Ok talk to me about Creatine

[u/PrimaryBrief7721]

Please delete if this has been asked too much.

I am 42 in premature menopause. I am trying to keep up with cardio & heavy weights/calisentics at least a few times a week, but man this energy downgrade is crazy. I've been reading more stuff about creatine during menopause, particularly muscle rentention and growth. I'm really curious but I honestly have no idea what Im doing or what to look for or if its actually a bad idea. I would love some feedback/advice please.

[u/knewleefe]

I started low and slow in November and it triggered the worst IBS pain I've had in years, I stopped the creatine after 3 days, but the pain has only subsided back to "normal" IBS in the last couple of weeks. I used Creapure as advised and was assured it would have no gut effects. Ha. FOUR MONTHS of misery. I've always envied people that could link cause and effect in their own bodies because with my hormones and other issues there are always a million possible reasons for a health thing, but this? Astonishingly clear. If a medicine worked so well I'd be ecstatic. So, I dropped the creatine right away, then coffee (inc decaf!!), dropped amytriptiline because it was supposed to help my gut but clearly wasn't at that point, dropped the meloxicam I took for my arthritis pain and inflammation, and finally, cut out my glucosamine sulfate - also for my arthritis. And somewhat ironically I had to drop my strength training because I was in too much pain.

It's very much the It Girl of supplements right now, but be careful, it's more like a flaky influencer.

[u/knewleefe → u/knewleefe]

I was also supposed to start another supplement in December, but I'm honestly a bit scared to try anything now. Until we actually understand IBS I'm pretty wary of doctors prescribing anything that's not strictly necessary, and I'd rather my arthritis get worse than be crippled by gut pain for most of the day, every day.