1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Runner with IBS

Posted , 2 users are following.

barbara86020
barbara86020

Had campylobacter infection about 20 years ago, was mis-treated with wrong antibiotics. Suffered for years, then had some quieter times. Now have a long flare-up, probably caused by the endless stress of the last two years.

Question is: what can I do / take to continue my running?

running is my only good time of day, I don't want to have to quit. but there are no bathrooms for sudden stops. Can I stop the cramping that will sooner or later result in a bowel movement? No, I don't get diarrhea, but when I have to go I have to go. I can't ask these questions anywhere.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • robin77577
    robin77577 barbara86020

    Posted

    Hi Barbara,

    I can sympathise with you re the cramping and sudden urge to go to the bathroom. Your bowels muscles cramp because they are having difficulty passing along the bowel contents. If the stool is softish and easy to move along, the muscles don't have to cramp so vigourously. So...how to 'create' an 'easy-to'pass' stool?... Drink more water. Remember tea is constipating and a diuretic...so for every cup of tea, you need to drink 2 glasses of water. You run, so you are losing a lot of water in sweat. More reason to drink more water. And of course, it stands to reason that you need to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables in a day (6 - 10 servings)...roughage! And last but not least, what I find personally necessary, is to take magnesium at bedtime...2 - 3 tablets which make me empty completely first thing in the morning...without cramping and it also helps with sleep. Some people including myself find it helpful to have a tsp of psyllium in a full glass of water some time during the day, or before bed. You have to find what is effective for your bowels. I read once that we should all be aiming to have a one foot long stool every day...like Africans whose diets are full of roughage. I get pretty close! Ha ha! You won't have any cramping when your stools are that fat and fluffy and easy to pass through the system. Good Luck Barbara!

    Robin 

  • barbara86020
    barbara86020

    Posted

    Thanks for your suggestions, Robin! When I'm in a constipated phase of my IBS, I try all these things - the magnesium was my latest addition, glad you mentioned that.

    HOWEVER, that is not my current problem. I guess people on this forum will understand if I go into detail... I'm in a phase where others would have diarrhea, but I get just loose stools, many times a day. And if I run during this time, there's a chance that stools will move out. I don't necessarily even have a cramp. It just happens, Thankfully, I live in an isolated area, so nobody notices, but this just cannot go on. Do I need an adult diaper, Imodium, what? desperate!

     

    • robin77577
      robin77577 barbara86020

      Posted

      Oh sorry, I just read this. If you empty your bowels FULLY in the morning..(one foot long African production!)....which will happen once you get on a water, magnesium, veggies, psyllium (if necessary) routine, you will not need to go to the bathroom the rest of the day...because you will have emptied your bowels. Your large intestine will be empty. And you just do that for life and all should be well.
  • robin77577
    robin77577 barbara86020

    Posted

    Hi Barbara,

    For years I have been taking magnesium tablets at bedtime (hard to get in your diet...and good for the brain...and bowels). I don't go to bed without having taken it every single night. If I get into bed and realize I have forgotten it, I get up and go and take my 3 tablets religiously. If not, I get somewhat constipated, then I have to increase the magnesium but maybe not enough so I get more constipated etc...and risk painful and urgent cramping. No thanks! I keep regular and I try to remember to drink my 2 glasses of water as soon as I get up. That also 'gets things moving along' first thing in the morning. Once you get into a routine, you will see, your insides will thank you for it and be very cooperative.

    Good luck, Barbara!

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.