Nausea with symptoms?

[Ursula M]

Been diagnosed with IBS D&C for about a year, I’m 50.  Is there a connection between IBS and peri-menopause?  I also experience overwhelming nausea with the flare ups.  My life basically comes to a stand still when I have flare ups, which is usually monthly.  I’m in therapy, taking Zoloft for depression, practice yoga and meditation, and try to follow a reasonable diet.  I’m so confused.  And the flare ups really make my depression worse.  I’d appreciate any feedback!

[Jeffrey Roberts]

HI Ursula,

I am not aware of a connection between IBS and peri-menopause. That's not to say there isn't one - it just may never have been studied. Lots of women say that their IBS can be worse around their periods. Perhaps the reduced hormones in peri-menopause are related.

I believe Zoloft can contribute to D and also there can be an increase in nausea before the next dose. Do you notice any pattern like that?

[Renee kerckhove]

Ursula M

its awful and very confusing. I’ve had IBS 22 years. Massaging my abdomen in a circular clockwise movement relaxes my mind. I go with the flow lol even though I have  IBS-C. 
I keep researching about IBS. It helps relax my mind. Gas is my main problem and it causes pain, nausea, and other general maladies like extreme fullness, needed laxatives and stool softeners.  so I went to an allergist to find out what foods I might be allergic to. Then I looked at FODMAP. Learned what foods cause gas from low intolerance to high intolerance. I 
go by my gut lol.  If a food causes a lot of gas, I try not to eat that food. I also discovered eating too fast has caused me flare ups. When all else fails, I express gratitude. Puts my mind in a better place. 
I’m tenacious and I don’t give up. There are many times I feel great and times I feel awful. I try not to fight my problems and lower my need to have a perfect running body lol. 

[Esjie]

When I have a bad flare up I can end up feeling nauseous a bit too. I am never sure if that's just because of the 'shock to my system' going on, as after about the first or second bout of toilet, I start to feel shaky and sick-ish, and very cold. And it just feels like my system is super shocked by my misbehaving gut. The nausea usually passes later though, followed by appetite and hunger which is a bit sad because there is never very much I dare eat except dry toast, white rice, hard eggs   

Alcohol is supposed to be so bad for IBS, but I have found every time, that a small amount of brandy with honey, plus a cup of weak black caffeinated tea will often settle those awful feelings for me when they're happening.

[Esjie]

Sorry, I meant to say this in my post above but it became too late to edit it.
I think hormone fluctuations can affect IBS for women. Some women get worse IBS for instance at the times of their periods. Even I used to get looser stools during a period, even though my gut was fine generally in those days and I didn't have IBS then.
But I suppose everyone is affected differently by fluctuating hormones. I can imagine it could mess a bit with IBS.
I didn't get gut symptoms though in perimenopause or actual menopause but I got horrible sleep disturbance. That did pass in its own time (not too long.)

[Dee920]

Esjie,

Your symptoms and recovering are almost exactly like mine.  I have nausea with every flare up from the pain associated with BMs; intense cramping/spasming. It takes me down for the day usually.  Then, I'm starving and need to eat..soft scrambled egg, white rice, toast, maybe half a banana. And I totally agree, hormones play a part for some women in this disease. I suffer from IBS-D x20+ years. 

I too used alcohol for relief (vodka tonic, lots of it) but stopped about a 5 yrs ago and I feel much much better without it. It really was just aqgrevating the symptoms. I'm on Alosetron once a day and that has ease the flare-ups considerable. Having been dealing with IBS-D i had no idea that IBS-C has such similar symptoms; cramping, pain, bloating, etc. (naive of me).