Period problem

[megan2]

Hello all! This is my first post and I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, but I have some questions that I feel only others here can answer.

I was injured in January (T-11 incomplete) and by May I had developed a bladder and bowel routine that seemed to work pretty good. However, when my period returned all that went out the window. For about 3 days before and then all during my cycle I constantly have bladder spasms and diahrea. Once it's over then everything goes back to "normal."
The cramps are not bad but sometimes all I do is move or shift positions and something happens. Being back in school has made this all horrific. Tuesday was so bad i ran out of changes of clothes and i've stayed home since.

My doctor seems to think it's a bacteria/hygiene thing but i'm not sure what else I could be doing differently.

I'm sorry this is so graphic, but i would like to know if this is common or if it's just me. Any advice/help is GREATLY appreciated :)

~Meg

[SCI-Nurse]

Megan, I moved this to the Mobile Women forum which is a more appropriate place for appropriate responses to your questions.

If you review some of the previous posts by women on this forum, you will find that this is a common problem for women with SCI. The loose stools (diarrhea means 3 or more loose stools in 24 hours) are a very common problem for women with SCI immediately prior to and during their menstrual periods, and is most likely due to the effects of hormone changes at that time on bowel motility (although as far as I know, no research has been done on this at all).

Increased bladder spasm can also occur, although that would most likely be related these hormone changes as well, rather than an actual UTI unless you have other UTI symptoms (fever, chills, flank pain, AD, malaise, etc.).

If you are regular, it may be possible to work with medications such a Imodium or Fibercon to firm up your stools during this time, and perhaps take additional anticholenergic medications for your bladder.

Is your physician a physiatrist who is experienced in SCI care? How about your urologist?

What method of menstrual management are you using? How is your flow compared to before? Some women also report heavier periods after their SCI than they had before.

I am sure other women on these forums will chime in here with their experiences and ideas for management as well. Welcome to CareCure!

(KLD)

[gurly2356]

I thought those are common problems for AB woman as well?? I pee more during my period, but luckily no other problems. I take seasonale birth control so only have 4 periods a year & really light, which is nice!

Good luck hope you get it under control

[rybread]

I don't know if I was supposed to see this but the first thing I thought was to try to use a comma instead.

[lynnifer]

This is one area that is sadly lacking in studies ... too bad we couldn't pick up 1% of the power that breast cancer unites in women for this. Seriously.

I suspect there's a strong corelation between endometriosis and paralysis ... retrograde menstruation ... who knows? Your symptoms are quite similar to mine. I could swear I have a uti for a day or two before my period, then all is normal again. I bloat, have bowel changes, my feet swell and I go from being ravenous to barely eating within a four day period! I can feel the hormonal change every month.

I'm going to ask my doctor about Seasonale. I've tried Yaz, Cyclen ... several to help and nothing does. I almost take a sick day a month due to the pain.

[megan2]

Is your physician a physiatrist who is experienced in SCI care? How about your urologist?

What method of menstrual management are you using? How is your flow compared to before? Some women also report heavier periods after their SCI than they had before.

I am sure other women on these forums will chime in here with their experiences and ideas for management as well. Welcome to CareCure!
(KLD)

Thanks SCI Nurse for your reply!
My primary physician is not experienced with SCI's. I live in a small town (at times I'm not sure anyone here is experienced with SCI's lol) so I'm still going to the same doctor I did before. My rehab doctor is 4 hours away but I can still reach him by phone.

At first I went back to using pads but they'd move when I'd transfer so I've started using tampons which seems fine, it's just my stupid bladder and bowels.

This is dumb but it's hard to remember how my flow was before, it might be heavier now but I'm not too sure.

I haven't thought about birth control but if it will eliminate these problems I will do anything. My sister says she doesn't think I'm old enough, I'm 16 so maaaaaybe that's old enough? lol

I might think about imodium but my only concern is once I stop taking it will everything return to normal because normally I need suppositories and sometimes digital to be able to go.
They did try increasing my ditropan to 25 mg but that gave me headaches.

I dk, I just feel there's this delicate balance that I thought I had figured out and now it's like I'm back at square one.

[ChinaDoll]

megan2, one way I found helpful was to wear a pull-up depends underwear during PMS time to enable me to work + go to school. It's not a permanent solution, but it will allow you to have a life and piece of mind during this time.

I usually try to eat more bread and wheat b4 PMS, it seems to help.

[sjean423]

She has a good point about the "pull ups". The "poise" brand isn;t too bad.

16 isn;t too young to consider b/c to help control your periods. Talk to a gyn about that (altho having an accessible exam table may be an issue.) On of the "every 3 months" options may be a solution, or at least limit these issues to 4x a year, instead of monthly.

[zagam]

Progesterone-only contraceptive implant such as etonogestrel?

This will stop the cycle.

[Ivyella]

Megan,

This works for me when I have diarrhea. I take calcium supplements. Just the normal amount of recommended calcium (I'm in my 50's) will slow down diarrhea. Also multivitamins with iron will bind me up. Don't take any with magnesium which has a laxative effect.

Well, first try them to see if they work for you since every body is different. Some ppl say too much cheese or a green banana constipates them... so maybe experiment with food? I don't know?

I just think sometimes nature has a way of supplying a solution.

[Liz321]

Have a serious talk w/ your gyno, not your girlfriends about birth control and SCI WHEN you are ready.
Birth control increases your risk of blood clots, but you're young and more mobile so this or may not factor in.

Yes, it's the "norm" for SCI/D women to experience more pee/poop during their cycle. You'll just need to prep yourself in advance.
Keep a menstrual diary so you know when it's time to "prepare". Not OCD prepare just so it gets in your head that when you may have an 'accident' it's related to your cycle and not that your life is falling apart. :-)

It will also decrease/increase as time goes on as your body adjusts to it's newness.

Keep away from foods that make you "go' more often during the week of.
Tylenol helps.

[ChinaDoll]

Have a serious talk w/ your gyno, not your girlfriends about birth control and SCI WHEN you are ready.
Birth control increases your risk of blood clots, but you're young and more mobile so this or may not factor in.


Tylenol helps.

Another side effect is weight gain... When I was on BC, I gained over 55lb in 1 year, and this was before SCI, I don't even want to know how much I'd gain if I was on BC in a chair.

[xJdinox]

This is one area that is sadly lacking in studies ... too bad we couldn't pick up 1% of the power that breast cancer unites in women for this. Seriously.

I suspect there's a strong corelation between endometriosis and paralysis ... retrograde menstruation ... who knows? Your symptoms are quite similar to mine. I could swear I have a uti for a day or two before my period, then all is normal again. I bloat, have bowel changes, my feet swell and I go from being ravenous to barely eating within a four day period! I can feel the hormonal change every month.

I'm going to ask my doctor about Seasonale. I've tried Yaz, Cyclen ... several to help and nothing does. I almost take a sick day a month due to the pain.

Please be careful with estrogen birth control. It can cause blood clots especially for women with SCI. I would make sure that the dr is familiar with SCI.

[xJdinox]

Have a serious talk w/ your gyno, not your girlfriends about birth control and SCI WHEN you are ready.
Birth control increases your risk of blood clots, but you're young and more mobile so this or may not factor in.

Yes, it's the "norm" for SCI/D women to experience more pee/poop during their cycle. You'll just need to prep yourself in advance.
Keep a menstrual diary so you know when it's time to "prepare". Not OCD prepare just so it gets in your head that when you may have an 'accident' it's related to your cycle and not that your life is falling apart. :-)

It will also decrease/increase as time goes on as your body adjusts to it's newness.

Keep away from foods that make you "go' more often during the week of.
Tylenol helps.



It still will according to my ob/gyn and other nurse practioners I have spoken to. If u have no movement, the risk of blood clots heightens.

[WLC]

was just wondering if any of you get really cold prior to period? ever since my injury, i'm really cold (more than usual) for a few days. once it starts, i go back to normal.

[Liz321]

was just wondering if any of you get really cold prior to period? ever since my injury, i'm really cold (more than usual) for a few days. once it starts, i go back to normal.

I'm always cold. I'll "sweat" more with AD symptoms and that chills me. Some days I am totally non-functional. It seems even my eyelashes "sweat".

[megan2]

Thank you all for your help!
Do you have any suggestions on what kind of depends to use? I'm worried during a transfer someone at school will see it. Can I wear underwear over them?

I usually wear capris or jogging pants with an elastic waistband and the undergarments I still have from rehab come up past them almost to my belly button.

I know this sounds stupid but none of my friends know about my bathroom problems and I want to keep it that way.

[SCI-Nurse]

Try gettng a sample pack of briefs from this website (there is a charge) and try them out. Some are lower cut than others. I know some who wear a panty girdle or figure "smoother" over their padding to make them less obvious, but of course those can be a pain to get them on and off.

http://www.hdis.com/

(KLD)

[Coleen]

When I still had 'that time' I wore "adult pull up" briefs, just in case. It really helped.

[rmk0405]

Hi, I have the same problems with my period. My bladder especially just goes haywire. It drives me nuts. I have found that the most effective way to get it back under control is an OTC medication called Pyridium. It is usually used by people who have UTIs, but it really calms my bladder down at that time of the month. The Pyridium keeps my bladder from spasming and spontaneously emptying, and since my bladder isn't going nuts, my bowels have less irritating them. Ask your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to take, but it is for most people and, like I said, it is over-the-counter. The generic name for Pyridium is Phenazopyridine.

[Ashley]

I know birth control has already been offered, but I just wanted to echo that method to try. I didn't experience diarreha but I had bad bladder spasms right before and during my period. After I got on birth control the spasms were much less frequent and severe.

[jody]

I always get the shits the day of or day before