using birth control pills to control the endo/hormones...I don't know how helpful this post is, but I wanted you to know that I know of the pain you describe, and that I wish you the best in finding out about the endo. I am having a hysterectomy in two weeks after 3 years of bleeding and pain, and while I know that isn't a cure-all with endo, I am hoping that they will remove enough endo and junk from my intestines to help with the IBS symptoms I experience.Please take care and keep in touch. If I can be of any help, please email me at: stephaniesue###yahoo.comBest wishesStephanie

Wow, thanks for all the responses and support. KES is right. I believe the pain is with ovulation and stops before my period. Once I've got my period, I'm fine. I actually seem to have very little of what I think menstrual cramping is. I need to investigate this site more to get some answers to my questions. There are actually about 3 different kinds of pain. Theworst is the lower left quadrent. Each episode lasts about 20 minutes and then the pain is completely gone. It's mostly at night and early a.m. During the time of month I have this pain, It comes on after a bowel movement also. Do others experience that? The other is a burning sensation in the lower abdomen. The last is kind of gassy, pressure which sometimes I feel up to my ribs-only one side at a time.With the gassy stuff, the only way it seems to go away is by laying on my left side and belch it up. Little belches, it seems like almost nothing. The GI doc who did the colonoscopy gave me a prescription for Levbid. I've just tried it a couple times because I think it caused consipation. I definitely lean more toward C and am reluctant to try anything that might make that worse.I'm curious to hear any more thoughts or similar experiences. In any case, there is a font of information here and I'm going to start searching now. Thanks.