Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Need to get some things off my chest

Hi there,
First I just wanted to say Hello and Welcome to this site. I really hope that the information and feedback you get here will really help you to improve your quality of life.

Okay, first I wanted to agree with what Casey (atomic rose) said about salad - I would call myself at times 'fairly stable' and there is NO WAY I would eat a salad! I don't know for sure if it is a problem for you, but I would do as Casey said and cut out all raw veggies for a while.
Secondly, have you ever been on amitryptiline? That's what I got put on in UK (I lived there for 2 years until recently) by my GI doc and noticed a big improvement with both my anxiety and my D. At the same time, he also put me on Celevac tablets, which you can get over the counter and they seemed to help me quite a bit as well.
Third, if you have something you really would like to go to.. what stops you? Is it pain or D or the anxiety? I ask because if it's D (which often leads to anxiety, I know!) then you and I are sometimes in the same boat and I remedy that sometimes by just taking some good ol' Immodium. Immodium advanced, I think it is called, also says it helps gas symptoms as well so you might want to give that a shot if you haven't already. In fact, when I was working in the UK and was far from stable, I took Immodium every day until I started to get stable (and got the meds from my GI doc). If the full dose is too much for you, you can also get it in liquid form and just take enough to help you stabalise.

Have you ever tried going on the 'What to Eat when you Can't Eat Anything' Diet for a few days? This might help your tummy calm down before you think about adding other things into your diet. Are you still excluding wheat, by the way? Just curious. I know a lot of stuff on that diet have wheat in them so it might be a little more difficult, but it shouldn't be too too bad.
Sometimes hypnotherapy is something you really have to work at - Like going through a program more than once before you see any real results. Actually being able to calm your mind down and get the benefits from it takes a long time of 'training your mind' but then is often really effective. On the same note, have you ever tried yoga? Yoga may help you with any pain, gas, or anxiety that you are feeling. Again, the meditation part of yoga is something that takes a lot of training so don't give up if you don't see results right away!!

Have you ever considered going to see a psychologist/psychiatrist? It might really help you get some things off your chest person to person. If you can vent to someone, you might feel like a weigh has been lifted and it's not there when you are around other people (ie your girlfriend).

Okay, so about your girlfriend. This is a really hard situation, I know. A lot of us have had problems with partners or with the concept of dating for exactly all the reasons that you mentioned. It is really hard to find someone who is completely understanding to all our needs. I don't really know what to say to fix your situation with your girlfriend because here is my take on it: Before you can worry about other relationships, you need to focus on making yourself well. I know you are already doing that, and it seems like you have really put a lot of effort in so that's awesome. Then if you are in a relationship, you need to be totally honest with each other. These are my limitations, and these are how I feel about your limitations. If they are too much for her, she may need to take some space from you and that's not your fault and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with you.
My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 2 years now, and I know how it feels to have to always say no to going out to the pub and stuff - it used to make me just devestated. Eventually, we had to have the big talk about how HE felt about all that and it turns out that he can deal with it. That put my mind at ease because then it was one less thing for me to constantly stress and have anxiety about. Otherwise, that anxiety is just adding to the problem and making it even harder for you to get stable. If he had said that he couldn't deal with it, that it was too much, or that it was making him too miserable I don't know what I would have done. I'd like to say I could just let him go, but I know that he is one of my biggest supports so I'm not sure that I could...

I think the first thing you need to do is to try and find ways of dealing with your anxiety - I am SURE that if you do, your stomach will see some improvement. Once that is all dealt with, THEN I think you can focus on your girlfriend but for now you need to try and focus on YOU! It's not being selfish, or anything like that, it is making you able to live a happier life which you have every right to!!
Good luck, we'll be here for you to help in any way that we can!

Oh, by the way are you near London? I ask because I saw a GI doctor at Farnborough hospital called Dr. Asante (GI doc) and he was EXCELLENT.

--Steph

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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.

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