hi soccermom and other moms

Hi Jeanne and dtd29:Well, I've never been a stay-at-home soccermom but I raised my daughter alone and worked full time. I don't know you all get the energy to do so much! I've always admired parents who could do so much for their kids -- I never had the energy after work. I think you all deserve gold stars. Jean ------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

thanks for replies...maybe there are othermoms out there too that will discussdon't think it matters if you have one childor 4....I believe adults are better able tounderstand health problems than kids/would love to have a support group of parentsMy husband does do a lot of the running around..but think he resents it sometimes.(too bad..ha) I do most of the routine housework..as I think we are all most comfortable in our homes. The biggest thingis car trips, car pooling, our high schooldoes not have buses...and I can't imaginemy bowels are predictable enough in the morning for me to drive a car full of kids toschool at 7:30. Just can't do it! There isno way a bunch of teenagers would understanda quick bathroom stop-or worse yet...notmaking it to one! Then on weekends and weeknights picking up from practice etc. I ammuch better late afternoon and have done alot of that.Oh well, just looking for any ideas.Each of my 2 kids still at home (and I didn'thave this IBS when my older kids were young)have a "best friend"...I have managed a couple of ski trips with them all (2 hour rides) I have thought of telling them aboutmy problem...we don't discuss it in our family even! Haven't gotten the fortitudeto do so yet.Then, of course I do not ski with them ..butI do go cross country by myself. We went toDisneyworld about 5 years ago, and I actuallymanaged to do it pretty well. it was not abusy time, and I scoped out where all thebathrooms were. I can't say I really everrelaxed though. Sigh....I am venting....justone of the ways IBS effects life..and withkids I feel I miss a lot.j

Jean G.PLEASE DON'T MINIMIZE WHAT YOU DID FOR YOUR DAUGHTER!!!!!!! The thought of knowing that I'd have to get up and go to work with IBS everyday would scare the he** out of me. Talk about needing energy. Mickey

dtd29,I had no problem with both of us using the name other than it being confusing to other members of the board who may read conflicting posts on what symptoms we each have. I have been posting since the summer. I certainly had no intention of offending, which I sense is what has happened.jeanne,I have a teenage son whom I drive to school and pick up each day. Often times we are just getting in the car and I have to run back into the house. My son is pretty understanding for a teenager. I usually get up extra early and take a levsin before I leave. It is difficult, though. Several times I have run into the school building if I felt that I couldn't wait until I got back home. This doesn't usually bother me as I was a Home and School officer for the last four years and know everyone there and am quite familiar with the building. I am very involved in volunteer work and work with my church. I have been known to leave Mass and run downstairs to use the bathroom but I have recently noticed that I am not the only one. I just can't see myself not going places because of this. I stayed in the house all summer for that reason and it got really depressing. If I must go where the restroom facilities are questionable, I usually take Immodium or Lomotil before going out, which my doctor has told me I can do if need be. If I know there are bathrooms nearby, I feel a bit more relaxed and sometimes I think that alone alleviates some of the problem and stress. I work from my home so that is helpful to me as I do not have to punch a time clock. I think that would be very difficult and I feel for those who must do so. I quit working outside the home 3 1/2 years ago when I became D. I think it was brought on by stress, as my husband was on strike from his job for over a year. Just hang in there. It is a big adjustment. I have been doing better since I started taking Caltrate in October. Have you tried that? Hope to hear more from you.

Hello fellow moms!!! I am new here and have IBS too. Isn't it hard enough being a mother let alone dealing with IBS on top of it!! I am a stay at home mom of two (7 & 2 1/2) and love it. I have to agree though that sometimes the IBS stands in the way of being the best mom I can be. I pretty much live on Immodium (I'm looking forward to the realease of Lotronex on the market!) If I have to take the kids somewhere for awhile I take Immodium as a precaution. Thankfully, we live very close to the school. (I don't have too much trouble in the a.m. mine is more p.m.) Like the other mom who never lets her kids know whats going on, I'm the same way. My daughter is 7 and she knows I have trouble but I really don't have chronic problems with it. I'm thankful for that. I just keep pushing ahead!! That's pretty much all we can do. I believe that hormones definitely affect IBS. My troubles worsen around the time of my period and when I was pregnant both times the IBS was gone. The nurse at the hospital said "the IBS will come back" and it did. Oh well, such is the life of this mom!!! Glad to meet you all and hope to chat later!! Kristin

I have 2 teenagers, 13 & 15 and I do feel it gets hard sometimes. I have to bring my son to school in the AM and it tends to screw me up. (Waiting too long to go). I, thank god, I don't get the uncontrollable D, but find that I prefer not to have set plans for the AM, because this is my hardest time of the day. I just recently started to tell my kids about IBS. I don't say too much, but feel that they're old enough to understand and help out if necessary ( or just be compassionate). I hate when he has all day soccer tournaments, especially if they start early. I have to get up at least 2 hours before I plan to leave the house. What a pain in the butt thi ibs is!!!! But I try to look at the up side of things. Maybe if I felt great all the time I would tend not to be as much of a homebody or maybe be more self-centered (doing things I like to do) and therefor wouldn't be as good a mom. I'm always there for my kids and I think we're really close becuase of it. So anyway, glas to have you all to share with.Carol

Is so nice to see so many moms 'making it' with their kids. I am a single mother of a 13 year old boy who is in travel hockey. I couldn't deprive him of a chance to go travel, but I can only make it to his local games and it just breaks my heart. My son knows all about my IBS (as well as my fibro and lupus) and is very caring and understanding about it. I am lucky to have a new fiance (and we have just moved in together) so I expect things to be even easier for me and my illnesses. My fiance is an assistant coach on my son's hockey team so I don't have to worry about getting him to games or practices when I am not well.When I do have to go out with him, drop him off at schhol or take them to the mall I just prep with imodium or lomotil and levsin and hope for the best. I know where the bathrooms are in most movie theaters, the mall and my son's school. I have had to leave many a function half way through because I felt the IBS cramps coming on and wanted to get myself home before it hit. I am so grateful that he understands.

ohmagosh! thanks for your replies and support. I can relate to every single oneof you. And those that replied that arenot moms..or at leastnot moms with kids stillat home....thanks too! IBS is tough withor without kids..don't mean to imply thatwe are any more "burdened"...it just addsother people into the picture.I think a big part of it...(i've been on thissoapbox before) is that us americans areso busy...you don't have to "push" your kids to be involved in things....most of themwant to do things..and there is so much outthere..it is a run-yourself ragged life, butkids thrive on it..as long as WE don't putpressure on them.Anyhow....please keep me posted on thingsthat work for you....A couple of things I cansay to the mothers of young kids..(my twoat home are 13 and 15) is that I actuallythought it was easier then..not trying toscare you that it will get worse! But whenmy kids were little, they just kind of wentwith things..oh well, mommie has to go pottyagain...we had a porta potti in our van..theyeven used it and it was no big deal. Also,for vacations we rented a motor home a fewtimes and it was great! But, with older kids, the embarrassment factor goes way up..both mine and theirs!The flip side of it is that older kids canand like to do things on their own or withfriends more, so I can drive separately..orjust be there to ask them all about theirevents when they get home.Ha- I too, know where all the school bathrooms are..where they are in the malls,at sporting events....etc. We are a creativebunch aren't we?Also to answer another question-I startedcaltrate late summer when I first found this BB. I just recently went to two a day, soI am not sure if it will work real well or not. I am going to try lotronex for sure.Immodium works for me, but I do have to takeit about 2 hours in advance..I have taken tranxene (mild tranquilizer in the valium family) for years...I think it calms me somebefore events.Lets us moms keep in touch on the board..thanks again.j

I'm a Mom of three 16,9,and 7.I find missing out on certain things what depresses me the most.My hubby does all field trips with them.Wish I could make a trip to Disneyland.That's one of my goals.They are invovled in sports.I do as much as I can with them which is alot more than I used to.I think it's harder on my oldest than the youngest.I used to have to drive to 3 schools in the morning.This year it's 2.Somehow I manage to make it but have had to really hold it till I got home a few times.Right now I'm trying Mikes hypnotherapy tapes to try to get rid of some of the anxiety and worry I have with my IBS.Hubby works different shifts so can help alot of the times I'm not doing so great.I admire anyone who works with IBS.Plus as of Wed. I have a 16 year old driver and I think once I get over having so much anxiety over him driving he will be a great help.Especially going to movies and such with the littler ones.Which he already does but I won't have to be the taxi any more.Nothing would give me more joy than to get control of my IBS and go anywhere anytime I want!!Heather

Boy have you hit an important subject here. I have a 9 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. They are in boy scouts, 4-H, basketball, gymnastics, sunday school and youth group at church. I work 8:30 - 3:00 so I can drop them off and pick them up from school. The leaders of their groups are learning they can ask me to volunteer for anything as long as it is in the building (near a bathroom). My children know I have IBS and could probably write a book about it. I need them to know that when I need to hibernate in my room for a while it has nothing to do with them. I also want them to learn compation, since I'm not the only person with IBS (or any other illness) they will come across in their lives. My husband is very supportive. I do all the inside stuff like baking cookies for a bake sale, or selling raffle tickets at a raffle table. He does all the running around and car pooling. He knows that the less stress I'm under the better I am going to feel. There are ways to stay involved with your kids activities while still staying (slightly) sane. Best of luck to all of you."Don't be afraid of tomorrow, God is already there."

Hi,I am a full time working mom of two, a 15 year old boy and a 4 year old girl. It is very important for me not to miss out on any of my childrens lives due to IBS and so far I haven't. I am very luck that I do not have a sever case like lots on this board. Most of my IBS problems hit just after lunch and last for a few hours and then are gone. I control it with Caltrate and so far this is working about 95% of the time. I think we are all exceptional people, being able to juggle homes, kids, work and IBS. Jo-Anne