12 replies to this topic

[katiebabe]

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Hi guys,I'm just wondering how you all cope with eating meals out.Personally I just try to avoid it because everytime I do it, I over eat and end up in bed immediantly after finishing and I can't stand having to sit at the table when all I want to do is lay down as I'm so uncomfortable and bloated.Last night as I'm on holiday I decided to eat out- my meal was gorgeous but soon after it felt like someone was punching me in the tummy. Its not usually that bad anymore.I take peppermind tablets before every meal and occasionally antispasmodics, but I don't find they give me any relief.Then for the rest of the night I feel like I can't move and keep doing sick burps.Let me know your situationsKate x

[Korga]

What I do is fill up on safe food before I go out. Then I can order just a salad with lemon juice or plain chicken.

[IBSOMG]

Well, for me being 20 and everything eating out is a big part of my so called social life. What I do is once my friends and I have decided on a restaurant, I google the restaurants menu. So I can hopefully find something on the menu that is safe for me or figure out ways to tweak the dish (i.e. asking for substitutions, or different cooking preparations) Looking at the menu in advance also helps me feel less pressure when I'm at the restaurant with my friends and we're all ordering. Looking at the menu in advance also helps me to not make any impulsive food decision that I'll regret later (had to learn that lesson the hard way)As for overeating, since a lot of dishes at restaurants are massively proportioned anyway, I always ask the waitress for a carryout box when she brings our food out so I can put half of in the carryout box to take home for later. Also if I'm not able to look at the menu in advance I'll usually bring safe food with me and stash it in my purse and just sip on water at the restaurant if worst come to worst. Try to relax and just enjoy the company you have with you cause just being around my friends takes my mind of my stomach and sometimes that company works wonders. Good Luckp.s hope this helps

[BQ]

Take imodium before the meal with an anti-gas.Do not be shy in the restaurant. Ask for things like sauces and gravies to be "on the side" so you can add a small amount if you wish. (These are usually heavy in fat so the less.. the better). Ask how things will be prepared... if it is fried in butter for instance.... I would choose something else... more lighter fare.Ask if you can substitute things: like: fries for cole slaw or a salad.ALWAYS look at the menu.And Always only eat half.

[katiebabe]

Korga- thanks.Ibsomg-thankyou for your sound advice, much appreciated :-) Bq- thankyou. I'm milk and egg free so I stay off diary. Luckily I don't have an issue with diareha. I wish I cud see a pattern as to what makes me worse so I could avoid those foods.I do take antigas tablets before all my meals.The eating half only a find very difficult when they put the food infront of you, this is need to learn how to do.K xx

[katiebabe]

Ps- how do you not worry when food does such things to your bowels?Tonight I'm sat- stomachs rock hard- bloated- full of gas, my whole tummy feels swollen inside. Things always subside through the night but many evenings like this one are so uncomfortable and worrying. How can ur bowels swelling and becoming this irritated not be harmful?I didn't even eat out tonight all I had one a sausage bun, a soya yogurt and a few biscuits. X

[nigol]

I have IBS as worse as everyone else but I never linked food with the problem. Throughtout the years, I ate all kinds of stuff at restaurants and it had no bearing on the symptoms. I mean I loved tacco bell stuff, didnt get bloating at all, but simple foods like cheese can make me really gassy all of a sudden. It just depends. Maybe its psychological?

[BQ]

Ps- how do you not worry when food does such things to your bowels?

First off food doesn't cause all symptoms.Secondly.....Because there is nothing to worry about. It is part of IBS. And fortunately IBS is nothing to worry about. (You DO seem to be having trouble accepting your diagnosis. There is no reason to suffer with this anxiety. And it only makes your pain worse! Perhaps you can talk to your Dr or a mental health professional about it.)

How can ur bowels swelling and becoming this irritated not be harmful?

As we have mentioned before, IBS can be VERY painful. And yet.. it isn't at all harmful.

[jadjac]

I stopped eating out; we bring our food home to eat at our table. If I am going out with friends, I just order dessert and water; for some reason, desserts don't irritate me as much as a meal.

[kaminari]

I make sure I went to the bathroom a LOT before I go. Eating out in itself isn't so bad as max I'd be there 2 hours and afterwards I could go to the bathroom all I like. If it's an all night affair that's a whole nother story.The less stool in your colon at the time of the meal, the better you'll feel after the meal.Imodium a few hours before the meal (so you give it time to affect your bowels) doesn't hurt either.

[katiebabe]

Bq- I have accepted it, I just can't get my head around my insides still being as sore as they get, I would be more accepting if I knew why if I'd eaten things I began to realise I couldn't eat- but I have no pattern with food. I just want to help myself more and educate myself so its as least uncomfortable as posible.I'm ok during the day,I keep myself as busy as possible- its always on an evening after my tea.Nigol- I have seen a phychologigal doctor and he assesed me and said there was nothing going on,he wasn't any help! I've also seen a congnitive behavioural therapist and as lovely as she was she couldn't help me as again she said my problem wasn't mental but physical.Jadac and kaminari thanks for ur responses :-)

[Lookin'foraLife]

The one restaurant I know I'm "safe" in is a SUSHI restaurant.Just order vegetarian sushi (for instance with avocado filling)and it's very easy on the stomach.

[BQ]

I have accepted it, I just can't get my head around my insides still being as sore as they get

Like I said.... IBS can be very painful. Maybe if you accpet that you will feel better??

but I have no pattern with food

Many of us do not have food triggers. You are not alone. ???? This is IBS.. just the way it is for many of us.

I just want to help myself more and educate myself so its as least uncomfortable as posible.

I would think you would want to be MORE comfortable.. not as UNcomfortable as possible???Have you read any of the info under the "Manage" tab up above us here in the dark blue menu bar???Educate yourself by reading all of the info available here on the various forums and up in the menu bar. Look at info from the IFFGD:http://www.iffgd.org/ (Especially use their Library etc.....)Have you read this?:http://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/files/educational-gi-brochures/IBS.pdfTHE UNC is another wonderful place to educate oneself about IBS.