[Yukie]

For the second time I have a flare up in december. This mean missing out on the good food, being in pain in family reunions, spending time in the bathroom. I was just wondering, are any of you in the same situation?How to you manage not to be bitter and have a good time? What holiday food are OK to eat with IBS ? Are you well enough to spend time with a group of people or are your curled up on the couch crying in pain? Do you have a survival kit with you?Last year I spent christmas on my own watching TV. I was supposed to go to my mom's but I couldn't endure the bus ride since I had diarrhea for the past few days. It was a pretty boring christmas actually.

 

[blondeoverblue24]

I've had IBS-D for five years now, and I've always been pretty lucky around Christmas. The first year, I was "diagnosed" (well they at least thought it was likely but hadn't done testing) and was given antispasmodics a few days before the holiday, the next year I was placed on paxil/continuous birth control (which I think brought my IBS into control) about a month before Christmas, and the last 2-3 years I've been fairly good. I did have a flare up at my then fiance's family's house on Thanksgiving, but they're very understanding people (though I was pretty anxious because they only have one bathroom). And two years ago I got this horrific gastrointestinal flu the day after Christmas, but that was unrelated to IBS because my mom had it at the same time and she doesn't have IBS.My husband and I are making a four hour drive the week before Christmas and staying with my parents throughout the holidays (they understand my condition the best and better yet, have two bathrooms). The drive is on a main highway and not the turnpike....I hate the turnpike because rest stops are few and far between, and you have to pay to get off of the road...At least with the highway you can get off at just about any exit and find a gas station or something. Regardless, I load up on imodium before the drive, on Christmas and on Christmas Eve.

 

[Yukie]

Do you have to stay on a restrictive diet or you can eat the same as everyone else?

 

[blondeoverblue24]

I usually have a dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls and green beans; dessert is typically Christmas cookies, and those don't seem to trigger my symptoms much. Sometimes my in-laws have a holiday brunch and I either do not eat or eat very blandly at this (just bread, etc) - I've found that eggs almost always lead to IBS symptoms for me, so if I eat them, I do so in the comfort of my own home and definitely not on a day where I need to be up and about the entire time.

 

[Yukie]

Thank for the tips. I'll try that kind of food during the holidays.

 

[Patman75]

This will be my second go around on a restrictive diet during the holidays. For thanksgiving I was on an Elemental diet for my IBD and did not even have a bit of real food. It did not bother me, but my family was freaking out about not eating real food.I have gotten pass the whole food thing. Holidays is not about food, it is about spending time with family, friends and the ones you love.I usually eat up with my safe foods before I go out so that not hungery and then just snack on any safe foods I can eat. Or bring some backup safe food just in case.Now with D and pain that is a whole nother story. The elemental diet from "listen to your gut" was able to help me stop the D and severe cramping in a week. It might help.hang in there.