[19706]

I've been suffering on and off from IBS since I was about 6, with years of health (well not really, but no IBS) in between. Then in my late teens it came back, and I used to be sick fairly often, but now it's been 4 or 5 years that I almost don't have any problems. I get some D/C evil mix with cramps and everything *maybe* every 3 or 4 months and it's not that bad. I noticed that what helped the most was:-knowing what I was suffering from. I used to think I was about to die, especially as a child,knowing I didn't have anything deadly helped me to relax during the D attacks making them not so unbearable. -eating whatever i want to eat whenever i want to. i eat what my body feels like eating. so if one week i want to eat fried foods and greasy chicken and the next i can't eat anything but carrots, bread and yogurt so be it. nobody forces me to eat in a way i don't want to. -antidepressants. I'm on them because of depression, but I noticed my IBS got better as well. the first weeks on them it was actually worse because of side effects, but then they helped me relax as well (including some freaky zen sessions to the bathroom i can't really explain. but uhm...it helped. zen poopin' technique.

)-finding out that analgesic and antispastic drugs don't do anything at all for my cramps, but some drops of lexotan (insert your antianxiety of choice here) help a lot. just a few. much less than you would take for a panic attack.and, just to get the cramps a little better, not a long-term thing, i put myself under the covers, dressed, sometimes with the coat on, boots, and sweat a lot. it helps. am i crazy or someone else does it as well?

 

[14448]

It's good to know the things that work for you.I've also had iBS since I was a young child, it was hell having severe cramps and d and not knowing what was happening to me. My parents thought I was making a fuss, also they never talked about things like toilets so I was ashamed too. It got worse in my teens and I was always trying to hide it from them. The things that help me are-Having my own space: I live alone, so I can have attacks without being embarassed. I get v.hot during an attack so I strip off and pace up and down naked between bouts of d. This seems to help cramps too.Having my boyfriend know I have IBS: I finally told him after 2 years of being together. He was understanding and sympathetic. It's such a relief to be able to tell him when I need to go home/leave a party/not eat, instead of trying to make up convincing excuses. Clonazepam and diazepam: I take these as needed for anxiety, they also relax muscles and can sometimes stop my attack before it gets started.

 

[lyonskitten]

I too feel the need to get under a mound of blankets wearing a sweater, pants and even slippers when I am having an attack. It seems to help with the cramps when they are really bad until I need to go again. But while I'm going a rolled up towel against my abdomen helps as well as a wet washcloth to wipe down my face and neck from time to time. Hope this helps you.