Bad IBS episode - a lot of anxiety!! Advice please...

[Kweh123]

While on holiday this week I went out on a daytrip with my boyfriend which consisted of us driving around most of the day and sightseeing. I noticed around lunchtime I was starting to feel nauseous but I put it down to being really hungry. We stopped off somewhere for lunch but the nausea didn't go away - it just got worse. We walked around for a bit and then decided to drive back to our hotel, which was an hours drive away.

We stopped off at one point to see if it would help my nausea but as soon as we left I felt like I was going to be sick so luckily we were able to stop off somewhere quickly. I did a few heaves but nothing happened and I realised I needed to go to the bathroom as this was an IBS attack. Cut long story short I had to relieve myself in some bushes while dry heaving in-between and eventually felt better when I had passed everything out of my system. Sorry for the TMI!!

Now I have huge anxiety about my health as my IBS attacks are never this bad. I always feel like I'm going to puke when I get them but I've never heaved from them as I guess I've always had access to a bathroom so I've been able to stop it in its tracks before it's gotten to that point.

The rest of my holiday I was really scared about leaving our hotel especially with our trip home, which was a 5 hour drive as I kept thinking am I going to be sick if I don't have access to a bathroom when I need to go? Now I thinking about scenarios of having this happening at a new job (as I'm currently applying) or while travelling on the Tube somewhere...

I'm already starting to be reclusive with my IBS as I've started working from home whenever I can and now this episode has made me feel worse.

I've been thinking about asking my doctor about anti-anxiety medicine to see if that will help my IBS as I usually feel sick with my IBS before I have to leave the house to go to work every morning. Is anyone else using anti-anxiety meds to help with their IBS and if so, what side effects have you experienced and has the medicine helped? I just want to be able to wake up and go out somewhere without feeling afraid I'm going to have an attack and get my life back on track again...

[b1b1b1]

Vacations are very difficult because you eat a lot of different food and don't have control over what you eat. I have had some success with the FODMAP diet, probiotics and peppermint pills. I understand your anxiety; IBS is very difficult. You should probably see a gastroenterologist and try to eat bland food for a while. Try hard not to get in the habit of staying home as this can cause even more anxiety. xx

[Kweh123 in reply to b1b1b1]

Thanks Our holiday was self-catering as I can't trust eating out but I made the mistake of eating a cheeseburger at a service station while driving on the motorway so I know that was my trigger..I won't be making that mistake again! xxx

[Bungiecat]

I have had a bad episode today which has ended in me eating junk food as it was all I could stomach so I have every sympathy with what you described above I quite often feel like this it is awful Gail

[Kweh123 in reply to Bungiecat]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having a bad day today! I hope you feel better soon xx

[Bungiecat in reply to Kweh123]

Thanks reading your post sounded so like what I am experiencing Gail

[Kweh123 in reply to Bungiecat]

My IBS mostly causes me to feel sick every morning after eating breakfast until I need to go to the bathroom and then I'm usually ok for the rest of the day. My IBS attacks though give me an upset stomach, nausea, chills and I get very shaky until it's over with. Do you have the same? I haven't talked to someone before who shares the same symptoms as I do....

[Bungiecat in reply to Kweh123]

Yes that sounds very similar to how I feel my biggest problem is that my stomach swells and makes me look like I am pregnant Gail

[Kweh123 in reply to Bungiecat]

I get that too! Usually I just laugh it off but it can be quite painful sometimes..

[Flik22 in reply to Kweh123]

Hey! When I get IBS-D (which is very frequently) i too get incredibly shaky/ chills! I think it's our anxiety setting in with having diarreah! For me it is anyway! This morning I've had loose stool and already I'm a trembling wreck if what the rest of the day will be! Xx

[Kweh123 in reply to Flik22]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad episode. I never thought of the shakes/chills to be associated with anxiety before..it makes sense though as I have a phobia of vomiting so when I feel sick I do panic! I hope you're feeling better now xx

[Sharonbw in reply to Kweh123]

Yep I get all those symptoms along with exhaustion!! Thought it was just me

[Kweh123 in reply to Sharonbw]

I get exhaustion too! Some days I feel as if I can barely move my body and I have to fight with myself to do anything

[Sharonbw in reply to Kweh123]

I know it’s awful eh? It’s such a horrible thing to have to deal with! This site is great for reassurance though. Keep well

[sweetsusie]

Tell your doctor you'd like to try taking Welchol or Colestipol. I had chronic diarrhea for years and both of these drugs work very well to stop it in it's creepy tracks. I started out taking 2 tablets twice a day, but had to up it to 3 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets at night. Worked wonders...

[Kweh123 in reply to sweetsusie]

Thank you so much for your advice! I'm glad to hear they worked for you Hopefully I'll have similar luck..

[sweetsusie in reply to Kweh123]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Kweh123!!!

[bburzycki]

Greasy food is a pretty common trigger - High fats - but for your specifically it can be any number of things you need to watch for that might trigger episodes. One of my biggest triggers is simply anxiety in general about travel or food or bathrooms etc. IBS has changed how I do everything in my life. It will do all the things you fear if you let it happen. I started by not feeling as guilty for my issues and what anyone thinks. That helps as everyone has issues and most will never understand fully your struggle. See a good Dr that is not stuck in the past for GI issues.

[Kweh123 in reply to bburzycki]

Thank you for your advice! Onion/garlic and anxiety/stress are my biggest triggers. Trouble is I'm currently writing up my PhD thesis and preparing for job interviews so I'm super stressed out at the moment. I'm just hoping when it's all over with my body will settle down. I also get anxiety about travel/food/bathrooms etc. It's awful having to think about toilets all the time. I wish we could just go outside and be normal people! I'm seeing my GP next week to discuss anxiety so hopefully I'll get some help

[bburzycki in reply to Kweh123]

There are many options - Just what works right is key - You should write your thesis on IBS and fix it for all of us - No pressure

[Kweh123 in reply to bburzycki]

Lol I was thinking I should switch specialities and research IBS instead as I'm already a scientist...I could use my skills to fix us all!!!

[Frillylili]

Vacations are hard for sure. I always take some ensure with me. As restaurant food is never a good idea 95% of the time. I can say since I've stopped eating gluten, lowered my sugar intake, and eat small meals throughout the day I feel alot better. For maps is helpful, but NO GLUTEN has helped the most. Not sure if it would work for everyone, but it has helped me. IBS is miserable and anything that might make it better I'm for!😊

[Kweh123 in reply to Frillylili]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't tried being gluten free before...I've cut out onions and garlic as they're my main triggers but it's so hard going out and eating food as they're in everything! I'd rather not eat at restaurants at all but I have to try to act like a normal person sometimes rather than let my IBS take hold and to make others happy. IBS sucks!!

[Alun001]

Hi Kweh123,

I was taught about the mind body connect, how we think affects us physically. Dealing with emotional part of IBS is as important as the body stuff.

I would suggest going to

Patientsonly.org, click on the free stuff section and download the introduction of the IBS Audio Program 100

I was fortunate enough to see the guy personally, I've not looked back!

Peace!

[Kweh123 in reply to Alun001]

Thanks for the advice I'll give it a go! x

[Alun001 in reply to Kweh123]

You are very welcome!

Peace x

[Booth29]

Yes I often feel exhausted and nauseous when having a flare up, feeling like it at this very moment! I’m on second day of a short break, and to be honest I’d like to crawl into bed, but other half wants us to go for a nice meal. Find travelling stressful, especially flying so it’s probably a reaction to all of that yesterday. Just hoping I feel better tomorrow, before journey home on Monday 🙁

[Kweh123 in reply to Booth29]

Oh no poor you! I hope you're feeling much better now. It's hard when you feel ill and just want to do your thing but your partner wants to go out. My boyfriend suffers with that a lot and I know it gets to him but I can't help it. I'd rather feel better then go out instead of feel sick and stress myself out outdoors. Last time I flew I had an upset stomach 20 mins before we had to board! It was a nightmare but I blame not sleeping at all the night before and eating 'breakfast' at 4am. I probably freaked my tummy out. I hope your journey back went well and your IBS has settled! x

[Calli]

Hi kweh123 I have found the same problems I don't have a cure to offer but what has been successful for me is to give myself peace of mind if I feel I have the situation covered 9 times out of 10 the problem doesn't arise!! I know it's a mind trick!! But try it ,in my bag I carry a pair of tenner pants some toilet wipes and a couple of scented nappy bags, they don't take up much space weigh hardly anything and lulls the mind into feeling secure so in my case no anxiety so I have almost never needed my rescue kit the bags double as a sick bag hope this helps. Luv Calli

[Kweh123 in reply to Calli]

Thank you for your advice I never thought to carry an emergency pack before so I will start taking one with me to make me feel better x