Could be a partial bowel obstruction so I would probably stick to fluids until it sorts itself out. The fact you are able to pass gas and not feeling sick and still hungry are all good signs though. It may be worth trying grape juice as lots of people on the forums seem to have had success with it unblocking an obstruction. Hopefully it should sort itself out in the next few hours.

Wishing Well

Does the pain come in waves? If it's a partial blockage try to move around as much as possible. Drink warm liquids, take warm baths or use a heating pad, get on all fours and have someone grab your hips and quickly jerk them from side to side, headstands, jumping, rolling on your belly on an exercise ball.

I hope it passes quickly.

kathy

Thanks for the replies! I am feeling much better today (the acute pain is basically gone), but still have an overall gassy, crampy feeling. Tons of bathroom trips today though. I went to the gym tonight and now just feel completely blah. I think I just need some rest and am hoping to wake up feeling refreshed.

I have been having partial bowel obstructions almost monthly for a couple of years now. Like you, the pain is always at the beginning of my period, and I have been being treated by a gynae for ages before I was taken to hospital one time and told what it was. The trouble is no one seems to be able to tell me the link between the timing and the obstruction, other than at that time of the month the additional swelling can cause an already adhesive bowel to stick. Yours is the only post I have seen that has similar issues, although for you it may be a one off, I am at a loss what to do about it, other than keep turning up to hospital monthly till someone sorts it!

Thank you all for this post. I am right now looking at my calendar because I have begun to write down every time I have partial obstruction and I, like you, now clearly see that I have it around my period every month. I have been getting dialations and my doctor has scared me by saying that ha is thinking about removing my pouch all together. But I see a clear pattern now. I have also begun getting pains in my pelvic area so now I have booked a consultation with my gynecologist.
Please let me know if you havr found any solution. I can tell you that I do yoga (also whrn this is not happening), try to drink a lot more and will try and buy something that can reduce gas.
Love you guys for sharing. Thank you so much. It gives me hope.

I'd noticed a similar pattern with my cycle and obstructions (though there are other issues likely contributing to my blockages, too). Going on the birth control pill continuously (having no period), definitely helped reduce the frequency. I know it's not a viable option for everyone, though...

I hate to say that I am happy to see a post like this because I don't...but it does make me feel better about my problems. I have had a pouch for 5 years now and for the last 2 years I have had that cycle of pain, pressure, bloating, partial obstructions, etc. It always happened the week before my period. No one believed me that it was hormonal in nature. Now that I have seen your posts I know that I'm not crazy.

I have found that acupunture really, really helps! The only other thing that helped was a supplement called AF Betafood from standard process. My chiropractor suggested it for me. The bloating/gassy feeling is gone and my bm's are much, much better!

I hope you all find relief that lasts and if you find anything that really works I would love to hear it.

Take Care!
Susan

Periods can wreak havoc on your body and pouch...the hormones involved send a message to the body to 'dump' so to speak, all toxic wastes, which is why a lot of women that I know who are chronically constipated wait for PMS to be able to go to the bathroom...it is the one week a month that they clear their whole intestinal tract out (I know, not a healthy way to live but that is what they do)...
When I still had a period, way back in the pre-pouch days, I would be stuck in the bathroom for 7 days...once I got my pouch it would run like water and cramp like crazy (felt like there was a lead baloon in the place of my uterus)...now, in menopause, I still feel some hormone flutuations and my guts react accordingly...not great.
For you girls who are still in your prime, I guess that if it is really bad, a low dosage Pill might help...and yoga to stretch things out and relax but other than that, there is a reason that we call it the 'curse'!
Sharon