IBS Drama queen

[sarahsbeans]

Keeping it short, but I go on holiday in a few days. I suffer with severe anxiety which causes IBS and I need to be near the loo. It got that bad last year I didn't eat for 24 hours before the flight and by the time I'd landed I'd gone 30 hours not eating.

This isn't a problem whilst I'm away but I get so worked up whilst at the airport/on the plane it causes massive anxiety. My DP thinks I'm over reacting and can't get his head around my stress and even I can't control it or say exactly why I feel the way I do but this makes me more anxious that I'm having to try and keep my cool.

AIBU to think this is normal or should I see my gp before I fly?

Agree, talk to your GP but perhaps with more emphasis on the anxiety.

Shame your DH is not more understanding. Nothing better than an understanding, patient partner to bring down your anxiety.

Sorry for the TMI but it has a very odd side effect of making bowel movements smell like peppermint

This sounds like a good thing tbh, peppermint poohs would help alleviate stress around making the toilet whiffy

MusicForTheJiltedGeneration fair point! It did give me a fright the first time though

I've noticed that supermarkets have mostly stopped doing their own brand loperamide now. Unless you want to pay through the nose for the branded stuff, only Boots and Home Bargains do 6 tablets for less than a pound.

When you say you don't have an IBS diagnosis, have you actually had any investigations for your symptoms?

As you've had your gall bladder out, it may actually be bile acid malabsorption. That can be treated with a bile acid sequestrant.

IBS is still mainly a diagnosis of exclusion, and lots of other conditions prevent with similar symptoms, so it really is worth seeking an official diagnosis to rule out anything else.

I have bowel cancer. I'm not suggesting you have that, but I can understand the symptoms! I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday

Even if you don't want long term medication, would you consider anxiety medication just for the holiday?

Buscopan should help the cramps. Or mebeverine. I'd take some before they start rather than waiting.

I am not an overly anxious person, but shit through the eye of a needle when stressed. I had continuous diarrhoea for weeks after my brother died. I feel for you, but unfortunately can't make any useful suggestions!

Thatsnotwaynesbasement considering the Ops level of anxiety I hardly think my suggestion of wearing tena lady was a poor one. It's literally a pair of pants. Surely something that reduces the anxiety without medicating is worth trying. For what it's worth I never 'used' them but felt calmer knowing if I were to have an accident it wouldn't be as bad but each to their own!

I'm so glad OP. Sounds like a plan. And please don't think taking pills means that's it for life. I had pills but then had CBT. Made changes and came SLOWLY off the pills. Good luck.

Anti-anxiety meds should sort it out. My sister gets prescribed diazepam when she flies.

@WhatWould

"As you've had your gall bladder out, it may actually be bile acid malabsorption. That can be treated with a bile acid sequestrant"

Interesting information, thank you I'll look into that as I've also had my gallbladder removed.

Music there's some information about it here

I had treatment for it after surgery for bowel cancer :)

OP I am the EXACT same, it's weirdly great to hear that there are others! I just don't go away anymore, I've had that many disaster abroad I just can't handle it anymore. My anxiety got so much worse and in turn, so did the IBS. Propanol hydrochloride physically stops your body from being able to panic but without any of the addictive/side effect issues that other anti anxiety stuff has. And immodium.
I'll fuckin take anything that modern medicine has to offer, no shame whatsoever in taking tablets. If anyone has anything sneery to say to you, shit on them.

CBT has helped hugely.

Another vote for CBT / diazepam.

Oh god i have exactly the same thing! I need to know the location of toilets on all journeys pretty much and feel like am keeping the makers of immodium in business- its really not just you! Am actually also glad its not just me x

Definitely see GP. It won't be wasting their time - you have a physical medical problem which is seriously affecting your life; whether the cause is physical, or psychological, or a combination of the two, figuring out what it is, what causes it and how best to treat it is literally what a doctor is for. It will be worth it, and you are worth it.

How do you know I don't know or understand OP? I could very easily be a former sufferer, or relative, or a GP, or a CBT practitioner, or a psychologist or counsellor. You have no idea what I do or do not know about your condition. And yes in your OP you do sound extremely anxious.

Im just pointing out that if you treat the source of the problem (the anxiety) then the symptoms (physical) will likely reduce. You need to break this vicious cycle and ADs are often very helpful.
And yes I am a delight too, absolutely. As are you I'm sure.

There's still a lot of stigma attached to mental health and to using antidepressants or similar medication. It is so sad if that is what is stopping you taking them.

It's not really as simple as mental or physical. It is causing you physical symptoms (potentially - you really do need to be checked to eliminate other causes). And the physical symptoms exacerbate the mental ones. It's a vicious cycle, and medication may help you to break it.

I'm dependent on a whole variety of medication to manage my condition. Chemo drugs, antibiotics, antivirals and so on. But there's no shame attached to taking medication for a physical illness.

I take propranolol for anxiety as Fleshy mentioned. It controls the physical anxiety response. I don't think I need it anymore, but it is relatively harmless and may have anticancer benefits, so I'm sticking with it. It won't eliminate the problematic thoughts, but I found it gave me the space to deal with those thoughts without the blood pounding my head and feeling like I would explode.

I HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE.

Honestly I thought I was alone, I am sorry so many of you suffer with this, but at the same time I'm glad I'm not on my own.

I have had this 'toilet anxiety' for about 15 years. It's starts off by needing a wee as soon as I realise there's no toilet, or if I'm stuck somewhere, then if I can't get to a loo I end up having a full blown panic attack which then triggers the IBS! Awful.

Travelling is horrendous for me, but with the help of Anti Depressants, diazepam and therapy it is getting better.

it's ridiculous to rely on drugs like Imodium but refuse to consider drugs to help the cause of your problems,anxiety. Long term Imodium use can't be good for you, it's designed as a short term thing. Whereas ADs are longer term.

I have anxiety and depression and will probably be on ADs for the rest of my life (been on then a decade now). It's no different to my asthma inhalers. They keep me alive and functioning.

Yes use Imodium in the short term but you really need to address the root cause which is your anxiety. With tablets, CHT, counselling or a combination.

Another one here - same symptoms and the same treatment path as Dothefandango . I found a hypnotherapist through www.hypnotherapists.org.uk who specialises in hypnotherapy with CBT combined and it really helped massively.

As I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder, I've been on ADs for 8 years - I see it as being the same as taking insulin for diabetes. My psychologist and GP agree there's no problem with taking them indefinitely because they give me such a better quality of life.

You may have tried this already but cut out caffeine, smoking and alcohol completely. It's hard but they're all stimulants that can also trigger anxiety & bowel problems, I'm much better being off them!

I have long term Imodium - loperamide - on repeat prescription over several years. Recently checked with another doctor who said this was fine. So unless there is a Doctor on here who would like to contradict this professionally given, then the several stop Imodium posts are not helpful.

IBS sufferers, please look into Bile Acid Malabsorption, particularly if you have had your gall bladder out. It can be definitely diagnosed and treated. It can kick in when you haven't eaten anything at all, and can co-exist with IBS.

The comments on Bile Acid Malabsorption are interesting and thinking about it my symptoms started after I had my gall bladder out years ago. Admittedly my anxiety had started only fairly recently (12 months) so this must add to the issue. I do worry that constantly having an upset stomach every day will cause much serious issues later on in life. Cannot be good for me.

Im going to look into hypnotherapy once back from holiday but in the meantime will try some of the Bach herbal remedy pre flight. I'll also have imodium to hand because I know it works instantly and will lessen my anxiety. That will have to do for now as a short term fix.

I can't get an appointment with my GP for three weeks so that side if things will have to wait until after the holiday.

I never thought so many others were suffering with this but I suppose it's not really a conversation you generally have with friends/family.

I appreciate all of your feedback. It's definately made me feel better and I hope other sufferers gave found the advice helpful too.

Toys I too have a long term prescription for loperamide, but there's a difference between having it prescribed for a diagnosed medical condition and just taking it over the counter. Obviously the OP is only using it as a short term solution and it sounds like the best option for her, but if she hasn't actually been diagnosed with IBS then she may have a different condition entirely and loperamide may not be the most suitable treatment for her in the long term.

OP good luck with your flights and I hope your GP is able to help on your return please do ask about the bile acid malabsorption. It's quite easily treated, and is often mistaken for IBS.

Another IBS sufferer here, though I've been nearly cured by hypnotherapy. I barely think about it anymore, whereas it was at one point ruling my life. I used a series of CDs by a guy called Michael Mahoney, from Manchester I think? He's well-known as an expert in that field I believe. It was a 100 day course, and you just listen to the relevant bit each day as per the included schedule.