Perimenopause & Digestive Problems

Tips for Relief

Stay away from these foods!

The following foods can aggravate a sensitive stomache and trigger an episode of irritable bowel:

• fatty foods like french fries
• milk products like cheese or ice cream
• chocolate
• alcohol
• caffeine (found in coffee and some sodas)
• carbonated drinks like soda
• How much you eat matters, too.
• Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea in people with IBS. If this happens to you, try eating four or five small meals a day. Or, have your usual three meals, but eat less at each meal.

Use a Pillow "Wedge" to Sleep

By raising your head while sleeping, you keep the gastric juices from flowing back up into your throat. Plus, as an additional benefit, sinuses drain better as well. There are many ways you can accomplish this, including raising the entire bed by putting blocks on the floor, under its legs. However, you can purchase a foam wedge that will provide a comfortable pillow. The Bedge is a terrific wedge, as it isn't short, like most wedges. Instead, your entire torso lays on the pillow, so you won't find yourself scrunched up in the morning.

Medication

If necessary, the doctor might give you medicine to help with symptoms. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which you can buy without a prescription, or medications that stop acid production or help the muscles that empty your stomach.

Laxatives: to treat constipation

antispasmodics: to slow contractions in the bowel, which helps with diarrhea and pain
antidepressants: to help those who have severe pain
You must follow your doctor's instructions when you use these medicines. Otherwise, you could become dependent on them.

Stress Relief

Does stress trigger your symptoms? Learning to reduce stress can help. With less stress, you may find that you have less cramping and pain. Also, you may find it easier to manage your symptoms.

Meditation, exercise, and counseling are some things that might help. You may need to try different activities to see what works best for you. I have developed a meditation technique for women in perimenopause, called Midlife Meditation, that will provide enormous help to relieve stress.

Magnesium Supplementation

Women in perimenopause who experience severe constipation may get relief from a gentle and effective alternative to harsh laxatives -- magnesium oxide. Magnesium oxide promotes hydration through the oxygen reacting with hydrogen to create water inside the intestinal tract. The oxidation and hydration process softens the impacted fecal matter ... allowing it to be flushed out of the system.

Note: Be sure to get enough potassium if you are taking magnesium

Personal Story

"Over and over, I've read postings from women about using Magnesium Oxide to manage constipation. I was very, very skeptical, because I had tried EVERYTHING. But finally, I gave in. While there are many types of magnesium, overwhelmingly, the consensus was that magnesium oxide was the winner.

"All magnesium isn't the same. I first bought magnesium citrate. Unfortunately, I immediately discovered I had a citrate allergy. I itched like crazy.

"However, the type of magnesium that works best for you is a personal preference.

"Most brands of magnesium had ingredients in them to which I reacted. Then, I tried NatureMade magnesium oxide (Walgreen's and other stores sell it). It has very few ingredients, and none that made me react.

"Most importantly, it works for me. Plain and simple. My doctor told me that magnesium oxide goes right through you, so it is not harmful to the intestines, or habit-forming, as are laxatives. However, please check with your own doctor before using any products.

I started with two tablets at night. After a few days I increased to three, then to four. Then it worked! Since then, I usually use two or three, depending on ... well, you know. The only time I have had to use four again is if I am taking a medication which has a side effect of constipation."

Caution: If you are taking a calcium supplement, check whether there is magnesium in it. Often calcium and magnesium are combined in supplements. You need to factor in how much magnesium you are taking to ensure you aren't overdoing it.

Personal Story

"I've seen at least three doctors for help with severe constipation and bloating over the past four years. I've had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. Other than acknowledging a small hiatal hernia, they just shrugged their shoulders and told me to live with it. I was unable to eat salad for over two years.

"I tried every fiber formula ever made, and reacted badly to each. Psyllium didn't work at all for me. All it did was bloat me even more. Other over-the-counter recommendations caused even more severe constipation.

"But then, I was diagnosed with LPR by an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, which is a type of reflux that usually manifests with hoarseness, chronic throat clearing, and feeling like there is a lump in your throat. Not to mention, I had severe pain in my upper abdomen. While the treatment of choice is a PPI (such as Prevacid, Nexium, Aciphex, or Protonix), my body just couldn't handle them. So I am on a two month course of Zantac, which turns out to be helpful for a percentage of the population.

"I have found a few products, after trying 20 or 30, that have made a huge difference for my irritable bowel, including a wedge pillow, glutamine, and magnesium."

Perimenopause & Digestive Problems

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