Hi there,

I was just wondering if anyone else gets lower abdominal/back pain up to a week before their period starts?

I used to get this after my surgery, and during all my bothers with pouchitis I have been unable to identify between this pain and pouchitis pain.

I've stopped antibiotics and been on probiotics and my frequency etc is fine. However last week I started getting this lower abdominal pain, sometimes after emptying the pouch (like a bit of a throbbing pain). Now that I have been menstruating (TMI, sorry) I get this throbbing pain and lower back pain anyway.

I was just wondering if anyone else gets these aches up to a week before, or is it just me?

I do remember it being like this in the past, just feel a bit insecure since I had pouchitis for a while and have a bit of trouble remembering "normal jpouch/period" function from last yr and beyond.

Before surgery I had hardly any PMS symptoms (although UC would almost always flare). After surgery, approx a week before my period I have watery stools with higher frequency & back pain like you mentioned.
(I've said this before in posts so excuse me for repeating) I went to my OB/Gyn she told me I had scar tissue in the abdominal area and I also have a tilted uterus. I'm not sure if it's always been tilted or if scar tissue just puts more pressure on it... regardless she said it's nothing to be concerned about. It just causes some pain. (You can try heating pads, baths to help)
So to answer your question, it is normal. But for peace of mind sake you can always make a doc appointment.

Thanks, girls for posting this thread. This is the first real period I've had post takedown and it's miserable. I have higher frequency and more watery stools than normal, plus I have cramping and feel awful. I thought it was pouchitis and then I realized that it was probably because my period was just around the corner. Oh, happy day!

Hope everthing is going well for you two!

Take Care
Susan

Although I am almost out of periods (yup...that time of life is almost around the corner) I still get my monthly pressure, pain and pulling down (feel like my organs are all about to drop to the floor! )Alittle less than before but still....and I have a K pouch..so it may be colo-rectal universal....anytime someone cuts and trims around there and plays around with your organs things have got to get shifted and moved so we may very well be a touch more sensitive and painful...
Keep a journal for a few months to track it...you should get the answer that way...
Try floor rolls to ease the discomfort: lie flat on your back on a comfortable surface (carpet, floor mat, pull your knees up to your chest and clasp your arms around them like a hug and then gently rock back and forth and/or side to side...it eases up the lower back pain and cramping (also releases excess gas so beware which way you are pointing). I do it often..cuts down on the meds..
Sharon

I haven't gotten my period yet since my takedown on 12/18/08 - actually I haven't gotten it since my October 2008 j-pouch surgery. I was wondering if PMS would feel any different to me as I seem to have pelvic pain with my pouch from time to time too. I also wondered about feeling cramps or back/pelvic pain when I ovluate too. It's good to know these are some of your experiences - I won't get too freaked out if these things happen to me then.
Abby

Hey,

Glad to see some responses and that I'm not the only one!
I think I may still have a bit of pouchitis pain, but your responses are definitely reassuring. As I said, it's really hard to remember "normality" with the pouch.

Baths definitely help with the pain and the heat pads, also co codamol!

I too have nasty periods (pain, bathroom frequency increased) my doctor switched my birth controll pill so that I take it straight through for 4 months and then have a period. It works great, I have 4 periods a year and there not any worse than how they were before (still get the pain and increased frequency, I thought only having my period 4 times a year would mean crazy awful periods, this is not the case). It doesn't really fix the problem but it's better than having to deal with it every month I highly sugguest this if it is an opion.

I too had these issues with my period and found relief by taking birth control pills for 3 consecutive months, then having period. Last summer I had a Mirena IUD placed that has all but eliminated my period - yippee! Every couple of months or so I may have some spotting or some additional frequency/cramping/pain than normal during this time, but it has made a world of difference for me!

I have been taking a birth control called Seasonique for about 4 years now. I go 3 months taking it and then I am supposed to break for a period but I haven't since October 08. Ever since all of my surgeries I hardly have a period and if I do, I just spot. I know this may sound crazy but I kinda miss having one. My Gyno says it is proably better that I don't have one because everything else that is going on. I see now that it is more miserable with the j-pouch.

Speaking of periods, does anyone notice that just before/during their period that they get more gas, abdominal pressure, looser stools, and have to go more frequently? I've just started my period today and I'm getting a lot of gas and gurgles. I have noticed this in the past with my periods, but I guess I'm a little more paranoid now because I just recently finished a course of cipro for pouchitis. Now I can't tell the difference in my symptoms and I don't know if it's pouchitis or menstural. Boy, can things ever get complicated *LOL*

BTW, in response to the above, I do take birth control now (Alesse) for shorter periods. My iron has been low since I was first diagnosed with UC, and as someone who typically had heavy periods, so I do what I can now to make them as brief as possible so as not to throw my iron out of whack.

hi there -

i am by no means an expert as i have only had one period since my takedown but yes - my BMs a few days prior to my period where very watery and i had more urgency than i normally experience. I tried increasing fiber/immodium and nothing did the trick so i figured it was just my body reacting to my period.

I notice my body is all out of wack during this time. 4 days of terrible discomfort similar to pouchitis. Since I get reaccuring pouchitis every 2 years since my 2003 takedown. I can tell the difference because after menstration the pain/ symptoms diminish. With pouchitis recovery is only possible with strong antibiotics. Being a women is a gift but not easy. We were made this way because he knew we could handle it. Good luck in your journey.

The intestinal distress is normal pre-menstrual...it is hormonally reactive..your body is sending a signal to release all excess in the region so to speak..most women are constipated during the month (certainly as compared to men) and therefore a good sh-t just before your period lightens you up ...it is a sort of natural detox for your body that is throwing it all away..unused blood, intestinal encombrances etc..so tons of diareah, gas and cramping..what I used to call the 'yucks'...enjoy it if you can by programing a light diet just before your periods (I used to limit myself to nothing but chocolate and ice cream and large doses of her tea and tylenol !)
A heating blanket or hot water bottle helps for the lower back pain and the rocking exercise that I mentioned earlier..the chocolate helps for the moral discomfort and misery !
I find that laying on my bed with a cushion under my lower back or a hot water bottle and my legs up against a wall is really comfortable and eases the pain...(kind of like hagen daz!)
Hang in there...before you realize it it is oal ver! And then you sort of miss it all when it is gone
Sharon (officially menopausal since months ago!)

I never had problems with my period until I got UC. I do experience problems now about two wks before and foods that do not usually bother me cause a problem during this time. I tried the birth control pill where you didn't have a period every month but nothing changed except no longer bleeding and that was not what really bothers me so I quit taking them. Seemed useless since I still experienced the other symptoms.

I have lower back pain and the throbbing you described and had no idea why. This has given me an idea of what why it occurs now. Sometimes I feel so alien with the feelings I get after having surgery due to UC. I only came across this forum today and have found it to be a lot of help.