Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: so frustrated :'( any suggestions?

Hi again, with respect to what I am about to say, I am not trying to come down on you, only to help. We are each on our our own journey to figure out what works for us, how to best care for ourselves, and for some of us that journey can take YEARS. But it sounds to me like you are pretty young, which can make it hard to accept that IBS is going to require that you make some major lifestyle changes if you hope to lead a normal life. I know it can be hard to give up certain foods, and fear not - we ALL emotionally eat at one time or another - but it sounds like WHAT you're eating might need to really change before you start to feel better. Taking digestive enzymes, pepperment, fennel tea etc are great, but at the same time you are eating high-fat, fast foods and red meat - it's like trying to put out a fire with one hand, and holding a jug of kerosene in the other hand. I would be on the toilet all day too if I ate some of the foods you mention - my gut would be so irritated. I hope you stay on this site because it has lots of good information about comforting, nourishing, healing, easy-on-your-tummy foods.

Yes, it takes a lot of effort. You can't just pick up something at the 7-11 with your friends. You have to pack snacks and read labels and plan meals. I haven't read all your posts, so I don't know what your history is and I really am not trying to sound condescending. It's just that when I was younger I use to eat more recklessly and just be a mess the next day. Spending all day on the can - it's just not worth it.

Also, some type of stress-reduction activity - yoga, meditation (which I'm doing and LOVE), hypnosis, even just lying in the dark for half an hour every day with a heating pad on your tummy - would probably help. It seems like you have a lot of stress in your life. Stress makes you sick - period. It can also makes you more prone to "emotional" eating, as you turn to food in order to comfort yourelf and calm you down.

Anyway, I hope at least something in here might be useful for you.

Be well

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IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.

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