Welcome to the International Emetophobia Society | The Web's Largest Meeting Place for People With Emetophobia.
Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    California
    Posts
    4

    Post Just diagnosed with IBS

    Let me first start of by saying I'm not nearly as affected by V*ing as some people dealing with Emetophobia. I am very grateful for that and in fact, this summer when I tried to eat chili with a cold I dry heaved 7 times without crying (I know that sounds pathetic coming from a 20 yr old guy). I forced myself to smile a few times in order to trick myself (which didn't work) and after taking a nap my roommates came home ad I felt fine. I would still get nervous around others when they felt sick but for the most part, I was living my life to its fullest!!! That is... until November of 2014... I'm attending a Bible school on the west coast and am in my 4th yr. Before I entered in the fall though, I wasn't guaranteed to come back due to some troubles with tax returns. I was able to go to school but throughout the entire semester, no money was being put into the school because of said issues. This caused me unbelievable stress due to not knowing if I'd be able to graduate. A bunch of other stuff was going on too and was adding more stress to my life. Well on Halloween I wanted to dress up so I borrowed a shirt from a friend, he had recently had F** like symptoms including v* but I tried not to think about it. Unfortunately I was unable to dress up due to size differences and forgot about it. That weekend though, my friend came out, we went to taco bell and watched him play a game. I remember I was being stupid and making fun of it with him and joking with him until around 215am. All the sudden I felt a little nauseous. I panicked and went to my room to try and sleep it off. I was up until 4 tossing and turning doing everything in my power not to think about the bathroom or let myself v*. I'm pretty sure I got a simple fl*. However, it lasted for like two weeks. In that time I ate about enough to count as eating one day's full serving of food. I then seemed to get better. I was so happy, I couldn't wait to wait to eat again. Then I got sick with the cold but wasn't to bothered. Oh, by the way, midterms were at that time and I hadn't been studying or doing hw, just trying to rest and get better. It was Thanksgiving week when this happened. I was feeling more confident and getting back into my old self. Thanksgiving day was great, I ate alot of good stuff and had a good time. However, around 11 pm my stomach started feeling odd. I went to sleep around 12 but woke up 45 mins later feeling horrible. I went to the bathroom and had di******* and felt gross after. I barely ate and seemed to get a second Fl* for about a week. I decided to go to the doctor. By the time I could see him, it was a week alter and all this time I lost alot of weight because I was literally starving myself, because I didn't want to get sick. Everyone on campus kept saying I looked like I lost weight (btw, I was thin to begin with). Most of my days were spent not going to classes, not doing hw and just sleeping. Only getting up to work at my job. When I saw him, he diagnosed me with IBS (which I guess runs on my moms side of the family). I was devastated. I was praying it was an ulcer or simply bad luck with getting a temporary fl*. Now I guess I have to live with avoiding foods that upset me and cause me nausea which seems to be alot. I haven't really eaten anything except 1 or 2 sandwiches a day. Today, I have eaten two granola bars and that's it. I'm still losing weight and am very tired and upset with this. I just want to be normal again. I want to be able to eat foods and sing and talk without feeling a tad sick and freaking out about it... The only times I have felt truly at peace is when I sleep only to be rudely awakened to reality. Everyday I think about v* and freak out. I eat only because I have to, I don't enjoy it anymore. Some days I simply want to sleep and never wake up. Does anybody else have this? What have you done to help yourself? My mom said it gets better over time, is this true?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    6,995

    Default Re: Just diagnosed with IBS

    IBS is so common, you'd be stunned. I literally don't know anyone that doesn't have it. Basically all it means is that some foods don't agree with you. Easy. I got it around the same age as you and for a while fought it and just took imodium daily to combat the constant d. Nope. That didn't work. So I cut out foods that don't agree with me (dairy, greasy, meat, chicken). I live on carbs and am fine now. I am thin (size 2 maybe) but it is manageable and my IBS isn't as bad. I used to get daily flareups. You learn to adjust. I would get some pepto and imoduim to keep at home and maybe throw some in your wallet (both come in individual blister packs for easy carrying). You will be totally fine. This is just a lifestyle change but thank god, in the US, it is easy to manage.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Just diagnosed with IBS

    I fear I have this too and your post really reminds me of myself.
    Recently my phobia has got pretty bad and I've started to consider the possibility that I have IBS.
    Like you it runs in my mother's side and both her and my grandfather suffer with it pretty badly. Lately it feels like many things I eat give me terrible trapped wind or bad stomach pains - which I then spend ages panicking over convinced it's a symptom of something worse that is going to lead me to v*. Other worse times food makes me n* and of course this makes me even more panicky.

    What has helped me a little is actually the fact that I get these pains so often that I've realised it simply is just the food disagreeing with me, and simply having these pains doesn't have to mean I'm ill with something that could make me v*.

    So I do suspect I have ibs too, unfortunately it's just something we have to come to terms with. As mdgirl said - Ibs is extremely common, I too know many people who have it in some form or the other. Please don't let it get you down too much as it isn't anything to be afraid of. I also definitely agree with your mother that it gets better with time.
    Slowly you'll begin to recognise the particular foods that upset your stomach and you can either stay clear of them, or if you do want to indulge in them you can just expect and accept the possible accompanying feelings that come with it, but are safe in the knowledge that it doesn't mean you're going to v*.

    Hope this helps a little, remember you're by no means alone!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    645

    Default Re: Just diagnosed with IBS

    I'm a fellow sufferer of IBS too. Though I have tried cutting out foods and can't find one that upsets me particularly. I have IBS C and I do think I don't drink enough which may be a cause. But it runs in my family (down my fathers side).

    For me the doctors have told me mine is caused mainly by anxiety and stress. I might be a little intolerant to food but the fact that I can't pinpoint it means they don't think that is the case. Have you ever heard of the brain/gut connection? Basically your gut is your second brain and will tell you if there is anything wrong. I get acid reflux and my IBS flares whenever I am very anxious and stress. The symptoms then make me anxious and stressed and then I get more symptoms. Nice circle that!

    I have just had to learn to deal with it. I do get periods where I struggle to cope (just coming out the other side of one of those periods) but sadly I think it is something I am going to have to accept. As MDGirl says there are plenty of ways to manage it (both in the US and UK). I always have buscopan, Imodium, pepto and gaviscon in my handbag. I used to carry motilium as well but that has been banned in the UK.

    I'm not saying yours isn't caused by food intolerances. I think that is the case for a lot of people with IBS, just that mine seems to have no relation to food except that onions and garlic give me acid reflux!
    I have conquered this mountain before and I can do it again now! I will stay strong! I will THRIVE!

    Read my blog
    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •