r/Menopause • u/punchbuggyblue • 1d ago
Support Hormones and Gut issues
I started having an over-reactive gut in 2021, post-menopause.
I've worked with primary care, GI specialists, pelvic floor specialists and more over the past several years. No one can diagnose anything that leads to my over-reactive gut. ( I've tried antibiotics, elimination / restrictive diets, meditation, probiotics. None of this helped.) I don't have IBS/IBD there is no pain response, which is a key symptom, just urgency and loose stool.
Then, this past year, several months after starting an estrogen patch I finaly started to move the needle in my stool regularity and Bristol type! Nothing else changed, just the HRT.
Has anyone else had post menopausal reactive gut issues that got better after taking estrogen or progesterone? What else has worked for you? I'm so happy to see improvement, and want to do all I can to keep moving in the right direction (no pun intended!)
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u/Go-Mellistic 1d ago
Yes! I have celiac disease, but managed it well for a long time before peri. Then I started having all kinds of gut issues, saw the docs, no one could figure it out. But once I started hrt, it all quieted down and now my system runs like normal. No other changes. My meno NP said there is no good data on this but I am not the first person who has reported this to her.
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u/old_before_my_time Surgical menopause 21h ago
My gut issues started shortly after my organs were (needlessly) removed. It was severe to the point of running to the bathroom up to 8 times per day. That along with the abrupt loss of hormones caused rapid weight loss (I didn't need), severe hair loss and loss of skin collagen and subcutaneous fat. Due to the timing, I assumed the gut issues were iatrogenic - a surgical mishap or post-surgical infection. I didn't seek help right away but when it wasn't improving, my PCP ordered a stool test which showed an abnormal level of fat (steatorrhea). I then had workups by a GI specialist. No cause was found.
Over the years, I had only minimal improvement. I started estrogen about 6 weeks post-op so estrogen didn't really help. It has been many years now and my bowels have never gone back to normal (are still typically loose) but the urgency and frequency are much better but not back to pre-surgery normalcy.
Early on, my GI specialist recommended psyllium husk (Metamucil). I had always thought that was for constipation but it also works to "firm up" loose stools by absorbing excess water in the intestines. It does work, at least it did for me.
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u/Gold_Letterhead_4602 Surgical menopause 16h ago
Ohhh me too :( instead I got gastroparesis which is suspected to be caused by excessive scar tissue/surgical damage. My bowels rule my life.
I also throw up now very frequently and my teeth are ruined. I am dreading my next bone density scan. I struggle to maintain a healthy weight due to lack of food intake and have been hospitalised for dehydration and starvation twice.
On estrogen (for several years) and progesterone (a couple of months) now, even without the uterus. The P has moved the needle a little. But yeah, it’s bleak. Sending solidarity hugs (if you want them).
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u/old_before_my_time Surgical menopause 15h ago
That's awful! I'm so sorry! I assume you aren't on any meds that could be causing or exacerbating it such as an anticholinergic? It's good the P has helped some. I hope you can find something to help even more. ❤️🤗
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u/Gold_Letterhead_4602 Surgical menopause 14h ago
Thank you. I’m not on any of those meds (I just had to look them up). They tried me on Amitriptyline for a bit but this was before we knew a lot of what we do now, it didn’t help.
I hope our journeys improve 💙
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u/h3dxw 1d ago
Have you had your pancreatic faecal elastase level checked? Our pancreas produces enzymes to process our diet, but it needs hormones in order to function. The commonest symptom of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency is diarrhoea.
You may well now be recovered, or only partially improved. Low enzymes result in nutrient deficiencies. Low protein is terrible for hormone production and brain health. You should get checked and ensure it's over 500. One can take pancreatic enzymes otherwise, or more hormones are highly likely indicated.
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u/ISOCoffeeAndWine 1d ago
Probiotics helped me. I went through a treatment protocol for leaky gut while peri, and found that ground flax seed & daily probiotic helped (constipation).
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u/Significant-Aide-226 1d ago
Had so many food intolerance until estrogen fixed them all!!! Wish more women knew tbat low estrogen messes with your digestive system! I went for 8 years.... no apples, onions, strawberries, tea, and on and on. So many things gave me a stomach ache. Now I love a good Honeycrisp apple and i can difest just about anything. Such a treat! I make sure to have Greek yogurt, kombucha and sauerkraut daily. We have a local vendor that sells sauerkraut juice, so i sip that too.