Posted 2/9/2010 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah. I can relate. I go all the time too. I attend a fall shopping trip with my four sisters-in-law in Chicago. I usually stress out about it too. But I've learned to eat and drink extremely light the entire trip - except for water and my trusty bananas, club crackers, etc. I order very small entrees or once just an appetizer from the menu. Another time an english muffin and a sliced banana, meanwhile my SIL's were eating these huge breakfast casseroles (sausage, eggs, peppers, onions). They said how delicious these entrees were while I nibbled on my english muffin and banana. BUT I felt so well after I had eaten light. Now they know I have to eat this way when I am traveling, out of town sharing a room with others, etc.
Before I ate this way with them, I had indulged at dinner and got into those awful rectal spasms. I had such pain and was quite emotional. Just wanted to be home in my own house with my family and dog. I just kept sipping tea I made in the hotel room and running to the bathroom. In time the pains subsided, the bms slowed down but my SIL's didn't understand why I was so stressed out.
The trouble with people with normal colons is they think we can stay in the bathroom longer and finish, having just one big bm. I will never, ever be that way again. I need to pace, massage my stomach, sip water or the hot tea and ride it out. That is one time I wished I had had my own hotel room but they did leave the bathroom wide open for me for when I needed it. That was kind.
But yes I can relate. One of my tricks now is to pretend I am home, I sit on the toilet, close my eyes and force my gut to calm down. Does it work? Over 50% of the time it does work.
The stress is hard to deal with. Wish I had an easy answer for you, other than to eat light, keep your fluids up and try to relax.