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Hi I'm new to this forum but I"ve had Crohn's for 2 years. Do any other woman get flair ups when they have their period? It happens to me every month even though I'm on meds.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

It seems to be worse at that time of month for me too.  I don't know if it is just a coincidence or what but I know it seems worse.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

I was diagnosed with Crohns a year ago and I get horrible flare-ups everytime I have my period. I was told it happens to a lot of women wth IBD, if that helps at all

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Same problem here.  I think it's because that week can irritate intestines in even normal people, so with people with IBD it maybe triggers a flare-up?  I have an IUD, but I thought about asking my OB/GYN for BC that lets me skip my period on top of it.. so it's reassuring to know it's been helpful for some of you.  It really screws with your sex life when you are back to back periods and flare-ups.  :-/

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Hi, i've had crohns for almost 4 years now. and i do experience some symptoms while im on my period, and when i asked my GI he said that there is no corralation between the two.. and that my symptoms are not caused nor do they have anything to with my mestral cycle..

well regardless of what he says, they come right on time with my menstral cycle, so i know what you're going through.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

I understand completely. Every month I have a flair, with barely enough time in between periods to get over the flair and before you know it I am back on Steroids to calm the flair that has extended on for several months. It seems like a never ending battle. My doctor has suggested me getting birth control that gives you only one period every three months. That worked great other than after a while I could not afford to keep that kind of birth control since I have a hard time keeping a job when I am in the bathroom so much and miss work all together on days I just can not leave the bathroom. So now I am back to taking BC normal and having my cycle once a month. I do feel that I am so unhealthy though that I no longer really have a period except for being forced from the BC. But the forced period still has a flair come right along with it.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

I was diagnosed with UC in April 2008 and noticed even before that whenever the week of my period approached my bowel movements would be different. Now that I have full blown UC and am on meds I noticed my BMs were always worse during that week, so I mentioned this to my GP (not my gastro doc).  I also have had some problems with PMS symptoms, not too terrible but mild, and my GP suggested I try taking my birth control pills for 3 months straight without the week break between pill packs. I can't tell you how much this has helped me with BMs, headaches and generally feeling like crap. Now I only deal with it once every 3 months and even then it's not as bad as it was.  This won't work for everyone but if you are on birth control pills anyway, try it if your GP or Gyn says you can. My gastro doc didn't want to talk to me about anything Gyn related so I went another direction. Hope this helps. Hang in there, lots of other women experience this too, you are not alone.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

My period seems 100x worse than it was before I was diagnosed with UC.  I cry and cry and cry every month when I get my period now. Gas seems to also be a big problem with it every month.  Does anyone else have problems with that?  It's really painful on the right side...almost hitting my hip/pelvic bone area.  I hate going anywhere, even work(although I never call off of work and still go in pain).  The pain is so intense I can't even smile during the week every month.  I'm normally a very positive, upbeat, and optimistic girl otherwise.  It's hard to explain to friends when you're 23 and don't know how to explain it to others.  I wish it would be easier for us! 

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Yes, I was just telling my doctor this!  My diarrhea worsens, and my body hurts.  I feel arthritic and achy like I have the flu.  Tylenol helps with the pain, but seems to worsen the colitis. 

 Reply posted for KathyL.

yes I have had that happen too, for years. I had once asked my OBGYN about taking medication that mirrored what your body does during pregnancy, since I always felt better then...but I don't recall getting any real answers.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Hi I am also new to this forum.  I have noticed that my symptoms too get worse during the week before and during my cycle.  My fatigue, joint pain, and diarrhea gets worse during that time.  I completely understand how you feel.  Its very frustrating.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Ditto. I have softer or harder stools than normal - and maybe a bit more mucous, but no blood. I'm always hurting a lot more with the gas passing the ulcers. I completely concur with the other ladies. I wouldn't call it a flare, either. Is your experience different than ours during your cycle?

 Reply posted for KathyL.

I kind of have a similar response to Katya... I definitely have more abdominal discomfort, but nothing too crazy. I don't think it always turns into a full fledged flare, it feels like it might cause a little swelling, but goes away when my pelvic cramps do. Tylenol usually works to make it better (for me anyway).  A gyn told a friend of mine that if you are one of those women who's cycle is clockwork, its actually best to start taking Tylenol the night/day before your cramps will start bc its easier to stop the pain from occuring altogether than to get rid of it once its started.

 Reply posted for KathyL.

Some feedback for you:
     Yes, every month during my menses I  experience constipation and diarrhea. I would basically chalk my discomfort up to extra pain in the abdomen, and stress to my gut from the cramping of my reproductive system. Don't get me wrong... I am utterly miserable during that time.  But I don't think that it causes serious IBD disease changes.

I wouldn't consider it a flare because I don't have an exacerbation of other symptoms....No changes in amount of blood passing... no site specific gut pain ( can always tell when gas passes by a very bad spot if I am in active flare)  no changes to mucous passing from gut. 
     Hope this helps.