Travel anxiety - update

[Icecreamforever]

Recently, a family member came to visit us. I hadn't seen her for a long time so I was quite excited. On the first day, we had planned to go travel somewhere, but on the day, I felt really sick with an IBS flare up, so I couldn't make it, and instead joined them for dinner at my parent's home.

On the second day, we spent some time walking around the town she was staying in. It was actually the first time I had eaten out since last November. I had to be careful what I ate, and I could only manage about half of it.

On the last day, I felt a little discomfort in the morning, but we managed to travel to a few places. We finished with a meal in the town she was staying in, and I chose my order carefully. I didn't feel any reaction. I had to wait for the bus to return home, which was delayed 45 mins. It was a little cold and raining. I did start to feel my IBS symptoms come on - abdominal pain, gas, gurgling and urge to go to the toilet, a little weak. Luckily, I managed to make it through the bus journey.

On all 3 days, I took Imodium in the morning and travel sickness tablets to try to calm my travel anxiety. Since my IBS started, I feel it has had a big impact in terms of socialising with friends and family. There are positives and negatives to this - first of all, I got to see the family member! Also, I ate out in public a few times as well as traveling more.

Negatives - any change to my routine, I feel like it affects my IBS, like the first day. Also, I felt like the bus delay had a big effect on me. I don't know if it was the waiting or the cold weather which brought on the flare up.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips regarding how to deal with travel changes and anxiety and IBS?

[heartmatters1]

Hi. I really resonate with your recent experiences. Although my IBS/ diverticulosis journey is relatively new, only diagnosed about 3 years ago, even though I am 71. I have always suffered with constipation. However, I am now plagued with both C & D, with occasional blockages & overflow D, along with pain, gas, low energy & poor appetite.

My life is ruled by my bowels. I have to take laxatives & never know when they might work. I recently had to have breast surgery & was so concerned that I would have a flare-up on the day & would have to cancel it. In fact the day before I did & had to take immodium just in case. I am so reluctant to arrange anything incase I let people down, which has happened.

I’m glad you managed to go out & got to see your family member.

I don’t really have any tips for you, only to say anxiety doesn’t help of course & you are not alone. This forum is great as, as unless you suffer with this, no one understands the impact it has on our lives, as we do.

Best wishes 🤗

[Icecreamforever in reply to heartmatters1]

Thank you - although there were some negatives, I want to try my best to focus on the positives.

Some of the simple things that people take for granted can be difficult for people like you and I. I feel people who don't have IBS don't really understand, I am glad that I have found this forum.

[JessFM]

Ask your local council if you can get a key that you can purchase to allow you to have access to all the public toilets. I know we can do that in the UK but I do not know where it is you reside.

[Icecreamforever in reply to JessFM]

Yes, I am also in the UK and have heard a little about this, thank you!

[Letsfixit1]

Hi, glad you enjoyed the family event! I have had IBSd for many years, and its got worse as I've got older (I'm 68). The hardest things are the social events, eating out etc, and travel, which is my passion. I'm determined not to let my IBS stop me from enjoying my retirement. I was advised by a consultant following a colonoscopy to take 1 Immodium every day, and for the first 6 months it worked brilliantly, the stools were firmer and the stomach cramps gone. Unfortunately, its effectiveness wore off, I started to need to take more, so I now only take them if I'm going out to eat, or on a journey, and then maybe 2 or 3 on that day. I only go on group walks if I know there are good toilets within 10 minutes distance, I have also got one of these Radon toilet keys (available on Amazon for about £5) that you can use for public disabled toilets - I haven't got time to queue at public toilets. I wear dark trousers when I go out, and always carry spare knickers with me. Such fun and very glamourous! It does help with the anxiety though to take these precautions. And your bus ride home - buses can be unreliable and it just adds to the worry - I can travel on a bus free with a pass, but I choose to pay for the train when its possible, and failing that a local taxi. I'm passionate about travel - I'm going to Canada and Alaska from the Uk in a few weeks on my own to meet my son, I'm hoping to go to Australia and Japan next year - but I won't go on an organised trip because there's nothing worse than being stuck on a bus with cramps. So all my travel is planned around the length of each leg of the journey, and how good the toilets are. Lots of planning, but very doable.

I can't cure this IBS, I don't know what causes it, and I've tried most things. So I'm learning to live with it. I bought a Nervapp for £99 a year - its hypnosis for IBS. It didn't cure me, but it taught me how to control my breathing, improved my sleeping, and I can recommend it for anxiety. Good luck!

[IBShate in reply to Letsfixit1]

Well said!

[Icecreamforever in reply to Letsfixit1]

Thank you for your reply, lots of great advice! It's great that you are taking control of enjoying your retirement! For me, I have a lot of anxiety for doing things like socialising because of IBS or worrying about IBS. I wish I can take a leaf out of your book!

I hope that you enjoy your holidays in Canada and Alaska! It must be great to be able to see your son again!

I have heard that hypnosis can be a way to cope with IBS. How does Nervapp work?

[Letsfixit1 in reply to Icecreamforever]

Hi, the app offers 3 things every day. There's a short reading, couple of minutes, which gives you general information, tips etc. There's a daily breathing exercise, about 5 mins. And then there's a full hypnosis session of around 15 minutes. And the nice thing is the session is different every day, you can do it as many times a day as you wish if you're having a flare up, or a panic. Its then stored on the app so you can revisit at any time. I had favourites, some relaxed me more than others. I found it very good for getting to sleep on a night, I usually toss and turn and worry, but the breathing exercise and hypnosis session put me to sleep much quicker. Its £99 for the year, (there is also a 39% off link you can request) and I found it excellent value for money.

[Kathclark in reply to Letsfixit1]

It’s actually a relief to find out through this forum that I am not the only one who has problems travelling (which I love) and also having to be anywhere at a certain time. I am tending to avoid putting myself into that position but is this the answer? I’m hoping that taking a regular dose of loperamide will help. I would also like to try group walks but haven’t got the confidence in case the toilets are not available when I need them! When I eat out I always have to check the menu first and dare not try anything different! My ibs is getting a nuisance now and spoiling my retirement.

[xjrs]

Since I see that you are in the UK, you can get the key that JessFM talks about from the IBS Network:

portal.theibsnetwork.org/su...

You can also get a 'can't wait' card from them:

portal.theibsnetwork.org/su...

[Icecreamforever in reply to xjrs]

Thank you so much!

[ruskin10]

Hi I know exactly how you feel about travel and visitors. If I go any distance or eat out (rarely) I take with me Buscopan, paracetamol, migraleve, arrhythmia tablets & water. You may think I overdo it but it puts me at ease a little. I'm not a lover of Buscopan but if my food causes spasms I'll take one. I'm also having BC treatment which causes anxiety on its own. Try not to let it rule your life, it's hard on some days when a flare-up full on, but we fellow travellers try to cope and live. Best wishes

[Hennen in reply to ruskin10]

Would you recommend Buscopan for IBS-C for abdominal bloating and cramping?

[Icecreamforever in reply to ruskin10]

I think you are right in that I need to try my best to not let my IBS rule my life. I haven't found that sweet spot at the moment and am still slowly trying to readjust to a normal life alongside the IBS. Thank you for your reply, I hope you are doing well ♥️