Females only

[Rebjane]

my daughter recently started menstruating. Her constipation issues have really flared this year. HEr first period was right after a hositalization for GI cleanout. She started complaining again last week she felt bloated and not pooping enough. Tried some stuff at home and called her GI doc(waiting to hear back about what her belly X-ray looked like)...But this am she got her period. Last month wasn't too bad GI wise but she had a respiratory exacerbation and was sick so her period did not come..

Just something I've noticed and do not know if this is related or I am just making comparisons about nothing. This constipation issue can not happen every month! Is there anything else that can help for young girls?

 

[Aboveallislove]

Augh. So sorry. Let me know what gi says. I'm pretty happy with our protocol now if you want to compare notes after you hear back. I did just want o add that while I don't have cf obviously, I have chronic constipation and it was horrible as a teen and I had issues around period too...usually with things then moving at same time and being horribly painful. Also wonder how much it s not knowing different feelings with cramps since tat takes a while to get as a girl.... Hang in there.

 

[Aboveallislove]

Had another thought during breakfast: I remembered reading that females had more issues because of hormones. This http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37778 gives a tad of a summary. The focus seems to be on the lungs, but if it is impacting water/ion etc., it could be disrupting GI track water balance and maybe also impacting GI tract inflammation.

 

[Rebjane]

I feel like small things can throw her off so cycling hormones may have an effect? I may ask at CF clinic; course it may be anecdotal. It's frustrating...

 

[Aboveallislove]

I totally agree re the small things. If ds has water at different times not quite the same or eats lots of doughy stuff wham... I could very well see the hormones having a slight but enough change. T really stinks being on alert 24 and having e psi coming up so quick from something so minor in a change....hang in there!

 

[Rebjane]

GI office called. She actually is not constipated; just full of gas. recommendations include. no drinking with straws, no chewing gum, no sugar free stuff, no carbonated drinks. Also, VSL#3 for her to take everyday and she decreased her miralax to once a day(I don''t understand this one)

 

[Aboveallislove]

We've had a one maybe two flat belly's with lots of gas showing and not stool. But the issues continued for us. The Miralax can cause gas so maybe they think she's on too high a dose. But I also am pretty sure they said that with bacterial overgrowth you can see gas from that, which might be why they are increasing the VSL#3 as well. Personally, I'd be concerned re dropping the Miralax by a full dose while something is going on, but we've had soooo many issues. Our GI said to go up or down 1/2 a capful every three days. But obviously your doctors know her history and it might be they were trying to tease out what is going on with our son and the 1/2 every three days allows that. But with her they might feel pretty confident it is only too much Miralax. Just some food for thought if things don't improve. Please do keep me posted as it really helps on my end to discuss with doctors to see what works for others and throw out ideas.

 

[benthyr123]

There seems to be very little information on female issues in the CF community. I'm at the other end of the spectrum and going through menopause...guess I never thought I would have to endure this, so I never asked any questions. But...now when I ask I get "we just don't know what to tell you."
As for comparisons, I can only tell you that I started late, was never regular and it was never combined with severe constipation. It's a subject matter that should be addressed more. Hormones can really effect your health.

 

[imported_Momto2]

Sorry to hear about this Rebjane. I had horrible "female issues". Whenever I menstruated I would bloat horrible, sometimes get consitpated, headaches, cramping, etc. I didnt have much luck with gasX, but whatever is in pamrin (or was it midol?, cant remember) worked well. Good thing she got her period after the hospitalization. I got mine for the first time when I was 13 IN the hospital, all they had for supplies where these MASSIVE pads and NO belts to hold them in place. I was so miserable until my mom was able to come visit a few days later and bring me some proper stuff. (I lived in Boston but went to the hospital in NY, so my parents werent always able to be there)