hey guys new to the forum here. Just wondering if anyone has this phobia similar to mine? Everytime i gear up to go out to work,dinner,ballgame,store or any other chore my stomach knots up i freak out. im always wondering if there is a toilet around and if im going to make it. 99% of the time i just get worked up and feel like i just finished a triathalon.1% of the time i do have to use the bathroom. ive had the problem for about 10 years. Feels kinda weird discussing it here. oh well anything could help.

your friend Doug

Hi DJM~
My daughter(10) has exactly the same thing.
I feel so sorry for her I wish i new what to do. The dr. gave her some medicne called BENTYL 10mg. i think its helping. Its supposed to be for IBS. Maybe you can talk to your dr.and see if he can give you some. Take care

Hi Doug,
I have had the exact same problem for the past 15 months now. This is actually what kicked in my agoraphobia so bad last year. I get so tired thinking about where I'am going and if they have a bathroom and what if they don't.....sometimes I just don't go and then I feel bad because I have let my family down.
The only thing that I have been doing different lately if just telling myself that no matter what happens I will handle it. It seems to take the edge off a little and I have been able to be out more, which is really nice
I also think about all of the times that I have gone out somewhere and not had any stomach troubles, 9 out of 10 times I'am fine when I go out, so that is pretty easy to do.
I know what you are going through and how difficult it is too deal with. The fear of embarrassment is real when you have IBS but you can get to know your body and trust the way it works...even when it is quirky
Take care,
Jodi

I used to have the same problem. I still get diarreah sometimes when we are getting ready to go to a big event. Especially when I have to get dressed up. (Who knows what that's about?)

Anyway, the thing that really helped me make great strides in this area was something my mom said to me right before some big event, I don't remember what the event was exactly.

Anyway, I was nervous and I didn't know if I could go because of my IBS. She said, "What's the worst that can happen?" I said, "Uh, I'll crap my pants in front of the whole world?!?!" Then she said "Good, now if that happens, will you still be alive?" I said, "I guess..." She said, "Then who cares? That which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger. Besides, it's never happened before, you always make it to the bathroom or it goes away before you get there. So quit worrying about it and live your life for God's sake."

And she turned and walked away. Just like that. I thought, "She is crazy. I would probably die of embarassment alone!" But you know what? She had a point. EVEN IF THE WORST POSSIBLE THING HAPPENED, YOU WOULD STILL LIVE THRU IT. It's crap, not cancer. It's a stomach ache, not an aneurysm. It's an uncomfortable sensation and that's all it is. No one ever died of diarreah. So, try to look at it like allergies. You go to the park, you sneeze. You go to the store, you get the runs. It's part of life and if you dwell on it and worry about it, you will stop venturing out there. Don't let that happen to you.

Sorry for the long diarreah post... Hope it helps a little.

Blessings,
Leslie

thanks for the replys

I have given it the what the hell attitude!
Ill just keep on keeping on. Ill keep my faith in god and move on. best wishes

thanks again Doug

Just to share some new information to me...

Someone wrote this week about something called kefir grains...there is a website: www.bodyecology.com

see what you think...it might be worth investigating, but I like the what-the-hell attitude! Personally, I think that HAS to be part of the solution.

Let me know what you think- Carolyn

Carolyn

Thanks for the info. I found the link and will check it out.

http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/kefrbook.html

Thanks Doug

The Body Ecology Diet stopped all symptoms of my IBS on day 1 of starting it. It was like a miracle. I had IBS before developing bulimia in college and tried everything for 16 years, including dietary changes. I always felt sick after eating. Then I tried BED and have not binged since. No more bulimia, no more IBS.

I hope it works for you too!