Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Riding?

[Velocivixen]

I hesitate to even post this, but I want to know how others cope. I won't go into great detail, except to say that I have irritable bowel syndrome and my morning "routine" takes awhile and is unpredictable. If I plan on doing any early morning rides or events, I literally have to get up hours earlier to ensure that my bowels are done before I leave. It would be very embarrassing to have a bowel mishap while out riding. Some might suggest a simple solution of simply going to be earlier the night before, getting up extra early, and do the typical morning routine, however with IBS things can be unpredictable and bathrooms aren't always available spur of the moment when you might desperately need one. Also, if you have ever tried to go to sleep hours prior to your usual time you know that you can't always fall asleep.

This issue has kept me from doing a lot of morning group and event rides.

Ideas?

[Biciclista]

funny you call this IBS. We are like this too. One or the other of us will say "Not done yet"
and the other will putter around the house. We both wake up at ungodly hours anyway so we always manage to get to where we are going on time!

[feral1]

I pretty much keep Pepto in business I have to be very careful what I eat since everything tends to upset it. Stress is just as bad. I guess I tend to do what you do.....get up a little early and hope for the best and take plenty of Pepto.....

[Kubla]

I feel your pain. Sometimes there is no problem at all; other days I wonder why I even try to plan anything that will take me away from the house. DBF is afflicted as well, so orchestrating a day trip can be a chore for us. Sticking with a weekend schedule/routine that mirrors his workday schedule seems to help him.

For me, the only thing that seems to make it more predictable/livable is avoiding my trigger foods and eating sensibly the night before and the day of a planned ride. No huge meals, no rich foods.

[KnottedYet]

Don't have IBS, but I do have celiac disease. (40% of "IBS" sufferers in one study turned out to have undiagnosed celiac disease, another found 35% of "IBS" had blood markers of celiac http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...16508501252378 )

Similar issues, by and large.

Fiber is my friend. Metamucil to the rescue, every night for about a week after I accidentally get glutened. It slows things down and thickens liquids, and prevents those socially embarrassing events that necessitate a change of clothes. Doesn't have any effect on the other auto-immune stuff, but does help with the gut. I do the same Metamucil before bed routine if I have something important coming up and I just don't want the worry.

BTW - anyone with "IBS" who has a family history of auto-immune diseases or who is of Irish ancestry (the celiac mutation is strong in the Irish population) should really consider a celiac disease screening. It might also be worth checking to see if your "IBS" is one that responds to antibiotics http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0105194836.htm If you have $910, you can be cured http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011...bowel-syndrome Insurance isn't likely to touch it for a few years.

[KatzPajamas]

While I was never officially diagnosed with IBS, I have had years at a time with the same problems that you are describing. My 60 yr old sister has had even worse problems. That is until about 5 years ago. She had her routine colonoscopy and got some priceless advice fro the new doctor. We both now take 2-Vitamin Shoppe "Ultimate 10 Probiotics" capsules before going to bed and avoid any milk products and sugary carbs after dinner. To quote my sister, "I poop like a little kid again". In the morning, the morning constitutional is like clockwork and forgotten for the rest of the day! We always get to enjoy Happy Trails!



I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I also lived on Pepto. When I had my colonoscopy (lost my dad, his mom and 3 of his brothers to colon cancer), the doctor said ABSOLUTELY NO PEPTO! Immodium only. It works just as well as far as I am concerned, but I follow the doctors orders. I truly hope that you all can come to a great solution to your similar difficulties. It is a real pain in the arse for sure.

[ny biker]

I know someone with ulcerative colitis who has found Align probiotics to be a life-saver.

[KatzPajamas]

I know someone with ulcerative colitis who has found Align probiotics to be a life-saver.

Doesn't surprise me at all. The probiotic is just reinforcement of the "good" bacteria that is essential to our intestinal tract working properly. Sugar tends to kill our troops (good bacteria) and allow the proliferation of any bad bacteria. So when the probiotic is send into the digestive tract, it is as if the general has sent more men to the front to fight the enemy (bad bacteria). We are naturally made to win the war, just need to supply the troops properly and definitely not sabotage them with the junk that we eat!

[Crankin]

No diagnosis (been tested for both IBS and celiac, the whole shebang), but similar symptoms. I always get up early, it doesn't matter. This issue wreaks havoc with me when on a tour, as I just finished. I have to have one cup of coffee (or the headache appears), so I have to make sure it's very early, before a ride. Sometimes I have tea, which is a bit less strong. My morning "routine" is very regular, but since I started cycling, my motto has been "go early, go often." Some of it is nerves about starting any ride, but I also have an emergency supply of Pepto in my seat bag, or take a Zantac, to decrease acid.
I might try the probiotics, but it seems like I get a weird reaction every time I try some new mineral/vitamin.

[jlnc]

I don't want to sound like a know it all, but I also lived on Pepto. When I had my colonoscopy (lost my dad, his mom and 3 of his brothers to colon cancer), the doctor said ABSOLUTELY NO PEPTO! Immodium only.

Katz, do you remember why the doc said no Pepto? Just curious, thanks!

[KatzPajamas]

Katz, do you remember why the doc said no Pepto? Just curious, thanks!

Sorry, I don't remember. Like I said, they both work the same for me. Just wanted to follow doc's orders this time.

[Velocivixen]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I often think that my 2 obligatory cups of coffee in the morning "rev things up". The initial time that I "go" is very normal consistency. A little later on in the morning I often feel a sudden & urgent need to "go" and have diarrhea. It's that second part that is very unpredictable. Recently I went for a walk in the park behind my house and did a brief jog during the walk. There are port-a-potties in the park just during the summer (for the disc golfers) and I felt a very slight urge to go, but thought I could make it home (I just thought it was gas). Well, as I approached home I had to pick up my pace and take a short cut. Needless to say I had the mother of all "accidents" and was absolutely horrified! That had not happened to me since I was about 8 years old! I had a huge mess to clean up that included major laundry. Thank goodness I was near my house. I can never take for granted that what I think might be gas could easily be more than that. I can never take that chance if I'm out somewhere.
I'm sorry if this is all too much information, but I am certain that I'm not the only person with this issue. Typically I am finished after the twice per morning "events" so that's a blessing I guess.

[pll]

I don't have IBS, but a sensitivity to sugars (from fruit, milk...). Coffee with milk is the "perfect" trigger: pair something that will go fast through my system with a diuretic. Anyway, a nutritionist suggested to pair any sugar with a little bit of protein or anything that will slow things down. e.g. if I eat an apple as a snack, add a dab of peanut butter. Or have a piece of biscotti. I have restricted my coffee intake to just one cup in the morning. In my case, some fruits are particularly evil (e.g. cantaloupe, melon), others are friendlier (berries, pineapple). And I take Align every night, which has helped.

[Velocivixen]

I guess I could play with my diet a little. You know what's really funny? I don't even like the taste of coffee, but drink it. I love the smell of good coffee. I drink it. I don't hate it, but I still drink it. I've tried tea, but something about coffee....I do think that caffeine overstimulates my intestines, but primarily just in the morning. I often have a cup of coffee late afternoon with splenda & about 2 tbsp ff milk and have no issues whatsoever.

[pll]

Well, diets can make a difference. A couple of years ago, I was trying to lose weight and, for lunch at the office, I would grab a cup of fresh fruit (mostly cantaloupe and grapes). Then I would indulge on a skim milk latte. The result: death never seemed so imminent! I eventually landed in the gastroenterologist and nutritionist offices.