Tummy Troubles - Coping with IBS

I was diagnosed with a painful bladder disorder called Interstitial Cystitis (IC) back in early March of 2007. IC is a painful condition where the bladder walls get irritated and inflamed. You pretty much feel like you have a horrible bladder infection. I've had the symptoms for years but still learning I had this disorder hit me with mixed feelings. I was glad to know the pain wasn't in my head but also I had something so horrible that it is recognized as a disability!

There is no cure for IC. Also along with IC are many over lapping conditions a few are Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have not been diagnosed with IBS or Fibromyalgia, but I have all the classic symptoms and I am positive I have them.

IBS like IC is an inflammatory bowel disease and there is no cure. It is pretty common and I can't tell you how many people I talk to about my "tummy" problems they'll nod their heads and tell me they have it too, think they may have it or they know someone else with it.

I remember as a child seeing my grandmother and my mother suffer with tummy troubles too. I remember going shopping as a teen and hearing my mother say in a strained voice, "Come on, girls! I have to get home before my stomach gets upset!" We'd rush out of the mall and to the car. She'd drive home as fast as she could and a few times to my horror she wouldn't make it. I never understood it and often I was very annoyed at her.

I have always had a "nervous" stomach and there were many times as a teenager I'd stay home from school due to my painful stomach cramps and messed up belly. But it wasn't something I'd mention to a doctor or even my mom because well who wants to talk about "poop"! It's embarrassing.

During these past few years my stomach has gotten a lot worse. Last December I was hit hard with stomach pains, tender belly & very upset stomach. I was diagnosed with a nasty stomach bug going around. Wouldn't you know at that time my husband surprised us with a wonderful Christmas trip to Disney World! I filled with both fear and joy. I love anything Disney! I've been waiting for years for my kids to be old enough to enjoy it. But I couldn't imagine how I would last that long in a car and the Magic Kingdom with a messed up stomach.

After talking to my doctor about the planned trip I was told I could take Imodium A-D to help control my symptoms during the trip. So to make the long story short they did help. I did have a few close calls, watched what I ate by staying away from greasy foods. I was pretty weak the whole trip but I was able to enjoy Christmas at the "Happiest place on earth!" Plus I visited most of their rest rooms too! But unfortunately after this stomach bug my bowels haven't been the same sense.

This past year has been a long hard struggle with my health. I've been dealing with my painful bladder disorder and adjusting to all the meds to help control my pain and symptoms. I've also been trying to handle my non stop tummy troubles.

I have just recently started to read and learn all I can about IBS. I've read a lot about how wheat and gluten can cause people to have more painful episodes. This holds true with me.

A few weeks ago my stomach was horribly upset. I had awful cramps, bloating with nasty gas and felt sick to my stomach. I thought I had food poisoning it was so bad. At times I'd feel better then again it would hit me.

I took a new approach to my problem. You see with IC when I have what they call a "flare up" (when someone with IC eats something that is high in acid their bladder walls can flare up causing them pain & pressure. They feel like they have a full blown bladder infection. Yet there is no infection.) I will look back at my diet and see if there is anything new I have eaten or drank that could have set off the flare up. Most of the time it is a new food I ate or something I drank. Other times it can be that time of the month or in some annoying cases it is just a random flare up. Anyway, I looked back at what I had eaten and it turned out to be a new snack food in our house that I took a liking to. I was eating this snack food for lunch instead of chips (trying to be healthy and it kicked me in the butt so to say) plus I'd eat this snack sometimes before bed. Once I stopped eating them I felt better after a day or two.

Other times being overly stressed or worried can give me a bad bout of tummy troubles too. I have suffered from depression since my early teen years due to past childhood sexual abuse. I can now say my faith in God has helped me overcome depression but living with IC on a daily bases can sometimes make me feel down. So depression can try to get its ugly hands on me. Days like that will cause me to also have an upset stomach. So I try my best to think positive and relax. Sometimes that is easier said than done.

Also being nervous about things sets things up for an upset stomach. Along with depression I have a panic/anxiety disorder too. But also God has helped me over come most of that. Other days the simple task of driving can really give me butterflies. Just something I struggle with but I force myself to over come that for my children. I drive them once a week to a homeschool co-op at our church. But it never fails on those days my stomach jumps and tumbles like it is on a roller coaster. Imodium A-D or Pepto-Bismol comes in handy.

I have yet to see a doctor about this. But it is something I've talked to my urologist about and also I talk to my OB-GYN about on my yearly visits. Since it has gotten worse I am sure soon I'll find myself having to talk openly about this embarrassing disorder.

Since I homeschool my children we are at home most of the time which is nice when you do have a bladder and bowel disorder. My children are often hearing me tell them "Mommy, will be in the bathroom for a little while if you need me." Something I remember hearing my own mom say.

As a busy mom it is hard sometimes. I have had to stay home a lot of times and miss out on family fun because my stomach has been upset, IC flare up & pain, or I was up all night in the bathroom with an upset stomach so I'm worn out from lack of sleep or just having painful stomach cramps. It really hurts more in the heart than the stomach if you know what I mean. But I try to swallow the pain, put on a smile for my children and quietly pray my stomach behaves itself.

I feel lucky I haven't had any of the embarrassing accidents I've read other people have. I've read about some horror stories of people with IBS suffering out in public with their uncontrollable bowels. I quietly thank the Lord that hasn't happened to me and pray it never will.

I did have a time about 7yrs ago or so when we were on a family trip at Universal Studios in FL. We were touring a special show case about Titanic. I was so exited to see all the wonderful things and couldn't wait to go on the tour. But then I had an awful stomach ache and I knew I had to rush off to the nearest restroom. But I didn't know where it was and the tour was already going on. I gave my husband a quick whisper in his ear, handed over my baby and tried to walk as fast as I could to the bathroom. I was lucky to make it in time yet I felt so trapped in that gross public restroom. I found my husband already halfway through the tour. He had hung back some so I could find him but I had to rush off again a few more times. It was a rather embarrassing experience, I had missed something I so wanted to see and I honestly just wanted to go home, pull the covers over my head and vanish!

I try hard not to live by the way I feel. As a woman who has over come depression and a panic disorder that is how I want to live. Ofcourse there are days people feel down but they must move forward. But when you have an illness that is a chronic you do have days you feel bad. You have days just feel awful. So I do have to live how I feel which troubles me. I have a husband, family and house that I want so much to care for and I want to be the wife and mom they need. I admit there are days I've felt pretty worthless to my family because my stomach cramps so bad I couldn't get out of bed. Some days I suffer from migraines or a bladder so irritated I can't even sit up.

But God reminds me that there are people worse off than I am. So if I am having a good day I smile and become super mom trying to clean, homeschool the kids and I cook up a storm. Days that I feel bad I'll let my kids know that mommy isn't feeling well and I must I homeschool from the bed.

So if you do have a chronic illness try your best not to let it control you but you control it. Learn what you can about it. I personally have found it hard to read about the illnesses I have because well it can be depressing. So I take my time learning about it. When I read something negative about it I try to turn that into a positive. When my children ask me "Mommy, why are you always sick?" I remind them that even though I am sick I do my best to take care of them. I do my best to show them when you feel down in the dumps you can still do your best to be your best. You don't have to lay back and be defeated by an illness, mishap or tragedy. You learn from it and turn that negative into a positive.

What I use to handle stomach pain & cramps from IBS:

1. Lay in a hot bath - laying a tub of hot water can help relax the stomach muscles and also helps with the cramping. I will take a nice long book, turn the bathroom lights down low, turn on the fan in the bathroom which helps cover the noise the kids make and relax. This also helps settle my stomach most of the time too.

2. Use a heating pad - lying in bed with the heating pad on the tummy can also have the same effect. Be careful not to burn yourself. I've foolishly caused some nasty burns on my belly with a heating pad a few times.

3. Drink Sprite - The fact of drinking Sprite seems to help settle my stomach. I don't know if it is what is in the Sprite or what but it helps.

4. Imodium A-D - You can take up to 4 of these in one day. This has been a life saver for me esp. during long car trips and when I know I'm going to be out of the house for long periods of time.

5. Pepto-Bismol - This helps settle my stomach too. Not as strong as Imodium but it helps me.

6. How to handle eating out - Try to stay away from overly greasy foods. This is hard for me since I am picky and usually the only thing I'll like is chicken fingers and fries. Just do your best and know what your stomach can handle. Learn where the bathroom is before hand too. This is usually the first thing I'll look for when I get where we are eating.

7. Wear a pad - I am thankful to say I have never had an accident but if I am going to be out and I know my stomach has been bugging me I'll wear a maxi pad just in case.

8. Relax - Being stressed and overly worried can mess up your stomach. So try to be calm. Worrying does you no good and it is a waste of time. Try to think positive. If you can avoid the situation. If you can't try to have things around that comfort you. I hate the dentist. I always get sick to my stomach before a visit. I'll bring my MP3 player and fill it with Christian music to listen to. This relaxes me a lot.

I hope these suggestions help you. You are not alone. You won't believe all the people who suffer from a nervous stomach, IBS or other bowel disorders. My best advice to anyone who suffers from this are not words of wisdom but a simple suggestion: If you must spend a lot time in the bathroom have a good book!