Will the Urgency Ever Go Away?
I have horrible issues with urgency. Yup, I am an IBS-D sufferer and the biggest complaint I have about this condition is the urgency. When it hits me, it hits me hard and if I don’t make it to the loo in time, just forget it. I have a huge problem. And yes, I have had accidents before and they are beyond horrifying.
Nonetheless, I have always wondered to myself, will this urgency ever go away? Will I always have to deal with this pesky symptom?
I’m here to proudly say: yes! It can improve and you don’t always have to deal with this! There is always hope.
Managing IBS-D urgency
Years of dealing with the urgency I finally became fed up. I couldn’t leave the house without a feminine pad on so that I would have a barrier of protection. I was getting to the point where it was so bad, that leaving the house seemed impossible sometimes and forget about making it to work on time in the mornings — just dreadful.
So with time, I have come up with things that have improved this awful urgency and have actually given me positive results. Let’s take a look:
Diet
I found that certain trigger foods triggered this intense urgency. Wheat is a huge culprit for me. And it wasn’t until I became focused on keeping a food journal that I realized how detrimental having wheat was for me. Also, too much sugar, processed foods, beans, tomato sauces, and spicy foods caused me to run to the bathroom. So, I now stay clear from these triggers and when I am diligent in doing so, I see immense improvement.
Infrared dome
This one is a little out there, but I purchased an infrared dome that acts as a portable sauna essentially. You slide under it, set a timer, and the infrared light penetrates the body promoting healing and detoxification amongst a million other benefits.
I have to say, when I use this tool twice a day, I see improvement immediately. The problem is things always come up and I can never seem to be diligent in using it daily and long enough to really get total results. But it has been amazing for me, and I use it often.
Medication
In addition to IBS, I was also diagnosed with Crohn’s. And I have to say, once I started my new medication called Xeljanz, it has helped me a lot with urgency.
Routine
Having a routine is so important because it reduces stress. For example, knowing what you will be eating for the day, having an exercise routine, going to bed at the same time, and rising at the same time in the morning is so important. Routine helps tremendously with symptoms because, as I’ve found, if I eat at the same time each day, I can predict when I will have a bowel movement which is extremely helpful.
How about you? Do you struggle with IBS urgency? Have you found anything that helps relieve this symptom? Share below, we love to hear from you.
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