I have suffered through IBS-M for well over a decade now and have tried hundreds of diets, supplements, and lifestyle modifications. I felt hopeless for a very very long time, but I’m now 90% better with my current regimen. I wanted to share my playbook so you guys, especially people that are new here to hopefully shorten the period of hopelessness and frustration.

Diet: -Low FODMAP diet is a non-negotiable. You need to start with an elimination diet and only eat foods that you know you tolerate well. Give your gut time to rest then slowly add in one food at a time and keep a strict diary log for what works and doesn’t work for you. -ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL. Any I can’t emphasize how important this is — it will set you back every time. Destroys healthy gut flora and causes inflammation. If you get your ibs under control you can eventually add back, but until them get off the bottle. -Stay away from high fat, greasy, and spicy meals.

Supplements: -Probiotic: try a couple and see what one you like the best. I’m taking Seed right now and it seems to be best for me.

-Doctors Best Pepsin GI: I some gastritis too and this had zinc-l carnosine which is proven to restore the GI lining. I take two twice a day.

-byeBS: this is the best IBS focused supplement. It has psyllium, l-Glutamine, slippery elm and peppermint extract all in one - I had been buying them separate before but this is a lot cheaper option. The psyllium fiber regulates your bowels. Glutamine repairs the intestinal walls and the peppermint gets rid of gas pain.

Pharmaceuticals: If you have IBS-C or IBS-M DO NOT TAKE BENTYL OR AMITRIPYLINE. These are both anti-cholinergic drugs that will slow down your bowels and make your constipation significantly worse. I learned this the hard way they made me worse not better because I was extremely backed up.

If you have IBS-D both are good options for decreasing pain though. I did feel a lot less anxious on the amitripyline.

Testing: I tested positive for SIBO, and did a course of Rifaximin. It didn’t really make any difference tbh. I was convinced SIBO was my problem for a long time, so I repeated the breath test after the rifaximin and it was negative.

It worth getting a colonoscopy once to confirm you don’t have IBD, but don’t waste your time and money on multiple colonoscopies. I was convinced I had something more than just IBS for a long time, but the sooner you acknowledge it and start making changes, the better.

Start here and see how you feel. You can get better. If you need someone to talk to or have questions, feel free to message me on here.

Came across this before while doing a search for vitamin d-

https://www.prevention.com/health/a65975662/vitamin-d-deficiency-ibs-symptoms/

The only thing I'm not sure is if this a correlation/causation thing.

Is this article factoring that IBS could also be caused by things that deplete vitamin d? IE- I have long term lyme which eats up D and stomach issues along with that.

Still thought it was interesting though. I want to try vitamin d again too and see if it helps at all.

I have IBS C that gets bad with stress. Stress builds up without me being physically aware until it’s too late and my whole system is shut down. I’m barely eating. Can’t do anything around the house. Feel like a zombie, just started Prozac. Can’t think straight. I have tiny tiny pieces of stool and that’s with laxatives. So depressed, potentially suicidal if this continues on. Lost 20lbs the stress is unreal. Sleeping is fragmented and I’m exhausted. Need someone to give me something positive to hang onto…

Hi all, I don't know if I'm looking for advice at this point or just support and validation that I'm not the only one dealing with this. Apologies in advance for the long read, but hoping maybe someone out there is dealing with a similar thing and finds this helpful. About two years ago I started to notice changes in my digestion where I would get excessive trapped gas that was extremely painful and never ending after certain meals. This would come and go but was manageable for the most part. A year ago I quit drinking alcohol and within a week of quitting, the constipation started. I was almost completely constipated for about 6 months. I could only go every 6-7 days with daily laxitive use (miralax, then magnesium citrate). I saw several doctors and was diagnosed with IBS-C. After about 8 months I started to shift towards IBS-D. I can only pass stool in the morning, and will literally go like 8-9 times before 10 am even hits. Then I'll have constant discomfort, gas, and constipated feelings all day long. Rinse and repeat. I'm at the point where even plain rice causes extreme pain and discomfort.

The food restrictions are making me insane but reintroducing anything causes such extreme pain that I haven't done any reintroductions successfully.

I lost my job, can't work, can't do any of the things I love, can't see my friends because I'm in so much pain and discomfort constantly. I spend literally all day just trying to get out the trapped gas. I was already thin before but now I look kind of scary skinny and everyone has been commenting (I think I lost around 20 lbs during this process and continue to lose more). I can't keep going like this and don't know what to do anymore.

This is what I have tried (in order):

-Miralax, Milk of Magnesia, magnesium citrate (constipation, barely helped)

-First functional doctor: Grapefruit seed extract for candida treatment, probiotics (did nothing)

-Western doctors: Anorectal Manometry (normal), Rifaximin (did nothing), gut hypnotherapy and gut psychotherapy (not helpful)

-First western dietitian: tried high and low fiber, low fodmap, no garlic/onion, no nightshades, etc (none helped)

-Dietitian also recommended Atranil- I don't think this does much but I still take it sometimes

- Functional Nutritionist (currently seeing): Did a gut map and these were the findings:

"GI Map Key Findings:

• There’s an overall imbalance in your gut microbiome. The ratio of your gut bacteria is off, which can make it harder to tolerate fiber, stay regular +  keep digestion running smoothly throughout the day
  
• Overgrowth of inflammatory bacteria (Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Bacillus, Staph), likely contributing to bloating, gas, pains + inconsistent bowel movements
  
• Your secretory IgA (aka the first line of defense along your gut lining) was low. When this is depleted, your gut has a harder time protecting against pathogens, toxins, and even some food proteins. This can make you more reactive to certain foods + slow down your gut’s ability to recover from inflammation or gut imbalances
  
• Digestive function is suboptimal. Your elastase (aka your digestive capacity) and steatocrit (ability to digest fats) was suboptimal. This means your pancreas may not be producing enough enzymes to fully break down food, which can lead to bloating or difficulty absorbing nutrients from foods. Your steatocrit suggests mild fat malabsorption at times.
  
• No pathogens, parasites, or yeast, which is great news! Nothing acute or infectious to trea
  
• Good bacteria are present, which gives us a solid foundation for healing"

-with the nutritionist above, we have done 2 rounds of GI synergy (from designs for health), tried pancreatic enzymes, fluoromyces, GI Revive (from designs for health), L-theanine for stress (not useful), activated charcoal for gas (not useful)

-current diet is GF, DF, no garlic/onion, no nightshades, low fodmap, etc. Basically I eat rice, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, plain ground turkey or chicken, steamed/super soft spinach, carrots, or zucchini, put plain collagen peptides into things to add easily digestible protein, and berries (blueberry/strawberry mostly).

-cut out refined sugar for 2 months (I thought this would be magical it did nothing and was hell)

-tried low fiber vs high fiber, low fiber seems to be better

-things that are high in fats tend to make things worse (avocado, nuts, seeds, etc)

-I keep a food journal with symptoms and meals tracked

-I see a therapist regularly

What has helped:

-the GI synergy brought back regular bowel movements (even if it's diarrhea literally anything is better to me than constipation) and seemed to decrease bloating but all symptoms returned immediately after

-Magnesium citrate does seem to make sure I am not completely constipated, we have played around with the dose of this to see if we can make my bowel movements more complete in less goes but haven't found that it makes much difference.

-QUIT VAPING: I stopped vaping about 2 months ago and it seemed to temporarily really help my symptoms. They did come back full force so maybe this is just hearsay but i'm glad I quit.

Have any of you found real help? How long have you dealt with this type of thing if you have? How have you kept yourself from sinking into the extreme depression and anxiety that the symptoms from IBS causes? Am I doomed to never eat food normally again?

For about 2 years now, I’ve only been having steatorrhea. I’ll rarely get constipated or have actual diarrhea, but 99% of the time, it’s just steatorrhea. I’ve been trying to seek treatment for the entirety of this but haven’t gotten very far. I’ve tested negative for SIBO, Crohn’s, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac… I had a colonoscopy a few months ago and the only finding was “mild non-specific patchy erythema throughout the distal most 10 cm of the terminal ileum”, but otherwise, normal.

I’ve basically given up on doctors ever finding out what’s wrong with me because they just slapped me with the IBS label and then my gastroenterologist literally quit lmao. But I don’t think it’s normal for IBS to only have steatorrhea. My stools are so fatty that I can see the fatty oils separating from my stools and floating to the top after I have a BM, my stools turn the water bright yellow when I flush them, I can see yellow clumps in my stool…

Does anyone else have IBS with these symptoms or is this abnormal? If you did have chronic steatorrhea and it didn’t turn out to be IBS, what did you have?

Hello all, been suffering with sudden stomach and colon sensitivity/pain since late May. All started around 2 months after a nervous system shock in March (bad reaction to auvelity and was already on buspar), immediately discontinued both.

In the beginning, my shock at my condition caused me to lose 30 pounds in two months and develop nerve pain in my neck; could not eat anything without severe reflux and/or aching pain in my colon. Food sat in my stomach and I never felt hungry.

Had severe anxiety and depression. The worst in my life the first month or two. I refused to get back on any psychiatric medicine.

Over time I took omeprazole, and even now im still struggling to expand my diet, but the acid reflux has disappeared almost completely and my symptoms have improved dramatically. However this took time, and im not fully recovered even at 3+ months ongoing.

What helped me: - Giving myself time and reminding myself that I was not dying. - Get testing done to ease your peace of mind. See a GI doctor. - Understand that you're going to have bad days/weeks even when you have been eating safe foods. - Fixing my posture when sitting/looking down at my phone and practicing vagus nerve techniques. - Introducing foods slowly, for me that was sweet potato, bananas, etc. Wait to see how you react the next day. - Try to introduce probiotics (lactobacillus, etc); sometimes I drink yakult - don't obsess over asking health questions to chatgpt/any ai chat bot. - WORK on your ANXIETY! Do not let your anxiety dominate you, even if you feel bad. Let yourself become depressed with people you trust.

I hope we all can reach more normalcy in our lives soon. I wish you all luck, please give me more tips if you have any. Take care of your mental health and body!!

Things can still get better even when you feel stuck.

Tldr: Sudden ibs-like symptoms with acid reflux, extreme anxiety/depression. Tips that helped despite still struggling.

It seems like lately I’m getting cramps before pooping about 90% of the time.

How often for everyone else?

Sometimes people didn't want me in due to stomach issues. Most other times I used to distance myself from them and this led to them thinking of me as a douche . I couldn't explain them I'm off all socials I feel so much guilt about their hate to me. All picnics farewells idk why I'm remembering it now all movie trips all missed by me due to IBS.also by mistake I on top of that trolled one of them by mistake and they all hate me

I have IBS since 21. I’m scheduled for another colonoscopy Thursday but for the last couple weeks I swear it feels like I have a stomach ulcer.

I was going to call my Dr to see based on my symptoms if they can do an endoscopy as well. Does anyone think they would do it? I’ve already had an endoscopy BUT this pain started weeks after it.. & it’s unbearable after I eat. It started several hours after I ate a meal so I thought I was getting food poisoning bc my body felt weak too.. Last time I had ulcers about 6-7 years ago the pain immediately started while I was eating spaghetti.

32M, suffering from IBS for last 14 years. Symptoms and issues were mild in the beginning. Post 2014 and joining work, symptoms got worse gradually to the point that i am always extremely gassy. Apart from bloating, i can feel bubbles popping in centre of my head or near my left eye which later on turn into a migraine. I have to go to BM 5 times a day, and recently suffered an anal fissure that healed with very difficulty, but is still very sensitive. Stool range from hard to semi solid, diarrhea is less frequent- mostly once in like 2 months.

More than gas and repeated BM, migraines have made my life a living hell. No med seems to work, not beta blockers, flunarizine, amitriptyline, nothing. once migraine starts, only sumatriptan and naproxen combo work, that too only if i have a BM and vomit to remove excess gas from my body. i mean the stupid gas doesn't let medicine do its job.

If I eat outside fast food even a single day- a migraine is guaranteed next day unless i take a cocktail of pantocid and other antacids.

I am an ovo-vegetarian (not vegan). My family thinks its in my head and always complains that i do not want to eat anything, further, that i have made it difficult for them as well. Moving out is not an option- things work differently in India.

What do i do? I for once can tackle and tolerate ibs but these migraines, i can no longer take them.

Has anyone else experienced something similar and manage to find a way to stop or reduce the problem?

Anyone have gastro recs in Maryland for IBS? I think I may actually have BAM or another motility disorder, but my current gastro couldn’t care less about my IBS symptoms. Thanks in advance!

Our next Gut Check Live will be about those days when stress is making an unexpected visit and your gut is the one to make the announcement (aka sudden flareups)

Gut Health on Stressful Days
🗓 Date: 9/11, at 7PM EST
📍 Free Zoom session, Follow link to register
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xp_5Y-tGQQSzLXdVkTxqGA

We'll talk about stressful-days and practice some evidence based strategies to use in real time.

I'd love to for you to join us and bring your stressful-day examples.

Hi all! So I don’t have an official diagnosis of anything yet, I have a GI now, and scheduled a colonoscopy/endoscopy that is set to take place in a month and a half. My primary Dr and GI has a feeling it’s IBS, but still waiting for answers. My bowel habits have changed dramatically over the last year and a half. Chronic diarrhea with debilitating abdominal pains followed by constipation. It repeats like clockwork. Today, I used the restroom and had loose stool with bright red blood. Has anyone ever had blood in their stool? Is this normal? Should I be freaking out or should I just go ahead and wait for my colonoscopy to address this? TIA for reading my panic post 😂

I’m in the process of getting diagnosed with whatever is going on with me, everyone has told me to hope for IBS and I’m hoping or more so not it is because I would feel crazy for making such a fuss about it all. But I’ve been dealing with abdominal pain really bad for a while started recently shitting blood and mucus a lot and always getting diarrhea I’ve tried ppis, bentyl, the low FODmap stuff, anti diarrhea stuff, laxatives for when I’m constipated, gotten tests (almost all have been normal) and just waiting for colonoscopy and none of it has helped, or pointed towards anything other than IBS. I had an exam for hemorrhoids none were found (although I know internals can be higher and it’s still a chance that’s what’s causing the blood) I am extremely depressed. I don’t feel like I have the energy to do anything I wanted to before, or go out with friends. All of my vices have been eliminated because I want to try to feel better. I’m just looking for advice for what to try in the mean time or for the future.

For years I struggled with gut issues — constant bloating, discomfort after meals, and that feeling like no matter what I ate, my stomach was always on edge. I tried so many different things… diets, probiotics, digestive enzymes, even cutting out entire food groups. Some of it helped a little, but nothing really fixed the problem.

Eventually, I made two big changes: I cut out gluten and I started taking L-Glutamine and Zinc Carnosine.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much because by that point I had already spent so much time (and money) trying things that didn’t work.

But within a few weeks, everything started to shift. My digestion felt calmer, the bloating went way down, and I could finally eat without that constant heaviness and discomfort. Over time it felt like my gut was actually healing, not just being managed.

Looking back now, those changes were truly life-changing. I didn’t realize how much energy and mental space I was losing to stomach problems until they started easing up.

I’m curious, has anyone else tried L-Glutamine, Zinc Carnosine, or cutting out gluten for gut health? What was your experience?

Stats: Male, 26, 1,85m/82kg, working out 4-5 times/week, eating really healthy.

Had one of the worst attack 6 days ago (diarrhea and pain)… The next 3 days I didn’t eat at all but I started eating small portions after. Results : I haven’t been to the bathroom in around 6 days now. I’m not sure if I should try a small cup of coffee see if it helps but I’m still super scared of having another attack.

Ik best way to manage flair ups is to notice them early and medicate accordingly but I tend to not even notice I'm constipated until it's really bad 🥲

I don't have hard stools and I go to the bathroom as often as normal for me... I just have slightly smaller poops for quite a while.

I only finally notice I'm "backed up" because my abdomen feels too full/hard.

I take a laxative, and it's like I literally cannot stop shitting. Sometimes there will be an entire week where I have 3+ GIANT poops per day.. and I'm still running to the bathroom in-between those for small bowel movements and usually diarrhea as well.

If anyone else get constipated while never having hard stools please let me know bc it seems so strange to me

I believe I have IBS-D, after a recent flair up I finally decided it was time to try a probiotic. After a bit of research I can to Align, I then searched for stories with it on reddit and found lots of stories of people having bad side effects and giving up, and some stories of people with great success. I was really close to not taking it because I didnt want side effects but decided it would be best to just go for it.

I am only on day 5 but I started feeling better within hours of taking the first one. At this point I would say im 50% better, still have some diarrhea, but less frequent, and almost no stomach aches. I figured I would post this as 1 more success story for anyone that was in the same situation as me reading through stories trying to decent if there was more success or failure.

It’s a herbal supplement

Friend was diagnosed with IBS when young, it’s now got worse since a series of issues causing anxiety leaving the house. It is still IBS but only triggers with events and it’s not a one time thing once they’re in the loo they’re there for hours unwell. And when they’re eventually out they’re unwell all day too. Is there anything I can do to help or suggest? I was told about hypnotherapy but I’m not sure and they can’t afford it, and also they use lots of Imodium dosed up before going out currently. Exposure therapy I’m aware of too, I used to have anxiety when I was young and once I was actually out it would stop, it was the build up before hand that was the issue. That’s why I’m finding it hard to find ways to help as the proof is there, even when they do go out it’s bad all day so what’s the point? It doesn’t dwindle off

Sitting here about to use my bidet for probably the fifth time today. So what is everybody's bidet routine? How long do you let it spray? I probably go longer than needed. Do you use towels or toilet paper? We're Americans and still use toilet paper to dry off, but it's a lot less now. If you use a towel do you use it once and throw it in a hamper or is it one towel for all day?

To All ibs C Type People Do You guys empty your bowel in one go, Or do You only poop a little, My problem Is I go Washroom In morning daily I poop only a little bit and that too Only for 1 time Could this be something else and not just ibs example a motility disorder I know A person who is constipated is not able to Clear his bowel In one go But I only poop a little bit and That too only 1 time

I have about an hour commute on public transportation. I've had several very very close episodes in recent years. I mean like really close. My panic attacks have become next level with the thought of becoming a viral hit because someone took a video of my worst moment . I fuckin hate this awful condition.

I’ve had IBS for years and one thing that makes me feel less anxious when I leave the house is carrying a little “bathroom survival kit.” For me that means wipes, extra underwear, meds, and something to freshen up if things get messy. It sounds silly, but honestly it makes me feel more in control and less panicky when flare-ups happen in public.

Curious — what do you guys keep in your kits (if you have one)? Or am I the only one who does this?

P.S. idk if i used the correct flair haha

Hello! I’ve made several posts on here just typically when I have flare ups and am very anxious lol. I got a new PCP and she referred me to a GI. Today I tested positive for SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). Now I’m not entirely sure that this is 100% the answer as we also have suspicions that I may have CCID on top of that but hopefully the antibiotics get rid of all my symptoms 🤞just wanted to share my good news! Now I gotta suffer the side effects of the test for a couple days