IBS at work

[Markal]

Hello,

I am new here and my question is about how do you cope with IBS at work?

I have been diagnosed with IBS two years ago, it is then fairly new to me, I am 35, male, and I don't know which IBS type I have as I was in France when it started. The doc just told me it was IBS. I should go to a GP to get to know more my condition.

Moreover, at the beginning I didn't really took seriously my condition but the symptoms worsened and now I am really trying to know myself better to understand symptoms, gut habits, relation to food everything about what triggers it.

I am wondering how people deal with IBS at work. To me it has been kind of a pain because I have a lot of gas and bowel movements and those can be pretty loud. Plus, it does start as soon as I eat, automatically, I can feel gas moving coming with the sound. Also often, it just there, not necessarily related to food.

The way I cope with it, I try not to eat too much a lunch and I eat really slowly. But with IBS it is kind of a day to day life, rollercoaster, some days are fine, others are not. As I am in an open space, I do pretend to get water a lot. To be honest, it makes me be more anxious. So I am wondering how others affected by IBS manage to deal the condition and work together?

Also, probiotics help lot, reduced symptoms. I am reading a lot about the gut mind relation and I am really convinced that what my gut does is something my mind is trying to tell me as I had a very toxic upbringing. So I am all about sport, meditation and therapy. But again that is very personal. But maybe some other people will find some sense in this too?

Anyway let me know how do you cope with IBS at work I am interested. It is also nice to know that we are not alone and that the community can help each other.

Cheers

Mark

[Yas45]

Hi Mark,

I’ve been suffering with IBS for 6 years now and it is such a pain at work.

I try to make salads for lunch at work which is just plain vegetables with no dressing as my stomach is super sensitive to a lot of food. If I go out and get wasabi or something for lunch then I have to go the toilet and pass bowels like an hour afterwards. So I would advise you to know what your trigger foods are. It took me months to figure that out. In addition try not to stress out and remain calm even it takes longer to do work. Stress triggers an IBS episode and makes have really bad stomach aches, vomit and pass bowels.

Also maybe try the Lowfood map diet as that may help. I have recently gone gluten free and that’s helped for now and I drink lactose free milk. Also peppermint oil tablets may help as well as buscopan tablets.

The problem that I have as that if I go out and eat food from outside I have IBS issues with bad stomach aches and toilet issues so I’m going to see a nutritionist privately as I’ve lost a lot of weight as I hardly eat due to my body’s reaction to food.

With IBS it is a trial and error process with food and try to keep stress low. It will take you a while to understand your body but I hope you get there and start to feel better soon.

Yas

[Linley]

Hi! and welcome to this lovely site.

Need to ask did you go to your GP when you got back from France to get a confirmed diagnosis of IBS? I ask because you need to eliminate other possibilities(eg bacterial infections) . If you are sure you have the right diagnosis then I suggest-

* find someone at work to confide in (hopefully your mgr) as it will take the anxiety away when you have to disappear to the loo. If you get any work hassle contact the IBS Network

* ask your GP for an anti-spasmodic to ease the gut spasms-I take Mebeverine time release capsules before meals (prescription only)

* read "Take Control of your IBS" by Professor Peter Whorwell.

Good Luck and let us know how you get on

[Justcausetyler]

Yeah it's very aggravating. Not much you can do, especially when others around you dont understand what you're dealing with. When you gotta go. You gotta go. I cook on a grill everyday on a line. I just tell them straight up, let me go when I need to go. I tend to just take deep breaths until the pain passes, leaning over or sitting as well. Just sucks knowing I have to get back up and get back to it, while dealing with it. I recommend protein shakes every morning.

[Edith0]

Hi Markal

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time, I had similar problems at work too.

I had a great boss and colleagues and I was able to talk to them about it, so they understood which also lessened the anxiety that only exacerbates the problem. I agreed a job change so that I could remain in the office and close to the loo, we had one that I did not need to share and I supplied the air freshener (lol). This was achieved through referrals to occupational health who supported me for the job change. We had a shower at work and I had a clothes change and toiletries in my locker had the need arisen, thankfully it never did. I also kept a supply of buscopan at work and if there was a hint of pain I took one. I was prescribed mebeverine but it had no effect.

I also had a diagnosis from the GP of IBS-D and asked for a referral to a dietitian, she was great and introduced me to FODMAP which I can quite honestly say changed my life and I quickly worked out what I could and could not eat, lactose and fructose. I am still using FODMAP a few years on and still testing foods, it’s great. There were still the occasional days when I needed to rush to the loo but no one ever took any notice and I think that’s because they knew what the problem was.

Hope things settle for you soon, all the best.

[torcol]

Markal

I applaud you for continuing to work during a tough time. You sound like you have a great attitude and are taking it upon yourself to empower. This is such an aggravating disease in that the unpredictability is the bulk of the problem.

I am in management and meetings, one on one with clients, co-workers, were all a challenge. I will be 100 percent fine until someone walks in my office and then it starts? My gut turns and I need to run to the restroom right now!

I think it is because I can’t. Sounds crazy but I am ok until I am in a situation where it is embarrassing to walk away so I get anxious as soon as I am confronted by anyone?

Not just at work. I notice it happens when a neighbor walks over and I’m outside, old aquaintenace walks up in the store, I have a return and the cashier starts a conversation??? I have no idea why but instantly it’s like “ what if I have to go” and then I get a gut ache and need to excuse myself? Social anxiety maybe but why? I’ve been dealing with IBS for over thirty years in one form or another but I do know it is physical as well as psychological and the psychological triggers my physical.

I met with a counselor and that has helped, didn’t change my food habits as I found it didn’t matter, my problem and root cause is my anxiety. I just deal with it and try to be positive. Tell myself “what’s the worst that can happen”?

My best to you and hope it calms for you.

[Hidden]

I work but try not to eat much at all while I'm there. I'm lucky as sometimes I can work from home. I often chair meetings and run large projects. I've got used to the fact that sometimes I need to leave during a meeting. I just say make a brew and take a break to everyone. My field is pretty much Male dominated so there's always a female loo is available. I've had several near misses when travelling but I have a radar key if I need to use the disabled facilities. I try not too whenever possible but sometimes it's an absolute necessity. I remember once being in a supermarket and having to leave my shopping mid aisle to use the facilities. One lady came in and complained believe or not I actually had a toilet conversation apologising for the smell and terrible noises coming from my body. It started with her asking if I was ok. I just said "so sorry I'm used to this shit and sadly i have a problem that sometimes just needs to be addressed"

She was absolutely ok thank God and seemed to understand.

The fodmap diet did help some of my issues but sadly didn't resolve my problem