(A little incontinence humor makes it a good pre-holiday Friday...)
Dear GGAs -
I am about to embark on a short Labor Day trek. I cannot tell you my whereabouts because I am going under cover with John Brook - I mean, Biff. ;)
I promise to blog all about it upon my return. Suffice it to say I will not be enjoying any of the following: homemade doughnuts/breads/cookies, apple dumplings, steel cut oats. Alas, such is the fate of my gluten intolerance. There will be plenty of bacon and omelets to go around so at least I have the Atkins smorgasbord to look forward to!
In preparing for this trip, I have some helpful hints to all you newbie IBSers!
*Be honest with your travel companions. If you're going with a friend/boyfriend/girlfriend, chances are they already know about your, um, condition. If they don't, there's no time like the present to tell 'em! After all, you can't really hide a bout of explosive diarrhea when you're sharing a hotel room or - saints preserve you - tent with someone. No need to detail your medical history; be short and sweet. "Hello, my name is GG and I suffer from IBS so I'm really going to tread lightly on this trip." You know, it's not like they can't enjoy stuffing their faces with their usual fare. You won't freak out if they eat a double cheeseburger in front of you, right? Heck no! Because you're a woman in control and you know and love your body, whether it rejects processed meat and gluten or not!
*Never leave home unprepared for disaster. Think of your weakest moment thus far and bring a remedy kit with everything you think you'll need to patch yourself up and have a good time, despite the bump in the road/kink in the intestines. My kit includes Benefiber single serving packets (just add water!), Tums, Pepcid, Bentyl (though I hate it so - it does admittedly stop the Hershey squirts) and yogurt. Yes, I travel with ice packs and coolers. Is it practical? Not terribly but if it works, it works. I also recommend taking road-friendly snacks like apples, bananas, and trail mix so you aren't forced to seek sustenance at IBS-unfriendly rest stops.
*Do your research beforehand. Make sure you check with the hotel to see if they have a fridge in the room. You can bring your own supplies this way, or buy them locally. Scope out the area to see what stores are nearby and try to stick to your typical diet of 'safe foods.' If you eat yogurt every day, buy some and keep it in your room. If you have special beverages that calm your system, bring them!
*Don't tempt the bowel gods. I completely understand the desire to eat locally, sample the cultural food and beverage offerings, etc. but be REALISTIC. Don't push your system to the limit all in the name of vacation. You will live to regret it, I assure you. If you *do* feel tempted by the funnel cake at the local fair, at least bring your emergency kit with you and for the love of the Dutch, split it with someone who's looking out for you and knows what aftershocks may come from ingesting the crispy golden doughy fried delight. (Just don't write me complaining. I don't want to hear it. I've had my own dairy disaster, thanks. So not worth it.)
*Think positively, take it one day at a time. So you feel good today? That's great. See above and keep your head in the present. Don't stress about tomorrow and 'what-ifs.' Keep your routine up! Go for that 3 mile walk or run each morning, don't write it off just because you're not at home. If you're able to minimize variables, chances are you will have nothing but pleasant memories of your getaway with friends and loved ones.
Hope this offers a bit of perspective! Now I'm off pack my bonnet and shit-kickers...
Regularly yours (for 48 hours!),
GG
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
What NOT to eat
Here I will attempt to list some tried-and-true things that trigger IBS symptoms but, as usual, this is not the law of the land. What works for me might not work for you. It all depends on your individual sensitivities so get out there and buy a little journal or setup a spreadsheet on your computer and honestly log every single morsel of food that you put in your mouth. If you are diligent, you will learn so much about yourself that will be helpful in the long run. Is it a pain? Yes. I've never been one to keep a diary or journal (or blog, even - oops...the cat's out of the bag!) but if you want to get better, you have to know what to avoid.
Think of it as a great experiment or a good excuse to live a healthier lifestyle, if that motivates you. Change it up if something isn't working for you and learn to be patient. This was the hardest thing for me and I still struggle with it. Wishing a flare-up away does not make it so. You need time and you need to relax so go into the journaling process knowing that it's a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself.
Foods to Avoid:
*Dairy (try eliminating all dairy products EXCEPT cultured yogurt for a week and see how you feel.)
*Alcohol (get over this one now. Alcohol and IBS do not a party make. If you want a beverage here or there on vacation, that's your call but realize that malt beverages especially will upset your system and wine is very acidic.)
*Refined Sugars
*Highly acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegars bother some people)
*Animal fats (this doesn't mean don't eat any meat or protein - this means lean options like chicken, fish and turkey are easier to digest than beef or pork.)
*Fried food (cease and desist!)
*Caffeine (again, not a trigger for everyone but it is a diuretic)
*Carbonated beverages (talk about bloat! If you're a soda drinker, say your goodbyes.)
Trial and error, friends, trial and error. If it's spicy and fatty and going to cause trouble, just say no. It's about using your brain and weighing the cause and effect. Have I screwed up before? Plenty. But you live and learn. Say you really, really want that sundae. Well then, go ahead and eat it but own it when you do. It's not going to be comfortable, is it? No. So learn to let go and make substitutions like soy frozen desserts or gluten-free brownies. Anything that stays calm in your system is a good thing!
Gentle Remedies:
*Peppermint oil/tea (in moderation! I've read several places that too much peppermint oil can be toxic so talk to your doctor/dietitian before starting a supplement.)
*Ginger tea
*Probiotic yogurt (especially the Greek style yogurts because they have more protein than any other kind. I particularly like Fage, Oikos, and Kefir dairy drink (it's essentially liquid yogurt, so yummy and tart and good for you.) -- this is where I plug Ac-tiv-i-aaaaaa. Jamie Lee is pretty awesome and you should definitely give it a try, since it's marketed to you (aka ladies.)
*If you've got exceptionally horrendous diarrhea and - like me - do not want to take antispasmodic medication, try boil-in-bag brown rice. Eat a little at a time but when you've boiled it on the stove, save the water and put it aside to cool. Drink this water and pop a Tums or a Pepcid and try to relax. It will bind you up in no time!
More on those mercurial antispasmodics later...that's a rant in itself. Anyone else have issues with the meds they've been prescribed?
Think of it as a great experiment or a good excuse to live a healthier lifestyle, if that motivates you. Change it up if something isn't working for you and learn to be patient. This was the hardest thing for me and I still struggle with it. Wishing a flare-up away does not make it so. You need time and you need to relax so go into the journaling process knowing that it's a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself.
Foods to Avoid:
*Dairy (try eliminating all dairy products EXCEPT cultured yogurt for a week and see how you feel.)
*Alcohol (get over this one now. Alcohol and IBS do not a party make. If you want a beverage here or there on vacation, that's your call but realize that malt beverages especially will upset your system and wine is very acidic.)
*Refined Sugars
*Highly acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegars bother some people)
*Animal fats (this doesn't mean don't eat any meat or protein - this means lean options like chicken, fish and turkey are easier to digest than beef or pork.)
*Fried food (cease and desist!)
*Caffeine (again, not a trigger for everyone but it is a diuretic)
*Carbonated beverages (talk about bloat! If you're a soda drinker, say your goodbyes.)
Trial and error, friends, trial and error. If it's spicy and fatty and going to cause trouble, just say no. It's about using your brain and weighing the cause and effect. Have I screwed up before? Plenty. But you live and learn. Say you really, really want that sundae. Well then, go ahead and eat it but own it when you do. It's not going to be comfortable, is it? No. So learn to let go and make substitutions like soy frozen desserts or gluten-free brownies. Anything that stays calm in your system is a good thing!
Gentle Remedies:
*Peppermint oil/tea (in moderation! I've read several places that too much peppermint oil can be toxic so talk to your doctor/dietitian before starting a supplement.)
*Ginger tea
*Probiotic yogurt (especially the Greek style yogurts because they have more protein than any other kind. I particularly like Fage, Oikos, and Kefir dairy drink (it's essentially liquid yogurt, so yummy and tart and good for you.) -- this is where I plug Ac-tiv-i-aaaaaa. Jamie Lee is pretty awesome and you should definitely give it a try, since it's marketed to you (aka ladies.)
*If you've got exceptionally horrendous diarrhea and - like me - do not want to take antispasmodic medication, try boil-in-bag brown rice. Eat a little at a time but when you've boiled it on the stove, save the water and put it aside to cool. Drink this water and pop a Tums or a Pepcid and try to relax. It will bind you up in no time!
More on those mercurial antispasmodics later...that's a rant in itself. Anyone else have issues with the meds they've been prescribed?
Let's Start at the Very Beginning
(A very good place to start.)
I couldn't resist. Hey, it's hump day! Live a little. Now for a a logical point of reference: birth.
I was born with a condition known as an omphalocele. Mine was fairly minor as far as these heart-pounding birth complications go but it has had lasting effects on my immune system and my digestive system. Because the guts protrude through the umbilical cord, my intestines were put back in my abdominal cavity in a non-rotative state. This means my intestines do not fit together like a normal person's: instead they sit side by side in dysfunctional bliss. I have thus always been able to "feel" digestion as it occurs, stage by stage. Gross, huh? Helpful, though, in determining what does and doesn't agree with my system.
Throughout childhood, I would have fairly frequent attacks of diarrhea/constipation. One time in fourth grade, I was so backed up I barricaded myself in the girl's bathroom for something like two hours at the end of the school day. I missed my bus home and my teacher had to come in and check on me and then call my dad to come pick me up. (Hey, when it's not happening, it's not happening and its agony!) I drank some cranberry juice, took a bath and was fine. Embarrassing? Hell yes. But little incidents like this were never really thought of as symptoms of a bigger picture condition.
At the age of seven or eight, I was put through a series of ultrasonds/upper G.I.s/M.R.I.s when my doctor thought I had a brain tumor because my headaches/nausea were so bad. Turns out I had Atypical migraines that were treatable with Ibuprofen and dietary modifications. Medical testing is no fun as a kid and it doesn't get any better as an adult but it's a necessity so I cannot stress enough: if something feels off go see someone who can point you in the right direction and get it properly looked at.
So flash forward to high school - nothing too out of the ordinary there. Although if I ate anything for lunch before those wretched Presidential Fitness tests in gym, I'd be looking at some fabulous stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. I can't tell you how many times I puked after running for sports or doing laps on the track. The jostling combined with eating a meal did me no favors (even if that meal was a small as a power bar.) There are plenty of people with IBS who experience the same discomfort and embarrassment but you learn to listen to your body over time and recognize little steps that can help alleviate undesirable effects. **I'm going to start a regular "Active" section of this blog for all of your fitness related questions/concerns. I'm a runner myself so I know of what I speak.
Next came college and a largely sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle (ah, the woes of the novice entering into independence and a daily dining hall smorgasbord.) I honestly didn't have many flare-ups those first two years. Finally a light bulb went off before junior year and I started going to the gym everyday and really working hard and noticed that my as-yet-undiagnosed IBS symptoms, especially during times of stress or on vacations, returned on occasion. I changed my diet and things went along smoothly.
After graduation in Winter 2007, I started work in New York City. Things there were fine. I couldn't afford much so I didn't eat anything that fancy/spicy/complicated. (It was a ton of soup, salad and Subway - hey, $5 foot-longs take you through lunch and dinner. Don't judge.) Left that craptastic job after a year and moved to Princeton, NJ in January 2009. It was wonderful, things were looking up. I bought a car, met the love of my life, got a place to myself four times the size of my starter apartment and WHAM - then comes May and I am sick as a dog.
This needs its own post, it's just that epic. Indulge my teeny bit of emotional hyperbole and I promise you'll be entertained!
TO BE CONTINUTED...
-GG
I couldn't resist. Hey, it's hump day! Live a little. Now for a a logical point of reference: birth.
I was born with a condition known as an omphalocele. Mine was fairly minor as far as these heart-pounding birth complications go but it has had lasting effects on my immune system and my digestive system. Because the guts protrude through the umbilical cord, my intestines were put back in my abdominal cavity in a non-rotative state. This means my intestines do not fit together like a normal person's: instead they sit side by side in dysfunctional bliss. I have thus always been able to "feel" digestion as it occurs, stage by stage. Gross, huh? Helpful, though, in determining what does and doesn't agree with my system.
Throughout childhood, I would have fairly frequent attacks of diarrhea/constipation. One time in fourth grade, I was so backed up I barricaded myself in the girl's bathroom for something like two hours at the end of the school day. I missed my bus home and my teacher had to come in and check on me and then call my dad to come pick me up. (Hey, when it's not happening, it's not happening and its agony!) I drank some cranberry juice, took a bath and was fine. Embarrassing? Hell yes. But little incidents like this were never really thought of as symptoms of a bigger picture condition.
At the age of seven or eight, I was put through a series of ultrasonds/upper G.I.s/M.R.I.s when my doctor thought I had a brain tumor because my headaches/nausea were so bad. Turns out I had Atypical migraines that were treatable with Ibuprofen and dietary modifications. Medical testing is no fun as a kid and it doesn't get any better as an adult but it's a necessity so I cannot stress enough: if something feels off go see someone who can point you in the right direction and get it properly looked at.
So flash forward to high school - nothing too out of the ordinary there. Although if I ate anything for lunch before those wretched Presidential Fitness tests in gym, I'd be looking at some fabulous stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. I can't tell you how many times I puked after running for sports or doing laps on the track. The jostling combined with eating a meal did me no favors (even if that meal was a small as a power bar.) There are plenty of people with IBS who experience the same discomfort and embarrassment but you learn to listen to your body over time and recognize little steps that can help alleviate undesirable effects. **I'm going to start a regular "Active" section of this blog for all of your fitness related questions/concerns. I'm a runner myself so I know of what I speak.
Next came college and a largely sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle (ah, the woes of the novice entering into independence and a daily dining hall smorgasbord.) I honestly didn't have many flare-ups those first two years. Finally a light bulb went off before junior year and I started going to the gym everyday and really working hard and noticed that my as-yet-undiagnosed IBS symptoms, especially during times of stress or on vacations, returned on occasion. I changed my diet and things went along smoothly.
After graduation in Winter 2007, I started work in New York City. Things there were fine. I couldn't afford much so I didn't eat anything that fancy/spicy/complicated. (It was a ton of soup, salad and Subway - hey, $5 foot-longs take you through lunch and dinner. Don't judge.) Left that craptastic job after a year and moved to Princeton, NJ in January 2009. It was wonderful, things were looking up. I bought a car, met the love of my life, got a place to myself four times the size of my starter apartment and WHAM - then comes May and I am sick as a dog.
This needs its own post, it's just that epic. Indulge my teeny bit of emotional hyperbole and I promise you'll be entertained!
TO BE CONTINUTED...
-GG
Reaching a Diagnosis
It's not a picnic, believe me, and the road truly is long and winding and different for every woman. (This will be said over and over again so I apologize in advance for the repetition but variability is a key factor of IBS.)
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, hie thee to your health care provider:
*Diarrhea OR Constipation - generally one or the other but not both
*Frequent/Forceful urges to move your bowels
*Bloating (if your stomach is severely distended even after a bowel movement, contact your doctor immediately.)
*Excess Gas (extreme pressure/feelings of fullness, malodorous - ok, more so than your average fart, really disgusting "something died in my guts" smelling burps)
*Cramping (can be so bad it leaves you doubled over)
*Feeling weak/dizzy/nauseous for no apparent reason
*Loss of appetite
*Visible changes in bowel movements (are they odd shapes, colors, do they float? Are they soft-serve or rabbit poop? --If you have blood or mucus in the stool, call your doctor immediately. This is serious stuff.)
If you present at least three of these symptoms at the same time, it's worth making that phone call. Could it be a virus? Sure. But keep in mind most viruses only last five days or so. I had a "virus" for TWELVE days before I finally made the trip to the M.D. and gosh, was I glad I did. My first bout with IBS occured over Memorial Day weekend of this year and it only lasted about 4 or 5 days. The second time (July) was brief: two days after I had some pizza that didn't agree with me. The third time knocked me on my ass for two whole weeks in August so listen to your body screaming "H-E-L-P M-E!"
In addition to these classic symptoms, you may experience the following:
*Fatigue
*Trouble Sleeping
*Dry Heaves
*Chills/Sweats
*Anxiety
*Headaches
*Out of body feeling/not feeling like yourself
*Frequent urge to urinate
Don't jump to conclusions without consulting a professional! Outside influences like your period or stress can also contribute to these symptoms but if it's happened more than once and you find yourself at a loss to explain it, it could be IBS. Check out Web MD for further reading to get you started. It's a nice overview at the very least, provided you don't get paranoid and use the "symptom checker" application to excess.
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, hie thee to your health care provider:
*Diarrhea OR Constipation - generally one or the other but not both
*Frequent/Forceful urges to move your bowels
*Bloating (if your stomach is severely distended even after a bowel movement, contact your doctor immediately.)
*Excess Gas (extreme pressure/feelings of fullness, malodorous - ok, more so than your average fart, really disgusting "something died in my guts" smelling burps)
*Cramping (can be so bad it leaves you doubled over)
*Feeling weak/dizzy/nauseous for no apparent reason
*Loss of appetite
*Visible changes in bowel movements (are they odd shapes, colors, do they float? Are they soft-serve or rabbit poop? --If you have blood or mucus in the stool, call your doctor immediately. This is serious stuff.)
If you present at least three of these symptoms at the same time, it's worth making that phone call. Could it be a virus? Sure. But keep in mind most viruses only last five days or so. I had a "virus" for TWELVE days before I finally made the trip to the M.D. and gosh, was I glad I did. My first bout with IBS occured over Memorial Day weekend of this year and it only lasted about 4 or 5 days. The second time (July) was brief: two days after I had some pizza that didn't agree with me. The third time knocked me on my ass for two whole weeks in August so listen to your body screaming "H-E-L-P M-E!"
In addition to these classic symptoms, you may experience the following:
*Fatigue
*Trouble Sleeping
*Dry Heaves
*Chills/Sweats
*Anxiety
*Headaches
*Out of body feeling/not feeling like yourself
*Frequent urge to urinate
Don't jump to conclusions without consulting a professional! Outside influences like your period or stress can also contribute to these symptoms but if it's happened more than once and you find yourself at a loss to explain it, it could be IBS. Check out Web MD for further reading to get you started. It's a nice overview at the very least, provided you don't get paranoid and use the "symptom checker" application to excess.
Not the blog I thought I'd be writing...
Not once in my burgeoning literary career did I sit down and exclaim, "I cannot WAIT to write a tell-all blog about Irritable Bowel Syndrome! It will be at turns bust-your-gut funny and honest, offering sassy advice and a well-rounded account of what it's like for millions of young women out there dealing with the condition." (Ineffectual masking of mission statement but really, who wants that to be their calling card? Not I said the English Major/Creative Writer...and yet here I am attempting to do exactly that.)
To be perfectly frank, I never thought I'd even get a legitimate IBS diagnosis, let alone feel compelled to broadcast my condition online to complete strangers. I have struggled with my "sensitive stomach" since birth. I'm sure that's how it starts for lots of little girls who wake up one day, fully grown, and realize that something has got to give, that their sensitivities are more than that and if they can't cure it, they have to at least educate themselves and hope to control it. IBS can be a real bitch, that's for sure. It interferes with work lives, play lives, love lives, inner lives: it's just, well, shitty. But for those of us who are lucky enough to be formally diagnosed, IBS symptoms are manageable over time with proper attentiveness and willpower. (Example: it's about knowing your body and listening to the good angel that says "Skip the DQ, sweet cheeks" and ignoring the fallen angel that says "But you LOVE ice cream!") After all, practice makes nearly perfect and I'm certainly still practicing along with you.
IBS is a real mind-blow at first and that's where I come in. I'd like to share with the masses my experiences with flare-ups and set-backs and everything good in between and to provide a place of refuge where comments are welcome along with reader advice and questions. Think of me as your Patroness of the Gurgling Gut (thus the title of this blog: "Gurgle Guts Anonymous" or GGA.) I am certainly no medical expert so please consult your doctor or G.I. Specialist before practicing any of my dietary advice as gospel truths. Most importantly, know that every body is different! It's like your period: uniquely mysterious, uniquely...inconvenient, yes, but it's part of your natural rhythms and rather than bemoan my fate, I've put my brain to what I view as a a real mission in educating young women and spreading the word about this very real and variable condition. I hope that you will benefit from my misadventures as you struggle to find humor in living with chronic gurgle gut and every pleasant side effect that comes with it!
Onward, darlings, one day at a time!
GG
To be perfectly frank, I never thought I'd even get a legitimate IBS diagnosis, let alone feel compelled to broadcast my condition online to complete strangers. I have struggled with my "sensitive stomach" since birth. I'm sure that's how it starts for lots of little girls who wake up one day, fully grown, and realize that something has got to give, that their sensitivities are more than that and if they can't cure it, they have to at least educate themselves and hope to control it. IBS can be a real bitch, that's for sure. It interferes with work lives, play lives, love lives, inner lives: it's just, well, shitty. But for those of us who are lucky enough to be formally diagnosed, IBS symptoms are manageable over time with proper attentiveness and willpower. (Example: it's about knowing your body and listening to the good angel that says "Skip the DQ, sweet cheeks" and ignoring the fallen angel that says "But you LOVE ice cream!") After all, practice makes nearly perfect and I'm certainly still practicing along with you.
IBS is a real mind-blow at first and that's where I come in. I'd like to share with the masses my experiences with flare-ups and set-backs and everything good in between and to provide a place of refuge where comments are welcome along with reader advice and questions. Think of me as your Patroness of the Gurgling Gut (thus the title of this blog: "Gurgle Guts Anonymous" or GGA.) I am certainly no medical expert so please consult your doctor or G.I. Specialist before practicing any of my dietary advice as gospel truths. Most importantly, know that every body is different! It's like your period: uniquely mysterious, uniquely...inconvenient, yes, but it's part of your natural rhythms and rather than bemoan my fate, I've put my brain to what I view as a a real mission in educating young women and spreading the word about this very real and variable condition. I hope that you will benefit from my misadventures as you struggle to find humor in living with chronic gurgle gut and every pleasant side effect that comes with it!
Onward, darlings, one day at a time!
GG
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