Any Tips for Stress related IBS?

I posted this quite late so bouncing for morning hitchers

There's not a lot you can do about stress-related IBS except learn not to be stressed really. Do you have medication? I have two different types of anti-spasmodic tablet from the GP that I take if it's extra bad. Other than that, I drink a lot of mint tea, fennel tea and ginger tea as they are good for the gut.

I also have anti-spasmodics and am being treated using citalopram which is beginning to have an effect. I'm also doing a stress management course that my gp referred me to. It's not a magic cure but I am slowly making progress. However, I'd got to the point where I could barely leave the house without panicking and needing to go to the loo. I'd def go to your docs and have some blood tests done to rule out anything more serious.

Hi,

I would be interested in any replies to this too as I am also suffering from anxiety related IBS. Whitty1 I hope you don't mind me asking but I have been prescribed citalopram too for anxiety/delayed PND and I was wondering if you suffered any side effects. I have had the tablets for weeks now but am a bit reluctant to start taking them as the side effects sound horrible- with one of the main ones being anxiety! I know everyone is different but would like to hear some experience on them if you don't mind.

As for the OP I am afraid I have no cure- i have found peppermint oil capsules help a bit with the stomach cramps and also must admit to always having a supply of immodium with me. I think this is definitely a case of mind over matter though - i find one minute I can be fine then as soon as I get that niggling thought for the rest of the day I feel awful.Sometimes just worrying about if there will be a loo and planning my journey even if I felt fine would set me off. I'm not quite sure how to get out of that cycle. I am naturally a nervous person but this anxiety is something different and I must admit it starts to get you down when you can't control it- I think the tiredness you mentioned may be linked to some form of depression as I often feel exhausted when I haven't even done anything- I can't remember the last time I felt 'normal'!

I hope you find some answers- perhaps go and see your GP and see if they can help further. Having them recognise that you have a problem/illness is better than it going round in your head!

x

I had terrible side effects - so bad that after a week I posted on here to see if it was normal! However after about a week and a half the side effects stopped and I starting feeling calmer almost straight away. I still do panic, but it's not the same level of panic. However, I'm still only taking 10mg per day, I've not upped it to 20 yet as I want to see how I get on. I've been taking them for a month now and they are really helping. I've not braved car journeys yet as they are my biggest problem and i'm taking it a little bit at a time.

Oh, meant to say - my anxiety wasn't noticeably worse but I had several boughts of diarrhoea which meant I didn't go anywhere anyway!

Really sorry to crash but this seems to me like my friend.

She is fine if she knows where the toilets are or knows she can get to one within so many minutes but if she can't or is somewhere new then she really panics, which in turn makes her need the loo desperately. I'm not sure whether it could be IBS related though as she suffers exactly the same with bladder and bowel.

From this though it seems if she goes to the doctor she may get some help? She seems to think its part and parcel of having children but I have had a little girl and don't suffer like this at all.

Are there any sites you find useul I could point her in the direction of?

Many thanks

I have many of the symptoms you are quoting. I can't travel on public transport, go to the theatre, get stuck in a traffic jam etc. as I have to be 'in control' and able to get to a toilet fast. If I know there is a toilet around, I'm fine and don't need it!

I tried hypnotherapy - it didn't work for me, but can be good for others.

I don't go anywhere without Immodium, although that doesn't sort the bladder problem. If I know I'm going somewhere I have to drive myself. It's weird I know - but good to know I'm not alone.

It's such a debilitating problem and all stress related.

Thankyou for the replies, not on any medication at the moment. Mine is odd, as for the most part, I always suffer between 8pm-11pm at night, no other times.

For those who get wound up and stressed about being near a loo, that's not stress IBS. It's a form of anxiety bought on by IBS surely? Stress IBS, as far as I understand, is when stres sin your life causes symptoms such as cramps and diarrhoea.

My stress developed from IBS. I started off with conventional IBS as you say with the cramps & diarrhoea. However, because this went untreated I developed a kind of "phobia" about being near to a loo. If I wasn't - then I would panic and this would make the cramps & diarrhoea more acute. This continued over a good 8-10 years before I worked out foods which make my IBS a lot worse. (Milk being the main thing). This has made the cramps/diarrhoea much better but the panic and feelings associated with it are still there.

Does that make sense?

If it's any comfort - I also use immodium if I have to travel anywhere and won't put myself in a situation that I can't get out of. This is gradually being treated with the stress course & the citalopram.

Do you eat your main meal in the evening? You may just find that you are overburdening your digestive system with your dinner and it reacts with the IBS. Mine is far worse if I eat large meals. I have to eat smaller meals more evenly spaced throughout the day. But the anti-spasmodics are designed to ease this discomfort as you take them approx 20 mins before eating. Mine are called colofac and I have them on repeat prescription now.

I've pretty much got my ibs under control after eliminating certain foods from my diet. I went for acupuncture which I feel really made things so much better.

Like a lot of you I just still have the anxiety thing when I'm not close to a toilet or when I go somewhere new. This is a bit of a problem at the moment as we're in the process of moving to Qatar and visiting loads of new places. The thing that's helping me the most is simply to breath deeply, easier said than done sometimes, but when I concentrate on breathing in through my nose to the count of 3 and out through my mouth to the count of 5, it does seem to calm me down quite a bit and allow a bit more time until I have to dive for a bathroom.

That's exactly what I mean Whitty - the anxiety is as a result of the IBS, it's not stress-related IBS IYSWIM. Which you probably don't. But I do. ?

I knew what you meant! My IBS isn't worse when I'm stressed out - only if I start eating crap food. Then it is! ?

I get what you mean Mrs W and agree, my ibs is now under control, I now just have anxiety about it returning when I'm not close to a bathroom

Thanks Whitty1 for your reply...guess I shall have to bear with the side effects if they are relatively short lasting.

I totally understand what you mean about your ibs originating from stress but then in turn after a while the ibs is the thing that is causing you stress- when I went to see the GP he basically said the same what do you want to treat first its just a vicious circle...Sometimes I haven't even got any stress so I worry about not worrying and soon find something!

I too went for so long thinking about it which has made it so much worse (mentally) - if I have to go on a long journey or some place I don;t know I can work myself into a right state - it ruins the whole point of whatever I am supposed to be doing- It can be very restricting! Its amazing to think how many people have the same symptoms/worries - I thought I was the only mad one who panicked about a loo!

My doc said the same. I said that as I was ok in the house (could not "go" for hours) that I thought it was the stress/anxiety that was the problem which is why she prescribed the citalopram.

I hate, hate, hate car journeys. It makes going anywhere such a massive ordeal and if I possibly can I'll go on the train. Obviously that's not always financially viable but it's much less stressful!