Planning a quick trip, need advice from fellow IBS control freaks on planning details! (long)
#255366 - 03/30/06 11:42 AM
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Blondie13
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 641
Loc: Sheffield, England
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Hi
Hopefully if you're reading this, you're the same as me - you're not stable (or used not to be), and you've had so many bad IBS experiences that if you do do something out of the ordinary you plan ahead every single detail... (I was already like that pre-IBS on clothes, etc, to take on holiday, but now I need to plan for my IBS).
Some of you might now I am not at all stable - I have left the house only 4 times in 3 months. I am really low / depressed, and anxiety/stress cause many of my attacks. (quick update - I went to the docs again on Tuesday, and she upped my amitripylene dosage (from 20mg to 50mg), put me on mebeverine (anti-spasmodic) and gave me codeine for those times the pain stops me sleeping, or is just really intense. It knocks you out though so for nighttime only really. I also got my tummy fiber yesterday, and started taking it this morning.)
Anyways, next weekend it is the UK Ice Hockey Playoff Finals weekend, to which I go every year. This is the first time since I was diagnosed with IBS. It is in Nottingham, which is only 30 mins from where we live, but as there are 2 games on the Saturday and 1 on the Sunday afternoon we always stay in a hotel which is a 10 min tram ride away from the arena.
Usual schedule - meet in the pub at the hotel for lunch, tram to arena, watch first game, wander to McDonalds for tea, watch second game. Head back to hotel, drinks in the pub, then the whole group of us heads back to one of our rooms where we have a pre-prepared picnic of all foods non-IBS safe! Next day it's a lie-in til midday, lunch in the pub again, then we drive to the arena for the Sunday game, leave the car in a nearby car park, watch the game, then drive home.
So... for someone who barely leaves the house and definitely ISN'T stable, this is quite a task! So, I was thinking of ways to make it easier - such as eating very safely for a few days before the event (how many days?), making some IBS safe snacks that I can fit in a large-ish handbag for through Saturday afternoon and evening (me and my boyfriend will go to a local cafe when everyone else does McD's and I'll have a baked potato I think), and items I can take for the picnic, but also stuff that will last til Sunday afternoon as nibbles - as other than bottled water the arena won't sell anything safe, etc etc.
We'll eat at home the Saturday lunchtime before we meat everyone at the pub, so I guess I'll have a potato or something, but really need everyone's advice on stuff to take / what to do. This is a massive event for me, which is really embarrassing coming from someone who used to travel the world on a weekly basis...   I'm so determined to make it go ok. 
I've already created my 'worst case IBS' pouch to go in my handbag - personal loo roll, hand sanitizer, immodium, nurofen, Windeze (simethicone) and spare pants. I've never needed any of it bar the meds so far, but it makes me more comfortable always having it with me! It's so mortifyingly embarrassing sharing this, but really need everyone's help.
So, long post finished! Any help appreciated! Feel free to email me if your ideas for preparing etc are embarrassing also and you don't particularly want to post them...
Hugs,
Caroline x
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http://ibsblondie13.blogspot.com/
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I'd take a few Immodium as a preventative before you go out and if you get a little nervous during the event, hell, take some more  I'd bring some safe crackers or pretzels to snack on, as well as some bottled water. Got any muscle-relaxers? I know it sounds crazy, but when I was at my worst with the anxiety about going out, my doc gave me some Xanax to take the edge off. It got my mind off my stomach which helped me to enjoy what I was doing.
Just try to not dwell on the "what ifs" and that horrible nagging fear of an attack. (Harder said than done I know.) You sound like you have all you need in the event of an attack. But, I am a believer that if you worry too much that you'll have one that you actually will. Good luck!!
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Hi Caroline- this is definitely do-able. I was diagnosed two weeks and unstable when I went to a big hurling match and I went laid down with foods, even though I wasn't going overnight.
Stuff some of these into your overnight bag:
-Snack sized bags of pretzels (available in M&S and Boots, about the same size as a pack of Walkers)
-Bananas
-Babyfood! Seriously Cow&Gate do lovely baby desserts in plastic pots like that look like yogurt and once you peel the lid off there is no branding, I like the Apple & Banana and Apple & Pear ones.
-Luna Bars (if you bought them from that website) are great as they are safe and filling
-Rice Cakes-Kallo do a snack pack set with honey that are nice and come in two packs so they are good for handbags
-Peppermint teabags
-A turkey roll for the first day. Most Spar shops etc with a deli counter will sort you out with a turkey roll that you can chew on while everyone else is eating hotdogs!
-I do fine with Go Ahead Apple Bake bars too (even though I think they do have some small amount of dairy in them)
Have a great time, and keep an eye on where the loos are!
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S.
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I would take a few immodium the day or night before and take a one or a few that morning as preventatives. I always do that when I know I have to be somewhere.
I also pack an emergency pack - for just in case.
I will also share this bit of embarrassing info- when I am at my worst and really anxious I buy those POISE (panty Cutlottes) or whatever name brand you have there and wear those. They are like a diaper for bladder control issues for if you pee on yourself. But I used them to help give me peace of mind when I travel. It is a little degrading and humilating but it helped make me not so anxious. 
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My Advice
#255559 - 03/31/06 11:59 AM
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belinda
Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 474
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Given your situation, my recommendations are as follows:
1. Since Nottingham is just 30 minutes away, don't stay overnight. Sleep at your own place Saturday evening and return to Nottingham on Sunday.
2. Buy yourself an insulated lunch container and some freezer packs. Or get yourself a cooler with some ice bags.
3. On Saturday morning prepare yourself some fresh sandwiches and other food that you can eat and put it in your lunch container or cooler, with the freezer/ice bags. Bring something to drink too. Pack enough IBS food to last you the day. Do the same on Sunday. A good insulated lunch container, with ample freezer bags, should be able to keep your food cool for hours. I often travel from Toronto to San Francisco with connecting flights and the food in my insulated lunch container is still cool 12 hours later.
4. Eat your food in a quiet place with a washroom nearby! Eat small amounts often so you don't overtax your system with too much at once. Eating too much at once can trigger an IBS attack.
5. Don't eat anything at the pub or MacDonalds, etc. no matter how tempting it may be.
I always bring my own food and I deal with events that are out-of-town by either staying at a place with a kitchenette where I can prepare my own food or at a friend's place with a kitchen. Otherwise I go home for the evening and make my own food there.
Although you may not want to give up staying overnight at Nottingham, and you may want to eat out, I think you will find, if you follow my advice, that your panic and stress over attending this event will be greatly reduced ... and maybe you'll actually be able to enjoy the games!
E-mail me if you need more assistance. I've travelled to England many times. If I didn't have a cooler available, I simply packed a can of Waitrose water-packed tuna in my purse and, then, for lunch I would buy a plain jacket potato at a Debenham's Department Store cafeteria (there's one in every UK town it seems!) or another place and I would dump the canned tuna contents on the potato. Not very appetizing, but I didn't go hungry and I didn't get sick and it enabled me to take day trips all around England without having to worry about keeping food cool.
Belinda
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I'm going to warn you first off. What I do may not be really all that healthy but.. when it comes to trips this is what I usually do.
THe night before the trip I would eat very early in the evening (at least 3-5 hours before bed kind of thing) that way if i'm going to have an attack it will be before i'm trying to sleep. I would ibs safe foods like say, toast and chicken noodle soup or maybe some hard boiled eggs (don't eat the yokes though)
The next day if I can help it, I won't eat anything before we are actually on the road and if I do have to eat something so as my insides aren't eatting themselves. Plain pringles (do you get those in the uk?) and pretzels. I only drink water durring this time. Once there I again eat safe things, usually for me thats plain chicken breast with rice or something. Sometimes all I eat for about two or three days on a trip is prezels. Also I would drink lots of peppermint tea (every ones bodies are different and everyone has different triggers but this is just what I end up doing.) It sucks because there are alot of things i would love to be able to do on trips but most of the time thats just not going to be able to happen... Hope you have fun and I hope this helps even just a little bit.. (a little note from someone who has worked at Macdonalds.. I don't suggest eatting or drinking anything from there if you aren't feeling the least bit stable.. but again thats just my opinion.
And something else that has really helped my mind, when i'm having an attack i'm ibs-d and well.. (forgive me for being crude for a moment) but i do not like the idea of wiping so many times my bum feels like it is on fire. At home I have a thing of baby wipes by the toilet at all times but on the road (and something i keep in my purse at all times no matter what) are flushable wipes with aloe. It soothes a little bit so at least it doesn't have to feel like wiping with public toilet sandpaper..
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Hey- I wanted to know how your trip went? Was it this past weekend?
I hope everything went well.
Cindy
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Hi Cindy
Thanks for checking in with me!  No, the trip is this weekend. So fingers crossed please!
So far my plan is this:
Sat - eat lunch at home, and meet the rest of the group at the arena instead of the pub at our hotel. Will have had a plain bagel for breakfast, and a plain jacket potato for lunch. Will be taking a coolbox to leave in the car, and have bought a new handbag today (actually went shopping, for first time in months!! ) that will let me fit a smallish plastic box in. In my box both days will be sandwiches [made from gluten/wheat/yeast free bread (see my other post on my food intolerance results... ), dairy free soya spread, dairy free cheese slices and turkey slices], Fudgey Brownies [from recipe index - made them this week and everyone ADORED them, all thought they were nicest brownies ever, so gonna make a couple of batches to take with me in the coolbox so others can try them later too], home-made potato crisps with just a little olive oil and salt or plain Walkers Lites [depending on time] and some jelly candies [Haribo jellys]. That should see me through the times where everyone is stuffing their faces with yummy stuff I can't have!
Sat evening after the 2 semi finals we're eating at the pub at the hotel (mainly to make it easier for me, even though there's a group of around 25 ), and I'm sure I can ask for some plain chicken and potatoes.
Sunday morning I'll have another plain bagel for breakfast, my second batch of sandwiches etc for lunch, and snacks for through the afternoon/evening.
So... Fingers crossed all will be well!! Also bought some new jeans today, that are nice and loose on my tum, and a couple of new tops to hopefully give me a welcome confidence boost. Got my meds all sorted in a new cute little pouch to go in my handbag (currently in a see-through pouch, so I see my meds every time I go in my handbag, which is a bit depressing) and all my other bits and bobs. Everyone talked about their own 'embarrassing' little things they did, and I will also be wearing sanitary towels for the whole weekend. In the event of the accident they'd probably do nothing, but as I think it was you who said - they give me peace of mind.
The whole thing makes me feel a bit pathetic at worst, but slightly in control at best.
So, watch this space for an update Sunday night, and keep your fingers crossed!!
Caroline x
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http://ibsblondie13.blogspot.com/
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Caroline-
You are so organised that this trip is bound to be a success.
Maybe mention to the hotel that you will need boiled potatoes (as mash will be full of butter/cream) in advance, or white rice (or check their menu online if poss) as you have planned so well that you don't want it all thrown upside down by them.
Good work on the shopping too, I could do with hitting the shops, and I adore handbags so am very jealous of your new one.
Have a fantastic time.
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S.
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Well good for you hun! I know I feel so much more secure when I have things planned out and I know what I am going to be doing! ANd dont feel the least bit pathetic-- because we have to do what we have to do - so we can get out there and live our lives. We arent living it for others. So do whatever it takes to get out and about! I am so proud of ya. I know you will have an amazing time. Most of the time I find once I get out somewhere and I know where the bathroom is- I relax and have a great time.
Good luck!
Cindy
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Well, there were good bits and bad bits, so here's the update...
SATURDAY
- Had to leave the house at 12noon, so got up at 8.30am so I could take my first Immodium plenty early enough, and take my time getting ready.
- Took Immodium at 8.30, 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30. Somehow just before 12noon I managed to have D! And it was so violent - for first time ever I seemed to burst a blood vessel, as was bleeding when I wiped. Not nice... Had only eaten a plain bagel with a smidgen of soya spread for breakfast.
- Stuck on toilet pooing til 12.40, which meant we were really late (my teams semi-final game started at 1pm), but tum was so bad on the way (I was literally crying from the pain and feeling like I was going to just 'do it' in the car) I ran straight into the arena toilets, and stayed there til the start of the 2nd period - missed a goal from my team. Was somehow still doing BM's, though more solid now, even though I'd eaten very lightly for 3 days prior, and had being going plenty.
- Came out at the start of the 2nd period, great as my team were winning, and turns out my family and friends had organised it so I had a seat just yards from where you went out onto concourse, and I had an aisle seat so I could come and go as I needed to. Relief and gratitude nearly made me cry again! Managed to watch rest of game, just spending the period breaks in toilet as a 'just in case', as the queues were so long I knew if I wasn't in there I'd panic and need to go.
- There is usually a long gap between the 2 Saturday semi-finals, but because one of our players got very nastily injured (still in hospital, not good) we only had 40 mins, which meant most of stayed in the arena - perfect for me! They all got hot dogs and stuff, I sat and had my packed lunch - 2 sandwiches with soya spread and dairy-free cheese, and a fudgey brownie made with acacia powder).
- 2nd game all went fine, only spent one period break in toilet this time as felt safe enough to stay out. However, tum 'went' near the end, and after the game finished I was in the toilet for half an hour, with my boyfriend and a friend waiting outside for me, as I was driving us back to the hotel. Also got lost on way, which made journey twice as long and I kept freaking out!
- Got back to hotel, had another BM despite taking 2 more Immodium through the afternoon. Our group (bout 25 of us) had made reservations at what I thought was the pub adjoining the hotel, (nice relaxed atmostphere, next to toilets), but there turned out to be a massive hotel, on 3 floors, behind the pub - and of course we were sat on the 3rd floor, no toilets other than those downstairs next to the pub! Despite being in pain agian by this point I managed to sit there for a while, ordered a plain baked potato, drank just water, and started to feel ok. After a whlie got so engrossed in conversation forgot all about it. It was this point I made my fatal mistake... Like a complete DUMBASS I thought 'what the hell', and ordered a slice of cheesecake. Such an idiot... Eat 3 mouthfuls then BANG! Instant searing pain in my stomach. I had to race downstairs, immediate explosive D. My BF was waiting outside, and he had my phone, so I had to make a run for it to explain. I then went up to room, and sat on toilet for an hour with D. Silly girl... Still stunned it happened after so many Immodium???
- Called it a day at this point. Usually at this point we all go to one persons room for a picnic, for which I'd packed safe foods, but because of all the delays it was really late and no-one fancied it, so my early exit didn't matter in the end - everyone else went up ten mins later.
- Had a rubbish night's sleep, up 4 times to use toilet. Lots of painful wind, felt sick. Grrr... 
SUNDAY
- Set alarm for 9.30, but snoozed til 10.30 like a muppet - had to leave room at midday. So took my first 2 Immodium at 10.30, one at 11.00, one at 11.30. Just before midday - explosive D again!!! I'm like "How the hell?". Everyone else checked out to go eat in the pub this time, the final (which my team were in) started at 3. Jamie (bf) went down to reception and told her I was having an 'IBS episode' and she was great - said to take as long as I needed. So while they all ate I sat on the toilet feeling miserable, and still having BMs - even today I have no idea where it all came from?!! They actually sent someone to check on me about 1.15 bless 'em, and asked if I needed anything. Why is it I feel the receptionist had IBS?
- Still felt shaky, so took 3 Lomatil, which Jamie is on at the moment. That seemed to sort me out, and started to feel loads better. Left hotel at 1.45, got to arena at 2, sat in toilet for half an hour. Came out to have a sandwich and pack of Walkers Lites, then back in til face off. Made it through whole game ok, using toilet in the breaks. Unfortunatley my team, despite being 1 goal up, lost 2-1, but not to a team we have a rivalry with so didn't sting as much as it usually would...
- Me and Jamie left while the trophy was being awarded to miss the rush. Home 20 mins later.
So... Weekend was a mixed success! Good - made it through in one piece, everyone was really great and understanding, saw plenty of hockey, caught up with people i haven't seen in months, etc etc. Bad - kept having BMs and D even though taking plenty of Immodium, was in severe pain a couple of times, missed some of the hockey, didn't have much time with friends.
When I got home I was so exhausted, my skin was literally tingling from being so tired! But considering I've barely left the house for months it's not really a surprise... Had a good nights sleep, but still feel tired today, and got SO MUCH wind, because of taking so many anti-d's over the weekend I guess.
Right, I'll shut up now...
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http://ibsblondie13.blogspot.com/
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for you? Going so much despite having so much Immodium and even Lomotil? There are times when I have to go a lot, not really D but just volumes and Immodium doesn't really help that much, but an Lomotil after awhile will stop the madness. Do you think you were fighting a stomach bug on top of everything? BTW...cheesecake or icecream would send me running to the toilet every time! But...I know how you feel, after having all that Immodium in my system, sometimes I get brave.
HUGS,
Sandy
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Hi Sandy
It's definitely possible I've been carrying a stomach bug too, as have been feeling sick - which is only normally a symptom if I am in really, really severe pain.
The BM's did eventually stop once I'd taken Lomotil - so maybe Immodium just (eventually) stopped the D, but the BM's continued until I'd taken Lomotil. My doc won't prescribe Lomotil for anyone as they've found it causes more problems than it solves, but my BF always has some as he's having stomach problems of his own - so I use them as sort of a 'emergency backup plan', for when Immodium doesn't work.
I've often wondered - is Immodium just supposed to ease D, or control BM frequency? I'd like to know more about how it works, to help me use it better.
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http://ibsblondie13.blogspot.com/
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very wisely it seems and it helps them with both D and BM frequency. I wonder sometimes if I have built up an immunity to it somehow. I don't use it that much but enough I guess. My doctor prescribed Lomotil for me even before he knew I had IBS and thought it would help. I haven't taken it that much but use it as an emergency thing. I feel better just carrying it around with me. Only a fellow IBS sufferer would understand that!
I've had a few very stable days where it seems no matter what I eat, I haven't had any problems. I'm waiting for the shoe to drop. Maybe it won't?
I'd do a search on Immodium as I'm sure you'll get lots of info!
Sandy
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[color:blue] [/color] Hi: I just got home from seeing my gastro doctor. This past Saturday had to be the most humiliating day of my life. I was finally diagnosed with IBS after suffering over 18 months of diahreah(sp), not being able to go, having stomach cramps, etc. If you have IBS you know what I am talking about. My doctor said that I can use 1/4 -1/2 to 1 entire immodium every day if need be or as needed for the diahreah and it's not habit forming and I don't think you can become immune to it either. Getting back to this past Saturday. I had the worst case of IBS that I have ever had. I ended up having a terrible accident in my panties and I was in tears, and was in total humiliation but there was nothing I could do. I now don't go out the door without my lactaid tablets. If I am going to a party and you know there's going to be cheese or dairy of some kinds pop those lactaid tablets. You can take up to 4 I believe. I would rather take them then have to suffer and die of embarassment. No one knew what happened to me except my mom and my husband. I have had every test known to man kind and I had to basically narrow the symptoms down myself and also talking with a few other people and seeing that they eat organic foods I came to believe and have been 100% diagnosed with full blown IBS. It sucks, but there is nothing I can do about it but change the way I eat and think about food. I will not allow it to rule or run my life I have to be prepared and think ahead. ;)
Lots of luck to you. If you don't have a Gastroenterologist I suggest you get one and have a colonoscopy, sigmoid and lower gi done to rule out anything else and to make sure you don't have cancer of the colon. I am clean and free of all that. I just have IBS.
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Try adding more fiber to your diet this will absorb excess water. You can take up to 4 immodium I believe but please consult your doctor first.
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I tried taking these to be able to eat dairy, and I still had attacks. As Heather's diet states, stay away from dairy entirely!
Have you started the diet and found some relief from it? And yeah, I use Immodium too and haven't noticed myself getting 'immune' to it or anything.
Kat
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Kat
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Sorry to hear you had so much IBS-troubles. Do you normally take Immodium while at home? Just wondering if it's possible to take too much that it upsets you. Immodium should help both with frequency/urgency and D.
Kat
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Kat
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Aww. I am sorry you suffered D and lots of BM's! But hey you made it and you did it. You should be soo proud! When I read your update my heart went out to you. I have been in those situations soo many times. You handled yourself so well! Because of my anxiety about my IBS and D attacks I let myself get really upset when I have those horrible D attacks when I am out and about.
You did so good though. You stayed and you did what you had planned! You are tough
Immodium usually makes my BM's more solid. A lot of times I still have lots of BM's it just takes away some of the urgency. I think a lot of your D and BM's though were because of stress. I think when you get really stressed no matter what you take or how you eat you will still suffer with attacks. I think the way to get over that just to keep putting yourself out there and eventually it wont affect you as much.
Congrats on getting out this past weekend!
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Hi Angel. Yeah, been there, done that - diagnosed with severe post-infection IBS in August last year. Lovely!
It is a hard thing to learn, but try to think of it as a positive thing - at least you now know what the problem is, and you can start to make changes. Have you tried doing Heather's diet? I've not been on it long enough to know yet whether it's making significant changes, but after a few weeks I did have my first 'normal' BM - which is a massive achievement for me, and hopefully a sign of things to come!
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http://ibsblondie13.blogspot.com/
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