Does stress make IBS worse?

[PinkCrayon123]

Hi does anybody else find that if you are stressed it makes your IBS even worse? Thanks

[Jackie1612]

yes I find the same, sorry! I wish I had a solution. Meditation (several on YouTube) and walking and swimming seem to help.

[meadfoot]

It makes it worse for me.

[Wallace-s]

Yes 100% = always difficult to manage stress at it appears in many forms in modern day life.

But overall, the best sleep you can get; relaxation; and physical activity are things that reduce my symptoms.

For me personally’stress’ reduction has formed the basis for most of my adult life and decision making ie: job, social, family etc

Best of luck🙏🏻

[ANB80]

I agree with the others. For me, stress certainly triggers a bad episode of IBS. So, you need to try to keep your stress levels down as best as you can.

[theboldbadger]

Yes 100%

For me I think it's a bigger trigger than what foods I'm eating

[MiRiderGirl in reply to theboldbadger]

Stress, and particularly travel, is my main flare. Quite often flares are nothing to do what I have eaten but, if we have been travelling and/or there are other unusual stresses, I can end up quite ill. I know what to look out for now, always have the medication/ginger biscuits I need close to hand. I have simplified life in general too.

[Misspomfrey in reply to MiRiderGirl]

Hi there

I quite agree with what you say about stress, I'm the same travelling, get anxious and I suffer, been the same all my life. Sometimes, it's nothing I've eaten, just anxiety. So I restrict travelling, not been abroad for 17 years. Physical activity is the only thing that helps me and a simple healthy life as much as possible, I had to step away from this rat race everyone seems to be in, or I'd have been even worse. Keep it simple I say, I dont even have a smart phone 😁

Take care

[MiRiderGirl in reply to Misspomfrey]

We haven't been abroad since November 2019, when we were actually planning to buy a house in Spain. Lockdown stopped that, but now I realise that I do better staying close to home. We are going to try a trip to France, but very slow travel with lots of rest days. We are going to be retiring within a few years and moving closer to the centre of the UK - distances to see family and get to events will be shorter. I am happy with simple days. I also have Fibromyalgia and Arthritis, so exercise is more restricted than I would like. However, I keep mobile and enjoy our beautiful countryside

[Misspomfrey in reply to MiRiderGirl]

Hiya

That sounds great 👍 I'd love to try a trip to France, we lived there for 4 years from 2000-2004 and I've only been back once for a holiday. Where I live now in Cumbria there's no airports within 2 or more hours and it makes the journey long. When I lived in Norwich, it was easy and the airport was only half an hour away, in Bordeaux in just over an hour. I love the lake district though, I'd be lost without my walking , it keeps the anxiety from building up, when I'm out amongst beautiful scenery, mountains, forests, I don't think about anything else, it's better than any medicine 🐑🦋🐝⛰️🍁

[PierreBonnard in reply to Misspomfrey]

I think that is the key... relaxing and being content in what you have not what you have not. I have travelled quite a lot in the past but not in recent years and to be honest I don't miss airports, travel problems and holiday upsets. I used to live in Greece and worked in the tourist industry both for British and Greek Companies. Although it all sounds wonderful there was a lot of stress and it was not better than the UK just different, though some people would disagree. I learnt Transcendental Meditation 30 years ago when I came back to live here and still do it (with some lapses) and it helps , as well as yoga and a simple lifestyle. It is all about how you react to things from the inside and not to being hi-jacked by the outer part of life , which is stressful . I have had IBS for 13 years in some form or another, and I am now 70. I manage it with TM, yoga, and though it sounds corny, balancing my life and learning what is right for me not other people. What is wrong with just enjoying the beautiful countryside near to where you live , walking in nature, spending time with people that support you and just following your own interests.

[Starseed67 in reply to MiRiderGirl]

Ginger biscuits help?

[MiRiderGirl in reply to Starseed67]

Yes, if I am nauseous/shaky/after a flare, ginger biscuits are my go-to. Never go anywhere without them!

[Starseed67 in reply to MiRiderGirl]

Gawd i love ginger biscuits I'm going to have to try this lol

[Slowbird in reply to MiRiderGirl]

yes, anxiety around travel definitely leads to flare ups, especially when I have to drive. Then I go on strict gluten free regime until it settles down, but it does put me off going away. What do people on here think about Buscopan, does it help in these situations?

[MiRiderGirl in reply to Slowbird]

I use Buscopan and/or Imodium Plus for any nasty cramping. However, personally I get diarrhoea and also vomiting sometimes. The immediate diarrhoea relief tablets are my go-to

[Cimmy]

Absolutely, stress is a huge trigger for me, if I get stressed (which is quite often) my IBS just explodes. Sorry I can’t be of any real help but the answer to your question is a huge YES. Staying as stress free as possible is the answer. Take care

[E3178]

Yes, definitely. It's a gut/ brain reaction.I am learning to do meditation which I think is helping me.

[Harley1020]

Hello, yes stress makes it worse for me.

I can feel my stomach churning when the stress overwhelms me.

I am on Amitriptyline, 1 tablet (10mg) daily - take it in the evening about 8.30pm. Take 2 tablets if it’s a really stressful time and this appears to calm the stomach down. Hope this helps.

[Choughwatcher]

Absolutely! I don't have any useful suggestions, haven't found anything that works for me. 😪

[Gardenlover2020]

yes it makes my symptoms a lot worse

[MatthewU]

Stress is a known trigger for IBS, you may benefit from a SSRI such as Citalopram which works in a dual way, firstly to reduce anxiety and secondly the gut in IBS sufferers is low in serotonin and benefits from this type of drug. Also, it's important to have high dose vitamin D supplement and a B complex may help with mental health. With regards to the gut health, drink plenty of water and take a high count probiotic each day and check out the Fodmap diet which highlights problem food types. In my particular case I stay away from wheat, milk and onions which trigger a reaction.

[Pte82]

PinkCrayon123, there is an article you can search on "Hiding in plain sight - Modern Thiamine Deficiency" that offers an overview of deficiency symptoms and magnesium is mentioned in the article. Magnesium is an important component for activating thiamine (vitamin B1) and vitamin D. A paradox about magnesium is it's needed to protect the body from stress yet stress is a cause of magnesium loss. You may be deficient. Investigate the RDA for magnesium and the forms of magnesium available in addition to noting the amount of elemental magnesium in a preparation to calculate meeting your daily requirement. An exception is magnesium threonate for which the recommended max is four pills totaling 144 mg of elemental magnesium. This form is able to easily pass through the blood brain barrier. Magnesium oxide, though common in supplements, is one that I don't think is a good fit for you. Searching on "SIBO thiamine" will introduce you to an important role activated thiamine plays in the digestive system. My severe reflux stopped when I got enough activated thiamine in my brain and vagus nerve. Be aware of anti thiamine factors that can diminish or destroy thiamine. Search for a list. Enlist an dietition to review your diet and to make recommendations, ask your Doctor for a referral. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.

[PinkCrayon123]

Many thanks everyone for replying. I'm 'glad' it's not just me that stress makes IBS worse. I really appreciate all your replies. If only science could come up with medicine to completely remove stress - but that's wishful thinking I know. Good luck everyone.

[Blue_81]

Yes! Definitely!! I notice that after a few days on vacation my symptoms get better. My stomach issues and anxiety symptoms lessens. I can even drink coffee with no issues. Eat a bigger variety of foods. Also, For some reason mornings are always pretty bad and evenings are better.

[Booth29]

Absolutely! Like many others have said, more than what I eat does, vicious circle, stress causes symptoms and symptoms cause stress😫

[winfong]

Does it ever! Try searching on "stress" in this forum, and you'll find plenty. Seems to come up every other week or so.

[Pinkpop21]

yes stress doesn’t help me but in life you’ll always have some kind of stress. I take Codeine phosphate on bad days that helps and I try and lead a healthy life and find ways to reduce my stress - exercise. There’s the vagus nerve - messages from brain to gut. Not researched it yet. Hope you find a way to manage your symptoms.

[Starseed67]

Yes, massively.

[Pig2]

Hello, travelling and stress about being away from a toilet definitely make it worse. I now follow fodmap,do mindfulness take probiotics, really help, and if all else fails imodium and colofac! Just returned from holiday and got some boots pull up pants, great help to relieve my stress levels! Hope some of these might help you. The things we have to do 😜. Good luck x

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[Charlesowen]

most certainly it does. Anticipation anxiety can bring on symptoms. no easy solution. try to remain positive in the knowledge that IBS can stop almost spontaneously as mine did some time back. really feel for your. sharing your fears will help reduce feelings of being alone. all the very best.

[PinkCrayon123]

Thanks very much. It's encouraging to know your IBs almost stopped. All the very best to you too.