Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Riding?

[pll]

Do runners NOT have this problem???

Apparently, many do during or after their run. It's called the "runner's trots" and it is attributed in part to the motion of running.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm going to second what Knotted said- take soluble fiber supplements about twice a day in a modest amount. Metamusil is the somewhat expensive brand name of the psyllium grain husk soluble fiber. This type of fiber, as Knot said, tends to 'normalize' your bowels- in other words if you are too constipated it helps move things along gently, and if you have IBS with unpredictable diarrhea attacks, it really helps solidify and normalize that too.

Here's what I take, 2 capsules, twice a day:
http://www.allstarhealth.com/f/yerba...llium_husk.htm
It's the same thing as Metamusil but way cheaper. It's gentle and natural and simply helps normalize everything. It can help a LOT if you take a modest dose routinely.

Other than that, I'd say you ought to forget the coffee in the morning- it's obviously triggering a morning attack for you. You state you have a normal event when you get up and then a loose attack after your coffee.
Try some herbal tea (no caffiene) in the morning with a small amount of toast or something, along with a couple of fiber capsules. Take your fiber as well before going to bed, or with evening meal. I bet if you do this you will see a huge improvement.
Definitely avoid fruits or veggies with hard-to-digest skins- like tomato, peppers, apple skins, grapes, eggplant, and also mushrooms. Lettuce can be bad troublesome too.

[Biciclista]

I don't have the morning coffee but I still have the "attack" if that's what you want to call it.

[Velocivixen]

@Mimi, yes I can have this same problem before a run or during. That's why I try to wait to very late morning to run to ensure that I'm "running on empty" For me this is strictly a morning issue. It varies also. Today I have had my typical 2 cups of coffee with no problems. I'm actually also sort of "revved up" because I've got an atypical day with lots of running around & errands. So I like how one poster called it the "dreads" as emotion can definitely affect it, although with me seems to be unpredictable. Because it's only in the morning for me I think it is influenced by what I eat the night before AND the caffeine in the morning. Seems to be the combination. Then when you add on emotional stress or whatever it can trigger.
Happy riding.

[badger]

I haven't read it all, but I was watching a show the other day on Discovery, and apparently a lot of people are infected with giardia parasite without knowing it. They are often erroniously diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.

Thougtht I'd throw it out there, in case you guys are actually still talking about the original post.

[pll]

Hmm. I had giardiasis and it is exceedingly unpleasant (not just the runs, but nausea/vomiting, whether you eat or not, and quick weight loss) , and it is easily detected. A friend also got it a few years ago and his case was more severe, needing IV fluids.

[Bike Chick]

Well I had to look that one up and apparently giardiasis is also known as beaver fever. I have never heard of this but it is quite a nasty little parasite. How horrible.

My morning urge to go to the bathroom will hit by just putting bike shorts on. I kid you not. I don't care if it's 4 am or 6 am, if I haven't made my morning bathroom trip yet, it will hit when the bike shorts go on. I am also late to work most mornings because I wait to go to the bathroom before I leave on my run. If I don't, it will hit when I'm a mile or more from home. A friend of mine calls it "prairie dogging."

I've had stomach problems for years and never have been regular. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis after spending 5 days in the hospital several years ago. I never thought I would be so up close and personal with my bowel functions but I have to really watch my diet and pay close attention to my colon. Being regular is a must and I've been thru fiber supplements, stool softeners, etc. trying to find the right combination. I am doing well with magnesium and Align at night before bed, daily exercise, proper diet and lots of water. If I get off my schedule or don't eat right, then I'm in trouble. The doctor said they would need to remove a portion of my colon if my colon flared up again so I have to be careful. Does it seem women have these problems more than men? You could set a clock by DH and DS!

[nscrbug]

I've noticed through reading this thread, that those of you who are taking probiotics...often take them at night. Is this how they should be taken? I use probiotics too, but I have always taken them during the daytime...usually with my lunch time meal. Is it better to take them at bedtime? And if so, does anyone know why?

Linda

[pll]

In the case of Align, it does not matter. It is once per day, so I do it at night out of convenience.

[Bike Chick]

I take Align and took them in my lunch everyday but kept forgetting. If I take it at night, I don't forget. It didn't seem to matter when I took it. It's just a matter of convenience.

[KatzPajamas]

I've noticed through reading this thread, that those of you who are taking probiotics...often take them at night. Is this how they should be taken? I use probiotics too, but I have always taken them during the daytime...usually with my lunch time meal. Is it better to take them at bedtime? And if so, does anyone know why?

Linda

I started taking @ night in the beginning because I wasn't sure what was going to happen. So just got into that habit. If I waited until sometime during the day, I would never remember. I have a very busy stressful job working long hours so my probiotic is my little binky-nitecap!

[meganm]

I've had some issues in this department as well. I don't know if it's IBS, but for me, adding fiber to my diet has changed everything. I take Metamucuil (Benefiber didn't work), and that has helped so much!

[Velocivixen]

I eat enough fiber naturally each and every day without a supplement. It is not giardiasis because this ONLY happens to me in the mornings. Once I go that second time (which is the unpredictable part) then I'm good.
Interesting, though, to see that it seems somewhat common.

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband has Crohn's and he pretty much needs a bathroom before every ride. He takes a therapy called Remicade and immediately after his treatment it is much worse, when it is near treatment it gets bad again but he usually ends up constipated so urge but no relief.

His GI doctor has recommended Align, gave him a prescription to ease spasms, of course my husband doesn't remember to take them. A nutritionist or a good GI doctor might be worth a visit if you would like more relief. Bottom line, you are far from alone.

[TrekTheKaty]

As usual, what Knotted said!

I also caution those who've ruled out celiac with a blood test, that the blood test is terribly unreliable--a lot of false negatives. You shouldn't rule out celiac based on the blood test alone. In my family, gluten-free for less than 48 hours improved symptoms.