I've been lucky most of my life in that I've either lived alone or had a totally different schedule to my housemates, but on holidays I won't manage a bowel movement at all.
My anxiety is mainly caused by the fact that I suffer from chronic constipation and am hyper-aware of how long it might take me to go to the toilet. I think that others will think I'm weird or disgusting for taking over an hour in the loo (often with no result!) and so I tense up, making the problem far worse!
Usually once I am in my own home and alone, I will manage to go, but I am about to move abroad for a year and share with strangers and I am terrified.
It really does affect every aspect of your life when you feel sick, bloated, moody, embarrassed, and are in pain most of the time.
I envy people who can just walk into a toilet, do their business quickly and walk out again.
Only immediate family know about the issue, as it's so embarrassing.
I am hoping to see a hypnotherapist before I move, but I am really worried to the point where I am seriously considering cancelling my plans for emigration.
When I did a trial run of a month last summer I was in severe pain for the whole month, but no matter what I ate or drank, I couldn't go. The second I was back in a private hotel room in the UK I was fine. Ridiculous!
Thank goodness sites like this exist, where people are going through the same thing and understand.
For your holiday, could you maybe arrange for your husband to go out for a set amount of time every day so you can have some privacy? As he knows yo have parcopresis, he should be willing to do that for you if he knows it will prevent you from becoming ill.
I hope you can find a way to overcome this condition so that you can enjoy travelling!
Good luck x
Responses