Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | I need advice about morning problems with my IBS

Hi to both of you. This is a common problem with IBS'ers..especially the d. Before finding this site, I avoided all sorts of appointments, etc. in the morning b/c I would need a chance to have d for a few hours, take immodium, and give it a chance to work. I am a stay at home mom now but prior I was teaching also and made many stops along the way or was particularly feeling bad if I had an early meeting or something. Driving my son to school, I've had to stop right down the street in my development at a port-a-potty a bunch of times and just lock the door with my kids inside b/c it was so urgent.

So I can definitely relate. I'm not sure what either of you are doing as far as the diet and or acacia or another supplement, but here are a few things that worked for me:

1. You can take one immodium the evening before and then one when you arise so you may have to go but it will more likely be controllable.

2. Get EVERYTHING that you possibly can ready the evening before so that you reduce ANY stress, even if you don't perceive it as stressful.

3. Eat something soluble upon waking. I used to starve myself until mid-day when the d subsided b/c I was scared to death to eat anything, but then I started to understand Heather's explanation the their needs to be something in your system to "grip" and keep it calm so it doesn't spasm. For me, oatmeal works, but in the beginning, I made some IBS friendly rice pudding or had even plain graham crackers to give myself a base.

4. GIVE UP COFFEE! You didn't mention you had any in the AM, but avoid it completely from your diet. I am a HUGE coffee lover...cappucino and all, but now I drink SOYFEE which is an awesome replacement. I don't drink tea so this gives me the psychological benefit of having "coffee" in the morning.

5. *I strongly suggest taking a soluble fiber supplement if you are not already doing so. I started with fibercon (yes, was sooo scared thinking it was a laxative) but it absorbs the water in your colon as Heather explains and if you go it will be less likely d or so urgent. I switche to acacia and I still take it daily in the AM mixed in my soyfee as a preventative. Sometimes if I have to go somewhere and my stomach is nervous or rumbling, I have a 1/2 and oatmeat packet with water and acacia even if it's later in the day. Oatmeal may not agree with you but have an SFS and some italian bread or 1/2 a banana instead.

6. Don't eat late the night before.

7. Get a good night's sleep.

8. Try hypno and or an AD. I got about 60% stable on Heather's diet and the acacia, then I did the hypno and started taking lexapro which really helped me stabablize. You may not think that it is the stress or anxiety but it is a vicious cycle b/c it may not start out that way (ie., you go the first few times b/c it is diet related, but then you get nervous that you won't make it to school, etc...then you keep going a third, fourth, fifth time b/c the stress is exacerbating it.)

Well, I hope this helps. I know that it is sheer torture going anywhere in the AM when you have this. Just knowing I had an AM activity used to make me have belly flips, but now it is only for the "big" events in my life. This Sept. I had a set back with anxiety when I started needing to walk my son to the bus stop (right up the street!!!) b/c I was afraid I'd have to go and then how could I leave him, what would I say, what would I do with my younger daughter,etc....as a result I started getting d and or multiple bms in the AM just like you described...okay until RIGHT BEFORE I'd need to leave. So I started listening to some more hypno sessions again, and watched my diet more closely and then once the situation became more familiar, it passed. I truly hope you feel better. Take these steps and you can do it!

--------------------
Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator