Due to travel, poorly but determined to go.

[HumerousHumous]

Didn’t put this in health but rather chat for a bit of traffic.

Flying out for a few days on Tuesday (European city) with adult DS. I have ibs which presents as nausea (main symptom), abdominal pain, headache, fatigue. Recent attack started about 4 weeks ago and I have had days when fine and then not. The closer I get to my break the worse it is getting and yesterday and today floored me. I think likely some of the symptoms are psychosomatic. Not used to going away and very much of a home person so out of my comfort zone a bit. I’m determined to go as don’t want to disappoint DS and even if I have to hole up in my hotel room for a bit thats better than cancelling then feeling better the next day and wishing I had made the trip, a worse scenario for me when I could actually have gone.

I need a bit of MN encouragement please if anybody can offer me some or useful words of advice if you get anxious, or have IBS (I’m eating little and sticking to plain food). Thanks.

Anyone?

I think that you know going is better than not going is what you need to keep telling yourself and that if it is psychosomatic that once you're there you and your DS are going to have a fab holiday. I'm very like you and stress goes right to my stomach but once I'm on the road I feel much better!

Do you have anything you can take for anxiety? Something like albos oil?

It will be amazing, sometimes the thought of going is so much worse than the reality x

I have IBS and I always have a flare up when we go away even though I don't feel anxious, subconsciously I must be. I have anti sickness tablets and Imodium from the doctor as my reassurance, travel with a hot water bottle on my tummy in the car (I also take it with me to hotels wherever we go as it's great when my tum hurts and relaxes me to have it). Like someone else said, when you get there you will have a great time and you will probably find once you leave the house and are actually doing it, everything eases and feels better.

Hi, longtime traveller with ibs here

Antihistamine helps with the nausea. Buscopan helps with the cramps.

Keep liquids up.

Go to the loo at every opportunity in the airport/plane.

I don't have your health problems and I do sympathise but I do have anxiety before going anywhere and end up feeling why did I bother.

But I do it anyway (feel the fear and do it anyway!) and have gone on to having hols on my own.

Currently, awaiting a holiday with my son and so anxious about it but feel I must at least try and do it anyway. Who knows, it might be fun?!? But I get what you mean, sometimes it's a massive stress and I wonder why I bother. Really don't think I will be doing it again! If only Scotland wasn't so overcrowded with tourists in the summer, I would go there!

This is what I'm thinking but also stressing a bit about what if I just feel too ill when I get up on Tuesday. But I'm going to push through.

I have bought a set of pulse point stress and anxiety oils. Not convinced by them but am going to persist. Thank you.

Thank you. I have packed my hot water bottle!

I'm curious about the antihistamine. Is this good for nausea? I didn't know that. Any recommendation or which brand? Thank you.

Terribletwos. Yes what I said to DH earlier. Not sure I want to do holidays again as I just nearly always feel terrible before.

(Sorry just realised how annoying to quote in response to the posts)

@HumerousHumous

Any brand is fine.

The travel sickness pills they sell (used to sell?) were just antihistamines.

Just sending some solidarity as I also get anxious when going away and also prone to anxiety related digestion issues. I find lots of fibre and peppermint oil help but everyone is different. I'm normally ok once we've left the house as then I know I can't do anything else about it.

Thanks Dana. I honestly don't know whether to eat or not. I'm hungry but want to starve the issue into submission. Nausea is the worst bit. If I could get rid of that I'd be much more positive. Will take another peppermint capsule even though says one a day!

Kwells are great and you get a nice sleep feeling.

I find it helps to make up my mind that I will be going, however bad I feel - reduces the stress of the unknown a bit.
I get a lot of nausea with my IBS and find heartburn meds help eg omeprozole (takes a couple of days to work fully).
Before the trip, prioritize doing things you enjoy and find absorbing and relaxing (as much as you can) eg seeing friends, hobbies, getting out in nature.
For me, not eating is actually just as bad as eating too much/rich things (think empty stomach gives me excess acid and makes nausea worse). I would try not to skip meals, eat regularly and make sure you are having enough food as under-eating always makes me feel awful in general.
For the future, you could discuss beta blockers with doctor. I was prescribed them for anxiety and fast heart rate but a side effect is that my IBS has improved a lot!

Thank you Redsquirrelroar (love your username!).

Yes I'm going definitely because sods law that I don't and a few hours I feel better. It's just so much worse in the morning. Have made decision to get an Uber to airport instead of bus to help with the early morning so not stressful. I'm on omeprazole but didn't take today's pill this morning for some reason. Have taken this evening now.

I think I'm also going to ask for beta blockers before my summer trip and also thinking of hypnotherapy too.

I'm flying Tuesday and have tasks to do ie getting my DF shopping as I'm his carer and DB stepping into the role so that will keep me distracted. Go for a walk.

The nausea bit of ibs is just the pits though. Feel so sick. I'm going to try some Gaviscon I think. And get some Kalms I think a PP suggested but I don't think any pharmacies are open tomorrow.

Thank you. All the suggestions are helping me so much. Appreciated.

• Kwells! Not Kalms!

I drink peppermint tea which really helps. I always take it on holiday. And always take some smints in my handbag as I find the sucking on them helps me relax and focus on something else.

Mine is much worse in mornings too - definitely linked to anxiety - so I sympathise there. People always talk about lying awake at night but my anxiety likes to hit me like a freight train early in the morning! Taking a beta blocker as soon as I wake up (as well as reducing stress in my life) has helped me a lot.
Be careful if you’re taking sugar-free gaviscon/rennie’s etc by the way - some contain sweeteners like sorbitol that can actually give you diarrhoea/stomach cramps (learned this the hard way!).

Have you looked into downloading a public toilet app for where you're going?

It helps relieve some if the stress if you know where places are.

Another thing my mum does is carry an emergency bag with wipes and stuff. It helps her to know where toilets are even though she hates using them.

I suffer in a similar way and am definitely in the fast before a trip camp, I won’t eat 12 hours before a flight, subsist on smart water and lucozade sport for a bit of energy. Not ideal but it gets me through!

Nausea isn't normally a big feature of my IBS so I don't know whether peppermint oil helps with that but sounds like you've had some other good suggestions. I hope you can enjoy your trip.

I made it and I've I'd got on the plane I was fine. It must be travelling - or the thought of it, that sets me off!

So glad for the support and advice. Thank you.

Yay well done! Hope your trip goes well :)