IBS ESSENTIALS

[pseudenim]

I did something like this a while ago and it seemed to really help a few people so I thought I'd update, basically here are my essentials for coping with IBS (I have IBS-C but a lot of these will help sufferers of D too)

- Peppermint tea

- Ginger tea (for nausea), I particularly recommend the Ginger and Manuka Honey tea by Pukka

- meditation, can sound weird at first but its helped me a lot, you can download an app called "Headspace" which is a good introduction thats friendly and down-to-earth, not pretentious at all and only takes 10 minutes a day (and its free!)

- music, when im particularly ill, i can spend anything up to a fortnight in bed listening to focus music, it helps me concentrate on staying calm and balanced (go on youtube and search focus music, there's tonnes that are all similar)

- listening to your body. Okay i know that so far im sounding like a right hippy but these things have really helped me, by listening to my body and just letting it do what it needs to do without trying to stop it or panicking, it actually helped my symptoms quite a lot as 90%

of my IBS is caused by anxieties and stress

- anti-depressants. Not for everyone, but certainly does me a few favours

- belief system, When things get particularly bad I turn to my beliefs. I myself am not religious but if you are then it may help to put your worries in the hands of your God/s. or fate, or whatever you might believe in. if you dont have a belief system, then work or believing in/trysting yourself. Your body knows what its doing, even if it seems a little crazy its just trying to keep you alive

- It's also helpful to come up with a "happy place" in your head. For example mine is a quiet, secluded beach at sunset where i can lay on the sand and listen to the waves. Yours might be a forest or a house or a specific memory, it just takes you away for a little while to help calm your nerves on a particularly bad day. There's tonnes of sound effects online that'll help you create that place too

- Linseed, have it on my breakfast every morning, keeps ya regular

- Glycerin suppositories, for emergency constipation, hugely preferable to laxatives!

If you have any things that help you then please write them below!! Mine are mostly about training your mind to accept that you're having a crappy day (no pun intended) but that may not work for everyone so yeah, comment below!!!

[runswithdogs]

Great post!

I agree with you on the mental thing - I'm IBS-D and mantras and focusing have bought me precious time when I've had close calls with incontinence.

Exercise is important as well. Gentle yoga is great, I should do it more often. I also enjoy running, it clears the head and seems to move gas out of my system. During flare-ups gentle walking seems to help me.

[grahamrupertrules]

Go along with most of this.

Would add walking can help ibs if your not to ill at the time. yoga twist exercise can help too. a little wine. your favourite programme film anything which will make you laugh. heat pad if spasms. sleep if you can. sex i know it might not be on your mind but sensibly you cant feel pleasure and pain at the same time so go for pleasure- probably best not to suggest to partner you want sex too relieve ibs- not romantic!

massage/ gentle stroking if spasms can help to relax muscles.

HOPE SOMETHING HERE HELPS

GFF

[fudgiegirl]

Would this help stop you feeling you are going insane ?

[pseudenim in reply to fudgiegirl]

YES! I feel so alone with my IBS a lot of the time, often wonder if its real or not. Doing the relaxation and stuff helps me get through those really bad days, I couldn't recommend it enough