After takeaway flare up!

[Babyelxxx]

Hi!!

I’ve got IBS.. have been constipated for a while now. Does anyone find having a takeaway sometimes will flare them up BIG time.

instantly after eating I feel a bit funny, run to the toilet. And then usually I will go to sleep / if I’m up late, early evening I will start to feel awful. I’m currently suffering this right now :((( trying not to panick I hate being sick so the sensation sends my anxiety through the ROOF!

very nauseous, become hot, heart palpitations & bad tummy as usual. The anxiety then gets worse and I get panicky. Then the nausea is worse.

anyone else feel like this? It’s definitely the IBS / flare up based as I’m fine until the symptoms start, and they definitely come on worse in the evening it just be when the food is digesting maybe. Does anyone else get similar symptoms and it’s normal?

just easing my panicking mind

[fibnum]

It seems as though getting over constipation and becoming regular could be a very positive step. I was able to over the past year. I was taking laxatives and stool softeners but with limited success and an irritating, constant concern with the effects.

Someone wrote on another forum that a daily, good-sized glass of prune juice with a table spoon of chia seeds and flax seeds combined worked for them. I tried it, and it did work. Soon I was able to drink it only every couple of days and have not been needing it at all over the past 8 months. I also began exercising every evening, lost weight and was able to get off of a couple of BP meds that might have contributed to constipation.

The most important thing was that I found I have celiac disease and began avoiding gluten and excess-gas-producing vegetables and fruits about a year ago.

Which of these factors helped me become regular? I don't know what role each played, but you might try one or more of them. I wish I could be more specific, but the answer for you may involve a combination of changes similar to mine.

[LEENOL48]

Hi I feel your pain I know exactly where you’re coming from I don’t have takeaways anymore no point in putting my stomach and anxiety through it also you don’t know what they’re putting in your food best cook your own then you know exactly what’s in it and make it ibs friendly

[kennethstephens1957]

Hope u are eating low Fod Map foods.

[Luisa22]

Perhaps the logic to this is -more food in on a constipated gut, the more the whole gut is going to complain.

Also there's a thing called the "gastro-colic reflex" Which is basically that as soon as the stomach gets food in, it stimulates lower down in the gut to start moving stuff through to make room! That is probably why you get an urgent need to go to the loo soon after eating,

The vagus nerve gets involved and can set up a fight-or-flight loop, and cause dizziness, nausea, faintness and queer feelings if that happens. I know. I had that happen to me once or twice. No fun. The good thing was a reaction like that only happened twice in 6 years. So I don't expect it regularly. Anxiety through the fight-flight feedback can cause all sorts of horrible feelings too.

If you're constipated (or sometimes even when not) the natural movement of gut muscles lower down can cause gut cramps and sometimes urgency after eating.

I hate to say stuff like this because we are all getting preached at constantly about diet!...But takeaway food in general is probably not gut friendly for IBS. It depends on the takeaway and it depends on the restaurant you get it from, and it depends what's in it.

But things like burgers, chips, hot dogs, Macdonalds, or even some tasty Chinese etc either block up your tum with too much carbs, fats, trans fats, low quality meat, or have ingredients which can irritate IBS guts. Think sauces, seasonings etc.

Subway is basically a HUGE wad of white bread with stuff in it. More white bread in one serving than even someone who needs white bread, could eat in a week!

And then there's Indian food. Gorgeous, but I haven't been able to go within 100 yards of it ever since I've had IBS. Curries and spices are not your friends most likely.

Other takeaways which sound healthy can also have either too much fibre (for IBS D), not enough fibre (for IBS C), or seasonings, certain fats, oils and spices. Some may also have artificial sweeteners (because of the "sugar panic" nowadays.

My only advice is choose healthy natural foods, organic if possible, and cook them at home and keep your diet healthy and very simple.

[Icecreamforever]

Previously, I used to get flare ups when I ate out at restaurants. I don't know if it is the cooking process, the actual food items or the anxiety of eating out but I used to have the same feeling. It has stopped me from eating out for a long time! For takeaways, I usually have to be careful. If it is a regular place and I order my usual dishes it is ok, but if it is a new place, I can sometimes get the same feeling.

It is a shame as I used to enjoy eating out or trying new foods, but recently, my body cannot take it anymore. 😥

[Fergie53 in reply to Icecreamforever]

Yes this is what I find, I can eat out sometimes but not a huge meal and stick to foods I know I’m okay with…