This is totally situation dependent… you could be at home, at a music festival, at work or in town with your family, but whatever you’re up to when your IBS flares up, these tips can help:
Take a nap
If you can, go and lie down somewhere. Whenever you’re feeling unwell, be it a stomach bug or IBS cramps, sleeping it off can often help to do the trick. Whilst (depending on the length of sleep you get) it might not completely clear up your symptoms, it will often help significantly. Just ‘switching off’ helps to stop those pain signals going from your tummy to your brain. Lying on your left side is often the best way. If your intestines are completely inflamed they can often push on your back causing back ache/pain, so stretching out lying sideways is my best position for sleep.
Peppermint tea
Drinking peppermint tea does wonders for stomach cramps and other IBS symptoms. You can take peppermint tablets, but I find the warmth from the tea really helps to soothe the tummy.
Light Exercise
Exercise often helps people, so it could just be a slow walk on your lunch break, maybe a swim and a sauna or a bit of yoga at home. Again it all depends on your symptoms… some flare ups I have had, if someone had told me to go an do some light exercise I’d have thought they were insane!!
Hot water bottle
Just like with period cramps, a hot water bottle can really help soothe IBS cramps. The warmth helps relax you, so sit back and try to relax.
Medication
Make sure you don’t forget to take your medication. Personally, I am on antispasmodics three times a day, and one Amitriptyline (a mild depressant that is proven to help IBS symptoms) at night. If things flare up really bad, I find Senocalm works well to ease symptoms quickly.
Please ensure you seek advice from your doctor before you take any of these medications.
And finally…
…Remember you’re not the only one! Whilst this fact is very unlikely to get rid of your symptoms, it’s often comforting to know there are other people (a lot of us actually) who are suffering with the same thing. Remember you’ll all be fine in a few hours or a day or so… you will get over this flare up!!
Hope you feel better soon!
