I've recently been diagnoised with IBS so I'm looking for some advice from people with more experience than I have, to tell me some tips and tricks they use to manage thier IBS symptoms and stress/anxiety.
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I'm 19 and a student doing a foundation course. After having symptoms of IBS and not knowing what it was for about 6 months I went to the doctor and got a diagnosis. However, on top of IBS the doctor thinks I have emetophobia which is the fear of vomiting.
I'm currently living with family while doing my foundation degree, next year I start my BA degree at a different university and I'll be moving into halls. Having both IBS and emetophobia means I'm pretty terrified of having to cook my own meals because if I eat something that triggers a flare up in my IBS, I'll feel nauseous, which in turn makes me anxious about being sick and then the anxiety triggers my IBS symptoms.
I think as someone who is very new to this, I just need some advice from people who live with it, because I'll be honest, it's starting to get me down. Any help/advice is much appreciated!
Bunny
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Si vous allez cuisiner vos propres repas, c'est bien parce que vous aurez plus de contrôle sur la nourriture que vous allez manger, donc je n'aurais rien à craindre à ce sujet. C'est une chose positive.
Avez-vous eu des déclencheurs alimentaires au cours des six mois où vous avez eu le SII ? Si vous savez quels aliments vous dérangent, alors évitez-les. Si vous ne savez pas, essayez le régime Low Fodmap avec l'aide d'un diététicien ou essayez un journal alimentaire. Il est possible, cependant, que la nourriture ne vous dérange pas. Cela dépend de savoir si vous avez un SII lié à l'alimentation ou un SII lié au stress. J'ai un SII lié au stress et j'ai très peu de problèmes avec la nourriture.
J'essaie d'éviter les situations stressantes autant que possible, mais parfois elles peuvent me prendre au dépourvu et je fais une poussée. Je prends du Buscopan et parfois du Nurofen immédiatement en plus, ce qui empêche la douleur de devenir grave. Si on vous a prescrit un antispasmodique, prenez-le si vous allez dans une situation que vous savez stressante pour prévenir la douleur et d'autres symptômes.
Avez-vous un SII avec constipation, diarrhée ou un mélange des deux ? Si vous avez de la constipation, essayez les oranges, les raisins ou le jus de pruneau si les fruits ne posent pas de problème ou essayez un laxatif à court terme. Si vous avez de la diarrhée, restez sur les fibres solubles et évitez les fibres insolubles. Gardez de l'Imodium à portée de main.
The advice pippa has given is great. I will add that you may want to try counselling for your anxiety and emetophobia.
You could also buy some travel sickness pill for the nausea if it hits.
Thank you!
I'm not sure exactly what food triggers I have (apart from white bread which I've already cut from my diet), but I've started a food diary today so hopefully I will know soon.
I don't think I can avoid stressful situations given that I'm starting uni! But I will definitely ask for my doctors advice about anti spasmodics as I think that could be really useful as pain is often a big problem for me.
I'm not sure yet, but I think I have a mixture of both, leaning a little more towards diarrhoea but again, it's early days so I don't really know, I haven't been tracking my symptoms or anything.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply!
Bunny
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Thanks!
My doctor is going to refer me to a counsellor who works specifically with phobias - I had no idea it was even a phobia until she said! Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait until summer. I'm away from home (and my GP) right now because I'm staying with relatives while I complete a college course, so I'm sort of dealing with it on my own for the time being. That said, I will definitely pick up some travel sickness tabs! Thanks for the idea
BBYBunny
Your vomiting sound like a neurosis. while your IBS could be stress or you are not eating the right food, to put your mind at rest I suffer IBS that is caused by all the drugs I take. I could pass wind in the Olympics and get a gold medal for it. I also wonder when I am bad if I could set it to music ???
Try changing your diet, Carbs and Potatoes make stools firm vegetables and fruit are also worth increasing up to seven portions a day. White meat and fish work well, one portion an oily fisk like herring, salmon or makeral helps. White fish do not have oil although portions of Cod Haddock are good for your diet.
FRUIT is better than sugars, Bran in the morning is also a good choice also Wholemeal Bread is a good thing to try
BOB
Hi
How normal are your stools?
Do you have periods when there okay?
Anxiety of course affects the gut.
I know it's hard but trying to relax can help if you can do it
Cheers
J'ai d'abord eu de la constipation, puis un mélange des deux, puis de nouveau de la constipation. Une autre astuce que vous pourriez essayer est d'enregistrer vos cours sur votre téléphone au cas où vous auriez une poussée et ne pourriez pas vous concentrer sur votre classe à cause de la douleur. Vous pouvez ensuite réécouter le cours pendant votre temps libre lorsque vous allez mieux.
Si votre université propose des services de soutien santé, vous pourriez les consulter au sujet de votre SII et parler à vos tuteurs et professeurs pour obtenir l'aide la plus efficace possible.
C'est bien d'apporter un peu d'humour dans nos essais sur le SII !
And thats great that you do that. I can relate to the setting records for passing wind... its unbelievable.
Depuis que le stress a provoqué mon SII, j'essaie de ne pas prendre les choses trop au sérieux et de rire davantage. Je semble surtout passer du gaz après mon repas du soir.
Hey,
Hard to say, I have days where everything is fine, my stools are normal and easy peasy
But it feels like most of the time I'm all over the place! I alternate between constipation and dirrhoea frequently, leaning more towards the latter. I definitely think anxiety plays a part because I tend to be worse before I go out for a meal or drinks or any to kind of social thing/gathering
Thank you,
Bunny
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Thank you for your help and for making me smile!
Bunny
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When really bad I give a dirty look towards the dog, I sometimes get away with it if in company although I get a telling off later from Dog and Wife Lol
BOB
C'est une excellente attitude à avoir !
I want to start of by saying, seriously, I think its 1 in 4 people suffer from IBS so in all honestly if you do have a flare up, ride it out! I'm 23 and was diagnosed at about 13? After having stomach aches every night! I know everyone is different so take this with a pinch of salt! I cut out caffeine tea and coffee, so decaff only, I also became a vegetarian after reading the human body struggles digesting meat. Also, stressful times in life are unavoidable, atleast you know what it is now and can take precautions. I know every toilet in a 30 mile radius! Imodium also help! Hardest thing but best is to mentally, not let it hold you back! Never be afraid of your IBS! You are ALWAYS in control! :D
I write this after having a random induced panic attack at 12:30 at night which has definitely upset my inner Mr Hyde/IBS!
I just want to say have fun at uni! I'm 19 as well, and just started on my journey with ibs too. I'm a year into my bs. It can be stressful, BUT it can also be a TON of fun and stress relieving stuff too.
On the ibs front, I completely recommend evermore for recording lectures, and if you want to type lectures I recommend it as well. You can record and type in the same thing. You can also make notebooks for semesters, and notebooks within those for your classes. If you don't want to type notes, it's a good one to record with!
The fodmap diet has helped me tramendously, though I haven't filled it exactly. I know that sugars bother me more than anything else, so that is really my focus.
You'll learn your body! I'm sending positive thoughts your way
I am a suffer of both emetophobia and also IBS so feel your pain! You get stressed with work/life/college which sets off IBS symptoms like nausea. Which then set off the emetophobia sending your anxiety levels into orbit.
I know how you feel & battle with this horrible cycle daily.
My only advice, stay active - exercise massively helps IBS and anxiety. Take a probiotic every day, and also do things that make you happy!
In turn dealing with the IBS and vomit phobia aren't all that bad. Other people just like me are in the same place as you - you just have to find your own way of compromising with your troubles :-)
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