[ANGEL-ROSE2012]

Hi All,

I just wanted some advise really I am new to this - I would appreciate to hear any views, to find out if others think that stress and anxiety make IBS worse, as currently Im feeling like its a viscous circle......I am anxious because of IBS yet my anxiety brings on my IBS

I notice its (IBS) worse for me in the mornings of work (I do get nervous for work and think I have a very nervous stomach), I'm not so bad when Im off work or weekends - On work mornings Im stressed and I rush around, even though I get up plenty of time for work, I feel my stomach moving and bloating and gurgling when I get stuck in traffic and thats when I know its going to be a bad morning - I work in a very quiet office (I think this makes it worse) as I am most paranoid of my stomach gurgling and people hearing (You know the noise its not a 'im hungry gurgle') its the wind noise in your stomach sometimes I can even feel it move my actual stomach like as if there is a huge bubble in there I also HATE MEETINGS! and quiet rooms etc, when I know I have a meeting I start to panic and it makes me feel like I need to empty my bowels etc even though I always go twice before work.......
So on the days my stomach is noisy It makes me anxious and I feel like I need the loo and I go - which I hate at work, I am quite shy and embarrassed by that kind of stuff and I think this is why this has come as a bit of a shock to me and possibly the people I work with and commenting when other people have been to the toilet DOESN'T help, normally I can take imodium and Im fine, I do think they work and my doctor said they are perfectly fine to take I just worry if I take them too often can I become imune or can they do anything bad to you? I also was prescribed mebeverine from the doctor and they do take away the cramps some times but they dont really give me peace of mind like Imodium does - Yes I sound a bit mad I dont mean to, I do have IBS but I think a lot of mine is Psychological and has more to do with stress and anxiety.

Basically my questions are as follows:

Are imodium safe to take?
Is then any good herbal remidies or medications that can control the noisy and gurgly stomach? Is there a particualr breakfast that may help?
Do other people believe that stress and axiety can make IBS worse and that it can become a viscious circle?
Has anyone take Mebeverine and what did they think?
Does anyone know the main foods that make it worse and make it better?
I know this is a IBS forum website but does anyone know of anything that works for ANXIETY? Ive just bought some St Johns wort but havent tried it yet.


I really look forward to hearing from you , as Im new to this and its been really getting me down, I have developed a real paranoia at work and I constantly think about using the toilet in the morning - I have normally calmed down after lunch and I think less about it, I still can get a bloated stomach and pains but its that actual needing to use the toilet at work that fills me with dread ( I KNOW ITS NORMAL but not when you work with a lot of prudey women)

Thanks
Angel-Rose

[sickandtiredofit]

ANGEL-ROSE2012, on 11 January 2012 - 03:50 PM, said:

Hi All,

I just wanted some advise really I am new to this - I would appreciate to hear any views, to find out if others think that stress and anxiety make IBS worse, as currently Im feeling like its a viscous circle......I am anxious because of IBS yet my anxiety brings on my IBS

I notice its (IBS) worse for me in the mornings of work (I do get nervous for work and think I have a very nervous stomach), I'm not so bad when Im off work or weekends - On work mornings Im stressed and I rush around, even though I get up plenty of time for work, I feel my stomach moving and bloating and gurgling when I get stuck in traffic and thats when I know its going to be a bad morning - I work in a very quiet office (I think this makes it worse) as I am most paranoid of my stomach gurgling and people hearing (You know the noise its not a 'im hungry gurgle') its the wind noise in your stomach sometimes I can even feel it move my actual stomach like as if there is a huge bubble in there I also HATE MEETINGS! and quiet rooms etc, when I know I have a meeting I start to panic and it makes me feel like I need to empty my bowels etc even though I always go twice before work.......
So on the days my stomach is noisy It makes me anxious and I feel like I need the loo and I go - which I hate at work, I am quite shy and embarrassed by that kind of stuff and I think this is why this has come as a bit of a shock to me and possibly the people I work with and commenting when other people have been to the toilet DOESN'T help, normally I can take imodium and Im fine, I do think they work and my doctor said they are perfectly fine to take I just worry if I take them too often can I become imune or can they do anything bad to you? I also was prescribed mebeverine from the doctor and they do take away the cramps some times but they dont really give me peace of mind like Imodium does - Yes I sound a bit mad I dont mean to, I do have IBS but I think a lot of mine is Psychological and has more to do with stress and anxiety.

Basically my questions are as follows:

Are imodium safe to take?
Is then any good herbal remidies or medications that can control the noisy and gurgly stomach? Is there a particualr breakfast that may help?
Do other people believe that stress and axiety can make IBS worse and that it can become a viscious circle?
Has anyone take Mebeverine and what did they think?
Does anyone know the main foods that make it worse and make it better?
I know this is a IBS forum website but does anyone know of anything that works for ANXIETY? Ive just bought some St Johns wort but havent tried it yet.


I really look forward to hearing from you , as Im new to this and its been really getting me down, I have developed a real paranoia at work and I constantly think about using the toilet in the morning - I have normally calmed down after lunch and I think less about it, I still can get a bloated stomach and pains but its that actual needing to use the toilet at work that fills me with dread ( I KNOW ITS NORMAL but not when you work with a lot of prudey women)

Thanks
Angel-Rose

[sickandtiredofit]

I know what you mean about work. My previous boss was really nice. She knew I had issues and that I wasn't avoiding work or goofing off when I spent time in the bathroom. My new boss is awful. He is constantly on me about bathrooms breaks and attendance. I have FMLA paperwork filled out by my doctor about bathroom breaks. But now when I know I am going to have a bad day I don't even go to work because I can't handle the stress. I have been looking for a better job, but as you know it is tough to find one, especially when you have all the issues that come with IBS. I definitely think my IBS is because of stress. About the Immodium, my husband has Crohn's disease and his doctor told him it was safe to use. He has now had his colon removed but before he would take 8 or more a day to keep the Crohn's from acting up while he worked. My problem is that since mine is alternating d & c, if I take Immodium I can get the d side and that isn't any better. I feel like I am on a roller coaster. I have tried different anti anxiety medicines, Xanas was the best but I feel like I'm in a fog and forget about doing anything productive. Everything else has been about the same. Sorry I don't have any information on any herbal remedies. As far as food, I try not to eat until I am home. One thing that has helped me is finding a therapist that gets what is is like to have bathroom issues, she has ulcerative colitis. Most people don't understand what it is like. I think that for me it is the embarrassment of having to go to the bathroom so many times and feeling like your coworkers think you are weird or whatever. I finally broke down and told the woman next to me what was going on and she was awesome. Do you have anyone at work that you are friends with? Sometimes it helps to have someone to at least understand what is going on. I hope it helps you. Good luck! I will pray for you.

[Cassie90]

Hi Angel-Rose. I'm not an expert, but most of my IBS stems from anxiety, so maybe I can help.


Imodium is safe to take. I've never heard of someone becoming immune to it (although anything is possible), but can you develop a dependency for it. I try to use it sparingly and only in the worst anxiety periods, but sometimes you just HAVE to take it daily. I can understand that, but don't have a solution. Make sure you get the Gas +Bloating Imodium Plus - it might help with the stomach gurgling. Also try taking an antispasmodic, as that might help, too.

Herbal remedies have never worked for me, but the commonly suggested ones are Peppermint tea and green tea (which can also suppress your appetite, and helps in stressful situations when you know eating will cause an attack/gurgles). Also, try eating something really plain for breakfast, like dry toast. Bring light snacks with you (nothing oily, sugary, heavy, dairy or seed-y) and re-introduce foods into your system throughout the day. I find it works best to keep it really plain and really light during work hours - fruit, crackers, bread, water. Stop bringing in last night's dinner or a peanut butter sandwich, as sometimes the things you can eat during low-stress night periods you can't eat during high-stress day periods. Avoid caffeine if you can, especially in the mornings.

Anxiety can DEFINITELY make IBS worse. Without a doubt. And sometimes you don't even recognize that you're stressed until you leave the situation you're in. For me, IBS-anxiety attacks are extreme cramping and bloating with no diarrhea (whereas I have IBS-D food-wise, if that makes any sense), which means zero relief until I leave the stressful situation. And then I become worried that if I go back into the situation (a classroom, test, etc), I'll have another IBS-anxiety attack, and then I DO get an attack, and thus a vicious circle begins.

Things that help with anxiety: You can go to a doctor and get anxiety medication, if you feel it's that bad. I'm not on any medication, so some things I do:
a) I do everything I have to do the night before. I choose what I'll wear the next day, what I'll eat for breakfast, pack my bag, shower, etc. I leave ZERO decision-making for the next morning. I get up, get dressed, eat, brush my teeth and go.
I stick to water and crackers in the morning, as least until I get to where I want to go. I find a lot of my IBS-anxiety is anticipatory, and once I get there, there's a 75% chance I'll be okay.
c) If I feel an attack coming on (usually a slow-but-steadily-rising-in-intensity pain), I breathe slowly and deeply, in through my nose and out through my mouth. When I release my breath, I imagine I'm breathing out the painful area, if that makes any sense. It can't stop a full attack, but it can help if I catch it early enough.
d) If I can't stop the attack, I get up and take a walk. At work, I'll pretend I'm going to check on a file, or to the vending machine to buy some water. Getting up and walking around can help, sometimes. Especially if you can get some fresh air.
^ However, those only help with anxiety-related attacks. If nothing else works, Imodium is my last-ditch option. I also try to distract myself, by throwing myself into organizing my desk, or drinking water, or starting up a conversation with someone. Anything to get my mind off of the stress.

Foods: There's a FODMAP diet you can follow for IBS, but it differs slightly for everyone. My general rule is: no alcohol, no dairy, no seeds, nothing oily/greasy, no olive oil. You can add and omit things as you go. When having an anxiety-related IBS attack, stick to very, very plain foods: white bread, unsalted soda crackers, plain rice, water, potatoes, broth. Avoid eating big meals.

I hope that helps! IBS is really different for everyone, and you might have to slowly find your own way - what foods you can/can't eat, things that help you in stressful situations, etc.

[iamkinghenry]

Hi, sorry to hear about your troubles. It's very difficult to deal with gastrointestinal problems. Please make sure you get all the tests you can possible get done to rule out this being something that is treatable. I was diagnosed with IBS and 2 1/2 years later finally got tested for a parasite and have Giardia Lambia.

Read my story for more info.
http://www.ibsgroup....tinal-problems/

I hope you get better.

[guillaume]

There definitely is a link between IBS symptoms and anxiety, I think every IBS sufferer noticed it. I have for sure.
Against anxiety, some suggest relaxation, but I never was able to get good results thanks to it. Or you could try hypnotherapy.
Concerning the main foods that make IBS worse, everyone is a bit different, but we very often react to gluten, lactose, fructose, lentils, beans. If you are ready to go on a restrictive diet, I suggest a low-carb diet, or a low-FODMAPs diet. There is plenty of info about them on this forum.