Do I take time to get better.

[JayJJ23]

I have the opportunity to go down go 3 days a week at work. I'm mainly anxious at work that I'm going to have an incident as i had a close call not too long ago. So taking the extra days to get a better diet other than chicken and rice and I have a therapist I'm waiting to see as well. Should I go for it? I don't really want to lose money but I'm always so worried I'm going to have a incident at work that im so unhappy and anxious people are noticing. I could the time and go to therapy and the gym and make my mental health better as this has caused it to go down hill. But if I take the time off work and I don't get better would it look bad. How long should I stay at 3 days and what do I do on the 2 days I'm off. Any advice is welcome

[Lupin1587]

I would go for it. I recently cut my working hours in half. I now work 2 days a week. It is so much better for me. My mental health has improved so much.Don't feel bad about it just do what's right for you.

Use the extra days to do what you want to do. Relax chill out do what works for you.

I've started some voluntary work and that helps me feel better.

I used to work in an office and had a lot of toilet issues. People can be very unhelpful. Time away from that environment is definitely for the best.

[JayJJ23 in reply to Lupin1587]

Thank you. It's very annoying because I really enjoy my job and want to take more on but it's effecting me so much i can't. I'm going to say cut from 5 to 3-4 days and see what work say as I don't want to take the mick, they might say do 3 fingers crossed but they can see I'm trying to help myself

[Lupin1587 in reply to JayJJ23]

I wouldn't worry so much over work. Do what's right for you. You seem to have a lot of anxiety over the work situation and I can sympathise as I was in the same situation but looking back it really wasn't worth it. Take care. I hope things improve for you.

[Luisa22]

I guess you've been diagnosed with IBS? Or had some tests and the doctor comes to that conclusion? Just to make sure there isn't something else going on such as infection or inflammation.

From what you said, I also imagine it's IBS-D?

I hate to say this, but IBS very rarely just packs its bags and goes away. It can happen! I have a friend who had it for many years, and she had it bad. Then one day it just went! She occasionally gets a slightly upset gut during times of extreme stress, but can now eat what she likes and is "better". Her solution was the low Fodmap diet which she stayed on MUCH too long but which she said "cured her".

But usually, IBS is something that can be managed but which never really goes away. I for instance, get periods when I have either no symptoms at all, or very few negligible symptoms (like letting out a lot of wind just after getting up in the morning!) I have had weeks like that at times in the last 3 years, and I went 2 years from one flare up to the next from 2018 to 2020.

So I am just being realistic so you won't get disheartened if you take 2 days off work a week to "get better".

IBS is the only illness in my whole life that just keeps coming back one way or another. I got better from everything else, even something bad and life threatening once in the 1990s.

But giving yourself more time to relax, to maybe book appointments with practtioners, to experiment with your diet etc are all bound to be helpful to managing IBS.

If you have IBS-D, you might find (though not necessarily) -that the "healthy diet" we are all encouraged to eat...you know "5+ a day"? could be your worst enemy. So feel your way, maybe try some low FODMAP foods, try a more bland diet and see which foods and cooking methods suit you and which don't.

For instance, just prior to IBS, I used to eat vegan food, raw veg and salads frequently, lots of fruits, wholemeal everything, nuts and seeds, most meals with onions and/or garlic, and I had to put a brake on all that lovely healthy stuff for the sake of finding a way to manage things.

I now eat no seasonings except salt, can barely eat fruit, a number of vegetables don't suit me at all, and the ones I can have I now always steam until medium-soft, have swapped wholemeal everything to white most of the time, and have forgotten about all sauces, treats (except certain chocolate which is fine) spices, and peel a lot of things I never peeled in my life before. But I can eat lean proteins, butter, occasional nuts, certain carbs, and a number of vegetables, and some chocolate! I also take vitamin B complex, a multivitamin and mineral complex, get sun for 30 minutes without sunscreen for vitamin D, and am showing no signs at all of malnutrition or deficiencies.

I think it is a question of accepting something partly unacceptable, and managing a lifestyle through it that suits you individually.

[JayJJ23 in reply to Luisa22]

Yes it is IBS-D the only thing I'm eating at the moment is chicken and rice I'm worried to eat anything else. I have a FODMAP app on my phone so I use it when shopping but I'm at a loss of what to do. It makes me so anxious at work I thought maybe if I reduce the time at work to get things started with I could work one some things.

[xjrs in reply to JayJJ23]

Have you tried Alflorex probiotic? It has been scientifically studied for IBS and may make you more tolerant to different foods. I was in a similar position as you food wise, now I am eating lots of whole food cereal grains and wholemeal bread which was unheard of for me. Additionally, regarding stress, you can try the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app. In the end I took early retirement. I live on far less money, but feel it has helped my health overall. Perhaps you need to consider what you can afford to live on and if you can afford to go part-time on a long term basis? Also, does your work need to be in person or could you try a job that involves remote/home working so you are always near a loo? The reduced stress of being in your own environment might help the IBS too.

[JayJJ23 in reply to xjrs]

I've just downloaded nerva because I am desperate to get to the bottom of this and get my life back. Unfortunately I can't work for home in my job however I can go to the loo anytime I need. I think it's the thought of what if I shit myself and don't make it to loo is my issue and it's brought up anxiety disorder which is making the ibs worse.

[xjrs in reply to JayJJ23]

Have you tried wearing incontinence pads, which might give you more confidence and less stressed and in turn reduce the chances of this happening?

Alflorex is also defo worth a try since many people's IBS is due to a gut bacterial imbalance.

[Luisa22 in reply to JayJJ23]

I understand, you are trying to eat "binding foods" at the moment, to cope, and that's what I do to calm down any flare ups.

This hopefully would be fairly temporary until your gut settles, and you work out something else (the Fodmap diet or your own diet plan) It would be best to ask the doctor if you can for a referral to a dietician to guide you through the Fodmap diet and re-introduction phase.

You may also be okay on some plain steamed fish, such as haddock, cod, or hake steaks. I buy mine frozen from Tesco's and then put one covered in my little mini oven, with just enough water on it to stop it drying up, and a sprinkle of sea salt. That never upsets my gut. You could maybe try something like that, but you might want to stay away from oily fish right now. You may be able to reintroduce it later when things calm down.

I am also fine on white toasted bread. I like the ciabatta bread as it has more flavour, and I toast it fairly slowly at first until it has a rusk-like consistency. That doesn't irritate my gut in a flare up.

Other things might be plain boiled peeled potatoes (not sweet potatoes, just ordinary ones) just with a little salt added to the water. You could mash them or eat them as they are. Many people find those slightly binding and soothing for the gut.

Hard boiled eggs are another food that is "binding", and eggs are packed full of great nutrition.

Some people find bananas help, and applesauce. You could maybe try those? Personally I don't find bananas help me in a flare up, but many people do. But I can often eat a bit of stewed apple without making myself worse. Well....sometimes anyway.

One thing to check out with your doctor is Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM) which causes diarrhea and a lot of people with IBS have been found to have that.

If you have BAM, the doctor can prescribe a bile acid sequestrant.

But there could be anything going on including infection, low grade inflammation, or parasites, so maybe your doc. will run some stool tests?

[JayJJ23 in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you so much for this information. I have recently had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago on Thursday so no parasites or infection up in there. I will try some fish this Friday so I have the weekend just in case. I have also found a great document from NHS on high fiber low irrigation items which bind and have low irritation for gut. Your right about maybe getting to see a dietitian as I have no idea when it comes to diet apart from my DELICIOUS chicken and rice. Many thanks!!

[Apop in reply to Luisa22]

I think this is a very helpful, detailed response! I'm going to see a dietician about the FODMAP diet and was feeling quite negative about it. Your experience of it has given me renewed hope.

[Luisa22 in reply to Apop]

Apop, I didn't get to see a dietitian myself. When I was diagnosed it was right in the middle of lockdown 2020 and a doctor's appointment was a rare thing. I'd have had to be critically ill to get a referral to anyone at that time. So what I did was I read the booklet the doctor gave me, then came home and did TONS of research and studied nutrition, etc like I was studying to pass an exam. I was on my own and I knew it but thankfully the internet was still buzzing with good data.

[Missus835]

I had to cut my hours down to 20 per week and now I'm on Unemployment Insurance. It has allowed me to rest when I need, mentally and physically. In addition to PMR, my lower back is shot at the moment and the pain is getting to me. I found myself becoming argumentative with the clients, so it was time to take a break. Do what is right for you.

[Sparrow58]

Yes I agree with others. Cut your hours and get yourself well. Anxiety of going to work is probably not helping your IBS. Take time to work on managing your IBS and take it slowly, it will take time, don't start eating a lot of new foods all at once. All the best with the therapist and I wish you all the best on your path to manage your IBS.

[JayJJ23 in reply to Sparrow58]

Thank you, its an difficult situation but it's better to take the time when I'm young and can do something about it

[doris22]

Hi. I know it might be a long shot but I had awful anxiety and my heart was thumping at the least thing. My doctor picked up after a blood test that I was extremely low on vit D3. Apparently this can cause these problems. I was given high dose capsules over 10 weeks and l must say its been a big improvement over time. Hope this helps.

[Lamly]

Definitely go for it, you will not be under so much stress, take up a hobby, read a good book, I went down to three days and I often think how did I have the time to work full time, I did not feel under so much pressured.

[Lamly]

Just do it you will be under so much pressure.