What I would NOT Do regularly to manage my IBS!
IBS (IRRTIABLE BOWEL SYNDROME) significantly impacts the lives of people who have it.
Keeping you away from school, work, gatherings with friends and family.
You are either constipated (IBS-C), have diarrhea (IBS-D) or both (IBS-M)
Pain and bloating are often reported as the most bothersome along with mistrust of body and never knowing when you will need a bathroom in a hurry.
As a pharmacist, IBS Coach and person living with IBS I know that people will out of sheer need to FIX the PROBLEM reach for a solution. I have seen it many times over the years.
It is natural to try to feel better and do something like take a laxative. At a point where you are considering a laxative it has been days since you had a bowel movement, you are feeling very bloated, super uncomfortable, watching your midline expand exponentially.
The numbers on the scale are also increasing. You may be carrying somewhere between 5-25 pounds of unwanted waste! YIKES.
So yes you will take a laxative, preferably something that WORKS quickly!!! Like Dulcolax (bisacodyl) or Senokot (senna). Did you know that they work on the muscles of the intestines to contract making them move the POOP along? Yes they are stimulant types of laxatives. If you use them once in a while, fine but if it becomes regular then your muscles become lazy, and you will be more constipated and uncomfortable.
That is why I refused to use LAXATIVES as a permanent solution.
If you have diarrhea, not a good place to be either. Losing water, and minerals depleting your body of hydration and nutrients. Imodium (loperamide) also works on the muscle walls to slow down. Reducing the chance of dehydration is important BUT you have IBS and your bowels are particularly sensitive, it may change to being constipated.
So what did I do to manage those tough times?
1. Stay calm – gut-brain connection is powerful and getting anxious about it will make it worse
2. Hydrate- drinking soothing teas like chamomile or peppermint helps
3. Eat smaller meals
4. Increase fiber – you can actually use psyllium to improve bowel movement for constipation OR slow down the movement with diarrhea.
5. Go for walks
6. Heating pad to relax the muscles with diarrhea
7. Manage my triggers
8. Take a probiotic
Are you tired of feeling sick and tired of being in IBS distress? Connect with bygoing to BOOK DISCOVERY CALL to schedule your call.
#IBS #GutHealth #Wellness #HolisticApproach #Pharmacist #IBSCoach #Bloated #constipation #diarrhea #solutions