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?

I have IBS too and unfortunately used to rely on Imodium, I know I shouldn't but it's what I needed in order to get on with my life.

My DH recently went to the GP about some stomach pains he was having - he was treated for acute appendicitis and was prescribed Colpermin IBS Relief. He took about 4 before he was feeling better so I snatched the rest of the box and they're bloody amazing. Not only do they sort out your bowel movements but they deal with the bloat and the cramps and they're peppermint extract so that naturally calms me down anyway - might help with the anxiety side of things.

I'd suggest going to your gp and asking for a prescription of this - I tried with mine years ago only to be told "IBS doesn't exist, it's something people made up to tell themselves they weren't dealing with something more serious" honestly. Guy was a prat.

My hubby found it hard to understand my IBS until one flare up was so bad I'd been to the toilet 5 times in half an hour whilst we were out shopping, I was bent double in pain and he finally realised how bad it was for me.

Doesn't stop me taking the mick out of him for having a "panic poo" the minute we are due to leave the house though

This used to be me, and two things helped. First, as a pp said, I saw a consultant and was diagnosed with Bile salt acid malabsorption. I took colestyramine which helped immensely.

Then I tried the 5:2 way of eating where you only eat 500 calories on 2 days of the week. There are some excellent threads here on the weight loss forum. This has fixed my problems completely. I follow this way of eating all the time, and no longer have to take any medication. It has been life changing, so I highly recommend it.

Urgh, I hate IBS. When my IBS D is very bad, co codamol helps. It's slows everything down and causes constipation. You can only take this for a very short amount of time and it's obviously not good for you. As yours is fuelled by stress/anxiety, I would perhaps look into treating that, in the hopes that the IBS then clears up as a result.