Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Fibromyalgia Part 2
What is an IBS flare up? An IBS flare up is a period of time when symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) become worse. It is characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and changes in bowel habits. IBS flare ups can be difficult to manage and can cause a lot of physical and emotional distress. “The first step toward managing IBS is to figure out what makes your symptoms worse. Besides stress, common triggers include eating a meal, hormonal changes, and certain medications. It's important to note that no specific foods are linked to IBS symptoms for everyone. Each person is different. So, write down what you eat in a "food diary" to help you pinpoint which foods are a problem for you.”(https://www.webmd.com/ibs/ss/slideshow-ibs-overview)
Symptoms of an attack
Common symptoms of IBS include:
stomach pain
mucus in stool
You may also experience symptoms like nausea, indigestion, intestinal spasms, and regurgitation. Symptoms of IBS may also worsen during the menstrual cycle and times of stress.
I know first hand what it feels like to have IBS and Fibromyagia. Sometimes it makes me feel like giving up on everything. The abdominal pain can be very intense. At times it makes me curl up like a baby in the womb. The pain fluctuates from shooting, burning, and stabbing pain. It just doesn’t cause pain, as the name suggests it messes with your intestines also. One day you may have diarrhea and the next be constipated. The pain from IBS and fibromyalgia can be debilitating. It can make it difficult to concentrate or carry out daily activities. There are days when I just want to stay in bed and rest. The fatigue can be extremely draining. I often feel like I am unable to do anything. I’m afraid of what the future holds, but I remind myself to have faith in Allah (God) that everything will be okay.
Sometimes the pain and frequency of an IBS flare up can make me feel exhausted, frustrated, and helpless due to the lack of control I have over the situation. I also feel overwhelmed, isolated, and anxious about the potential for the flare up to worsen or persist. I am concerned about the impact it will have on my work, study and social life. It is known to affect your mental health, which kind of scares me. I’m so worried about how my illness will progress. It took me a while to adjust to having IBS. I used to think I ate something that didn’t agree with my stomach. That feeling was frequent so I tried changing my diet hoping that whatever I was eating would help subside the pain. After months of trying to adjust my diet I went to a gastroenterologist because I wasn’t getting any better. After explaining my symptoms to my doctors she immediately said it was IBS. At the time I had never heard of it so I was taken aback. I thought, how can having fibromyalgia also bring about symptoms of IBS. Those months were hectic as I tried to see if anything would help the symptoms subside. After trying everything my doctors recommended I eventually gave up in trying to treat it. I became focused on training my mind not to let it run my life. I was already dealing with a lot I couldn’t let my mind wander and become stressed more than I already was. Fibromyalgia has showed me something about myself. I was strong and always tried to stay positive no matter what curve balls I was thrown in life. If I could do it I know you can also. Positive thinking really does go a long way. Stay strong and remain positive especially when things seem difficult, You have a whole community supporting you. Remember you are not alone.
How to prevent an attack
Understanding how to prevent an IBS attack can help you cope with this condition. Here are a few tips to reduce the frequency of an attack:
Increase physical activity to regulate intestinal contractions and ease constipation. Exercise for at least 30 minutes 3 days per week.
Eat at the same time every day to help regulate bowel function.
Keep a food journal to identify trigger foods.
Slowly increase your fiber intake to ease constipation. Too much fiber can cause diarrhea.
You may also wish to try probiotics. Increasing the good bacteria in your digestive tract may relieve symptoms of IBS. Take probiotics as a supplement or eat yogurt containing probiotics.
Drink peppermint tea or take peppermint supplements to ease intestinal spasms.
Learn how to manage stress. Practice yoga, meditation, or mindfulness, or find enjoyable activities to minimize stress and anxiety.
Try out acupuncture. This complementary therapy might relieve IBS symptoms.
Consult a hypnotherapist and learn ways to relax your abdominal muscles. This may reduce symptoms of an IBS attack.
Explore your thinking patterns through cognitive behavioral therapy. This technique teaches you how to replace negative thought patterns with positive ones. Clinical trialsTrusted Sourcehave found that this technique can provide “significant and long-lasting improvement for IBS symptoms.” (https://www.healthline.com/health/symptoms-of-ibs-attack#prevention)