Irriatable bowel...anxiety..vicious circle...help

Debras_Angel

Hi Suzukibabe,

Sometimes it's also a good idea to see a nutritionist as well or maybe have another visit to the therapist.

Debs

bella4uk

Debras_Angel wrote:

Hi bella4uk,

Did you have IBS before your tragic loss 3 years ago?

I noticed you mentioned hypnosis as a possibility. I'm a qualified hypnotherapist and I also suffer from Crohns Disease as well. So i have experience from both angles really.

Every case is different but it sounds like your IBS is triggered by your nerves and anxiety, which can be helped by hypnotherapy.

Why not ask your GP for a refferal to a qualified Hypnotherapist in your area. In fact some hypnotherapists specialise in IBS but as I said yours sound more anxiety related.

If you want any details of where to look for qualified and accredited hypnotherapists then PM me and I will give you the details. I could post them here but not sure of that is within the rules.

Debs

Yes this started in my late teens, I am 38 now, and it was getting better until 3 years ago and is now on the mend again but I still get anxious, so it stops me doing things so your list of hypnotherapists will be appreciated...thanks

Debras_Angel

Bella4UK,

I've PM you.

Debs

cheapskate101

Try cutting out dairy foods for just 2 days. Almost solved my IBS after 8 years by doing this - cheap and easy, so worth a try. Just get Soya milk and replace.I'm amazed that in the last 2 years or so, soya milk has appeared on every supermarket shelf I visit - even the small village grocers as so many people seem to find difficulty with dairy milk-based products.

Weirdly British and French milk bring on my IBS, but Portuguese milk doesn't. Milk with lactose taken out brings on IBS, so strangely it doesn't appear to be lactose that is the problem.

Codeine phosphate - from yr doctor - may help. It's the only tablet that helps me - Buscopan, immodium etc all useless for me. the really stupid prescription was fibre stuff... just what I needed. Worth a try, as they are cheap and cheerful.

good luck

detritustroll

Wow, a friend of mine pointed me here as i suffer from really bad Stress/Anxiety IBS, I've had this since i was 16 im now 28. Im now on tablets for anxiety (Citalopram Hydrobromide) but it still doesnt alleviate the problems. I love the quote of "Fear of Dread", i wonder if that is the same of mine, the fight or flight response, and wanting to take flight but also wanting to get to the loo immediatly. This has at times resulted in me actually having an accidents in my pants (and yes i know some people will be reading this and laughing, but it is the most humiliating thing that can ever happen to anyone), and even thought this has not happened for over 10 years the feeling that this left me with has only added to the condition. I went and saw a psychotherapist but we did not gel, all he kept saying was "well you havn't had an accident for 10 years, why would you have one now?", Why? Why, coz i havne't had one for 10 years which means sooner or later i am going to have another one. Im glad that most of the people on this thread have managed to really aleviate their condition, but im still living with it. Food has not semblance on my IBS just my stress levels and my proximity to an available toilet!!

Sorry for kind of ranting, but really dont know what to do!.

bella4uk wrote:

Firstly, I wouldn't class myself as a shy and retiring wallflower type but I do suffer from irriatable bowel and believe that this is caused by stress mainly ,although certain foods and drinks aggriavate this.
I am quite sociable, infact everyone thinks I'm full of confidence, but any slight worries and it hits my stomach first, resulting in me needing to use the loo immediatly.!!
If I could have one wish it would be not to suffer from IBS...but It does sometimes take over my life...for example, parents meetings, doctors waiting rooms and standing in queues bring on a fear of dread, basically if I don't think I can mke a loo straight away I panick, which results in the viscious circle of making me more nervous and trying to avoid situations...
But if I go for a girlies night out, always starting by having a drink or 2 before I leave home to calm me, then I am the life and soul, meaning that it is nerves as alchohol relaxes me...
I suffered a very tragic loss 3 years ago which traumatised me so much I could barely make it to the corner shop without breaking out into a cold sweat (sounds pathetic)...but forced myself not to give in. The thing is ,now I am so much better than that but I want to join a gym and do things that other people don't bat an eyelid over...but the IBS thing scares me...
I was wondering if anyone knew of any alternative treatments which may help me, if I can calm the nerves I'm sure the IBS will relax...thanks in advance

alba37

I am glad I found this thread also. My son who's 13 has suffered the same way you have all talked about from 6 years. It is stress/anxiety releated, and worst time of day is mornings. He is a panicker, and panics for next to nothing, which brings it on.

The doctor has never prescribed anything, and it does make his life a misery. Will follow the thread for more suggestions. Hope you find some relief soon Bella & detritustroll. I can only empathise with you all & my son!

youngandreckless

Bella4uk, I could have written this thread so similar is your situation to how mine was / is at times.
I'm mostly cured now but it has been a hard road and I utterly sympathise with what you're going through - having lived with IBS for 11 years I know the misery that it causes.
At my worst I was 6 stone, terrified to put anything in my mouth for fear of more diorreah (sp?) and sickness completely miserable and a virtual recluse. Anxiety has and remains to be a cross I bear, BUT it can be turned around.
In my case I was prescribed a low dose of antidepressant tablets (which also in this particular med helps with a variety of other problems inc IBS and bed wetting) and loperamide. I continue to take them but the dose has been monitored and reduced as I have improved.
I am careful with what I eat - milk, spicy food, pastry are a few offenders that I avoid.
But, ultimately I have had to face my fears gradually. Some of the scenarios that you described I know exactly what you mean, its the trapped feeling, the quickening of the heart, the getting hot and then feeling your stomach drop and the feeling that you need to get to a loo or something very bad is going to happen. There is no easy answer to this, but I found planning ahead and having a contingency in my head ready meant that gradually I gained faith in my body back. For instance, if I was going to the Drs for example I would tell myself everything that could go wrong and then work backwards. If I was queing I knew that I could pretend there was a problem and go out for some fresh air. If you're going somewhere new phone ahead and enquire about the facilities - you don't need to be blatant, asking if there is baby changing or disabled facilities gives you a pretty good idea of what you can expect. Ultimately you need to work out what things in particular make you worse and then try and find ways to make them bearable.
I'm not 100%, I haven't been on a coach for years, the thought of being with a bunch of strangers and getting an attack "trapped" on a coach is still too much. As are lifts, again I couldn't bear to get trapped. In reality I know that it is a self fulfilling prophecy - I'd get in such a state that I'd do it to myself, but I've come so far I know that it will be achievable one day.
I must stress that this has worked for me, I stuck with the Dr however frustrating it can be, and this may be what worked for me, but might not be right for you.
IBS needs to be attacked on two fronts sometimes - food wise and also emotionally. I stick to a suitable diet, but I also keep an eye on myself in terms of stress - if I find my old habits creeping back I make myself do stuff anyway.
Please believe that it can get better, if you're not seeing your Dr make an appointment and tell them exactly how it is affecting you. I wrote it on paper and simply handed it over as I didn't trust my emotions not to overpower me. Look into all options until you find some relief, counselling, hypnotherapy, diets, medication etc etc. What is right for you may take some time to find, but as being someone that had no quality of life I can assure you that it is worth it in the end.
Please PM me any time
Y&R x

devonpaul

acidophilus plus cured mine .....2 billion lactic bacteria!

pudding_n_pie

Hi, first of all I want to say I completely 100% sympathise & understand what you are going through! Your symtoms sound the exact same to mine & I am at my wits end with it. I am 23 years old & have had this for just under 2 years.

I cannot remember when my ibs-d started, as I had always suffered constipation when I was in my teens and then 2 years ago *bang* I started getting diarreah attacks every morning. This made me very nervous about going to work & being in meetings (which in turn made me nervous & made the attacks worse) eventually I started making up excuses about why I couldnt attend meetings etc until my anxiety tunred to work in general & due to my increasing absence levels (due to not being able to get off the toilet in the mornings) my work colleagues started to tunr against me, branding me as lazy and a "skiver" (which, I understand as they didnt know what was really going on) ANYWAY, in the end I got signed off with stress as this is what my doctor blamed for causing my attacks. I resigned out of complete embarassment. I later started a small part-time job which is not stressful atall, and the people are really nice however I am still shaking with nerves before I go in to work, upset stomach THE FEAR OF HAVING AN ATTACK.

I wouldnt even consider getting on a bus, or get in a lift, I cant stand in queues, I have panic attacks in the doctors waiting room - I have even started shopping in a more expensive supermarket as they have a toilet! And what I would like to point out is that I very rarely have ibs attacks, but its the fear of them happening. Very recently my whole family turned against me as I wouldn't attend a relatives funeral incase I got an attack, and everyone thought it was ridiculous But I knew that the anxiety of it happening would cause it to happen. I dont go anywhere without imodium in my handbag, I have tried seeing a pyscologist but to be honest, I got so worked up about being shut in a room with her for an hour it aggravated the whole scenario.

I really am at my wits end over this, and sometimes wish myself dead which I know to some of you sounds completely irrational but it is causing me so much turmoil & my friends and family think I just dont want to socialise with them, as I am always turning down invitiations as I am scared of having an IBS attack in public. I thought I was alone with this. Thanks for sharing guys. x

(ps: I cut out wheat which helped, but didnt by any means "cure" & I take multiobionta friendly bacteria tablets and valerian root)

bella4uk

Wow pudding n pie...you've brought back some horrible memories as I started this thread in september 96....well the advice I got that things can improve is so true....I am now so much further up the road than I ever thought could happen.
I've always been a fighter and refuse to back down and every day just made myself take one step further. I will say to myself, yes you can go in that shop etc....if I need to leave to go to the loo so be it.
I'm by no means "cured" but I do now enjoy a shopping trip but I do have anxious days, especially if I haven't been out and about for a few days..
Just push yourself very slowly to face your demons and slowly you begin to feel less anxious.
It really is all about breaking the circle...but unfortunately there are some things I still cannot do.....my kids teachers must wonder if I care about their education as its pot luck as to how I feel that day when they want me to attend parents evenings....and school concerts are a no-no.....but I will do it one day!