What can you do if you have an IBS attack and have a lot of complaints? How can you relieve the pain and discomfort? 

This article is not about long-term solutions for IBS, such as following the FODMAP diet. But about relieving symptoms when you have an IBS attack.

For example, when you have eaten something that you do not react well to. 

There are several things you can do to reduce the discomfort you feel during an IBS attack, such as abdominal pain, flatulence, and bloating. 

IBS complaints can vary greatly from person to person, so what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. 

That’s why it’s best to try a few different things to see what relieves your symptoms during an IBS attack. 

Below you will find my tips, things I have tried and do when my stomach is aching a lot. 

1. Put on loose clothing

Maybe this one goes without saying, but the last thing I want when I have a bloated or sore stomach is to wear tight clothes. 

So try to wear something that is very comfortable. Such as training pants, a loose dress, an oversized shirt, pants with an elastic waistband, maternity pants, or pajamas. 

In this blog, you can find some of my favorite trousers that fit nicely on your stomach. 

2. Be in a place where you feel comfortable

Nothing more annoying than being in a place where you are not comfortable during an IBS attack. 

I prefer to be at home during an IBS attack, with the toilet nearby. 

So that I can go to the bathroom as often as I need to without feeling uncomfortable about it.

It’s nice to be able to lie on the couch at such a moment and if you suffer from air in your stomach, that you can also pass wind without shame. 

3. Put something warm on your stomach

I find it very soothing to put something warm on my stomach when it aches. It may not necessarily make my complaints go away faster, but the heat can relieve the pain in your stomach. 

For example, you can use a heating pad or hot water bottle.

A warm bath can also be nice to relieve your complaints. 

4. Eat light meals

If you have an IBS attack, you may prefer not to eat anything for a while. If so, just don’t eat until you feel better. 

But if you do want to eat something, choose light meals that you know you respond well to. 

If you follow the low FODMAP diet, take a meal that you know is low FODMAP and that you normally respond well to. 

For example, I like to eat a light soup or a simple meal with some white rice and fried or boiled vegetables. 

5. Take a walk

Light movement can also provide relief from IBS complaints. It always helps me a lot when I go for a walk. 

I make sure that I listen carefully to my body. If it’s too painful to walk, I don’t. But when I’m very bloated, for example, walking often gives relief. 

It can also help to do some light yoga exercises. For example, there are great videos online for relieving bloating with yoga. 

6. Do a meditation or hypnotherapy session

Taking a break and focusing on your breathing can also help you feel a little better. For example by doing a meditation session. 

I also really like the Nerva app. In this app, you can follow hypnotherapy sessions that are specifically focused on IBS complaints. 

This is a program created by a hypnotherapist specializing in hypnotherapy focused on the gut in collaboration with Monash University. 

7. Try peppermint oil capsules

There are people who experience relief from their IBS symptoms when they take peppermint oil capsules. It may be worth trying to see if this helps you too. 

You can ask your doctor for advice on which peppermint oil capsules to use and how to use them. 

8. Drink a cup of ginger tea

Ginger is very nice to take if you have stomach problems. Ginger can help with nausea, it can relieve bloating and flatulence and it also helps with digestion. 

I like to make myself a cup of fresh ginger tea with a little lemon if I have stomach aches. 

9. Massage your abdomen

It can also be nice to massage your own belly if you have a stomachache. For example, by massaging the painful areas with a rotating and gentle pressing movement, you can relieve the pain. 

On this website, you can find some ways to give yourself an abdominal massage for abdominal pain. 

10. Don’t ask too much of yourself

Allow yourself to take a break if you’re not feeling well. 

Tell those around you that you’re not feeling well, cancel planned activities if necessary, and take time to rest until you feel better. 

Try to listen to your body and not get frustrated with your complaints. Although I know very well that that is sometimes much easier said than done. 

I hope that these tips help you to relieve your complaints in case of severe IBS complaints. What do you do during an IBS attack? Which ways to relieve complaints work best for you?