New

Hi I'm new to the board.

I've a whole list of ailments one of them being IBS. It's the most unstable of them all I believe.

It hits at the most embarrassing moments.

I have three children, and there is nothing like grocery shopping with three kids and having to spend half an hour or more in the public restroom.  Before baby would be in sling on my lap, my daughter would hang out outside the stall and my son, I just tried to keep from opening my door and crawling out underneath the stall.

I've even had ppl ask me after I've been in the stall forever..."are you okay"...and I politely say "yes...I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome"...thinking okay...now I'll be alone, that was embarrassing enough...then they ask "is there anything I can get you?"  And what can you say?  "I'd like my dignity back"??

There are times I can't make it home if it's bad.

For me it can get so very painful.  Much like gallbladder (which I've had gallstones in the past and have had my gallbladder removed).  It's so very painful that I often resort to lamaz to help cope with the pain.

Triggers are certain foods, eating too much, lettuce (only in resturaunts), pizzas, and emotional upset.  Give me an emotional upset and the IBS lasts for a week or more.  Oh and around my cycle it's worse.  Also pain medications such as lortab and even morphine make it worse.  Nothing like going to a hospital for  a kidney stone.  The nurse (a _____ man) goes to give me morphin, I say no.  I don't like pain meds..before I can say another word... it's in my iv and he says "if your not in pain you won't have to call on me much."  If I weren't a Christian I think I could have blessed him out...the pain in my kidneys was nothing compared to that in my stomach then.  I was miserable!

Anyway..that's my story. 

What's yours?

I read somewhere that lettuce used in restaurants comes in bags, and lettuce that is bagged has additives that irritate our GI tracts. I know someone on these boards can tell you what the specific ingredient is but this could be one of your offenders - not the actual lettuce but something they add to the salad mix (to keep it fresh and from browning).

Your story did tug at my heart. Having young children to care for and struggle with IBS on top of that, is a real challenge.

When I babysit my 8 year old niece and have my IBS woes flare up, she wants to know why I am in the bathroom so much. I say, oh I'm not well, but am I "contagious?" That one gets me all the time, I do hide a smile but quickly say no, you won't catch this. She has asked why not! I am just relieved when she goes back home (when I'm not well). Other times she's delightful to watch!

Hang in there......there are young mothers on this forum, with little children (mine are 18 and 21 now) so hopefully you'll receive more feedback.