IBS mostly stress related I think

I have posted before about my symptoms (only D and it's very acute 1-4 hrs once a week and no C in between and no other pain besides the cramping during the D).  Well I had posted that I was going to visit my fiancee's parents and had hoped I wouldn't have an attack and almost everytime I go to someone elses house to sleep I worry about it so much that I think THAT makes me have an attack.  This time inevitably it happened..and it sucked.  But now at least I am seeing a pattern and possibly it isn't food related but stress over the attack related with a little to do with the food.  I'm doing the food diaty starting tommorrow..wish me luck.

Hi MSU,
I really think what you described happens to all of us. I'm not trying to diminish what you are saying in any way; just that we are all afraid to venture too far from our homes. It sucks. I cope by taking a small dose of Imodium which always puts my mind at ease and my IBS in check.
Good luck with the food diary! That will help a lot too.

I feel almost thankful; my future mother-in-law has IBS and is post gall bladder too. Sometimes we sit around and ***** about our bowel problems for a half hour or more.

These people are going to be your family, so you might as well tell them that you have a stomach condition and that while you may get sick on occasion, you'll be all right in the end and it's nothing that will catch. Hopefully they will understand and will just leave you alone while you are feeling bad. Even more hopefully, just getting it out in the open and knowing it's okay and that you're accepted regardless will get rid of the stress that makes you worse. Even presidents have to poo!

Thanks guys...I usually stress about having an attack..and not daily stress..as daily stress generally doesn't effect the condition. It seems to only happen at the most inopertune time (in the car on a long trip, at someone elses house). I have coped with it at my home..stereo in the bathroom..and somewhat discussed it with my fiancee...*sighs* Once I get too far from home I start to worry IF it will happen..then that stress I think makes it happen...I just need to learn to calm the hell down about it and not be so embarassed. :) Thanks for all the advice!

Better to discuss it openly with your fiance, since you'll have to rely on him to take care of you when you're sick. I don't talk about my problem all of the time with mine, may not even say the "D" word frequently, But he knows when I say "I'm feeling bad," what I mean. He's good about not making foods too spicy because he knows that can bother me. And omlets. For some reason an omlet will do me in. I can eat all of the ingredients separately or even all together in a mix that we call "breafast skillet," but for some reason the omlet formation itself kills me. Weird. But he knows not to fix me one. And I know if I got sick at a restaurant and told him I needed to leave right then and there, he'd pick up and do it. He's even stopped the car and made me go to the bathroom although I told him I could wait we got a little futher down the road.

He happens to have a bad back and bad knees (and right now something's wrong with his left shoulder), so I have to take care of him too. He knows he can tell me "I can't do that" or "I need to lay down for a bit" and I'll put whatever we're doing on hold, do something else, etc. Should have seen us at Mammoth Cave trying to find a tour that wasn't too long--since I was popping Immodiums because of my daily diarrhea--and one without too many stairs. Luckily my Immodiums held and I didn't have to roll him back up to the visitor's center, lol.

They say you always should discuss finances, debt and personal spending habits and get a financial game plan in place before you walk down the aisle; I would add to that physical ailments and reoccuring health problems. Not because it will come as some big shock after marriage and make things rocky, but just because you need to support each other.

I definately agree!! I'm IBS-C and definately relate.  I cannot go on any trips or anything, no matter how long.  It's like my digestion system just shuts down.  I've been away for like 4 days without anything and as soon as I get home I have to go...and this happens all the time so obviously my mind is affecting it.  I just don't know what to do about it!