Does anyone feel better at home?

My IBS acts up more when I am away from home because of my anxiety disorder. I will get very bad stomach pains when I know I have to be in crowds, etc. As we all know, IBS acts up with stress and emotions. We also stress when we are out because we don't know if we are going to have access to a bathroom and even if there is one there is the embarrassment of going to a public restroom. When I had IBS-D, I would take Immodium every day before going to work which would stop me up. Ironically, now I have IBS-C and my doctor told me that my diverticulosis was most likely caused by the prolonged abuse of the Immodium. But still haven't figured out which came first for me, the anxiety or the IBS.

Eric, I too always drive wherever I go. I feel much less anxious. My friends are used to it and I think my husband enjoys being chauffered around :) As far as eating I must be honest I eat just about everything. Although I prefer eating at home because the food doesn't give me the same reaction as a restaurant. I do try to limit foods that will make me sick but as you probably know what works for us today won't tomorrow. At this point it doesn't matter what I eat somewhere along the way it all makes me sick. I stopped trying to figure the food thing out. I just want to be able to travel and be free like "normal" people. I miss being free of fear. How about you? Do you even remember what it's like to feel that way? I always wonder what it's like to know you have to go to the bathroom but you have the control to hold it in until you are home. Once upon a time I lived that way. How about you? Thanks for your comment. You have answered some of my other posts and it seems you and I have similiar problems.

Thanks again.

drdebi,

I am in your corner. It is the most frustrating thing. I am always late because I won't leave home until I go to the bathroom and alot of times I can't go. The second I get in the car and start thinking about it-bam now I have to go. Than I start to get nervous I won't make it to a bathroom. Like I have said in my previous post I have had 2 accidents in my life. These situations forever changed the way I live my life. I am so afraid that I will lose control in front of people. I can say to some extent with the help of hypnosis and yoga I try taking a deep breath and than exhale. Sometimes it does help. I also try to distract myself from it. I will make alot of phone calls when driving that too helps. Otherwise I play the same game day after day. The funny thing is most of the time if I am driving home I am fine. Because of course I know that is my safe place. As far as taking imodium I only take it when absolutely necessary. For me that is giving in to the fear too much. Believe me though I have had to give in plenty of times. Try and challenge yourself. That is probably the best thing you can do. I make sure to go out everyday even when I am nervous. Know all the places that have bathrooms on your journey that will also help you calm down. If you know you can pull over and go use a public bathroom you will be fine. I have gone pretty much everywhere. I always feel better afterwards anyway. I feel my best when I go out and am able to conquer the feeling and not go at all. Most important keep yourself occupied as much as possible. Remember there is a bathroom in all restaurants. Next time you go out try not to take imodium and see how it goes. Hit the bathroom at home first than tell yourself I only have to make it to my destination point. Going home is easy. Let me know how you do.

ty tenn. I appreciate any advise. I used to workout religously but stopped about 4 months ago when I moved out of state. Its funny that you wrote this today because I just came back from an orientation at a new gym I joined. Any type of physical activity has helped. In the case of moving things around, but as far as the mental part that is still a challenge I have yet to overcome. I will keep you posted if things get better. I am going to try a pilates class which my cousin takes and said has helped her stomach problems. She also has IBS (newly diagnosed) not to the extent that I have it but I am hoping pilates will have the same effect for me. Thanks again.

Has your phychologist/phychiatrist talked to you about anti-anxiety medication? Maybe even an antidepressant? I know you're super young for this, but it might be just what you need to get through school. Anxiety plays a huge part in IBS and if you can get that under control then you might be just find going to school.
Are you currently on any meds (OTC or RX)?

I feel for you as I started having IBS symptoms at 14 and it was very hard. I went to school but that was because I didn't have a choice and my parents basically dragged me but I learned that I had to take charge and talk to my teachers if I needed them to understand. They did and let me leave to go to the bathroom without warning and gave me a desk next to the back door as to not attract attention. I was lucky (well not really) that my problems were mostly at night so my day times were a bit better but that also meant almost no sleep.

There are antispasmodics also that will calm your intestines that seem to spasm more when you are anxious and not calm. These may be a little better for your age.

I totally understand though where you are coming from. I had friends in HS but I felt like I burdened them a lot because in order to hang out, they had to come to my house so I could be comfortable near my own bathroom. I didn't socialize a lot outside of the house. My mom was great though and always made my friends feel welcome and they liked being there but I sure wished I had the times to go out and hang out other than home.

Hello All,   Try not to let it get to the point that I am at!!  I never leave the house..  My husband bought us a moterhome so I could travel with my family...  I have had this for 15 years..  The last 5 have been homebound..  I really need therapy..  Anyway do anything to not to get to my point in life..  Take Care

Welcome bennettgirl,

Welcome to the site. You will find lots of good info and people who are going through the same thing. Sometimes just good to talk to people in the same boat.

I also have AP disorder and I know how it can affect IBS, its awful. Are you still with the same job or doing something different? Please keep posting, I hope you enjoy it here

I think we are all in this together. I'm going into NY city in June to see a show and am starting to fret about it already. We all do the same (take imodium before we go anywhere) I have diviticulos as well as IBS and really would rather let nature take it's course. I really was hit with this when I got my gall bladder out. I am tires of hearing " caused by stress". I find that a great cop out when the doctor can't cure you: blame the patient. This then causes more stress. Of course we are stressed. How much calmer would we all be without this problem? I go between C and D and take Bentyl . I try with 10 mg although the usual dose is 20 mg. I can always take a second one if it's not effective. Gas x sometimes works and beano isn't bad. My family dr wants me to take Lexapro but I'm very hesitant about something you take            every  day. I now use 1/2  valium if I need it. Helps a little when I know I'm blowing it all out of proportion. Merri                                            

Dear Keriamon, In a book called "IBS The First Year" by Heather Van Vorous ,it states on page 3 if your IBS symptoms are D predominant and began after your gall bladder was removed an rx drug called Questran can " cure your IBS" . You must take it for the rest of your life but your IBS is gone. I read it and don't know if it's true but I worth asking your doctor. I go back and forth so it doesn't pertain to me. Merri

That is interesting. I brought the book to my gastro dr and he poo pooed it. As a nurse might I say this doesnot surprise me too much. A couple of things I've learned along the way: ginger ( it comes in a candy form from the health food store) is good for the nausea that often accompanies an attack, and if any of you get chills with a bad attack, this is from the Vegas nerve which runs down through the digestive system. These are worrisome things to a sufferer and unfortunately not the type of information most doctors give without the patient asking. Of course this information won't cure you but I for one, like to understand what is happening to me. It is impowering I think.( Ginger is also in tea form) Any ideas to combat gas and bloating I surely would like to hear. Merri

IBS-D

first time poster, but i know about the "Safe At Home" feeling, its the best feeling ever knowing that the toilet is only a few metres away from me.

i feel for the people who have had IBS since they were in school, luckily i got mine when i was around 19. if i had mine in school who knows what could of happened. the thing i can remember about my IBS first starting was rumbling in the stomach ( i think from not eating all day, i used to do that at school, not eat all day and then pig out at home after school ) then it progessivly got worse to the point where i had my first accident (worst feeling ever) but luckily no one saw it.

At that point i knew something was wrong. i think my IBS stems from the fact that i had real bad anxiety when i was between 16 - 19 (sounds stupid but i was afraid of what people would think of me and my family). My whole family knew that i had some sort of problem with crowds and my sisters always used to give me crap about it, no doubt making it worse. also at the time i had absolutely no friends (i dont know if anyone else knows how alone a person feels when they dont have anyone to talk to) because i broke all ties with friends after finishing school.

then about 2002 i started fighting that anxiety feeling, i made some new friends and started going out and doing stuff with my friends, but the IBS didnt subside, it actually got worse. thats when i thought maybe diet was the reason, ever since i can remember i have been a dairy and pasta eater, other than a few vegetables here and there my main diet was eggs, milk, pasta, cheese and bread. i changed my diet to include more fiber and changed from white to wholemeal bread, i ate more vegetables and less milk and nearly cut out eating eggs. thats didnt help one bit (although im still on this diet now).

my usual day runs like this....

wake up 6.30am - Feel Totally fine
eat breakfast 7am - Feel fine
about 7.30am - start getting the sick feeling in my stomach
7.45am - gas builds really quickly and bloating starts
8.40am - leave for work, about 5 mins into the drive i feel like crapping myself its that bad.
get rid of a lot of the gas before i start work.
just after i eat at lunchtime i get gas 10x worse than in the morning, cramps and bloating set in.
get rid of all that gas

cycle repeats itself until i get home when it magically disappears and im fine.

my girlfriend says why dont you go to the toilet while your at work instead of holding it in till you get home, i answer to that - about 15mins after going to the toilet the gas buildup is about 50x worse than at lunchtime, so its either hold it in or let it out and experince a lot worse pain.

i have tried a few pills, but i really want to try an anxiety one, i havent tried any yet, im currently trialing Yakult, ill be giving that a good 2 months too see if anything changes.

well thats all i wanted to say, maybe a bit too much for a reply but i just wanted to add my 2 cents