emergency, need help

A quick fix for not having any D this weekend is to NOT drink. Like Lisa said, you won't let IBS rule your life but you are letting alcohol. There is nothing wrong with appreciating beer, or any other alcohol for that matter. The key is moderation...I REALLY like wine, but I get bad D when I drink it. So, I think I drink it once every two months or so; ONE GLASS.I'm not that much older than you, and I remember the importance of alcohol in social activities. (I lived in residence at university for 2 years....THAT was a lot of alcohol, and a lot of focus on it). I have to also say this....if you really like this guy he is NOT going to be impressed with you getting drunk all the time. No guy wants to have his girl known as the lush; or have to worry if she will pass out or do anything stupid while drinking. Or if anything will happen to her. If you are implying that you will be sleeping with him this weekend, wouldn't you rather be sober for that? Statistics show that people our age are less apt to use birth control (esp condoms) properly when inebriated.I know this sounds like a lecture...maybe it is in a way. You sound like an intelligent person; why let alcohol rule your life, or let it interfere with the potential for happiness with this guy? (oh...and the best guy to have is the one you can tell you have IBS and he wants to learn about it and will stand by you, no matter how bad it gets)

i'm 23 and not much of a drinker myself.. i'll skip my 'lecture' lol and just say, most people will understand if you say that the alcohol makes you sick! if they dont..screw em i mean, why should you have to drink to have fun with other people only to get sick the next day?!

Hi! I don't think immodium will help you the night before. If your ibs is like mine, it will be at its worst after drinking regardless of what precautions you take. Yeah I used to like drinking too. I did it often when I was a little younger (age 16-19). Then it became less frequent. I would rarely drink, but when I did, I would get drunk. I learned my lesson two and a half years ago(age 25). I got drunk the night before my sister's wedding (in which I was singing). The next morning my ibs was awful. It was so bad I almost missed the wedding and couldn't really get my daughter fixed up like she was supposed to be (she was the flower girl). I finally made it but was sick all day and wasn't really the best I could be. In short, I could have really ruined my sister's wedding. I made a choice then and there. I have not had a drink since. I have not wanted a drink since. You have to make a decision too. Which would be more embarrassing? Not drinking with your friends or having stomach cramps and diarrhea all morning? Keep in mind that this is obviously someone you'd like to impress. If it were me, I would probably have a few drinks early in the night and space them out. Do not get drunk and chances are your ibs may be controllable with the immodium. If you get drunk all bets are off. You do not have to be drunk to be likeable and guys generally do not find diarrhea and smelly bathrooms to be sexy. If you are old enough to drink you are old enough to control yourself and use moderation. There is nothing wrong with social drinking. It can still be fun without getting smashed. Heck who knows...he might like you better that way. It's all about self control and prioritizing. What is more important to you?I Hope I have not come across as hateful. I am just speaking from experience. i wish you luck. s n t

Well I hate to say it but am struggling a biut with this myself. I am a big drinker, or at least was until about a week ago. Its a huge culture in my family, we get together eat and drink alot (yes, great for the ibs) well thats what we have done, for years. And then my freinds, exactly the same, some drink excessively, other like wine with dinner. I love wine, beer, it complements food, and yes, I admit it, I use it when I am feeling bad. I recognized this and tried to determine whether I wanted a drink or I was emotional. Well, I hate to say it, but what has stopped me, is that after having D for everyday for well over a month, with fatgue and depression, I was willing to stop everything in order to not to have D. Now I fight the urge and only have half a glass or a glass occassionally. But mostly none, so at some point you'll have enough too, and take charge, however, until then... take immodium, pace your drinking, drink water or something else between each drink, it will slow you down and moderate you. You dont want this guy to think your a big boozer anyway, big turn off, and you'll look foolish. Trust me, Ive seen my friends do it. Also, take stuff with you, just in case, matches, a little perfume, maybe some ozuim spray for odors, toilet paper, or a little thing of kleenex (we all now college age boy arent exactly good with toilet paper (lol) -- if an attack happens, claim your putting on your make-up, getting ready in the morning etc, need privacy, this will buy you some time. Your other option, dont stay over until you can openly and honestly tell this person that you have IBS and he will understand. Perhaps this is also a better route.Best of luck. And although it will make you mad, consider that you are not like other people your age-you cannot drink like they all do. think about it. thats all I'd ask, put your health first, you can still have fun, and you;; probably feel better too.CB[This message has been edited by CBwithD (edited 11-02-2000).]

Man, you're braver than I could be!! I find that my tummy troubles are worse in new situations

Hello Everyone!Great advice and I as well have yet to determine what the "emergency" is. To be honest, I think the whole scenerio is quite adolescent. I do not drink because I put my health first. My body cannot tolerate the alcohol so I abstain. That is called being a mature, responsible adult. I listen to my body and what it tells me. Instead of listening to your mind talk about this guy and "next mornning" dilemmas, perhaps you should be listening to the very important message your body is giving you. If you do not respect your body - what makes you think it should respect you? If you want your body to behave in a certain manner then perhaps you should be a little more accomodating.We all make decisions and choices and living with the consequences is no emergency. It is a fact of life. So if you choose to go out with this guy and drink knowing the consequences and suffer the next moring - I am not sympathetic. You do have a choice.IBS does not have to control your life but by indulging in behaviours that aggravate it, of course it is going to dominate. I can tell you that by controlling my IBS symptoms, I have better control. Watching what you eat, limiting liquior etc. does not always imply that things are controlling you but perhaps you controlling them.This is a SELF HELP board. We are here to support you in your quest to help yourself through education, information and support. As for myself, I refuse to offer you support in your quest to SELF SABOTAGE. Brittany