Ok, When I go out with people, it could be one or more...I get a little nervous so my stomach gets in knots, so by the time I eat, I feel like nothing is being digested and doesn't go down or my stomach blows up. For awhile, I have avoided eating out with people, but I realize that it is so apart of life that I can't do that. I don't know how else to help myself in this situation. Drinking used to help relax me, but I don't drink anymore. Any suggestions? This is a big problem in my life.
Whenever I eat out with someone, my stomach...
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Hi beach, Well, I used to worry also about eating in public and then having to run to the bathroom. Now, I take some mint tea and immodium before I go out and try to relax and enjoy myself. If I let myself worry about an attack, then I'll have one. I refuse to let this dreaded condition get the best of me. I'm determined that I'm going to live my life to the fullest now matter if I have to buy immodium by the case. Seriously though, I'm not staying home just because my bowels are a problem. If I know I'm going to a restaurant, I try not to eat my trigger foods for a few days before and if I really really feel worried, half a valium tablet works wonders for the anxiety and , like I said, immodium for the tummy. Good luck.
Hi beach, Well, I used to worry also about eating in public and then having to run to the bathroom. Now, I take some mint tea and immodium before I go out and try to relax and enjoy myself. If I let myself worry about an attack, then I'll have one. I refuse to let this dreaded condition get the best of me. I'm determined that I'm going to live my life to the fullest now matter if I have to buy immodium by the case. Seriously though, I'm not staying home just because my bowels are a problem. If I know I'm going to a restaurant, I try not to eat my trigger foods for a few days before and if I really really feel worried, half a valium tablet works wonders for the anxiety and , like I said, immodium for the tummy. Good luck.
Beach, I know exactly what you mean. I used to get pain and spasms though instead. Yeah this is fun huh? NOT! I had tried several different things, but nothing really worked, except getting to know those people really well. And knowing them better would help me get less tense around them. That was my only remedy before I tried the hypnotherapy. Now, I don't get the pain or spasms while or even after I'm with folks I don't know too well. I even did really well meeting my husband's new boss this past summer. This was a classic situation where I would have had problems prior to doing the hypnotherapy. But I didn't have any pain or spasms. I really think the hypno helps me manage the anxiety and helps me handle any stressful situations much better. I'm just more calm in general and I also hardly ever think about having an attack. Only after I have done something I usually had problems with before or after I've been in situations that would have provoked the pain, do I realize that "Hey I didn't have any pain!" LOL I think the hypno may really help you Beach. I know it definitely lowered my anxiety level.Hope this helped. BQ
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Beach, I know exactly what you mean. I used to get pain and spasms though instead. Yeah this is fun huh? NOT! I had tried several different things, but nothing really worked, except getting to know those people really well. And knowing them better would help me get less tense around them. That was my only remedy before I tried the hypnotherapy. Now, I don't get the pain or spasms while or even after I'm with folks I don't know too well. I even did really well meeting my husband's new boss this past summer. This was a classic situation where I would have had problems prior to doing the hypnotherapy. But I didn't have any pain or spasms. I really think the hypno helps me manage the anxiety and helps me handle any stressful situations much better. I'm just more calm in general and I also hardly ever think about having an attack. Only after I have done something I usually had problems with before or after I've been in situations that would have provoked the pain, do I realize that "Hey I didn't have any pain!" LOL I think the hypno may really help you Beach. I know it definitely lowered my anxiety level.Hope this helped. BQ
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Hi Beach,I have the same problem, but will not let this make me a prisoner in my own house. I take two immodium before I leave, make sure I know where the restroom is and then try to relax & have a good time. I also try to watch what I eat while dining out (absolutely cannot eat beef or greasy food of any kind). Even doing all that I have still had some bad moments. We were on a cruise ship several years ago, I knew I was going to have to go to the other end of the dining room and up a full flight of stairs (in a long dress & heels). Got up there and the restroom was full. Needless to say I didn't make it so had to go back to the room & change. Oh well, life is tough but I refuse to give in to this stupid disease.
Hi Beach,I have the same problem, but will not let this make me a prisoner in my own house. I take two immodium before I leave, make sure I know where the restroom is and then try to relax & have a good time. I also try to watch what I eat while dining out (absolutely cannot eat beef or greasy food of any kind). Even doing all that I have still had some bad moments. We were on a cruise ship several years ago, I knew I was going to have to go to the other end of the dining room and up a full flight of stairs (in a long dress & heels). Got up there and the restroom was full. Needless to say I didn't make it so had to go back to the room & change. Oh well, life is tough but I refuse to give in to this stupid disease.
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ON THE BEACH....I hate to oversimplify but, besides of course the types of dietary intake control I always talk about, this anticipatory response vis a vis social contacts etc is natural and under normal conditions amounts to little consequence.Patients with chronic digestive dysfunction like IBS victims, as you know, can suffer the consequences of "amplification" of the physiologic reactions which follow...then we learn new anticapatory response patterns and behaviors which can perisist even after we find things in the diet that provoke the reactions that produce symptoms and avoid them.The usefulness of CBT and hypnotherapy techniques to assist us in basically unlearning such behaviors is wel established and which method you choose is as much a matter of patient preference as anything else (which are you likely to actually follow the protocols for....that is the method you should use as it only works if you use it).You could try a relatively inexpensive stress/anxiety management program for IBS victims that was developed jointly by a doctor of psychology and a well knwon board certified GI doc (Dr. Lipsitz and Dr. Weinstock) that we have had reports of success with from some of our patients who exprience this (and other) such behaviors. I have them here, too, but you can just go to www.ibstherapy.com and look it over and decide if you want to try this inexpensive CD program they developed.It may be all you need to get past this part of your problem.Eat well. Think well. Be well.MNL
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6,709 Posts
ON THE BEACH....I hate to oversimplify but, besides of course the types of dietary intake control I always talk about, this anticipatory response vis a vis social contacts etc is natural and under normal conditions amounts to little consequence.Patients with chronic digestive dysfunction like IBS victims, as you know, can suffer the consequences of "amplification" of the physiologic reactions which follow...then we learn new anticapatory response patterns and behaviors which can perisist even after we find things in the diet that provoke the reactions that produce symptoms and avoid them.The usefulness of CBT and hypnotherapy techniques to assist us in basically unlearning such behaviors is wel established and which method you choose is as much a matter of patient preference as anything else (which are you likely to actually follow the protocols for....that is the method you should use as it only works if you use it).You could try a relatively inexpensive stress/anxiety management program for IBS victims that was developed jointly by a doctor of psychology and a well knwon board certified GI doc (Dr. Lipsitz and Dr. Weinstock) that we have had reports of success with from some of our patients who exprience this (and other) such behaviors. I have them here, too, but you can just go to www.ibstherapy.com and look it over and decide if you want to try this inexpensive CD program they developed.It may be all you need to get past this part of your problem.Eat well. Think well. Be well.MNL
Its not that I have to run to the bathroom. I suffer from constipation, it's just the knots in my stomach makes me not be able to digest the food properly and my stomach ends up blowing up and I get even more anxiety by this...its a vicious cycle and all I want to do is just jump away from the situation and go home.
Its not that I have to run to the bathroom. I suffer from constipation, it's just the knots in my stomach makes me not be able to digest the food properly and my stomach ends up blowing up and I get even more anxiety by this...its a vicious cycle and all I want to do is just jump away from the situation and go home.
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