Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY -- MY IBS ALWAY DISAPPEARS ON VACATION

There IS NO DOUBT in my mind that stress affects IBS.

Not to mention that this past fall my dr. upped my antidepressant dose to prevent seasonal affective disorder and within days my IBS went into remission and it's been gone ever since (except one day when I mistakenly ate peppers). So again, I have no doubt that stress affects IBS.

As for the sleep thing, let me give you some advice from an experienced mom who's been through it twice.

I honestly believe that the best thing you can do for your son is teach him how to sleep through the night and/or soothe himself back to sleep. An overtired mom is not a happy or healthy mom. Chronic sleep deprivation is very hard on your system and linked to all kinds of health problems.

It's not that you CAN'T let him cry; it's that you don't want to. There is a difference, and don't get me wrong, I am totally sympathetic. I am convinced there is some kind of chemical reaction in women when babies cry. We evolved this way to make sure our babies survive.

Anyway, can you have a trusted friend sleep over for three or four days to support you/hold you back :-) while you let him cry it out?

Look into the Ferber method, which is a more gradual training program though we went cold turkey with our second son at 6 months.

First night we let our son cry himself to sleep he cried 40 minutes, second night 10 minutes, third, night 5 minutes, and that was the end of it.

As for your partner's mom, can you get him more involved in the situation? You shouldn't have to bear the brunt of her craziness.

Good luck on the stress, sleep and mother in law fronts. I've dealt with all of them, and they are NOT pleasant. I hope my suggestions are helpful. I had to respond because you have been so helpful to me.

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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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