IBS after eating

[Will1234]

Hi,I have been away on Holiday for the last 11 days , most of this on a cruise ship . I had one episode where IBS reared its head and I had a very urgent dash to a toilet , this occurred one afternoon..

Having said that , I also noticed this was a little different from flare ups and attacks when at home .

Mostly , in recent times , sudden attacks at home often occur after evening meal .

On holiday this never occurred and I had to eat out every night . Tonight first night back home , after a meal of chicken and rice , then a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits , I had the old familiar stomach pain , gas and feeling an urgent BM was imminent. As it happens , the pain , bloating etc., did not actually come to anything and eventually receded to just some discomfort.

When out on holiday I tried to pick fairly plain choices but also wondered if eating over a longer period of time with spaces between courses , plus medium sized portions had some effect . At home , my meals are probably larger portions and generally are consumed much quicker .

I wonder if anyone has experienced anything similar and if anyone had any thoughts , particularly on whether portion size and eating speed is likely to have any IBS effect , particularly resulting in gas pain and often that relieved by an urgent episode of the dreaded D.

Will1234

[Luisa22]

Eating fast, and eating a large meal quickly can definitely cause gas. The gas can irritate the digestion of course and make you feel your tummy is stretched like a balloon. Talking while eating and sipping a drink etc can also cause swallowed air which works its way down if it's not burped up. And if you have IBS D it could trigger an attack of the D.

Maybe you have to focus on slowing down, and eating carefully.

But that said, I also often get discomfort a few hours after my evening meal, and I am a really slow eater and chew my food carefully, and don't talk or drink while eating.

I'm fine for a while after eating but about 3-5 hours afterwards, I get a distended lower tummy quite often that feels stretched, and need to pass wind about 3 or 4 times. It can feel similar to needing to 'go' in the morning but only about twice in over 3 years resulted in a bm. It's not painful exactly, just a heavy dull feeling and things moving around really low down.

It usually eases up an hour or so after it starts. But while it's happening I feel really uneasy, get heart palpitations, can't concentrate on anything, and am cold and very thirsty too.

Peppermint tea doesn't help. But a teaspoonful of brandy with honey can ease it very quickly.

I tried going for a walk when it happens but that doesn't really help. Lying on the floor can help with my head on a pillow, and listening to music.

That comes and goes. I can have it for weeks then don't get it for a while.

It is worse when I have exercised too hard, done too much physical work, or walked too many miles in that day. I have it tonight and walked 6 miles today to an appointment and back because my car is in for MOT.

[Will1234 in reply to Luisa22]

Thanks for reply , some interesting info.

[Jackie1612]

hi Will1234, my IBS always improves when I am on holiday.

I think this is because I am more relaxed, in good company and having an enjoyable time. In other words there seems to be less stress. We may not be conscious of the effects of our “normal” stress on the brain/gut connection.

[Pueblo]

having lived with ibs for so long I have concluded there is no rhyme or reason to it !

[Paul1066]

I’ve given up trying to make any sense of it, I can eat the same foods in the same situations and have a flare up for no apparent reason. I do however think eating out with friends is a sure trigger to a bad evening with bloating, farting and general lethargy and I put it down to me eating more than normal plus alcohol consumption. I usually only have one course, sometimes two but never three but then I could never eat three courses before I was cursed with this damn thing. My current pill popping is a daily omeprasol, a peppermint capsule before I eat and buscopan on standby if I feel things getting uncomfortable, but smaller portions and slower eating has some benefit I think.

[Angus-1 in reply to Paul1066]

I can absolutely relate to this. Suffered with IBS for over 15 years now. I try not to focus on it too much as I find this can make it worse. For me eating slowly and small portions helps.

[Edgar77]

I dread holidays, but my husband loves to get away. I no longer go abroad, but we always find somewhere hear in sunny UK. There are so many pit falls ie I do not travel well, change of diet, eating out and being assured it is gluten free when clearly it wasn't. Change of routine, and thanks to my husband I'm exhausted from walking all day with a dodgy knee. Stress of not k owing where the loo is or going out in the country in the middle of knowhere, and I can't sleep in a strange place for days, and stress when we get lost, my hubby seems to see it as all part of the fun! He wouldn't if he had all my conditions.

[Dippydancer in reply to Edgar77]

I totally understand and can emperthize with you, not much fun at all.

[iloveglee in reply to Edgar77]

I can really relate to this. I love to go on holiday but find the getting there and back very stressful especially flying. But I definitely agree that the anxiety of not being able to find a loo adds +++ to the stress whilst away from home. The days when I know I’m easily going to find a loo, I hardly ever need one. The other days are torture. The gut/brain connection is so strong and I wish someone could come up with something to break it. My gp recommended yoga for ibs. I’m yet to try it but i maybe will do.

[Will1234 in reply to iloveglee]

Yes , totally agree . I think this must be very common. Nice to be away in nice surroundings but travelling to get there is a big stress situation.

[Orange456]

This is typical of my IBS-D. I've had it all my adult life (I'm 55 now) and have never worked out how urgency is triggered by an evening meal rather than breakfast lunch or a snack. I've done the gut transit test with sweetcorn and that's normal, the sweetcorn reappears the following morning. The only relief I've found is taking two buscopan before my evening meal or totally avoiding dinner. I'd love to find a solution to this.

[Will1234 in reply to Orange456]

Hi ,Seems like these symptoms after eating are very common . Makes you feel stressed before eating , especially if eating out . Probably a combination of stress/worry , fast transit . Maybe gut brain connection , something going in , so must get something out sort of thing .

Anyway it is hard to live with sometimes and stops you feeling happy to be going anywhere . I always feel happy on way back from anything assuming I have been and go something done without any major gut issues.

Will1234

[angelwings52]

It took me a long time but I eventually learned that eating before 6pm seems to stop IBS symptoms in the evening. After spending a month in hospital (serious sepsis infection), I realised that my IBS symptoms respond to eating a main meal at lunch rather than the evening. And I try to avoid too much fibre after lunch. Oddly enough, snacking and eating smaller meals also really helps especially when I go away.

[calista]

🤢

[Will1234 in reply to calista]

I thought you had given up on the forum !!

Hope your well .

[Waiting_for_godo]

Hi will Most definitely in my opinion eating less and with gaps helps with ibs. My ibs is undercontol ATM after years of suffering . This is becuase of intermittent fasting and portion size. I feel giving my tummy rest kickstarted the healing process inside. I could be wrong but this has helped me although my side pain still has bad flares

[Will1234 in reply to Waiting_for_godo]

Thanks for taking time to reply . I think you are probably right . Eating small portions with gaps , more like out in a restaurant is better for the tum.

I usually have a late breakfast, sort of brunch and then an evening meal . At least this is the norm if out during the day. By evening I am starving and often eat a big portion much too quickly. For now , I am trying to make myself eat slower and a bit less .