What if…

I’ve been feeling pretty low recently and have been asking myself a lot of ‘what if’ questions…

What if I could eat anything I craved?
What if I could I could go anywhere I wanted?
What if I lived somewhere else?
What if I was someone else?
What if I could swap parts of my body for better and healthier ones?
What if I didn’t have IBS?

That last ‘what if’ is the biggest of them all, and the most upsetting. Sometimes I do think back to what my life was like before I had my IBS and I think ‘why can’t life be like that again?’ Truthfully, I mourn my old life like a part of me that I’ve lost and can’t get back. I mourn the foods I used to eat and the energy I used to have and the adventures I used to go on. Sometimes I find myself sitting, weeping and wishing that things could go back to the way they used to. Sometimes I find myself so grief-stricken that I don’t even want to get out of bed and face the day.  It’s times like these when I ask the constant ‘what if’ questions and fall into a vicious circle of depression and anxiety.

Our society today is so full of taboo’s that people don’t know what they can and cannot talk about. As someone with a chronic health condition and mental health issues I regularly find myself unable to talk about the things that are happening to me because I am afraid of what people with think and say about me. I am always scared that someone will laugh at me, make jokes at my expense or worse…pity me. There is nothing more upsetting and frustrating that having people, strangers or not, pity you. It makes you feel small and worthless. So in the darkest times, when I hate myself and my bowels and my mind, I ask myself what if?

As hard as it may be we need to realise that these constant ‘what ifs’ only perpetuate the negative thought cycle and deepen the depression. My recent CBT course has taught me to try and be more positive and hopeful about my life and some days I am the happiest person, bouncy about with energy and excitement. But some days I lie in bed and cry all day and that’s okay! When you have a chronic health condition it can get on top of you sometimes. The realisation that THIS is what the rest of your life will be like, THIS is the body you were born with and you just have to deal with it.

When I was diagnosed with IBS I went through several stages of grief, almost like someone or something had died (although I seemed to skip denial as I had been searching for an answer to my symptoms for so long).

Firstly, it was anger – Why did this have to happen to me? What did I do to deserve this?
Secondly, bargaining – I’d do anything to have healthy bowels again.
Thirdly, depression – I miss onion and garlic and lactose and gluten and alcohol. I miss my old life and who I used to be.
Finally, acceptance…

Acceptance was the hardest part of coming to terms with my diagnosis. Some people may say I’m being a drama queen over ‘just IBS’. But, as many of you will know, it is a life changing thing. I would say it is a perfectly natural response to the diagnosis as you are, in a way, losing your old life. Accepting that I had IBS and could do nothing about it made it more manageable. This is what my life is like now, let’s get on and deal with it. Yes, I still have my very depressed days when I do nothing but cry but when those days are over I pick up the pieces and carry on.

Sometimes living with IBS can feel like a constant fight. A fight over food. A fight over emotions. A fight over stress and anxiety. And sometimes you lose the fight…but in the end you will win the battle. Since my diagnosis, and acceptance, of my IBS I can come to better understand myself and my body. I can tell when my body is overworked and tired or when my body is full of energy. I know what I should and shouldn’t feel about myself. I should never feel ashamed or embarrassed or angry at myself because it’s not my fault. This is just the way my body works and I have to learn to deal with it. When I know and understand my body then I can gain back control and be me again. And it’s okay to lose control sometimes because it’s hard, I’ll admit I’m not the best example but I’d like to think that I am able to say “I have IBS and that’s okay”.

So next time you find yourself curled up in bed asking ‘what if’, just remember it’s okay…things will get better. It’s easier said than done, I know, but there is great comfort in the knowledge that if you believe you are capable then you can do it. You’ve survived everyday so far, so why not every day in the future? My therapist gave me a great metaphor that I want to share:

Life is like a game of Snakes and Ladders. You start at square 1 and roll the dice; sometimes climbing up ladders and sometimes sliding down snakes. But no matter how many snakes you slide down you will never end up back at square 1. 

I know that when I am feeling tired and stressed and ready to give up that I’ll always be that little bit better than before. I will never be back at square one because I am strong and brave and most of all… I AM IN CONTROL. It’s okay to cry sometimes, everyone is human and crying can be really cathartic sometimes but never let it overwhelm you.

Sorry if this post has been a bit intense or deep but I felt like I really needed to get this out in the open and talk about it because no one should suffer alone. I hope that by sharing my story and experiences they will help other people in turn. And if anyone out there has some ideas or thoughts on the subject please do contact me because I am always open to talking about it. Together we can be stronger and happier!

SO until next time…stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

Sorry seems to be the hardest word

I haven’t been well recently (nasty virus) so I’ve been feeling pretty sorry for myself. But as I found myself stuck in bed moping I thought “I say sorry a lot”. Sorry for cancelling plans, sorry for being gassy, sorry for feeling tired and low, sorry for being a nuisance at mealtimes, sorry for whinging about my aches and pains, sorry for not being able to eat something etc. The list goes on… But in reality, half the stuff I’m saying sorry for isn’t even my fault or is out of my control. Many people with IBS blame themselves for their condition. I know I did when I was first diagnosed. I thought it was a punishment for eating lots of fatty foods or for not being ‘healthy’ enough. But let’s face it IBS can affect even the most athletic of people. Hey, if it can people like American President JFK or supermodel Tyra Banks can have IBS then I’m sure it can affect anyone (even Hitler… but the less said about that the better).

One of my coping mechanisms for coping with the guilt/blame of having IBS is to separate myself from my condition. Now I’m not suggesting we deny that we have IBS or dissociate ourselves from it completely, because that defeats the object. But putting a bit of space between you and your condition can provide some relief from the endless cycle of self-blame. My way of dealing with an IBS flare-up is to personify my IBS as a non-entity; therefore redirecting my frustration onto something other than myself. My partner actually suggested the idea as he was getting worried about me beating myself up every time I had a flare-up. As an avid Star Wars fan, he commented on my stomach groans as sounding like Emperor Palpatine when he exclaims “goooooooood” and therefore started referring to by stomach as Sheev, Palpatine’s first name. For those who have no idea what I’m going on about, don’t worry, it’s basically a nerdy version of calling your IBS something like Phil or Sheila. He then elaborated that when my IBS flares up my body goes over to the dark side and wreaks chaos. As nerdy as it may seem, I thought the metaphor was a good one for helping me vent my anger out at something/someone other than myself. It felt silly at first but after a while I noticed that I became more accepting of my condition and even though my flare-ups were less troublesome. In a way it was a good distraction from overthinking my symptoms and worry about them, which would only make them worse. It also helps me deal with talking about things when I feel unwell but simply saying “Sheev is unhappy” or “Sheev is upset”. In this way I can control my IBS and accept that even with the best intentions I cannot stop myself from being ill sometimes.

Saying sorry all the time can get so tiring too. My parents have banned me using the word around them. You may think it drastic but after a while the word loses its meaning because it’s said so much. Having understanding people around you really helps when it comes to fighting off those feeling of self-blame and guilt. Sometimes I get so angry I just want to scream and punch the wall which doesn’t help really, does it? I’ve found that practising mindfulness helps me to calm down when I am getting frustrated and angry at myself or my IBS. Incorporating some of my CBT (see previous post) techniques helps me re-evaluate my feelings and realise that there’s no use getting angry or worrying over it. At the end of the day our IBS is part of us, an annoying part agreed, and we have to treat it the same way we would treat other imperfections we find in ourselves.

Another way I cope with the feelings of self-blame or frustration is simply to talk about it. There has been a rise of people with IBS turning to talking therapies to help them with their IBS. As I’ve said before I’ve tried several varieties of help to get my head around my IBS and how it’s affected me. But for those that feel uncomfortable or uneasy with the idea of this, how about just talking to your friends and family about it. Finding a sympathetic ear to talk through your worries and frustrations can really help get the weight off your chest. I even talk to my teddy sometimes when I’m really struggling; inanimate objects make the best listeners! Or how about writing it all down in a journal or blog? That partially how I came to be here writing this today…a sort of creative therapy – catharsis almost!

What I’m trying to get at is that we shouldn’t be blaming ourselves for having IBS; it’s just something that’s happened to us. We have to accept it, deal with it and try to move on. Saying sorry all the time is unnecessary and tiresome. Let’s start embracing our IBS and using it to our strengths. So you can’t eat ready-made pasta sauces because they have onion or garlic in them… then why not try to make your own? I’ve learned to love cooking again and find myself making all sorts of dishes I never tried before I had IBS. My favourite? Pizza with homemade dough (sometimes polenta bases) piled high with low-fodmap veggies like courgettes, peppers, aubergines and mozzarella to top it off. It may take more time but it’s so much more fun (and healthy) but buy a frozen pre-packaged pizza from the supermarket.

So, how about it then? Stop saying sorry and blaming yourself for your IBS and start embracing it. Find like-minded people and share stories, recipes and experiences. Start a journal or blog. Or even call your bowels a funny name. Whatever makes you feel better and more at ease with yourself. Because after all it’s not your fault!!

So until next time…stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

Helping hands

I recently signed up for some training to hopefully become an IBS Support Group Leader which got me thinking about the different types of support people with IBS need – both professionally and personally. So I wanted to share a few thoughts about where I find my support for coping day-to-day.

Most of it comes from the amazing people I have around me that do so many things to make my IBS more bearable.  From the friends that have stuck with me through the mood swings and cancelled plans to my parents who have sat through numerous doctor’s appointments with me, I am eternally grateful to have them there supporting me.  For me IBS has brought with it many other issues such as heightened anxiety/depressive moods, fatigue and back pain. When I have a flare up I tend to retreat into myself and my mood really dips. Having a good social support has enabled me to cope better with these symptoms and come out of my shell. I will admit I have lost some friends due to my IBS, mainly due to the fact I don’t drink and struggle to eat out anymore but I have also gained a few new friends who like me regardless of any IBS issues. But the one person that has really been my rock throughout the whole thing has been my partner.

When we first met my IBS was dormant, I still had bad stomach days but nothing compared to the flare-ups I get now. We would go out to eat lots and do all sorts of things that I could only aspire to be able to do today. When I got Gastroenteritis and my IBS was activated I lost a dramatic amount of weight, slipped into depression and lost all confidence in myself. My partner was there through all of it; he helped me find the FODMAP diet and encouraged me to seek professional help for my depression. He also held my hand, stroked my hair and rubbed my stomach when I was feeling really bad. We often joke that he is my own personal hot water bottle ☺ As I got to grips with my IBS and started to regain control, he was there helping me along. It’s gotten to the point now where he can tell when I’m having a flare-up without me saying anything and knows exactly what to say and do to help me stay calm and deal with it. I’m pretty certain that without him it would have taken me much longer to find the balance I have now with my life. Yes I still have very bad days but nowhere near as many as I used to have.

Another great place I go to for support is my online IBS forums, namely the Gut Health Empire. Ran by the wonderful Sam, the Gut Health Empire is a group of individuals that have come together online to discuss their experiences of IBS and share knowledge to help each other cope with IBS. I’ve gotten some of my favourite recipes from people posting in the group and have found that being able to talk to people that really ‘get it’ has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to take back control of my life. I’d recommend anyone that is lacking that physical social support to look into joining the group as it’s a wonderful non-judgemental place full of lovely people that are happy to talk openly and freely about what it’s like living with IBS. You can find the group on Facebook here.

With any health issue, professional medical support is always important. Unfortunately for me (and for many other people with IBS) I’ve not been as lucky in this department. Firstly with my GP, I’m onto my third since my diagnosis. Mainly because they have been very flippant about my IBS (the first GP took 3 months and 6 visits to be finally convinced I had IBS and even then said I didn’t need a dietician or Gastro referral).  But this is not the same of all GP’s, IBS is still a much under-researched condition and many old-school GP’s are uneducated about it. Getting the most support out of your GP can be like getting blood from a stone but when you find the right one it really makes the difference. My GP now has finally referred me to a dietician, ensures I get regular blood checks and has put me on the right medication to help with my flare-ups when needed. It’s taken me a long time but I’m finally happy with the support I’m getting from my GP and feel comfortable to go to them with any problem I have that could be related to my IBS.

In terms of my mental health, it’s been a bit of a struggle too. I’ve seen numerous counsellors, tried hypnotherapy and now finally have settled with a CBT therapist. For me my decline in mental health was very much linked to the decline in my physical health. I felt that getting help for one would help the other. The hypnotherapy was great as an emergency therapy – to get me back in control of my mind and body when I was at my most desperate. The counselling was good to help vent my frustrations and get my head around the fact that my life had changed but, again, was more of an short-term support. CBT has been a more sustainable therapy that has taught me skills that will help me continually improve myself and cope in the long term. When it comes to support I’ve found that it’s worth trying anything, especially if you are in a desperate place.

Finally, and most importantly, ME! The best place to look for support is from within. By believing in yourself and your ability to cope you’ll find things are easier. The person who knows you and what you need best is you. Whenever I am having a flare-up I always think “you’ve done this before, you can do it again”. Don’t put yourself down or blame yourself; IBS is not your fault! You should be proud of yourself for doing the things you do and reaching the goals you reach. Focus on the good days and praise yourself for the positive things you’ve achieved. There will be dark days but after the rain always comes the sun ☺

So until next time… stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

Working 9-5

So I recently started a new full-time job. As you can probably agree starting a new job can be exciting and scary for anyone but for those with IBS it can be even more stressful than most. I know when I first got told I had the job my first thought was “how am I going to cope with my IBS at work?” This thought alone can scare anyone off wanting to work altogether. So I wanted to share some of my thoughts and feelings about this new change and how I’m learning to cope with it all.

Firstly…BE HONEST! I told my employer at the interview that I had IBS and was aware that it could affect my working day. Some people might think that’s stupid because they’re never going to hire you if you say that BUT that would be discrimination. IBS can be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, see here for more details. IBS will always be a part of you and that’s something that any employer has to accept. So I think that being open and upfront about it early on will benefit you greater. They may be able to cater to your needs better and be more lenient about certain aspects of the role. Which brings me onto THE COMMUTE.

Now my IBS is usually always worse in the morning so I found myself dreading the idea of trying to commute to my new job with the fear of a flare up hanging over me. So I sat down and made a plan. I worked out the best way of transport that gave me the best chance for comfort (toilet facilities mainly). This may not be the quickest or most direct way but it’s the route that helps put the mind at ease over worrying about avoiding any accidents. My route was to drive to the local train station, around 25 mins, then catch the train to the city, 15 mins, and walk to work, 5 mins. So roughly around an hour door to door (not including waiting times for the train). This was the best option for me as it meant I wasn’t in my car for long driving to the station, I also had toilet facilities there and on the train. Catching the train also meant that I wasn’t sat down for a long time, I could get up and walk instead of being sat in my car stuck in traffic!

So now that I’d worked out HOW I was getting to work I needed to sort out what to do at work to help ease my flare up fears. On my first day I scouted out the nearest toilet to my desk, ensured I had put some spare clothes and medication in my drawer for emergencies and stocked up on peppermint tea to drink. I also made sure the team I was apart of was aware of my situation, thankfully they were all really lovely and supportive about it. I know talking about your IBS can be a really hard thing to do (especially with complete strangers) but I’ve always found the more people understand the better they are at supporting you when the need arises. For example:

A few days ago I felt the beginnings of a flare-up (gurgling and cramping) around 4pm. I had an hour left to go until home time and quite a bit of work to get done. By 4.30pm it was getting rather loud and uncomfortable, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I knew that I’d struggle getting home if it got any worse so I went to my line manager, explained the situation and asked if I could leave early. She very kindly agreed I should go home straight away and assured me it was fine, I could make up the time another day. So by being honest and staying calm I managed to make it home fine and took it easy that night. Woke up the next day feeling better and made into work no worries.

Some good tips for during the working day:

• Stay hydrated – water, peppermint tea etc. Pretty obvious but if you’re sat concentrating for long periods of time you’ll get thirstier than you think!
• Keep moving – get up and stretch your legs every now and again. Being sat down for 8 hours won’t do you any good
• Honesty  – if you find you’re getting too busy and stressed, say something! I’m sure you’re boss doesn’t want you making yourself worse by coping with too much
• Keep calm – if you feel the beginnings of a flareup, don’t panic.

So far I have managed to cope okay at work but I have been finding that while I’m getting used to the new routine my body is rebelling slightly. The weekend after my first week I was exhausted and had really bad fatigue. I’m also having to be a bit more careful about what I eat whilst my gut re-adjusts, which isn’t too difficult as I make my own packed lunches to take with me. It’s still early on yet but I hope that by being honest with my colleagues (and myself) that I don’t have to let my IBS get in the way of my work. I know they’ll be days when my head fog is so bad I won’t be able to concentrate on what I’m doing or a time when I will have to excuse myself from a meeting because I need to go to the toilet but I’m not going to let that stop me.

I hope by sharing my experiences of how I’m learning to cope with a new life change can help. Let me know if you have any other good ideas or any experiences (good and bad) of dealing with your IBS at work. It’s all about re-adjusting, any big life change is going to effect your IBS and that’s just something you have to accept. Try not to worry about what COULD happen. Preparation and good planning helps ease the mind, which in turn eases the gut. I know it’s work but try and enjoy it! Don’t let your IBS get the better of you. You are stronger than this, you can fight it and you can do it! You are not alone…

So until next time… stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

You are what you eat…

I found myself in a situation recently that raised the issue of IBS and diet. When it comes to IBS and food, I find myself getting pretty wound up about what I can and cannot eat. Many people suffering with IBS have adapted their diet to reduce symptoms/prevent flare-ups. Personally I have had to change what and when I eat dramatically. I try to eat regularly throughout the days (roughly every 3 hours) to keep my digestive system running smoothly. I also avoid eating large meals that can overwhelm my gut, especially before bedtime! I’ve had to reduce my caffeine and alcohol intake, which wasn’t too hard as I wasn’t that into either of them. But on a more day-to-day basis I have had to cut out some of my favourite foodstuffs to accommodate my newly recognised intolerances.

Most recently I have embarked on the low-FODMAP diet which is fast becoming the best recommended approach to managing IBS symptoms.  I don’t want to go too heavily into the fodmap diet as that is a whole blog in itself! A quick rundown of what FODMAPS are and how they trigger IBS symptoms can be found here on the Fodmap Friendly website. But basically it is a list of foodstuffs that should be avoided or moderated in order to relieve your symptoms. I am currently in the midst of the re-introduction phase, which means I am working out what my tolerances are to foodstuffs that could upset my gut. It’s a long and frustrating process but I must admit my IBS symptoms are less frequent and less severe since embarking on the diet. But with this diet has come some very upsetting and life-changing issues.

Two of my ‘trigger foods’ (something that is sure to set off a flare-up) is onion and garlic, which sucks because garlic bread is my favourite thing in the world. I have also developed a medium intolerance to lactose – so no cream, milk or yogurts – which has meant I have needed to change to lactose free alternatives. Fortunately I can tolerate butter and hard cheeses as the lactose level is much much lower, I don’t know how I would live without cheddar!!! It has also led to many other foodstuffs being restricted or moderated on a day-to-day basis. Therefore eating out is nearby impossible! Even being invited round to a friend’s for a meal has become a nuisance. It is this aspect of IBS that can be truly upsetting and isolating. Some people have also developed real anxieties over eating and socialising which is not helping them to cope with IBS.

Something that is always being brought up in discussion groups and forums is the attitudes of some people towards these special dietary requirements that IBS patients need. Since I was diagnosed I have found that many friends, and even family members, have started complaining about my inability to eat “anything”. Many jokes are made at the expense of my IBS which can make me feel upset and awkward. As previously mentioned, eating out with IBS is very difficult so I try to avoid it unless I know 100% that there is something on the menu that I can have. This has meant that I have had to turn down invites to social occasions and celebratory meals out, either that or I sit drinking water at the table whilst everyone eats their meal – not ideal really. Even visiting friends and family has become difficult. This is the anti-social side of IBS that the doctors don’t tell you about.

As lovely and kind as my family are they really do struggle to understand how to cater to my dietary needs. I must admit though that my mum is a saint! Every time I go home she buys in lacto-free products and ensures all the family meals she cooks are suitable for me. But as brilliant as this is, I can’t help but feel like a nuisance. I don’t wish to put people out for cooking different meals for me or buying in special products so I usually find myself turning up at a friend or family members’ house with my own pre-prepared meal that I can just warm up and eat. Even though this has helped me feel less awkward it hasn’t stopped the social anxiety around my IBS. It’s hard to make people understand how situation like this make me feel. I have come to completely fear some social situations purely because I am scared what people will say about my eating habits and dietary needs.

As I said earlier I usually find jokes being made at my expense, harmless as they may mean to be some people are really hurtful in their remarks. Either that or I find myself constantly explaining why I can’t eat certain foods, which can feel like a real chore at times. A regular question I am faced with is “so what can’t you eat now?” or “you eating like a normal person yet?” which is both offensive and upsetting. We shouldn’t have to be constantly explaining ourselves and our dietary requirements. People need to be more open and understanding about different dietary needs. There are steps being taken in the right direction, with examples like gluten free options on menus and more free from products being available in the shops; but these are both over-priced and hard to find in some areas.

Restaurants are getting better at being more mindful of dietary requirements but the issue with IBS is that the intolerances you are faced with are not your go-to allergens like gluten, wheat, eggs, molluscs etc. Therefore many restaurants can’t guarantee their menu is free from certain ingredients. I have found this especially true with onion and garlic. Asking your waiter to clarify ingredients on the menu is both embarrassing for you and sometimes annoying for them. I usually find waiters are more than happy to help you adapt a dish on the menu so that it suits your dietary needs but you can’t help but feel like a nuisance constantly sending them back and forth to ask the chef a dozen questions about the ingredients used and the process of cooking them. On a positive note I have found that Pizza Express are fantastic for IBS dietary requirements, it’s my go-to place when all hope is lost in eating out! I can basically make my own pizza on a gluten free base and have no problems whatsoever. They even have dairy-free raspberry sorbet!! So you see dealing with IBS isn’t just about changing what/when I eat but about adapting your lifestyle to accommodate your needs. Why should you be made to feel uncomfortable just because your needs are different to ‘normal’ people? !

So to wrap up…I guess this post was a way for me to raise awareness of how diet changes can affect people living with IBS in such drastic ways. I fear that I will always have an anxiety about eating out and no matter how hard I try will keep getting upset and worked up about going for a meal at a friends. I can only hope that with time people come to accept and understand the importance of these dietary requirements for IBS. In the meantime however I shall have to put on my brave face and keep on advocating by explaining what I can/can’t eat and why. Let me know if you have any experiences of eating out with IBS (good or bad) or with people’s attitudes towards your dietary requirements. Or if you want to know more about FODMAPS…

Until next time… stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

 

Happy Holidays

So I’ve just come back from a weekend away in Dublin with my partner. The trip was my first holiday abroad since being diagnosed with IBS and it’s safe to say I was a little anxious about it. Here’s a quick round up of the issues I came across and how I dealt with them…

Flying – I haven’t been in a plane for years and I’m not the best traveller on a good day so this part of the holiday was definitely my biggest fear. Firstly, booking seats on the flight. We made the rookie error of not booking the seats on our flight so when it came to take off I found myself sat in the middle of the plane with 12 rows of people between me and the toilet. I had prepared for the flight by making the most of the toilets at the gate but I was still anxious about the facilities on the plane. Thankfully I managed to make it to the loos fine as soon as the fasten seatbelt sign went off but found myself stuck behind the food trolley for almost the entire 30 minute flight trying to get back to my seat. NOT GOOD! Lesson for next time? Book your seats close to the front or back of the plane and try to get on the aisle!
Secondly, managing my symptoms. My flight was at lunchtime so I made sure I ate a good breakfast and then fasted until we landed. I also pre-medicated with some tablets to hopefully prevent any upset on the plane. It went really well and besides a few gurgles here and there I managed just fine. This regime of pre-medicating and intermittent fasting seemed to work a treat for me but it was only a short flight so I might need to rethink this for a more long haul trip in the future.

Food – I was only travelling with hand luggage so had to be careful about what I packed. Fortunately UK regulations allow dry, sealed goods in hand luggage so I made sure I had plenty of snacks and essentials for my trip. Good examples can be rice cakes; packet of crisps; chocolate; nuts etc. Whilst in Dublin I found it easy to find free from food stuffs in the local supermarkets and health food shops. Although I found the menus to be much more allergy friendly I still found myself worrying about eating out. As we were self-catering I took the chance to make myself a packed lunch everyday and cooked in most nights. I did however find a great sushi bar which did my favourite dish (cucumber maki) and gluten free soy sauce so that was a successful meal out! I will always be anxious about eating out whether at home or abroad and I know this is something I need to work on. But I urge people to be trusting of the chefs/waiters and tell them your dietary requirements… 9/10 times they will be happy to tailor the menu to suit your needs.

Toilets – Public toilet facilities leave much to be desired in the UK so I was concerned that it would be the same in Ireland. I was also aware that my RADAR key would possibly not work for disabled toilets out of the UK so I found myself being extra cautious about where I went. Ensuring we scouted out the facilities as soon as we went anywhere helped ease my worries and I actually never felt that I was without access to a loo anywhere in the city. There are always bars and cafes that have facilities if you just ask. Many say that their toilets are for “customers only” but I’ve found that explaining your situation to a member of staff usually helps and they let you use the toilets without having to buy anything.

Fatigue – This isn’t really a holiday related issue but I found that because I was on my feet walking around for most of the day I got tired much faster than usual. In this case, I would just take a quick pit-stop and have a peppermint tea or a snack to help give me that energy boost. Don’t try and overdo it, holidays are supposed to be relaxing after all.

So there’s a quick flick through my holiday snapshots… overall it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had worried about and I found the more I relaxed into my holiday and enjoyed myself the easier my symptoms were to deal with. My top tip for travelling with IBS then is to RELAX and BREATHE. On our last day I found myself with a slight flare up of my IBS but I didn’t let that ruin my holiday, I just tried to accept it and carry on. I wasn’t ready to let my symptoms ruin my weekend away! The experience have definitely helped my anxieties about travelling abroad and hopefully next time I will feel a bit more adventurous and go that little bit further from home. Now tell me your IBS travelling stories! If anyone has any top tips about flying with IBS or any other ideas about managing symptoms abroad then please do share with me! We shouldn’t let our IBS ruin our happy holidays, everyone deserves a little bit of relaxation sometimes!

Until next time… stay happy, stay healthy and remember it’s NOT JUST IBS!

L x

 

IBS Network Conference 2016

Just a quick note today about an event I attended in April this year. In my previous post I mentioned the IBS Network charity that focus on aiding patients with IBS and other gut health issues. On April 16th, they organised a fantastic event in Sheffield bringing together IBS patients and healthcare professionals to discuss IBS and what is going on in the research field.
The day was held as a type of conference with many speakers covering a range of topics including: diet; ‘what is IBS?’; personal tesitmonials and even a cooking demonstration of delcious IBS friendly recipes. A good summary of the days events are available on the IBS Network’s blog written by the charity’s chair, Nick Read. Available here. All of this was available for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! A free event, with even lunch provided, for any IBS patient to attend.

I just wanted to raise attention to events like this and their ability to improve awareness of IBS and give us patients a voice to show people what living with IBS is really like. SO many people are suffering in silence and it’s time we gave them their lives back. When I was first diagnosed I was in a pretty bad place. I was lucky enough to have a great network of support to help me learn to deal with the huge life changes IBS needed me to do. Let’s hope more events like this will start to happen in the future so more people can be reached.

As a direct result of attending this conference I’ve decided to set up a self-help group for people living with IBS and other gut health issues. I want to be able to share my experiences with people to help them and learn in turn from others so we can work together to live our lives to the fullest. With the help from the IBS Network, I’m hoping to get this started soon so keep your fingers crossed!

If you are looking for somewhere to share your experiences of living with IBS then why not set up your own self-help group too. The IBS Network are always looking for keen volunteers to help spread the word and improve self-care for all IBS patients all over the country! Just take a look at their fantastic website here.

 

Me and my IBS

I suppose I should start with telling you about my story of living with IBS.

My symptoms started in July 2015 after a bout of gastroenteritis. I’ve always had a sensitive stomach and suffered with many gastro-related issues throughout my life so I guess this just pushed me over the edge and turned into full blown IBS.

My symptoms started as gas and bloating followed by incredibly painful cramps. This developed into a almost constant ache with a very active bowel. I was working at the time and found that I spent more and more time in the staff toilets. After a few weeks of this I went to the doctors who dismissed it as appendicitis and told me to go to hospital. 8 hours and many tests, x-rays and doctors prodding me later I was told there was nothing wrong and sent on my way. This was when I set off to do my own research.

My grandma suffers with IBS and was the first person to suggest I look it up. I’d never really heard of it until then. I knew that my grandma would get pains and other symptoms but I put this down to her very complex medical history of other Gut-related health issues. After many days of research and talking with other IBS patients I returned to my GP fully armed with all the information I needed to ensure I received the right treatment this time. After explaining all my symptoms and research I’d undertaken my doctor agreed it was IBS, gave me a prescription for mebeverine and sent on my way again. No referrals for gastroenterology specialist or dietitians. After talking to fellow IBS patients I’ve found this is quite a similar situation that many of us have been left in.

In a quest for answers about how to live with this new found condition of mine I  discovered the IBS Network, a charity dedicated to patients suffering with the condition. For a small annual fee, they provide many services including a helpline, doctor’s Q&A, symptom tracker and a wealth of information on self-care.So after reading through all the brilliant information from the website I embarked on my self-care management plan immediately!

I registered for counselling sessions/hypnotherapy, created a plan of gentle exercises such as pilates and yoga, amended my diet and eating habits as well as changing my general lifestyle to work around my flare-ups. I found that over a few months my symptoms eased slightly and my flareups became less frequent and not as crippling. But it still effects my day-to-day life in almost every way imaginable. It’s been a huge challenge (of which I’m still battling everyday) but I’d like to think that in time it will get easier. I will still have bad days and flare-ups that put my out of action for a few days but in the long run I’ll be able to function at an almost ‘normal’ level.

So that’s a quick introduction to my story of IBS. Not the whole story but enough to (hopefully) help you understand where I am coming from. It’s not all doom and gloom but there have been some very bad moments as well as moments of pure bliss. Just your regular person with their burdens to bear. Hopefully this blog will help relieve the pains and stresses of these burdens while telling people the truth about what life is really like with IBS.

Getting started…

After a particularly bad weekend of dealing with an IBS flare-up I decided to start this blog as a way of ranting about my frustrations…a type of therapy if you like! Most of what I’ll be writing may be complete and utter trash but if it helps me learn to cope better with my condition then it’s worth doing. If i can help other people learn to cope better then that is a great bonus.

So here goes…