"menstrual type cramps"

Go to see your doctor ASAP. This does not sound normal. I wonder if you have some kind of adhesions from your colectomy that are irritating your uterus and areas around it? Are you taking any medication that might disrupt your hormones?
You really need to get this checked out.

Pegg,
First, remember that this is a public forum and it may not be the greatest idea to let everyone have your personal email...Most of us are really nice but there can be trolls hanging around who can be less than polite.
Second, yes, they may well be menstrual type cramps. Just because you no longer have a period does not mean that you no longer have hormones.
I have been menopaused for almost 8 years (marriage scared my period away!) but still get 'cycles' on occasions...the usual menstrual symptoms from swelling to headaches right down to the heavy uterus feeling and cramps...fortunately it doesn't last as long as it used to nor does it end with a peroid but it still feels PMS-like. I have noticed (although this is not a scientific observation, just a girl-intuition thing) that when I am around my best friend and her daughter and they get their periods, I get a 'phantom cycle' too. Maybe it is Harem syndrom...where all the girls get their 'periods' at the same time, even the menopaused ones!
If it goes away on its own and doesn't come back then it should be fine but if it comes back or you start bleeding, please call your GYN or doctor.
Sharon

It's been so long since I've been on here. I wasn't thinking about 'giving private info when I shouldn't'

But anyway, I've had this pain every day since Dec 25th (approximately) it's painful for a while and then goes away. No bleeding. It's not always in the same spot. I wanted to call my doctor today but everything is closed as we are in the middle of a level 3 snow storm.

Do you think I should be contacting my GI doctor or gynecologist? As I still don 't know for sure where this pain is (what organ). It just feels like menstrual cramps.

Pegg

Pegg,
Being that you are already menopaused and that this is somewhat unusual for you, I'd say to give a ring to your GYN and see what he/she has to say about it.
They will do an ultrasound to see if there is any reason for concern and a hormone test may be in the works as well.
I wouldn't panic unless there is severe pain or bleeding. As my doctor says, severe discomfort doesn't count...
Hope that you are feeling better
Sharon

I'd see your GI first, but your GYN might be a good choice if you can see him/her easier. That way, if it is not GYN related, it can be quickly ruled out. More than a decade into menopause it is less likely to be "female related." Plus, at your age, your ovaries should be fairly well inactive. If you had vaginal bleeding I'd be more concerned.

More likely is that this is a partial obstruction. I've been having one myself the past few days. Always in the same spot. Crampy pain that comes in waves. My GYN ruled it out as gynecological more than a decade ago. Probably just adhesions for me.

Jan

Oh BINGO! When you girls first asked if I added or changed any medication that might be messing with my hormones, I thought - 'nothing has been changed for a long time.'

Then I remembered that I added a new med I was trying from Puritan Pride and that was about Christmas time when all of this pain started. It's Libido-Max. great reviews on it, but when I went to reorder because i was running out, it costs more than I wanted to pay and I wasn't getting the benefits it promised.

A few hours later is when it dawned on me..... that's it. It is so crazy that that medicine (or any) cold cause such pain.

Thank you so much girls. I was so baffled . I thought it's been to long for the J-Pouch to start causing problems NOW, and it's been too long for me to have menstrual cramps NOW.

Thank you so much.

Pegg

Ha! We do tend to be complacent about dietary supplements, thinking they are completely harmless. However, if anything can have a positive effect, it can also have side effects too. You obviously are sensitive to one of the ingredients.

And to think you were paying good money to inflict pain upon yourself, and not even getting the benefit you hoped for! Be sure to leave feedback where you bought it, since you said there were all rave reviews.

Glad it was a simple fix!

Jan