Stop and/or contain diarrhea!

[foodiewithIBS]

Hi, All -- Just joined. We just returned from an agonizing (for me) wedding weekend. I suffered from diarrhea Friday-today and took Imodium every day -- sometimes several times. My bouts seem to be more unpredictable. I'm trying everything I know of (except pharmaceuticals.) We have a two-week trip planned for Christmas with our family and I"m beginning to get desperate about how to plan. We both also have arthritis so are spreading a long plane ride out by flying from the midwest to AZ for a few days and then on to Kauai. Same thing coming home. I did read on here that stress/anxiety is a factor. That was interesting. Just looking for any advice, tips, tidbits. I was diagnosed with IBS during a routine colonoscopy, maybe 10 years ago. I get one every 3 years because of anal cancer in 2008. I want to add that the radiation I received in 2008 weakened my sphincter muscles so it's difficult if not impossible to contain diarrhea when it occurs. Thank you!

[iloveglee]

How I feel for you. I have a very short trip planned soon with travel on a coach (bus not coach on a plane!). It will be a long journey and I am beginning to panic that there won't be a toilet onboard, or due to covid won't be allowed to use it. So now, due to the worry about that, as the trip gets nearer, my symptoms are getting worse again, after gaining a tiny bit of control over them. Also, when I have to go, I have to go, like now not in 2 hours when the coach has a stop!!

So in my own mind anxiety very definitely impacts. But what to do about it. My GP knows about this, and has asked me if I think I am anxious. I didn't go all out and say yes definitely, I really don't like to take anti anxiety medication if I can avoid it, although I know she would have offered it. I have used in the past, with a bit of good effect, a herbal remedy. We call them kalms but that's a manufacturers name. I think it's valerian root as the active ingredient. I have to take them for a week or more to start to get an effect, so will probably start on them soon and see what happens. I am fortunate that I can take herbal remedies that don't impact on other medications, that's not the case for everybody I know.

The problem with the anxiety, it causes all the symptoms you are dreading, and then you dread going anywhere because you'll get symptoms, and it just becomes a vicious circle. I am still pretty fit and don't want to give up going places because of this. I have had this condition for many years, but normally only get a flare up once in a while. Earlier this year we had a very serious family problem occurred, and it was awful. Since then the family situation has been resolved, but my symptoms just won't settle for more than a few days at a time. I wish I had the answers to this. I am trying immodium as a test just now to see if they will help me. I know they don't help everybody.

[foodiewithIBS in reply to iloveglee]

Thank you so much for that information! I take only an eyedrop for Glaucoma so I can take any herbal remedy. I'll look into that. I don't know where you live but I have taken biofeedback therapy and it has helped lessen my anxiety. It ain't cheap but it was effective. I paid $630 for 10 treatments.

[iloveglee in reply to foodiewithIBS]

I am in the UK, I had biofeedback therapy related to this problem several years ago, I think it probably did help at the time. I didn't have to pay for it due to it being in our health service.

I would have to see my gp again to be referred back to the department if I wanted to see someone again. Currently I am trialling immodium and am trying to find the dose that helps rather than hinders. Won't help with the anxiety I know, but I know the anxiety is totally linked now with the bowel issues, and if I can get those improved, maybe I won't be so anxious about it, and then it will improve due to reducing the anxiety. If you see what I mean!!

[foodiewithIBS in reply to iloveglee]

What a circular dilemma we put ourselves in! After receiving the 10 biofeedback sessions, the practitioner said my brain levels would stay where they are indefinitely. I had asked her if they would "slip back" if I waited too long to have more treatments. Last weekend I went to an out-of-town wedding and suffered the entire weekend. It was very frustrating. Dining out at restaurants seem to be a trigger, although I am so careful about what I order, etc. I took two Imodium every day, which I hate to do but was necessary. I'm home now and fine.

[iloveglee in reply to foodiewithIBS]

Absolutely. And the pandemic hasn't helped at all has it. we got so used to not going anywhere in the lockdowns and restrictions, now going anywhere seems as though it's a massive challenge.

[Egnig]

Intake Loperamide, on prescription from the doctor. It is good but has to be titration as it can cause constipation.