IBS

[UnaCorda]

Does anyone have any good advice for managing IBS-D? I'm having almost daily attacks and am about to go somewhere potentially without toilets (marvellous!). No particular food seems to trigger it, just eating in general, or sometimes even just drinking. I take Loperamide but it doesn't help much.

Noone?

Longer term, get your diet checked out, FODMAP etc. Tests to rule out things like coeliac disease and IBD if you haven't already.

If I was off out for the day to a place with no loos, honestly, I'd get up early. Drink a load of water to get whatever is immediately there, moving. Pop two Imodium and not eat until I was home.

I find that carb free and some fresh fruit every day is helping me with bloating from IBS, and don’t go overboard with the fibre. Make sure you go to the gp though so you can rule out any inflammatory conditions as well.

Fellow sufferer here - you have my sympathies! I would take 2 Imodium the night before and then 2 more the next morning. And I wouldn't eat until I was safely near a loo again.

I'm going for fortnight...

I had awful Ibs for a period of about 3 months. Colofac sorted it in the end, though I do have iffy days

*a fortnight

Have had all the tests. Will check out Colofac - thanks.

Fellow IBS-D sufferer here. I get 36 Imodium Comfort Plus a month on prescription, I find works unlike normal Loperamide. It contains an added medicine called Simethicone, clinical studies have found Loperamide with Simethicone are more effective too.

I've also started taking probiotics, specifically the one called Lactobacillus.

Drink lots of water.

I find stress makes my attacks worse and too much wheat. I have to take an Imodium before having pizza for example. I also find if I'm out and about and realise I've no Imodium in my bag, I panic and it starts an attack! I have imodium in every bag whenever possible.

Good luck. I was so I'll last week, I went the loo 12 times in one day, my poor backside was on fire. (TMI, sorry!)

Also a for a dietician and / or gastro referral to rile out other things like being coeliac or having crohns.

Oh and @UnaCorda go to the Bladder and Bowel society to get a "can't wait" card that you can discreetly show in shops etc to see if you can use the loo.

You can also buy a radar key from them to unlock accessible toilets, which you're within your rights to use.

www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/just-cant-wait-card/

Have you tried cutting out dairy? This seems to help me a bit. Also fruit, dried fruit, nuts, lentils and beans seem to make things worse.

Windeze tablets help, I also have low dose amitriptyline from the GP for when things get really bad.

Good luck - IBS is rubbish 😢

Buscopan? Really helps me.. Although also the only eating small amounts of very safe foods while of and about and carrying lots of imodium as back up

You have my sympathy @UnaCorda as I also suffer

I can recommend taking Imodium one in the morning and one at night, don’t be afraid to use more if needed. Peppermint capsules to help with bloating and cramps.

Diet wise avoid carbs where possible and if carbs are a must stick to plain white bread, white rice. Limit veg intake: there is a great app called FODMAP A to Z which is great for telling you what’s safe to eat and what is not. Limit caffeine intake and alcohol and drink plenty of water and try to steer clear of fizzy drinks, these are a real trigger for me.

Keep everything as low stress as possible.

Things I’ve read about working but not tried myself yet are also taking daily Calcium Caltrate capsules which has a natural constipating effect. The other is to take a daily antihistamine like Benadryl which is good for calming any inflammation and so calms and inflamed or irritated bowel.

I hope this info help. Good luck on your trip.

Why on earth would you put yourself in the position of having no toilet when you know you have ibs?
Surely the stress will make it worse?

Have you tried cutting out dairy? I went vegan and incredibly my IBS disappeared along with horrible sinusitis! Wasn't expecting that. Might be worth a go if you haven't already.

You could look at low residue diet for the time you're away? It's pretty miserable but due to my bowel issues (adhesions caused by major surgery which had caused strictures so I get obstructed, opposite issue to you!) it means there's as little as poss moving through bowels and I pretty much live on bland, fibre free foods with relatively little fat. Otherwise speak to Dr about max dose of loperamide you can take? It's much higher than indicated on boxes of immodium.

I have ibs and I know my triggers now. When I know I'm going somewhere with no available toilet, e.g commuting, the park, or even queuing for a flight and take off - that's when its at its worst - I get the anxiety.
Anyway, for the last two weeks I've been doing the keto diet - which is basically no carb, or very low carb and I feel so much better already. No attacks yet.
I'm going to follow this thread with interest as every tip helps

My DH has always had a ‘nervous’ gut, but it has got slowly worse over the last few years. Then recently it was essential he had Imodium before we went out, and also Gaviscon as he had developed abdominal cramps. I suggested he try Kefir, and just days after starting with the drinks he was fine, no urgency or painful cramps, all fine. I am on a low carb diet and he has mostly been eating the same, with a few additions. But the change in DH now he has the Kefir is remarkable, he used to get anxious about situations where he might not be able to get to a toilet in time but now he is much more relaxed.

Honestly, I wouldn't be going somewhere with no toilet for two weeks! Where are you going??

I recently started intermittent fasting (fast 16 hours a day and only eat during 8). The difference it has made to my IBS is astonishing.

It’s odd, as the usual advice is to eat small meals often, and this is kind of the complete opposite. But I googled it and it turns out I’m not the only one who’s noticed a big improvement. For some, that 18 hrs of fasting is basically a mini-break for their digestion!

Also, big yes to the probiotics. Flaxseeds are also supposed to have a positive effect on IBS, so may be worth a try? And another yes to the Buscopan.

I have really chronic IBS-D, and I'm on Nortriptyline by prescription for it, but I still get diarrhea when I'm stressed and if I drink coffee. I have immodium on prescription and my gp is fine with me taking two the night before and then in the morning if I know something stressful is coming up, but I can't imagine doing that for a fortnight!

I'm going to West Africa. I won't literally be without a toilet for the whole fortnight, but apparently there will be periods where there isn't access to one.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

Well that's going to be fascinating! But I can see why you're stressed about it I hope it goes well for you!

@sar302 Thank you!