Anxiety and bowel disease....how to deal with it

I can relate to all this. For the last two years I've been suffering from the same thing. My worst experience was when driving my car with my four year old granddaughter. Lets just say, I couldn't hold it in. I'm now having all the tests done to see what's wrong with me. I no longer go for walks in the country or on the beach because there are no toilets. I keep to towns and know where every public toilet it. So far my doctor hasn't suggested any medicine, but I'm going for a private food tolerance test this week. Worrying certainly makes it worse.

I was prescribed amitriptyline for night time ibs. It works a treat. I also find valerian good (it's a natural relaxant ) & found it in b&m stores for 99p!!!

I have diverticuler disease, and also IBS.

I frequently need the toilet several times a day. Sometimes it's a job to leave the house, and it's also exhausting.

If I am going to go away somewhere, or if bowels are playing up, I take two instant imodiums.
The only drawback with that is the ensuing constipation. I once had a telephone consultation with my GP about this problem and he said "take some Imodium" , so that what I do. Only take them if problem is severe and it's getting me down.

Has anyone suggested low FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols) to you meandashy

I haven't come across anyone else on it but it has made a huge difference to me and I would rather adjust my diet than take medication and I haven't had to have anything since I started this. It is difficult to get your head round - why can't I eat blackberries but can eat blueberries for instance but worth it. I can't eat wheat - nothing to do with gluten but to do with the ability to digest the wheat itself and it is in so many things so my meals have gone back to being very simple. I can't have lactose and just removing that made a huge difference to my constant exhaustion. There is much more, fructose is a culprit but there is more in some fruit than others hence the yes to blueberries and no to blackberries (I think). No onions or garlic (printed in bold and very much a no, no) but the whole thing means I can digest what I am eating and I seem to be absorbing the good things like vitamins better too. The physical symptoms of anxiety have gone too - really completely gone. I don't mean nothing makes me anxious but that is natural; anxiety is not and it is very difficult to live with.

If you suffer from Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it may be worth asking your doctor about this. I am very lucky that my doctor specialised in endocrinology (I have low thyroid too) and likes natural solutions although there is no alternative to thyroxine replacement.

This article is very interesting and at one point it says;

There is strong evidence that functional gut symptoms occur more commonly in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than those without. Our studies have shown that fructose malabsorption is more common in patients with Crohn’s disease and that this is most marked in those patients in whom the small bowel is most affected. Furthermore, we have shown that lactose malabsorption is more common in patients with ulcerative colitis than healthy controls or patients with IBS

Sorry to go on but I feel so much better, less exhausted and in control that I am a bit evangelical about it.

Interesting Gracesgran. I have a copy of Dr Ali's Nutrition Bible going back to when I was having all sorts of digestion problems [it really is my 'bible']. It's not so much what you eat but what you eliminate that's important. I'm also a great believer in probiotics and have just bought some Optibac ones after being on a course of antibiotics. I bought the as the paediatric ones were recommended on here and I found a shop that sells them, so got some for my granddaughter and couldn't resist getting some for myself.

That's interesting Tegan, I was told by the hospital after my bowel operation that under no circumstances must I take prebiotic even though I had a lot of antibiotics.

Probiotics, stupid tablet.

I guess that makes sense, as you don't want to introduce different kinds of bacteria to an area that's been operated on.

'Probiotics, literally, “pro life, are increasingly being looked at as more than just a living flora in the digestive tract. After surgery, probiotics can be used to;
1.promote healing,
2.shorten hospital stays,
3.restore balance to the digestive tract,
4.and help stave-off postoperative infections.

They are known to stimulate the recovery process of many clinical conditions including diarrhea, lactose intolerance, colon cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure, immune function and infections, helicobacter pylori infections, inflammation, bacterial growth under stress, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as well as enhance vitamin production.

Since probiotics are not closely regulated by the FDA and different types of probiotics provide different therapeutic benefits, your medical professional should be consulted concerning what type and how much should be used. If taken as a supplement, a reputable brand should be selected with a known track-record of providing safe and reliable products'.....I felt a 'google' coming on!

I agree Tegan, that it seems to be more about what you don't eat (because you will not be able to digest it properly) rather than what you do.

Dr Ali thinks that yeast is the food of the devil and it's hard to disagree with him. Although, like Gillian McKeef[sp] I think he was discredited awhile back I still believe in what he writes [and she also talked a lot of sense, just a pity her 'ologies seemed to be figments of her imagination] He's also a great believer in turmeric.

When I was explaining to my son that I can't have onions Tegan he said it sounded as if I couldn't eat any of the things they wouldn't put in their compost bin as they don't decompose for eons. I imagine there is some truth in that

A couple of Codis at night have a similar but slower and gentler effect than loperamide/Imodium, you might like to give it a try..

read above comments with interest. Thanks ladies. My son (now in his mid thirties)has some sort of bowel problems, still awaiting a diagnosis (he has to wait 6 months for next appointment to see specialist!) But he has cut out fibre (but ok with white bread) fruit, carrots, ssweet corn, sauces, spicy foods, salad items are also a no no. He is ok to eat very fatty food! and so we are a bit worried about his nutrition. Just wondering if anyone out there has the same problems with food?

Have read this thread with great interest especially Gracesgran's comments. I ,too, have suffered with IBS-like symptoms for years( also an underactive thyroid sufferer on levothyroxine -am sure there's a connection) and this year have had colonoscopy, endoscopy, and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to -excuse the pun- get to the bottom of it once and for all!All relatively OK so have been referred to dietician who is going to get me tested for coeliac's and then ,if not that, put me on the FODMAP diet . I have found that the probiotic, SYMPROVE, helps a lot too.
Hope holdthetonic has an amazing time at the wedding! :-)

My digestion problems go back to my thirties and I'm sure that wholemeal bread was the biggest culprit. I just wish that I'd been more knowledgeable back then about the part that diet plays with our health. I never dreamt of seeing a doctor about it but was made miserable for years with needing the loo at short notice.Fatty food is probably high protein so doesn't result in much waste; I know I did a high protein diet when it was popular at the time and had less tummy trouble than when I tried to be healthy by eating lots of fruit and veg. Then, of course, when we think we've cracked it our body changes again.

I suffered from IBS for years until I started doing yoga and it has transformed the problem! Obviously would only work in some cases but I have found it amazing.

I would love to be able to take immodium for IBS, but find it ( and antiinflammatories) upset my hiatus hernia. Caught between
a rock and a hard place ? In a social situation I take charcoal tablets.

Tegan I reckon I have had the IBS for about 15 years! The problem is the actual 'episodes' that could keep me in (and out of) bed for about three days don't happen often enough to warrant - after an upbringing of 'just get on with it' example and instruction - going to the doctors [grim smile].

One of the good things is about having it diagnosed is that so many things have to be eliminated first so you feel good that you don't have things which is where Morgana's son seems to be at now.

I am sure there is some connection between the low thyroid and the IBS too fjw2009. We found out about my IBS because I was still exhausted even when the bloods showed I was on the right level of Levothyroxine and I whimpered to my doctor that I was still so tired. She went back over my medical history and I imagine what had happened to me has happened to others - symptoms had been treated rather than cause.

Holdthetonic I feel the thread has been somewhat led astray by my FODMAP crusade but I do hope you have the most wonderful wedding.

Wonderful replies - THANK YOU so much everyone and I'm now looking forward to the wedding! .

Yes, I do know about the low-Fodmap diet and I"m much better for avoiding onions, garlic, broccoli and wheat. It's great for IBS but not always so good for IBD patients (apparently). If you have IBS or IBD I would recommend Googling it and seeing if it works for you. (There is a great phone app called the Low Fodmap diet from Monash University)

Apologies for all the abbreviations:
IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome - is less serious than IBDbut still unpleasant- basically the digestive system doesn't work very well and certain foods can cause bloating, gas, upset tummy.
IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease - covers diseases like Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease where the bowel has become inflamed through ulcers or other damage. (In my case I've had my colon removed. had an ileostomy which was replaced with an internal reservoir (a pouch) made up from my intestines. (It's amazing what doctors can do!! Interestingly I used to take loperamide daily following my ops but now even half a capsule can bung me up. The only problem for me is I get rather anxious especially when visiting peoples houses as I go to the loo at least 10 times a day and it can be a bit noisy.

Finally - on the issue of probiotics - the best one is VSL3 (recommended by my hospital) alternatively Optibac do a great range of probiotics and are available online. ooh I've rambled on... .Apologies -- but thanks again.

Just try this, its natural and Sainsbury sells it, and it works

Not good for anyone with a lactose problem gononsuch

But excellent for everyone without.

Although I do like a nice fruit flavour, and sod the sugar/aspartame.

Hasn't this product just been removed from the shelves because of contamination?