I have IBS and colitis (in remission). Mornings have always been difficult with frequent bowel movements and urgency, going 4-5 times in first few hours of walking.
Now I’ve also realised when I have to travel / leave the house to do a journey it’s worse again, just keep going to the loo! I think it’s anxiety related. If travel I won’t eat before hand. It’s unpredictable and I find it stressful. No one really ‘gets it’. Just get fobbed off with ‘that’s your normal’ . It impacts on daily life, my work, kids, social (will I don’t really go out much) everything. It’s been like this for years I’ve just carried on trying to manage it. I’ve taken codeine phosphate but this isn’t a long-term fix. Only take it as & when.
What do you do to help? I’ve also contacted my GP as I think I have urine issue- not sure if anxiety related? Or bladder not emptying fully. Or all IBS related.
I’ll be grateful for any ideas.
Thanks
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Popps21
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Hi Popps21, I could have written this. Sometimes, I only know I am anxious before a trip or event because I am back and forth to the loo. My guts know I am anxious before my brain.
Last July, I had to appear in court in the nearby city, at 8.30 in the morning (Yikes!) This was an early morning train journey then a long walk to the court house. In anticipation, I started with a single loperamide two or three days before, another the next day, and again on court day. This had the desired effect and was one less thing to worry about. I won the court case (parking dispute by a notorious private parking outfit).
If I am having a flair, my bladder also seems to be irritated and I do pee more often. Could be inflammation I suppose. I have yet to find a solution to this one. You are most certainly not alone.
Hi you are not alone and it's totally miserable. I spent most of the day before flying on holiday on the toilet. Then the utter anxiety at the airport when everyone is enjoying themselves. I usually take Loperamide in advance. Also a low dose of citalopram helped me and things did improve. I did CBT too to try and help. It also makes my bladder really sensitive. Good luck.
Hi, I also get frequent bowel movements when I know I'm going out. It's been so bad that I've panicked before going anywhere and I'm stuck in the toilet for ages. Went to doctors and said I could see a talking therapist to tap on the face and to distract me,but I've been waiting for a year and no appointment yet. I do try to look at things when I'm a passenger in the car to try to take my mind off it. I can't go on a coach because of the toilet,and I got into a state when I was last on a coach. I do understand how you feel.
I'm exactly the same as you, I've got even worse over the last three years. I can't arrange any appointments before 3 pm and need to take Loperamides as I'm back and forward to the loo. I've had to turn down a holiday to Florida with my granddaughters because I know the flight and all the travelling would make me a wreck. I fully empathise with you, good luck.
Thank you. I’ll try Loperamides to help. Ah it’s a shame it affects our lives so much. It’s makes travelling so stressful. I go by train up north rather than by car because there’s loos on the train. You start looking at different options. Take care
I also could have written this,I am 99% certain my IBS is mainly anxiety.But like you several bowel movements on waking up,feeling as if bladder still full.I take Imodium every time I leave the house,unless I can be sure there are toilets available.Travel is now out for me,although I have done a couple of no fly cruises,but even getting to the port is very stressful,and the uncertainty of queuing on arrival.I am resigned at 71 having had symptoms since my teens,that there are a lot things I cannot do,
Wow. I thought it was just me who had these problems. I'm stressed most of the time and it goes straight to my bowels. So many times I've been late for things as toilet times come first. I wear a sanitary towel further back to give me reassurance after a bowel movement. I also found not rushing in the toilet helps. Don't think that you have finished and go. Stay in there to make sure. Sit and stand a few times to see it this produces 'more'. I don't find any tablets help to stop me going. I have also tried the pull up incontinence pants help with confidence when going out. Good luck with everything and if you find a way to stop worrying let me know. It's a vicious circle but great to hear that others have the same problems. xxx hugs to all xxx
I think it's important to distinguish between true IBS and the "flight or fight" response. Anyone who is nervous for any reason will want to use the toilet - it's a natural response. However, if you have IBS-D then this effect will be exacerbated and, like many on this forum, I often feel the urge to use the toilet just before going out, if only because I worry about not finding a suitable toilet.
Over time, I've manage to convince myself (at least sometimes) that this is an unnecessary worry, and just risk it - most of the time it pays off, and the urgency feeling subsides. I wouldn't pretend that this works all the time, but there's definitely a component of anxiety associated with IBS because none of us wishes to get caught short. However, even if reducing "toilet anxiety" has a positive effect, it doesn't treat the underlying cause of the IBS, and that might require a separate approach.
When visiting Armenia in 2020 I became suddenly so desperate when walking in the capital Yerevan that I had to go there and then. Fortunately I was able to find a piece of waste ground slightly off the beaten track where I was able to hunker down so to speak. It felt like my whole abdomen was going yo explode. Thankfully I had some spare tissues in my pocket. An experience I will never forget.
I have exactly the same issue it rules my life with things I feel comfortable doing and things I don’t.I have to take loperamide every day otherwise I just don’t feel comfortable leaving the house.I am lucky this doesn’t have the opposite effect as I have such an active tummy it takes quite a lot for me to have trouble going.But I have recently had a conversation with someone who has anxiety related ibs and is on a very low dose anti depressants.I know that lots of people won’t want to go down that route for one reason or another.But this person has told me how life changing it was for them so I think it’s something I’m going to discuss with my dr.Might be worth a research or thought if it’s something you would consider.The gut brain connection is so big that I think the anti depressants must suppress something I guess.
Ibs can cause histamine intolerance and high cortisol levels. Certain foods are naturally high in histamines causing nausea gas, itchy skin, mucus production etc. High cortisol levels ignite anxie=ty , adrenal stress, which in turn aggravates the IBS. The antidepressants suppress the cortisol levels which in turn alleviates the anxiety. The enzyme DOA will handle the histamines allowing histamine rich foods to be eaten. Also quercetin can help alleviate bloating and gas from histamines If you have ever taken antibiotics for the colitis chances are your gut is in dysbiosis with bad bugs leaking into the small intestines. This is the root of your inflammation and until you kill off those harmful bacteria and repopulate with certain beneficial bacteria you are going to have a high level of inflammation . I would advise getting the book "Super Gut" on Amazon and following the procedure outlined in the book to heal your microbiome
Oh same! It is non stop stess worrying every time I leave the house. I take a LOT of immodium (6-8)to help me ....unfortunately I have built up a tolerance through the years...and it helps most if the time but eating anything is forbidden! That will start it all. The bladder spasms along with the bowel so that is always hand in hand with an active bowel.
I can fully relate to that, I've been like this for quite a few years now. I've had investigation s but I'm just left to get on with it. I rely on immodium whenever I go anywhere or travel. I'm sure that can't be a good thing. It's got to the stage now when I'm too anxious to go travelling 😥
I understand this. I have "travel tummy" too, just from the mild anxiety which preparing for travel, making arrangements, packing, checking travel details etc cause!
Even anything where I have to be at a certain place at a certain time (like appointments) can make my gut feel uneasy. That doesn't always cause an actual flare up but I do notice the effects.
Even a marked disruption in my routine can sometimes cause it.
I have an appointment tomorrow, and I find this evening that my gut is feeling very uneasy. I am doing things to try to calm it down and hoping it's not going to flare up overnight wirh little or no sleep. It's beyond nice deep breathing, meditation music and happy thoughts, or my conscious control.
I am resigned to having to pay a "non attendance fee" if I have to cancel at the last minute.
The actual appointment isn't even traumatic! My gut acts silly sometimes.
I wish I had a solution to give you. We are all different and maybe the anxiety-calmers I mentioned above might help you?
I’m not that bad but I understand even going out to the shops my system goes into flight or fight mode. I try now to calm myself through breathing - tried out the calming tapes for ibs but it’s like my yoga class. It’s not scientific but I think I need to tell my body that’s it’s all ok and I’m only going to the shops through calmness from breathing and doing things slowly. It’s working to some extent
Hi, just read your post and it could be me writing it as I have exactly the same problem. My IBS is stress-related too, I'm fine when I'm at home or pottering around the garden. But the minute I know I've got to go out anywhere, especially in the morning I'm uptight and back and forward to the loo usually three or four times. I've got a hair appointment late pm today but I'm now on loo trip number four. If we're going away from home and need to leave before noon, I'm sick with stress and all the loo trips. I take Loperamides to stop it, but then end up not going for days, but that's not a problem compared to the running all the time. My GP tried me on Amitriptyline, then Sertraline, but I didn't like how they affected me. So have been taking Loperamides to try to deal with it myself. Good luck with everything😊
With regards to IBS you sound like me. I get anxiety when I know I’m going out and I keep thinking about all the toilet locations wherever I’m going. The thought of air travel really does make me panic but I am being prescribed anti diarrhoea tables Loperamide from my GP and I try not to take daily but in advance if I know I’m going out. I have been out today and hadn’t taken and I’ve ended up twice in the loo. I start if with a stomach ache. I go once then end up going back again about 10 mins later which is a habit but I’d rather not sit the 10 mins out in a cubicle elsewhere there isn’t many.
However, I also have a urine/bladder issue where I don’t empty my bladder properly which was confirmed when I went for a vaginal ultrasound. About a year ago I had issues and saw a gynaecologist who says I have a prolapse of the womb/bladder which I’m awaiting surgery. You can feel it all protruding from the cagina. Would not have a pessary/ring fitted as I heard so many horror stories about them.
My urine frequency is because of this and I also asked if my bowel frequency could be pushed by the prolapse as well. He couldn’t definitely say but suggested I wait post op to see any improvement there.
I take Loperamide as often as I can and it does help me.
I hope the surgery goes well and it improves things for you. I know I don’t want to leave the house until my bowel movements have stopped otherwise I panic and paranoid about finding a loo!
Thank you it’s good to hear how you try and manage it.
Hi Poppy, I'm copying my response to another post that might be helpful here: healthunlocked.com/theibsne... - you might really like the book I mentioned. It really helped me combined with taking silicolgel to start turning around my reaction to triggers like eating out and travelling (i have a fear of flying and there's not a loo i haven't visited between departures and boarding gate in the land it feels like!) Om-ing is a really good distraction technique for me too - especially on noisy trains where people can't hear you . Anyway - hope the link helps - the brain can play havoc with our guts so it's definitely been the key for me in getting my anxiety under better control with the help of the gel to manage the IBS D / stomach response that go with the anxiety induced situation.
Thank you very much. This sounds really good. I will definitely give the gel a try and book! I’ll try anything now. Yes I’ve tried breathing exercises but the feeling is so intense. Maybe it takes time.
Irritable bladder is common, where you have to go frequently. Its called Overactive Bladder.I had it for years but bizarrely its stopped now and i have the opposite problem.
Hey Popps21, I'm new here and just wanted to sympathise - sounds very similar to my experience. It's good to know it's actually more common than it feels at times. Because nobody 'gets it' (or in my case, I'm too embarrassed to really tell people about it, and just make excuses) it can be lonely. I've recently realised how socially isolated I've become, similarly to you. I've tried the nerva app for gut hypnotherapy, I didn't feel it helped much for me but I do believe it can work, I am going to try again with an in person therapist. Interested to hear how you find it. Take care
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