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Help! IBS attack in car!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 7/14/2007 5:04 PM (GMT -7)
How do you all deal with an IBS attack when you're stuck in a traffic jam in the middle lane and can't get off the freeway? Does anyone have some sort of IBS emergency kit?  Any products that have worked well in this kind of situation?  Please be specific. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Posted 7/14/2007 7:09 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Dewdrop,
Welcome to HealingWell! :-)

I think the best you can do it pull over ASAP. You might also want to carry extra underwear, baby wipes, water & Imodium in your car. We've had a couple members talk about carrying an IBS kit with them (that consist of those items). A few members have even had to pull over on the side of the road, or in the woods, and just go. Luckily, I've been able to find restrooms and haven't had to resort to that.

How did you handle the situation?
Posted 7/14/2007 10:25 PM (GMT -7)
This happens to me quite frequently, actually. At least once a week. If I'm in the middle of nowhere (which is most of the time, especially recently), I pull over and jump into the woods. I know some people have problems doing that but I've always been able to pretty much go anywhere! When you gotta go you gotta go, right? Anyway, having a roll of TP in the glove compartment is a necessity. Some sanitizing hand gel is usually a good idea, too :)
Posted 7/14/2007 11:25 PM (GMT -7)
Hi,

Thanks for your reply. You asked how I handled the situation (being stuck in a traffic jam when an IBS attack struck).  It was a 5 lane freeway, and I couldn't get to the side lane to pull off. Even if I could, there isn't any woods to run into. I don't think I could do it in front of all those people. Probably get arrested!  I handled it by praying silently, then praying out loud, then shouting at God, then begging, pleading, for power from above to help me wait and make the cramping go away. Then I cried, screamed, doubled up in pain, and finally the traffic started moving and some people were nice enough to let me get over, and I was able to get off the freeway and spotted a fast food place with a restroom. That was a mighty close call!

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with using a--ugh, hate to say that word-----bedpan---in the car? OK, this is really gross, but it might help someone---I just saw on the internet today a bedpan liner that makes it all gel up so it can't spill, then folds into itself with a ziplock closing for easy disposal.  I am actually thinking of keeping some sort of bedpan with this liner in my car. How I'd pull it off in the midst of a traffic jam, I don't know...maybe wrap some sort of cape around me to hide it all?  This is such a terrible problem and this is the first time I've talked about any of this with anyone (gulp).

Posted 7/15/2007 12:19 AM (GMT -7)
Dewdrop,
You know, they do make portable toilets. I think people use them for camping. It might not be such a bad idea to look into (instead of a bed pan - although that gel feature is pretty cool).
Also, let me ask, are you taking anything for your urgency issues? Do you get a lot of D attacks? I wonder if taking probiotics and/or calcium would help your issues.

Please don't be shy about disussing your issues... We all know what it's like and are probably going through the same things. We're here for support and to help if we can. The great thing about this website is that it is anonymous.  tongue
Posted 7/15/2007 12:50 AM (GMT -7)
I wore assurance from WalMart & carried extra with me with wipes ect..............
Posted 7/15/2007 11:33 AM (GMT -7)

Hello SnowyLynn,

Thanks for the tip about Assurance at WalMart---is that a diaper of some sort? Oh gosh, I can't believe I said that word... I can't imagine doing BMs in a diaper--how humiliating!  Anyway--back to reality--does it contain it all? My BMs are often very loose. I can't imagine arriving at work with a full diaper...oh my gosh..

To 7Lil:   I used to get an average of 8 extremely urgent IBS attacks everyday, with no warning.  Then I got under treatment with a GI dr. who has me on 2 Donnatal three times a day.  It's been several months now and I am doing so much better. I'm down to 4-5 BMs a day, and they are not as urgent. But I still have an occasional extremely urgent IBS attack, and I never know when it will strike. The only thing regular about this ailment is that I will almost always have  pain, cramping, and urgent BM within 2 hrs after lunch. It doesn't matter what I eat. I've tried various foods.  The dr. said to have low or no fat at lunch, but it happens anyway. The worst fear is being stuck in traffic when this happens. Any more ideas how to deal with that? 

Posted 7/15/2007 2:52 PM (GMT -7)

never ashamed at it and can laugh back at it as well

I cary an old set of clothing, and yes I will do my wash in the BR of work , right in front of others? but not clean myself in public of others?

here is a lil story and hope you may find it  believable or not

 the san genero feast thousands apon thousands of people, i needed a.s.a.p. rest room. I found a chinese restururant, with no dismay I threw $1.00 down give me a soup, and ran to the Bathroom?

I repeated this one mo time, and left the soup behind .  My fiend lost me due to  seeing Moses deviding a wall of people? the punchline when I came out of the restroom and place just to the side was 50 port a johnies. ****?

the trigger of my attack was unknown

what I can say  if you aregoingto go, and need to go on the spot in the car just go. and then worry bout it later

so having a towel, for your seat even some spray would be good

what can you do  for a port a potty is cut out the seats center?  believe me my worse casescenrio's are left behind  I still suffer, but knowwhen it is time to stay behind

Posted 7/16/2007 5:06 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Dewdrop,

Yes I can relate to the traffic thing; two things happen to me when I'm in traffic "the urgency and panic attacks". It became unbearable for me to get from point A to point B so there is only one way I travel and that is with a prescription for "hyrocodone". Its an addictive drug like many others so it's not something that doctors give our freeley. For me this is a life saver because it allows me to travel. It stops the urgency feelings, calms my stomach; basically it constipates me which is fine!  I'm not saying I recommend others to take this I'm just saying that this is the only way I can travel. When not traveling I am taking librax which  is something I started taken recently.  Traveling for people with our condition can be debilitating.  

Good luck and hope this helps.

Kimb

Posted 7/16/2007 7:28 AM (GMT -7)
Assurance are pull ups like depends only cheaper & they are just as good.I'd rather poop in them than wearing a regular pair of panties.It had happened to me many times & am glad I was wearing the pull ups.........
Posted 9/24/2007 2:51 AM (GMT -7)
Hi, Im new here.. im reading all of your stories & i can very much relate to the fear of a red traffic light! In my car i have my "crap kit" consists of TP, Towel, Hand sanitiser, & a tupper wear container, undies. Thank god i havent had to use it yet. But just knowing the kit is in the car with me makes me feel more confident, just incase i dont make it to the nearest loo. May i also say for the past 3 weeks ive been taking VSL#3 it has reduced my D from around 20 per day to around 3! also reduced urgenty & bloating. It expensive but to me worth every cent.
Posted 9/24/2007 7:23 PM (GMT -7)
What is VSL#3?
Posted 9/25/2007 3:47 AM (GMT -7)
Its a high potency probiotic with 450 billion live bacteria per packet. You mix it with water, it doesnt taste great.. their website says its for people suffering with IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Ilial Pouch. take a look at their website vsl3.com 

Ive tried lots of different probiotics, this is the only one that works for me.

Hope it works for you too!  Good luck, would like to hear from you if you decide to try it. :-)

Posted 9/26/2007 8:47 AM (GMT -7)
I have crohns and considered doing the exact same thing. However, I havent figured out if I was in the drivers seat, how I would get on my pot and poop. What if traffic started moving again? But I did carry a plastic bag in my car for this purpose and it helped me mentally. I never did use it though. I ended up getting such bad anxiety about getting sick in traffic again that I went to therapy. I was more concerned about it happening with other people in the car. I sympathize. I also use rescue remedy herbal spray to help w/ the anxiety.
Posted 9/28/2007 5:36 AM (GMT -7)
Wow, I can't tell you how nice it is to not be the only one dealing with this. My commute to work everyday is 45 minutes and everyday I drive in fear of having an attack. I don't eat breakfast ever because I'm scared it'll cause a flare up. Also, I basically only eat a tiny 4oz.yogurt while I"m at work and then eat dinner at home. I got stuck in traffic about a week ago, in a construction zone, completely stuck in two narrow lanes. My anxiety started to kick in and my stomach started to hurt. I was sooo happy and relieved when we started moving. I am so sick of being afraid to go anywhere. I think I need to make one of those kits for a just in case. I don't know what I would have done if I had a flare up while being stuck like that. Scary.
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