When do attacks occur?
#47180 - 02/29/04 11:38 AM
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jamaxx
Reged: 02/29/04
Posts: 12
Loc: Albany, NY
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Hi. I'm new here and have a question. When you eat something that bothers your IBS-D, when do you feel it? Can it be immediately afterwards, several hours later, the next morning, etc. When I get crampy and have to run to the bathroom, I'm wondering what it was that made me feel that way. Something from breakfast, last night, yesterday. How do you know? Any advice would be helpful! Thanks
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Your best bet is to Break the Cycle to get yourself stable, then start adding things back in to see what's triggering you. It would help if you kept a food journal too.
I've had attacks from some things as I was clearing the dishes from the meal, up to 2 days later. So, it all depends on the trigger - there can be quick triggers and delayed triggers. 
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It Varies
#47188 - 02/29/04 12:21 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi jamaxx,
The answer is all of the above: "immediately afterwards, several hours later, [or] the next morning." Now I can usually tell what caused it because by now I know what I can and can't eat. However, at first it was pretty much trial-and-error.
If I have too much percentage of fat in one meal, my attack may not occur until the next day. But if I have a salad -- even with a soluble fiber beforehand -- the attack will be immediate.
A good tool to determine what has caused your attack is a food diary. I've been keeping one for several years now (I'm on volume 6 so far). I list the item I consume, the time, the amount, and the reaction. I could tell you what my poop was like on any given day at any given time for the past 2 years. Fascinating reading, eh?
It really has helped me figure out what caused my attacks. Many times I would be doubled over and wonder WHY -- then I turned to my food diary, and bingo bango there it was, something I had eaten or drank the day before -- and forgotten about! That diary kept me from making the same mistake twice.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I totally agree with Bev. My attacks also vary in length of time from the cause. A food diary was the only way I could figure it out too.
Good luck and welcome!! This board is awesomely wonderful -- keep coming back!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hey Mags, I gotcha beat -- how about in the middle of dinner in a fancy restaurant, three trips to the ladies room. Talk about embarrassing! 
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Gotcha Both Beat
#47211 - 02/29/04 03:29 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Laura, how about in the middle of dinner in a fancy restaurant, three trips to the ladies room, on your birthday, and everyone is waiting at the table with a birthday cake for you, while you're sitting on the pot, doubled over with cramps?! And when you do return to the table, there's a cake, waiting for you, and it's your fave -- chocolate, with chocolate frosting!
I've never been so sick.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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You know just reading about someone else's nightmare IBS attacks I feel so much less alone! Thanks everyone for sharing so much.
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Quote:
Hey Mags, I gotcha beat -- how about in the middle of dinner in a fancy restaurant, three trips to the ladies room. Talk about embarrassing!
How about being at a fancy restaurant AND you are stuck at a table upstairs ALL the way in the back, and once you have to RUN to the ladies room, you have to go through the dining room you're in, downstairs, through two more dining rooms, down another flight of stairs, through two more dining rooms, then way in the back - all while trying not to do "the walk". Yeah, you know the walk I'm talking about. 
Not that I'm trying to compete or anything! LOL But, I'll never forget that obstacle course. I swear I was the furthest distance from that ladies room I could possibly be. LOL
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You Win - nt
#47225 - 02/29/04 04:38 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I am so glad I joined this board. I dealt with the IBS mess for so many year feeling like I was alone in this. I can't believe how good it is to talk to other people who are in the same boat. Yes I know the walk well. That hunched over, grimmaced look on face LOOONNNG walk to the bathroom. It seems no matter how careful I am in restaurants asking all the right questions the waiter/waitress just doesn't know everything and guesses and sometimes there is a little butter or MSG on something you'd never suspect and bam, crampola time.
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My worst wasn't a fancy restaurant (although it has happened). My worst was on a trip, met up with a really cute german exchange student. We were having lunch and it did not agree with me, excused myself and used the washroom, for a long time. I think I feel better, we hang out and talk for a bit more and then we leave, just as we're driving out of the parking lot I get that "uh oh" feeling in my stomach. Go back and park, do "the walk" back into the restaurant while my date waits in the car, and I'm in there in pain for another 20 minutes. She was really good about it, but still, it sucked.
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The walk
#47246 - 02/29/04 05:54 PM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Oh I so get this. It's definitely one for the school of funny walks! You guys just crack me up.  Love you loads!
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Ha! Amateurs!
#47300 - 03/01/04 11:13 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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How about a second date with a really cute and smart guy you've had your eye on for months...
I've always been able to tolerate a beer or two in the past. He offered me a Belgian Wheat Beer. Sure, I say, thinking: thank goodness I had some bread in the car on the way here! Yay, another good tip from Heather.
Just one, I say, and smile. We toast, we drink, we chat, we flirt, we walk to a nearby tapas restaraunt. We order 2 tapas each (I pick things that are IBS friendly. What a "good doobie" I am, I think.)
We're talking. We're chatting. UH OH...
I get a familiar feeling...
I excuse myself politely and do "the walk"  (I love it!) to the bathroom. It's a tiny 2-staller and both stalls are full. Nice. I wait, trying to breathe slowly and calmly.
I finally get in to "do my thing" and realize it's much much MUCH worse than I thought. I'm doubled over. Tears running down my cheeks. The 2 staller is no longer the lovely place it had been before I entered! I'm panicky, sweaty, and want to vomit. 15 minutes later I emerge, embarrassed, to apologize to my date (whom I had not told about my IBS before the date!). I made a brief explanation and decline any more alcohol (that he had considerately ordered for me while I was gone!).
Not 3 minutes later.... UH OH...
I realize at this point I am screwed. It's the first of 4 more visits (at 10 miutes a pop!) to the little teeny bathroom. On this 2nd visit, more tears. On the third visit I make a panicked call to my best friend 'cause I'm convinced I will die in this potty! How on earth am I going to drive the 1 hour home!? (IBS-Ders, you know the feeling, I'm sure!? That "let me make my will out now, 'cause I'm not gonna make it out of here alive PANIC!)
When I finally came out the last time (3 hycosamine later), I was a little more under control. The last thing I wanted to do was eat, but I tried to be polite. After dinner, we had to walk back to his place, where I made my excuses and went home. Made it home ok, but slept for 2 days.
By the way, the 3rd time I emerged from the bathroom, the waiter and my date are conversing and the waiter expresses concern. Even asked if the food were the problem. Oy!
(Yes, my date actually asked me out again! Can you believe it!?  )
PS: This was my first indication that quite possibly wheat and I are not the friends I believed us to be!
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Yup, Bev, you got me beat on that one. Boy, that must have really sucked. (Can we use that word here??!!)
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Yeah, I know the walk well! My mom just had to do "the walk" on the beach last week during my visit. She didn't quite make it and was SOOOO embarrassed, bless her heart. This dd is so frustrating.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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All these "the walk" stories remind me of that Imodium commercial - the one with the girl with the headphones doing "the walk"!
Jen - yes, I think we are amateurs compared to you. I'm glad the guy asked you out again. 
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Quote:
Yeah, I know the walk well! My mom just had to do "the walk" on the beach last week during my visit. She didn't quite make it and was SOOOO embarrassed, bless her heart. This dd is so frustrating.
Laura - you're poor mom. I have not quite made it myself once, and can relate to how embarrassing it is. Got to love the wonderful life of Bitchy Bowel.
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Oh, MY God.......I honestly cannot believe my eyes reading this.....Yes, I am an IBS-C who was convinced my problem was worse....even did a poll on it....and IBS-D kept winning. NOW I KNOW WHY. That was the most descriptive and helpful anecdote as to what you guys go thru. I can't imagine that....I mean, I can....WHEN I'VE HAD THE FLU. I cannot imagine having that just come on you at any given moment. I know that each facet of IBS is bad, but honest-to-Pete, that is the worst, and puts my sitting on the toilet with nothing happening and my own cramps and bloating to shame.
Jen.
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I think it varies with everyone who has IBS, and for me, it varies with the trigger, the amount, and sometimes it takes a combination of factors to set things off. With the help of all of these good people, I've learned A LOT about foods that can set things off: stuff I never would have guessed can be a problem, CAN BE.
My strategy is to eat more safe foods and minimize trigger foods while walking the fine line of insoluble fiber, and I have been doing really well lately!!
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this morning. Pretty scary I have to read stories about the walk to make me laugh.
I'm IBS C and just can't relate to your stories, but I do appericate how you can use humor to tell your stories.
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Gee, thanks!
#47419 - 03/02/04 06:46 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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Jen,
Actually, it's funny, I have IBS-A, so I sympathize with both teams!
My C is what takes me out for days... UGH! I get so tired and depressed. Sometimes I can't even get out of bed for long (except to go stare longingly at the toilet!).
But as an unexpected "treat," yes, D wins hands down!
Hope I made someone laugh, at least! I don't feel too sorry for myself (what a waste of time!), so only recount stories if I think someone will get a giggle...
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Mags,
I'm sure everyone's got a "great" story like that to tell! I was just trying to get everyone to smile.
I'm glad he asked me out again, too. He was a nice guy!
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I was mostly IBS-D for several years, and have been mainly C and sometimes both in more recent months.
Oh my gosh, I'd nearly forgotten about "the walk"!!! I had to laugh at the stories you guys told (even though I was remembering the horrible trauma of it all, too).
I remember my last "accident". We had company at our home and boom, that uh-oh feeling hit me. I started "the walk", went to "the run"(right past our guests); but still didn't make it.
Oh my goodness, I was in the bathroom needing clean clothes! I was trying to figure out how I was going to do that without letting our company know what had happened. (Oh why hadn't I gone to my personal bathroom, right by my clothes and the safety of my room?? OH NO, I head right to the main one instead!)
I finally just gave up trying to figure it all out and just blurted through the door to my husband, "Rick, I need some clean clothes and a towel in here!"
When I came out, I just held my head up high, carrying my rinsed out "other" clothes to the washer. I said, "I had an accident. Happens to everybody sometimes!"
And I said it kinda tough and hostile, so no one would say anything else about it! One of the ladies just laughed at me.
Oh, how embarrassing!!!!! I'm just glad I wasn't in public that time!
Terri
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My worst "D" story thankfully doesn't involve embarrassment, just a mess.
Hubby and I were in our rowing shell, rowing on the Petaluma River in Northern California. The river is a bird sanctuary all the way down to where it empties into the Bay, so there's nothing along the banks. We had gotten far down the river when my "D" attack hit me. I told hubby we had to immediately turn the boat around and head back, which we did, rowing as fast as we could, but there was no way we could get back in time.
There was a very small mini-island in the middle of the river, which I chose as my "bathroom." We rowed over to it, getting as close as we could. Bear in mind that a rowing shell is EXTREMELY unstable; its the sculls (oars), which extend out from the oarlocks quite a distance, that keep the boat from tipping over -- you are limited to how close you can get to the shore by the length of those sculls. The boat is also very fragile, the delicate decking made of only a very thin skin.
The sculls kept me quite a distance from the island, too far to just "step onto it." I very carefully straddled the boat while easing myself over the decking, pushing the boat out between my legs while desperately trying not to damage the thin skin of the decking. When I was free of the boat, I let myself into the cold river until I could feel the bottom. Unfortunately, the muddy river swallowed me up as I kept falling deeper into its unstable bottom. I could not make it to the island. I had to "drop trou" right there, up to my neck in mud, and "do my business." I will spare you all the details; suffice it to say WHAT A MESS!
I was able to climb back into the boat, very carefully, while transferring a river of mud with me, which got into the bottom of the boat, all around our seat and the tracks. When we arrived back at our dock, the rest of our rowing club saw all the mud and mess as we climbed out of the boat. As we pulled the shell out of the water and washed it off, we lied to everyone that we had tipped over in a shallow part of the river. We hosed each other off, dried the boat and ourselves off, hung our shell in the boathouse, drove home, and never mentioned it again.
Now, wherever we row, it's never far from shore where I make sure there's an outhouse nearby.
While there are obvious drawbacks of having "D," such as "rowing down the river," I still believe it's better than "C" -- because with "D" I "get it all out" (as it were).
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Oh you poor girls with your embarrassing stories! I was A for a while (and still am occassionally), so I've done "the walk" plenty of times. I've been stuck in a hospital bathroom for over an hour after going to visit my grandma. I suppose if you're going to feel like you're dying a hospital isn't such a bad place to be, right? Lol. I also had to sit on the toilet in the bathhouse outside of a public beach while my friends waited outside. For me, though, most of my D problems were milk-related, so now that I've given up dairy I don't A nearly as much. And luckily I was never in a situation quite as mortifying as the ones you're telling here!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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My mom and I are a real pair. She is 88 and has "IBS-instant D" and also bladder incontinence and I have "IBS-slow and painful D". She has had accidents in my car, relatives homes, the waiting room of her doctors office. Luckily we haven't had them at the same time or we'd be fighting over who gets the bathroom first. She takes just as long as me as she has to take her clothes off and re bathe. I have to keep asking her if she brought her poise and immodium & items like that when we go somewhere. I'm plagued with bathroom issues. BOWELS are #1 in my life I'm afraid. You've never seen an 88 yr old woman do the walk till you've seen my mom & her cane scurrying off to the bathroom. I feel so sorry for her.
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Absolutelty hilarious!!!! Poor you! I would have been mortified. Glad you kept your sense of humour.
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Quote:
My mom and I are a real pair. She is 88 and has "IBS-instant D" and also bladder incontinence and I have "IBS-slow and painful D". She has had accidents in my car, relatives homes, the waiting room of her doctors office. Luckily we haven't had them at the same time or we'd be fighting over who gets the bathroom first. She takes just as long as me as she has to take her clothes off and re bathe. I have to keep asking her if she brought her poise and immodium & items like that when we go somewhere. I'm plagued with bathroom issues. BOWELS are #1 in my life I'm afraid. You've never seen an 88 yr old woman do the walk till you've seen my mom & her cane scurrying off to the bathroom. I feel so sorry for her.
I've never heard of that distinction, but it's interesting. I guess when I'm D I'm more the slow and painful type like you, which may explain why I haven't had to endure quite as much embarrassment. I'm sorry to hear that bowels seem to be taking over your life! I think we can all sympathize here.
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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I know this isn't at all tasteful... but it reminded me of this thread!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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That's funny Kree! I love it!! lol
Terri
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LMBO!! I love it Kree!
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Thanks for sharing your stories everyone! I thought I was the only person over 3 and under 80 to have accidents. Reading your stories, I'm reminded of a friend who often says; "It can always get worse, Laura!". My accidents are always triggered by walking- it seems to get things moving in a bad way! So now I plan out subway and bus trips to minimize the walking, and that seems to work.
Thanks again for sharing!
LAura
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As I'm sitting here at the pc and reading this; I cannot stop laughing and my daughter is looking at me quite funny!! This is too funny!! Kree you just made my day/night. I will not be able to watch this film with seeing this in my mind!! Thank you
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Thank God there's a place to talk about this! Since my spinal cord injury 20 years ago, I have always had "accidents"- I carry a "goodie bag" wherever I go stocked with clothes, wipes, etc. I don't think anyone can understand how bad it can be until you're alone in a public bathroom trying to clean up and knowing the line is getting longer and longer outside! You all make me smile!
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Post deleted by Jeano
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When do attacks occur? Well I can usually tell when I will have an attack (d)always..My stomach starts to grumble and then the cramping starts. ugh!!!But since I found this site I have been following the diet plan faithfully. Well today was D day again. I had some spinach and mushrooms with olive oil and garlic last night was a small pieces of chichen breast. I was fine...but this morning at work after eating my soy yogurt, I got sick again...so back to rice cereal (baby cereal) and plain bagel...I am here again...In my case I think it has something to do with age. I always had a sensitive stomach but as I have gotten older it has gotten a lot more sensitive..anyway that's how my day went. so attacks can occur anytime, anyplace.
Thanks for letting me share.
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Thanks Shelby,
I can laugh about it now -- but at the time.... OMG!
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I am in Japan, hanging out with this guy I had only met like two weeks earlier (now my serious and wonderful, supportive boyfriend). Being a naval cryptologist, he wants to take me on a tour of his ship. I was like "way cool". This ofcourse was before I even knew of trigger foods and all, and beforehand he took me to his favorite restaurant where I had a cheesesteak and french fries. We board his ship, with M-16 guns and all and ofcourse I was nervous as anything. About five minutes into the tour, when he is showing me the fire equipment, I am like "um, are there bathrooms on this ship?" Because I got that feeling and the sweat started coming down, and I was flushed. He said "Oh, I am sorry, that would only be in the girls berthing and we cannot go down there". And I was STUCK. We went on the rest of the tour, needless to say. Also needless to say was I obviously never made it to the bathroom and had various attacks and kept my cool the WHOLE time. MAN that was rough. I had to walk back to the train, my head on his shoulder (he still didn't figure out that I was like physically ill... I think you all know the gruesome details) and I had to take a 1.5 hour train ride all the way back to my apartment in Tokyo. Talk about ROUGH. Now, I think because I am so scared of what had happened, whenever I go on his ship I get sick so I vow to never do so again. How EMBARASSING.
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I love hearing all ur stories!! WEll, my IBS is always worse in the morning, so I know that I have to get up earlier before my morning run to do my thing. I can always tell when I am not quite ready to leave the house.. and this morning my stomach was definetley not up for running. But, I knew I would be busy all day and I was determined to get in my run before I had to go out. SO I took the drive to the park, got out and felt as if I had firecrackers in my tummy. However, that did not stop me! I ran and ran through the pain, listening to MAdonna as I tried to get my mind off of stoamch! Well it worked for the first 3 or 4 miles, until I couldnt take it anymore. My stomach was going to explode! The only problem was that I was in the middle of the woods. Well, because Im so in touch with nature, I went there right in the middle of the woods. I actually thought I saw someone looking at me, but thankfully it was a deer. It was not a pretty site...and I had to drag myself 4 miles back to my car in extreme pain! ANd it was my birthday  I couldnt eat the rest of the day, not even my bday cake:( WEll, I guess it could of been worse:)
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That walk
#80961 - 06/18/04 09:06 PM
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Evan
Reged: 04/03/04
Posts: 78
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Here in Los Angeles- it's not often so much "that walk" as "the drive". AS in- oh my gosh- I hope I make every red light and there isn't an accident up ahead and I can find the keys to the house in time.
Once as I was leaving a very, very fancy French restaurant (BTW- never go out for Frendch food), as we're pulling out of the driveway of the place, I turn to my friend and say- drive as fast as you can and don't stop....I made a 25 minute drive in 16 minutes breathing deeply the whole way becoming increasingly and cold and sweaty- it's good to know we've all been there....and it's good to be able to put your foot on the gas when you have to.
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I carried Immodium AD around for years. The liquid worked fast so that is what I had. At the first cramp, I would take that.
Years ago, I was on Lomotal. But then a Dr. told me the immonium AD worked just as well. Keep it on hand when you eat out. Taking it before eating helps too.
Many a time I had to also make a dash to the bathroom for a good while until it was all over.
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Melissa, I have suffered from IBS for over 40 years and along the way, I found out I was allergic to Cottonseed oil.
So I have to read the ingredients on everything I buy. My thoughts are people are allergic to certain foods and it is very hard to find out just what.
You have to write down what each meal consists of. Then when you have an attack, keep that one to check out when the next one occurs. Then mabe you can pick out just what part of the meal matched the one you kept a log on. If you keep doing this, you probably will find the one food or two that is trigering your attacks.
I had ice cream at home years ago, and within an hour, I was deathly sick, severe cramps, broke out in cold sweats and then vomiting. Turned out to be Cottonseed Oil for me.
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Laurasue, keep immodium AD liquid on hand. Take it before you eat out and it will keep you from having a severe attack.
I am going to try some of Heathers peppermint teas.
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