I’m miserable

[Ursula M]

I have nothing good to say about today or how I’m feeling.  IBS triggers my depression.  I feel alone and helpless.  I know there will be better days to come, but then its just a waiting game for the next flare up.  Just looking to reach out to people who understand the pain.  I sound so dramatic and feel silly for posting this.  But, it is what it is.  Thanks for listening!

[Jeffrey Roberts]

Not silly for posting. Anyone who visits here knows exactly what you are going through.

The way I look at it is that I got through the last "flare up" and I'll get through this one. I take advantage of the good days and tune out the world on the bad days.

I understand how this triggers depressive thoughts. You might consider either meeting with a GI Psychologist or investigating the Mahana IBS treatment which is a CBT app for IBS that was FDA approved. It might help you to manage your thoughts that can spiral us into a bad place.

P.S. I'm happy to host a live Teams meet-up if you would like to talk anything through. That goes for anyone who is looking for a good listener.

[Lynpym]

On 6/7/2023 at 2:16 PM, Jeffrey Roberts said:

Not silly for posting. Anyone who visits here knows exactly what you are going through.

The way I look at it is that I got through the last "flare up" and I'll get through this one. I take advantage of the good days and tune out the world on the bad days.

I understand how this triggers depressive thoughts. You might consider either meeting with a GI Psychologist or investigating the Mahana IBS treatment which is a CBT app for IBS that was FDA approved. It might help you to manage your thoughts that can spiral us into a bad place.

P.S. I'm happy to host a live Teams meet-up if you would like to talk anything through. That goes for anyone who is looking for a good listener.

Thanks for posting this. Because of your post I have sought and found a psychologist near me who specializes in using CBT for IBS treatment. I am hopeful for the first time in a very long time. Thanks again!

[Jeffrey Roberts]

On 6/25/2023 at 9:25 AM, Lynpym said:

Thanks for posting this. Because of your post I have sought and found a psychologist near me who specializes in using CBT for IBS treatment. I am hopeful for the first time in a very long time. Thanks again!

That's wonderful for you! Pease let us know how it is going.

[Esjie]

@Ursula M

I do understand. I feel very low and helpless too when a flare up comes. A flare up (or usually when one is on its way!) -causes me to feel general tiredness and exhaustion too which doesn't help.
Living alone can also be very isolating when IBS gets bad. It's probably just as tricky or could be worse with other people around, but I don't know...it just feels like you're alone in the world and feeling rotten at times like that, isolated from everyone and having to stay near a toilet.

I also get "normal" periods and try to kid myself that I won't get another flare up, that IBS has gone! And during a flare up it seems like my whole world is now and for ever shall be...IBS! IBS can be unpredictable and relentless as it keeps coming back, and that is depressing in itself.

Managing my diet does help and is a balancing act. Have you tried the low FODMAP diet? It's much better and safer to do this (FODMAP elimination phase and the reintroduction of high Fodmap foods phase)  with a dietician if you can. But the Low Fodmap diet can be very relieving of symptoms for some people. It has helped me to some extent, and the longer-term outcome so far has been for me to find a tailor-made range of foods which suit me -both high and low Fodmap -and which cause me fewer symptoms. Though the reintroduction is a constant work in progress, I find. But if you haven't tried that it may help at least a bit.