What is your "eating out" strategy?

[aimeedyan]

*sigh*

99.9% of the time, I have to use the restroom within minutes of finishing a meal. It's not only annoying, but potentially embarassing. I've gotten over embarassment with using public restrooms but sometimes I can't even get there fast enough (why must most retailers put their restrooms at the back?!).

My strategy right now is to...

1)go straight home after a meal, which means eating within 5/10 minutes of the house AND not lingering after we finish. We need to get the check fast and get out

2)dine at places that I won't be completely mortified at using their restroom (ie, avoiding a place with a single seater)

3)if we want to go someplace after - like a store - it needs to be close

4)take 2 Immodium 30 min prior to eating. This does work, but my GI really really doesn't want me taking Immodium - ever. But sometimes I do in order to avoid an embarassing situation.

I really resent having to plan out meals like this, and miss the days of being able to sit around the table and talk with friends after dinner without worry.

{I know not all Crohnies have to deal with this; I didn't until my resection three years ago and since then, this has been my life...}

If you have to deal with this, what's your strategy?

[Deleted]

Unfortunately, I just don't go out to eat. H and I either cook at home or get meals to go. :/

[Deleted]

I don't know yet!

before my resection, I never had diarrhea. my problem was constipation, pain, ulcerations, lots of scar tissue forming... and eventually a perforation. I've had some abnormal BMs since surgery (13 days post op) but it's still too early to know what my new normal will be. at this point we haven't eaten out because I'm still on a very bland diet and I have to be careful about what I eat since I'm not able to start medication until the swelling goes down and we can do a scope/colonoscopy.

[aimeedyan]

Mar 4, 2013 12:01:26 GMT -5 rvan0905 said:

Honestly, I would ask your doctor for a specific management plan. There are certain foods that I eat that cause me to go to the bathroom within minutes, but I can stay away from them. Do you know what your triggers are?

Pre-surgery, I had triggers. Post-surgery, it doesn't matter what I eat (though some things are worse than others and I steer clear). Just about all of it goes straight through. GI told me it's normal, unfortunately, because of what I'm missing now (some valve that slows things down, the terminal ileum, etc)

It's been 3 years so I'm getting more used to it, or at least am learning to adapt