Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | How To Deal With An Attack

I totally understand what you're going through. I've been in "IBS attack mode" many times over the years. I've been in such agony that even water has increased the pain and nausea level.

Here are my recommendations:

1. Drink peppermint tea. Each sip will neutralize the pain for a minute or two. Peppermint contains an anesthesic so that's why it helps with pain relief.

2. Drink hot water (boiled). It will also help sooth your tummy.

3. Use a heating pad or hot bottle on your tummy. This will help too.

4. Don't make the mistake of not eating. Not eating will make your situation worse. My comfort food when I used to get painful attacks was always very plain chicken soup, which I made myself from scratch using kosher or harmone-free chicken, fresh parsley, carrots, potatoes and Basmati white rice.

5. Eat and drink small amounts often.

In my case, an attack took up to two weeks to recover from. I would continue to have pain throughout that time.

I shudder to remember those awful times. Thank goodness I discovered this website and figured out how to apply Heather's diet to the betterment of my life!

By the way, some IBS people find the pain so excruciating that they have been known to go to Emergency for a morphine IV. I've seen postings of this on this website. An IBS attack can be extremely painful so don't feel bad if you need to go to the hospital for pain relief. Just don't take any pain medication orally since this will greatly worsen your attack. Pain medication is very hard on the stomach so make sure it is either injected or given through an IV.

One final recommendation. It is always best to prepare your own food and not to buy ready-made foods or eat in restaurants, etc. When you prepare your own food, you have full control over what you consume and you, therefore, greatly reduce the chances of unwittingly eating or drinking something that will irritate your IBS.

Hope you feel better very soon.

Belinda

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