Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: gas and bloating in public?

I am so sorry to hear you are feeling so badly. I totally understand about bailing on your friends, especially when it involves staying in the same hotel room or going on a road trip. What was that abbreviation you used that you said you're getting ready for? What is that?
I always end up with huge bloating and stomach cramps when I've been hanging out with people for a couple of hours. I have told all my friends about my IBS, just not all the details though. So they sort of understand when I can't do stuff. And they know I dont eat dairy, pork, or fatty foods. So, I dont have to explain it when we go out to eat or whatever. I am sure your friends will understand. It is a disease, just like IBD (Chrons and UC). So dont be embarrassed to tell them. Still, having gas around people is my biggest battle, because no one really would understand that, I dont really disclose that much about that.
I studied in France and ate tons of cheese and chocolate and drank wine, but my IBS came on the year after that, luckily. I was in Mexico over the summer staying with a family and ended up not eating much at all though cause they just didnt understand that I couldnt eat dairy! Plus, being in a strange environment makes me nervous. And stress and being uncomfortable is my biggest trigger. I didnt go to the bathroom the whole time I was there (10 days), then had diarrhea on coming home. I lost like 10 lbs and looked pretty bad and was getting married 2 mos later, so had to eat a lot of chocolate and ice cream for a while. Ok, so when I really need to be safe, I eat a lot of oatmeal, corn and rice chex, bananas, rice - either brown or white, hot rice cereal, baked tofu, butternut squash. Avoid carbonation and alcohol. Since you are D predominant, you might be more careful with insoluble fiber and fats. Coffee too will prob cause excess bms! My advice for study abroad though is to live it up and dont deny yourself a great cultural experience. I would try eating everything that you want to. Just put down in your application or profile before going that you have IBS and need special food consideration. It will work.

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