[Benjamin]

NEED HELP111I am very new to this site. Reading so many ideas the last couple days, I decided to ask for some suggestions. I go to work every day but dont do any other activities at this time. After having some accidents with D in some very embarressing situations, I have kept my self at home more and more. How do you handle a shopping trip or eating out or other activities.??Thanks everyone.!![This message has been edited by benjamin (edited 02-12-2000).]

 

[moms777]

Hi Benjamin - I know what you mean about not wanting to leave the house. Have you tried Immodium? When I have to go to out to eat (something I used to love now I dread) I always take either Immodium or Lomotil. And I am very careful about what I eat when I'm out - never anything fried or greasy or spicy or creamy or, well you get the idea! This seems to work for me. Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Hi! I have also had some AWFUL moments which made me nervous to leave the house. Luckily my husband agreed to buy me a Safari minivan with dark tinted glass. I keep a portapotty in the back and there have been times when I've used it!! on New Year's Eve at a friend's party I let myself have one alcoholic drink which set me right off. Unfortunately her upstairs toilet wouldn't flush and her downstairs bathroom door was locked by accident from the outside. I slipped out to my van and noone noticed a thing! If anybody notices the portapotty I say it's for my kids unless it's a close friend who I feel okay about mentioning IBS to. Astro/Safaris aren't terribly expensive and are slightly bigger than the usual minivans. You can also get them "upgraded" with curtains and so on. I think that there have been times that I didn't have an IBS attack simply because I had my Safari safety blanket outside.P.S. We don't work for Chevy/GMC or even have their stock. This is just my personal preference.------------------Another Linda

 

[maggiew]

Benjamin, I carry a "boo-boo bag" Basically a back pack with everything I need to clean up, plastic zip lock bags for soiled clothing, and clean clothing, usually in black (goes with almost everything) and perma-press so it looks good. I no longer worry about accidents. Just find a place to clean up, and back to whatever I was doing. Keep your chin up, you will get used to it.------------------Praying for a cure for this NASTY IBS!

 

[vikee]

This may sound rather silly but my problem when eating out is excessive gas. I've learned to hold it in or if I can't I go to the bathroom and die of the noise/and or odor. I also watch what I eat and eat very little. I must admit I often avoid lunch and dinner invitations because I'm afraid of

. Does immodium taken before eating stop gas?

 

[Guest]

Try going out alone. Go to more outdoor malls and restaurants and places where you won't be confined. You can even see outdoor theater and concerts. If you go alone you have no reason to feel embarrased, because you won't have anyone therer you is watching you run to bathroom. Note: Alternate being alone with being with friends. Be careful with this advice, because needing to go out all alone may become a habit like it did with me. I still recommend it because it is better to be alone then not to go at all! The van idea is GREAT advice. My mother says that maybe RVs are so popular because people have IBS or other stomach type problems and want a bathroom with them everywhere they go! Interesting thought and probably true!

 

[Guest]

Sounds much like I was... my advice would be to take a jacket that covers your butt. Whenever you get that anxious feeling, like you want to leave the house, but are afraid to...just strike a strong pose and say aloud something stupid like "I AM INVINCIBLE".. i just love that one.

And then command your muscles to take you outside. Walk around the block, somewhere close. I admint I felt compelled to carry a cell phone for the first month, but not anymore.Often I felt like I needed to get outside for a bit, wanted to go, but anxiety was holding me back. Well, I found out that THEN was the time to go... no hesitation, just command it and think strong. Pretty soon, you'll find that anxiety subsiding...comes and goes...but lately it's been doing more going.

 

[Guest]

I find that PLANNING helps. Specifically, pick those days of the week that you want to try going out (it's Tuesday and Friday for me), and then alter your diet and meds to suit those days.For example, in order to keep some sense of nutrition, I try to eat very balanced meals in regular portions ON Saturday and Sunday, and then again on Wednesday. On Monday and Thursday, I cut down portions significantly, and sometimes even skip "lunch", in order to prepare for Tuesday and Friday's outings.I also take Lomotil on Tuesday and Friday mornings if I know I'm going to be out all during those days and into the night, or imodium if I know that my chores out will not take the entire day.This "system" seems to work pretty good, but it is admittedly a roller coaster sometimes, and does NOT work well for spontaneity.Interestingly, today (Saturday) was a good example of how "planning" doesn't always work. I had my "outing" yesterday, Friday, and pretty much stayed out all day and into the night. Ran errands during the day, and since I had taken a Lomotil in the morning and those usually do me for at least 12 hours, rather than a shorter length of "safe" time I get from the immodium usually, I figured we'd (my wife and I) take the evening and hop over to the casinos across the river and gamble and hang out some. When I'm on the Lomotil, I can even eat a regular sized evening meal without worrying, so while we were there at the casinos we had a nice dinner.Great...Now, normally I don't go anywhere Saturday, bulk back up on nutrients and have regular portions and meals throughout the day, and sometimes I do get a rebound D episode, but that's OK because I'm home.This afternoon, a friend stops over and pleads with my wife and I to come over to their house for dinner and a visit. Without making this story too much longer, I'll just say that this particular friend is the kind who is very difficult to refuse.So, we agree. But now I have a problem. Friday evening, and Saturday morning, I am eating with the notion that I'll be staying home to cope with any rebound effects or random episodes caused by the food intake. Whoops!!!Fortunately, the friend stopped by just before I was about to eat a large afternoon meal. So, I didn't eat the meal, took TWO imodium immediately, and then a few hours later we went over to the friends house. They prepared a very large and spicy meal (they're Italian - get it?), and I took a chance since I was so hungry and ate it all.As it turned out, we had a great time, several hours of good conversation and company after the meal, and I made the drive home just fine. Dodged a bullet - the imodium worked!!Anyway, benjamin, try planning - and if that doesn't always fit, go to plan B and take some meds.And the other part that always works for me in my mind is: So what??? As maggiew with her "boo-boo Bag" says, if you have an accident, clean up and get on back down the road. If I'd had an accident on the way to our friend's house today, I would have turned around, gone back home and cleaned up, called them and said we'd be a little late, and still gone over there. If I'd had an accident on the way back home - no big deal. Home is the best place to clean up.Moral of the story - plan to get yourself out of the house and have a blast - and always have Plan B ready.BJ

 

[Benjamin]

Thank you for the suggestions. I always carry a bag with me in the car for those uncontrollable times. A couple embarrasing accidents are what really made me stop going places with other people. I go shopping with my daughter, because she understands. In going to work every day I know how long I will be on the road or where I can stop. The worst part is how quick it happens, sometimes there is just no time to do more than take a couple steps. I do carry imodiumeverywhere.. Guess I have to just decide togo as you suggest. Living alone it has beeneasy to become a hermit. Thanks again!!

 

[Benjamin]

Bob J. your planning idea sounds so organized and I think this is what I must do. I use the imodium when the problem starts and it sounds like I need to use it earlier. Thanks againfor responding.!!

 

[vikee]

Benjamin, I'm new to this place too. Please forgive my inappropiate non response to your post. (I will try to follow the threads carefully from now on.) Some people on this site take lomotil which lasts longer, is stronger than immodium and needs a prescription. I just found that by clicking on Drugs on the above blue links (after Home) you can find lots of info.vikee

 

[marianne]

This sounds like me before I found out about caltrate plus and colestid. Before I began taking these two items, I would not eat if I had to go out. Eating is usually a trigger that started my bowels. Now I have total freedom. I am not even sure that I will go on the Lotronex I have had such good results. Search for my previous posts on this. good luck.

 

[Jeanne]

I have a van too-ford this time..ha!I too have a porta potti in it and alsosaid it was for the kids! We are so great!Now that my kids are teenagers, it is tougher. You can also use a box lined withheavy gargabe bag as a potti.And. I too, feel it keeps my anxiety downto know that I CAN use it if I need to-lowersthat urge caused by stress! I also have usedit at friends home/party. What a conincidence. I just figured-what the heck,it is just a body function and the producthas to go somewhere clean.Here is another suggestion: I try to walkand get exercise where there are woodedareas around me to duck into if needed.Luckily I live in town, but with a bigwooded area right outside my yard. I weara waist pack with wipes and a plastic bag.Just another idea.I think trying some other meds will help youa lot. They have at least given me moretime between the "urge and the event"...sothat I have only had one accident in myclothing in all the 20 years I have hadIBS.good luck!j

 

[Guest]

What is colestid? I have heard several people mention that it works well for them, but I am unfamiliar with it.

 

[Guest]

Benjamin,I feel the same way. I never go out and I never meet anyone new. I live like a hermit. I try Immodium, but I still get so nervous when I go out that my anxiety kicks in and then I'm a wreck. I know I have to try to get out, but even going to the store gets me worried. I hope you find some relief, you should try Immodium, it may work for you.

 

[vikee]

Ditto, what is "colestid?"

 

[LALA]

I am so sorry, but this post made me cry. For one, that there are other people in the world who revolve their lives around their stomaches. ANd two, that I have sixty years ahead of me of constant worry, bathroom accidents, not leaving the house. I am so sad like the first day I read this BB. There are so many people who suffer, and also,. . . no cure for this. I am cryiiiiinnnggglala

 

[Guest]

I am crying too. It is very sad and, like you, I have about 60 more years ahead of me to live like this. Before this hit me, I lived life to the fullest - very happy, loved to go out and eat out, traveling was my greatest pleasure, very social and loved being with friends, entertainig etc- Now I am incapable of leaving the house on many days and never seem to feel well. I am prevented from doing all of the things I liked to do before IBS and just feel like a "shell" of who I was. No one else in my family seems to understand how bad it is and keep telling me to suck it up and deal. However, we can remain optimistic because Lotronex is coming out in just one more month - so hopefully we will only have to feel like this for another 6 weeks as opposed to a whole lifetime. We could get our life back! How wonderful!I just pray that this drug does the trick for all of us.....

 

[Kimmie]

I went to webmd and copy and paste the info I found which tells what Colestid is. It's a RX so you'd have to ask your doctor. COLESTIPOL (Colestid�) absorbs and combines with bile acids, which increases removal of cholesterol. It lowers blood fats and cholesterol for patients who are at risk of getting heart disease or a stroke. It is only for patients whose cholesterol level is not controlled by diet. It is not a cure. Generic colestipol tablets are not yet available.I don't take this myself, but was wondering what it was as well.

 

[vikee]

Kimmie, thanks for the info!vikee