Editor’s Note: Once again our intrepid teenage Contributor, Jordan Faith, has brought us a very intimate, first-person experience of living with IBS-C, what happens when she has an IBS attack, and how she get’s back on track. This is a very raw, brave, emotional sharing of what it is like when things go wrong and we are sharing it with all of you because we want to make sure that you know that you are not alone.
IBS Attacks & How To Reset Your Gut
IBS is not a stop along your journey through life. It’s something you carry with you throughout your trip. To carry something this heavy, something that consumes your body and your mind, is exhausting. You shouldn’t worry, then, when you fall off the low FODMAP wagon.
It’s a bumpy road!
I recently fell off the wagon, triggering a truly horrible IBS attack, when I took a three-day trip to Chicago with my best friend. We got up at 4 am to run out the door for an 8 am flight so I was immediately knocked off my routine.
As someone with IBS-C, I live for routine. Wake up around 8, drink a coffee, relax, go to the bathroom and then I tackle the day.
Wanting to make the best out of our trip, it was early to rise, non-stop touristing, shower, and then bed. I wasn’t able to have my coveted routine for three days.
My friend Charlotte is more than familiar with my issues and can even relate to them on a certain level. I talked to her about how not being able to go to the bathroom was affecting me. But talking only goes so far in helping your IBS.
By the third day I was feeling sick to my stomach from constipation and bloating.
We tried to stay hydrated, eat healthy, and make time for bathroom breaks, but my problem was that I was stressed and hyped up from traveling and being in a new city (and way off my schedule, which my body needs to function properly).
I wanted to make the best out of the three days we had so it was go, go, go, everywhere except in the bathroom.
Here Comes The IBS Attack
After three whirlwind days, we flew back home. I crawled into my bed around 1 in the morning. By this time I felt terribly sick. I was so constipated and exhausted that I crashed until I woke up at 6 a.m. feeling miserable.
I had three days of backup in my stomach and a horrible nauseous feeling.
I got up, grabbed an enema (always a last resort), hoping to open the flood gates, only to have barely anything come out. I’m not going to lie, this freaked me out. So, after pleading with my mom to let me try again, I gave myself another enema.
The same thing happened (meaning, not much) and by this time I had to start getting ready for work – luckily for just one day, as it was Friday.
I’m a receptionist so thankfully my workload is minimal, but those were the slowest eight hours of my life. I didn’t want to eat but I knew I had to in order to keep things moving and get back to my beloved routine. I drank twice the amount of water I normally drink in hopes of getting things moving again.
Then, of course, I felt bloated.
Man was I glad that I purposefully didn’t plan anything for the weekend because I needed that recovery time. It wasn’t until two days later that I felt 100% again. (See below for how I get back into my routine.)
This isn’t going to be my last time with an episode like this, which is why I try to remember these things:
You Aren’t Alone
It happens to the best of us. You fall off the wagon. And let’s be real, the hardest part is working up the courage to get back on. It’s frustrating. Sometimes when we manage to get back on the wagon, it only lasts for a little while.
A bite of garlic bread is hard to resist! Just remember that you aren’t the only one who struggles with this.
Staying Persistent
A few things that have pushed me off the wagon: traveling, nights out with friends, eating out and not speaking up, and my period (sorry guys!). I don’t let my bad days stop me from going out or traveling, although if I could stop PMSing, I would!
So how do I pick myself up when I do fall off the wagon?
Here are my tips for How to Reset Your Gut:
Physically, I:
-
- Take a day off to recover (if possible). No plans, I stay home and cook my meals
- If I do I have to go out, I pack food ahead of time
- Communicate with my friends
- Relax, maybe try crafting, painting your nails or coloring
- Drink water and eat chia seeds for fiber
- Talk to my support team, whether it’s family, friends, or a significant other
Mentally, I:
-
- Reflect and think about how far I have come
- Take it as a learning experience. Perspective is everything!
- Plan how I will handle it differently next time
- Consider going back to the Elimination diet, if need be
Personally, what I love about my IBS journey is that I am constantly learning more about myself, both physically and mentally. When it comes to IBS, you need to be strong in both areas so when you feel yourself going backwards you have the tools to work your way forward again.
Notice I said work. It’s not easy. The wagon doesn’t stop.
The only thing you can control is you, the choices you make, and how you react to them. Don’t take this journey for granted. Make the best of it and keep pushing forward!
You might like to read Jordan’s other articles:
- How The Low FODMAP Diet Changed My Life
- How to Make the Low FODMAP Diet Work for You – a Teen’s Perspective
- Using Social Media to Navigate the Low FODMAP Diet
- How To Help Friends & Family Understand Your Low FODMAP Diet
You might also check out Dédé’s article: I Had An IBS Attack At The Gym
We’d love to hear how you recover from “falling off the wagon” with your IBS. Let other’s know what works for you in the comments below.
More Info On IBS Triggers: Be sure to read our article, The Hidden Culprits, 12 Common Triggers of IBS You May Not Know About.
I am a mid fifties guy’s guy. Big eater, worked in heavy industrial environments, aircraft, machining, then in the healthcare field as an ICU nurse. (Rather varied!)
I had issues IBS-D for decades, many times I just attributed it to foods my gut didn’t like. Eat something that doesn’t like you, within 15 minutes, had dumping syndrome.
This made for some long goodness days. The 14 hour shifts as an RN were tough, real tough.
I changed everything I could and still don’t discover it was IBS. Got sick, went septic, months of antibiotics left me with SIBO. 18 months working thru that seems to have told me that IBS was an underlying issue.
Now though my issue seems to have migrated to IBS-C.
One tiny step off the reservation, and I’m bloated by ten inches belly circumference. And I’m a big guy to start with. The only reset I’m found that is reliable is back to elimination and a quick evening or two of mag citrate.
Barbaric, but it works.
Hi Big Mark, Thank you so much for your note. As you probably know, the great majority of people struck with IBS are women – and consequently those are the folks that we hear from. And yet. We all know that there are men that have IBS and they are often overlooked in articles and certainly in first-hand stories. In a similar vein, this is why we had Jordan write this piece, because as a teenager she also represents an UNDER represented group of fellow FODMAPers.
Thank you for writing AND for mentioning revisiting Elimination. For so many, this diet is a dance and we all have to figure out our way.
Ironically, due to the brand name, I want to bring your attention to Regular Girl. It can be used by everybody (not just girls) and is a prebiotic/probiotic fiber supplement that will actually regulate whether you have IBS-C or IBS-D. When you mentioned both, it came to mind. Take a look and see if it is something that might speak to you.
Hi Mark, we tried to write you but your email bounced back. Can you please drop me a note at dede@dedewilson.com. We would love to chat further!