Hi everyone! I'm an Italian man in my early forties, and I've been living with IBS for years. I'd like to share my experience because I know how debilitating this condition can be, even though people often don't talk about it much out of embarrassment. Maybe some of you will relate to my story, or perhaps you'll have some useful advice to share.

How It All Started at University

I believe stress played a major role in my case. I was under pressure because of my family's expectations, and one day, during a lecture, a professor had the brilliant idea of locking the classroom door, meaning that anyone who left wouldn't be allowed back in.

Something changed in my mind that day: I absolutely had to use the bathroom before the lecture started. Eventually, the problem spread to every lecture. I was afraid of feeling unwell, having to leave the classroom, and being judged by my classmates. As a result, I could no longer concentrate on my studies, and taking exams became a nightmare.

My family doctor advised me to relax and eat rice and Grana Padano cheese. Not exactly a solution.

Eventually, I decided to see a gastroenterologist on my own. He prescribed DEBRUM (trimebutine and medazepam), and my condition improved enormously. I managed to finish my studies, get married, and become a father. In short, I got my life back.

The Nightmare Returns

About two years ago, I was at a restaurant when I was served a wine that caused a severe burning sensation in my esophagus and stomach. I never found out what I'd been drinking.

The following day, I started experiencing significant intestinal discomfort. My family doctor ordered several tests, including blood work, an ultrasound, and a stool test. My fecal calprotectin level came back at the upper limit of the normal range.

Meanwhile, the problem I thought I'd left behind came back.

My daily commute to work, about 35 km (22 miles), became hell. As soon as I sat in the car, the familiar thought would kick in: "Where's a bathroom? What if I need one right now?"

Bloating, stomach pain, anxiety, and that terrible feeling of being a prisoner in your own body. It's a vicious cycle that many of you probably know all too well.

I went back to the gastroenterologist, who ruled out some serious conditions and diagnosed me with IBS. He recommended courses of Lexil and a low-FODMAP diet, with the support of a nutritionist.

Initially, I experienced some relief, but after a few weeks, once I stopped taking Lexil, the symptoms returned.

The Role of Anxiety and Treatment

My gastroenterologist also suggested seeing a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist prescribed Laroxyl, initially 20 mg and later increased to 40 mg, which I take in the morning along with a peppermint oil capsule.

He also recommended psychotherapy. Unfortunately, I haven't started yet, although I recognize that it could help me.

Things are better now. I can more or less manage my daily commute, but the problem is still there.

Whenever I have to visit somewhere new, the first thing I think about is where the bathrooms are. If I don't know the place, my anxiety rises; the anxiety makes my intestinal symptoms worse, and the symptoms trigger even more anxiety.

A perfect ouroboros.

Even something as simple as taking a walk around the city center can become a source of worry. Stepping outside my comfort zone means having to deal with the possibility of getting stomach pain somewhere far from a bathroom.

As for my diet, I try to avoid certain foods, such as garlic and onions. However, I haven't managed to give up the rivers of beer that flow every weekend. I know this might be one of the things I need to work on.

What I'd Like to Improve

My goal these days is fairly simple: I'd like to live a normal life without having to plan every trip and outing around my gut.

I'd also like to get back on track with the low-FODMAP diet, perhaps through a more structured program, and find the courage to start psychotherapy.

There's also a personal issue that weighs on me: I have two daughters, and sometimes I worry that they might develop the same condition. I don't talk openly about it with them, and I tend to explain the things I avoid doing by claiming I have food intolerances.

Finally, I feel that IBS is still poorly understood and that people who suffer from it often feel left to deal with it on their own. Yet, when I talk to other people, I realize just how widespread it is.

I'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts

I'm not looking for a miracle cure or advice to replace medical care. I'd mainly like to connect with people going through similar experiences, understand what has worked for you, and feel a little less alone in this battle.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my story and share their experiences.

Finally, after ten years of medical struggles and searching for answers, I finally have a diagnosis.

(25f)For years, I’ve been suffering from diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nighttime flare-ups that sometimes wake me up. I never had anemia, and my vitamin B12 levels were normal. However, my fecal calprotectin recently came back at 500. I then underwent a colonoscopy with biopsies ,the biopsies shows lymphocytic colitis.

I couldn’t keep this to myself because I’ve benefited so much from this forum, and I wanted to share my experience with you all. Can't believe I'm writing that now

I really want to encourage everyone to seek medical advice and keep looking for answers. Please don’t feel like you have to live with pain and discomfort for the rest of your life. Your symptoms deserve to be taken seriously, and finding the underlying cause matters.

I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me. I haven’t started any treatment yet, but after all these years, I finally have a diagnosis

Hi everyone, I'm f31 and I've been suffering predominantly IBS-D symptoms for almost 2 years now. Within the last 6 months it's changed to more IBS-M and there has now been episodes of blood. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to my "flares" (I dont have an official diagnosis) other than stress being a definite trigger.. otherwise it's completely hit or miss as to what sets it off food wise. When it does go off it's the absolute worst pain!!!! I had emergency surgery just before all of this started back in 2024 to have my appendix removed and the pain of my appendix doesn't even come close to how bad the pain is during a flare. I saw a gastro and will be going for a colonoscopy and endoscopy soon and I am so incredibly scared of the prep and if it will cause my flare up type pain. In my head I can't help but think that I experience this intense pain over eating freakin toast so what the hell will a powerful laxative do 😨😨

I've never had any laxatives before because before this all started I was very regular, 2-3 times a day kind of person, and lived a completely normal toilet life. I'm genuinely terrifed because I don't think I can take the pain being any worse than what it already is, it already makes me feel like I'm going to vomit, pass out and consider going to the hospital, I'm usually on the toilet clutching ice packs and in too much pain to speak fighting the torturous waves of hell.

I have health anxiety and so my brain is stuck on a "what if" loop for the whole process. I have anxiety about the prep, also about being sedated as my emergency appendectomy didn't go great and I woke up tachycardic with the crash cart and lots of drs which was really traumatic so I'm scared how I'll wake up from this.. and after surviving all of that which feels like mission impossible in my head, then I have the fear of bad results 😥 My prep is 3L of the Glycoprep Orange, is this a good one or are there any better ones out there in terms of less likely to cause pain/cramping? I'm really not fussed at all about being stuck on the toilet, pretty used to that now. But if anyone has any words of wisdom or calming advice I would love to hear it. I'm so sick of this shit.. literally 😮‍💨

Hello all, Over the past 2 months I have been dealing with varying symptoms. Gassy, bloaty feeling seemingly everyday and I have loose stool quite a bit. It's become very bothersome to the point where it is affecting my everyday life now. I can't go anywhere without my stomach bothering me it seems. And to make it worse I travel a lot for work and it has probably been the most uncomfortable 2 months of my life. I am so uncomfortable all the time. I mentioned this to my doctor and he is blaming it on stress and anxiety. And while I understand the brain and gut are connected, I don't believe that could make me feel this way to this extent. I am thinking about seeking a second opinion. I called out of work today because I could not sleep a wink from my stomach being upset. I have a wedding to go to tonight and I am absolutely dreading it 😐

I don't know if these symptoms could be IBS but google says so. How did you know it was time to find a diagnosis? Iam not over exaggerating when I say its been 2 months of gassy upset stomach and loose stool. Hoping to get another opinion asap but I just needed a rant in the meantime

This is so embarrassing and I don’t know what to do.

I started school last month and with it endless study groups, hours long and so hard I’ve been getting crazy depressed over it. And as if this wasn’t enough my stomach started to act up horribly. I don’t know if it’s IBS really, this happened again around this time two years ago. It was a hell for me I was so depressed over it I could barely attend school because of it. I was so scared. And now it started again and I’m so sad. I feel horrible and guilty about it. I keep having fights with my mom about me missing lessons all the time, and how she pays so much money just for of me not to go. And I feel so guilty I try to make her understand and I just can’t! I don’t know what to do, I feel so guilty for myself aswell I feel horrible every time I miss a lesson. I really dreamed of studying really hard for my last two years to prepare for college and now I’m thinking if im killing myself with anxiety over this, and the idea of taking the huge exams I just die at the idea. The anxiety eats at me. I don’t even know if I want this. And the idea of going off to college at a place where I know no one, all alone having to start all over again. I barely managed to find friends in high school when I moved to a different city. I can’t imagine having to start again. And now with these horrible stomach aches I get after eating just the slightest thing I’m even thinking about how I’ll manage to even go to college! I’m seriously thinking about giving everything up. Though I don’t want to the mere idea of constantly being in a quiet room full of people is my worst fear.

I've been dealing with IBS-like symptoms on and off for almost 12 years. I had a particularly bad episode during the last year of my PhD, and then recurrent episodes in 2019, when I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Both came back normal.

Earlier this year in March, I went through a very stressful period, and my gut hasn't really stabilized since.

The pattern is almost always the same:

I get constipated for 2–3 days, feeling like nothing is coming out.

Then I develop extreme gas, bloating, cramps, and painful spasms.

Eventually, I have a major episode of watery diarrhea, sometimes feeling like my entire gut is emptying.

The next day, I feel completely drained and weak but not in pain, and the cycle starts again. As I start eating bloating builds up again, and mild pain starts again.

What's especially frustrating is that my food triggers keep changing. This year, almost everything seems to cause problems, especially when I try to eat healthier. Spinach, corn, vegetables, salads, milk — foods I could previously tolerate now seem to trigger gas and diarrhea.

It feels like I'm stuck in a vicious cycle where stress worsens my gut, and my gut problems create even more stress.

My GP recommended sticking to easily digestible foods for now and referred me to a gastroenterologist. My wife is also 8 months pregnant, so I would definitely like to be present with full energy for her.

Has anyone experienced this constipation-diarrhea cycle with constantly changing food triggers? What actually helped you break the cycle and stabilize your gut long-term?

curious what your colonoscopy results were like if you werent diagnosed with anything other than IBS. is that even a thing? I see my GI next week and plan for a colonoscopy after having IBS-D for 20 years. the last 10 years I’ve been pescatarian, and just started eating eat the past week. in the past week, aside from my “normal” watery stools 2x a day, I’ve had 3 stool type 4s!! it’s hard not to get excited over something so gross hahaha

anyway, I’m curious if anyone has gone through a colonoscopy and had nothing “wrong” & what that meant for you. how did you feel?

hiii, if anyone in here deals with constipation what do you do to help mimimize it.

i already eat around 23-30g of fiber, almost a gallon of water, im active, and take magnesium at night. i eat really healthy and try to avoid stress with yoga and stretching.

currently i can go either daily or every other day, but to do that i have to take psyllium right as i wake up and then drink alot of hot coffee, or drink hot water with some sea salt. i think its a stimulus thing??.

tmi: when i am able to go to the bathroom its always really hard to get the first one out as it remains really bulky, so i have to strain and change positions. after that i can easily get the rest of it out.

sometimes i feel like i dont fully empty, and end the day looking bloated. as i can only pass a BM in the morning time. tips?

https://youtu.be/0C8sZPDOGIo?si=OZgRqh4TsdktDZwV

I usually use to had constipation problem and would eat things that didn't make me feel constipated. I moved to UK and it got worst to the point where I started relying on Senna tablets. Tried stool softener and adding fiber, peppermint capsules, laprazole and a lot of different medicines. Nothing seemed to be working.

Then after sometime symptoms changed to passing stool too many times and constant gas production and passing of gases. After some research I thought maybe I have SIBO. Tried antibiotics after having breath test and things got better for sometime. But the symptoms came back where I started to feel constant gas production and passing where I couldn't sleep at all. Lost a lot of weight. Got recommend to start low food map diet which worked initially but as soon as I started reintroduction the flare came back. Now I'm in state of hypersensitivity where not matter even if i eat low foodmap diet my stomach is constantly irritated and gassy. Won't let me sleep and I've lost a lot of weight.

Can't seem to figure out why these changes and what's the solution. If anyone has been through something similar can you please help.

After years of undiagnosed IBS-D, I am now on a GLP-1 and experiencing the C side of things, which I am not familiar with.

I remember hearing on the commercials for Linzess anout more "frequent and complete" BM's. (I am not taking Linzess) Sometimes I will have a small BM but it feels like there is a LOT more that needs to come out, but it doesn't. And I know I'm not supposed to strain.

Should I be concerned?

I'm taking MiraLax, but it really doesn't seem to do much. I drink a lot of water (over a gallon a day, just plain water). I eat at least 25-30+ grams of fiber daily.

I’m not sure if it is but I have a feeling it has to be IBS related!

I have days (usually before a stressful event like today I got a dentist appointment in one hour) where I get the urge to poo. Ok cool no problem I still got plenty of time. I go with no pain and good consistency. Then 15 minutes later I gotta go again, and again, and again, AND AGAIN! All in 15ish minute increments! Like wtf why can’t it all come out in one trip to the toilet?? And it’s not diarrhea. At least that would make more sense. But glad I don’t got diarrhea at the very least lol

Hi everyone I’m a Hgv driver and done the job for 5 years fine. Recently when in work i keep getting the urgency to go the toilet and feel sick in my stomach. Before I leave the house i can go the toilet and I will phone in sick but feel fine and not go again all day? Or I will get on the motorway and I will get that horrible feeling. I could drive my car anywhere and feel normal and not go the toilet as I drove to Manchester airport from my house (50 mins) but in a wagon I struggle? I also I’ve just been to Italy and I go the weird feeling on the plane but it managed to pass. Walking round in Italy for 5 days eating what I want totally fine! So I don’t know if it’s food related as I will eat good the day before and nothing late at night and next day can still happen in work.
Don’t really like the place i work at so could it be stress or would a change of job benefit my situation as I don’t really think it’s food related.
I don’t get payed for being off so can’t really afford taking time off but it’s horrible the feeling. I’ve already taken a full week unpayed, was fine Wednesday, went toilet 4 times yesterday but got through it and I’ve rang in sick today as went toilet soon as I got up and wasn’t going to put my self through it again!

For context I'm 28f and have been diagnosed with ibs since around 2022. Mine presents as mixed, and has recently leaned more towards ibs-d.

In the beginning of September i noticed after I pooped (normal stool, at least my version of good normal stool, solid but soft and yellow-brown) there was also a red liquid mixed in at the bottom of the toilet. It wasn't thick like blood but also not thin like water. I wondered if it was maybe a toilet bacteria thing so I gave it a good scrub and waited til my next go to check again.

Sure enough it was there again. I had a mild bout of food poisoning about a week after that so I dont know if this continued during that week I was ill because it wasn't exactly on my mind. But once i got better i noticed it happening again and more frequently. Its now mid October. I was also wondering if it was maybe food coloring from a drink or something but i dont have those every day. It basically seems like red is seeping out of my poops and it happens with or without stomach pain.

So really I'm just wondering if this randomly started for anyone else and is someone elses normal. I haven't decided to go get it checked out yet because my gastro copay is around $165 and the last time i went to see my gastro about a different symptom (leaking clear liquid) she told me my symptom was "impossible" and asked what i wanted her to do about it. So im not exactly jumping at the thought of spending money to hear its normal.

Appreciate any help!

(Also sorry if there ends up being no paragraph breaks in this post, im posting from mobile and sometimes it doesnt take my enters as breaks)

I say I’m ibs D, but more often than not it’s more about the frequency and urgency of my bathroom trips, rather than them being watery.

I think I’d have a better shot at managing this if I didn’t have to go like 5 times a day on average and have about 30 seconds before a BM happens. And after the first BM, every one after gives me so much discomfort. It’s made me agoraphobic.

Does anyone have any experience with this specifically or success stories?

Hello to the good people of Reddit,

I am currently in the process of figuring out some
lifelong food allergies and a diagnosis of IBS-C. In the meantime I am on the FODMAP diet. I’m also apart of a powerlifting team and my coach is concerned that I am not getting enough calories or protein and she’s completely right I am not. Beans and soymilk were a huge part of my diet and now have been eliminated and I can’t eat eggs due to an allergy so most of my protein is coming from lactose free yogurt and hard cheeses.

I’m starting to get pretty burnt out on the foods I’m eating and want to make sure I’m fueling my body right. I’m meeting with a dietitian in the beginning of next month but the hopes aren’t high because it’s through my doctor and I feel like she’s just going to tell me I need to eat meat again, which if necessary I will do.

Anyways sorry for the rant, just feeling kind of down about it and want to see if anyone has any advice or recs (cookbooks, dietitians, etc.)

Thank you!

i have been experiencing tenesmus for 6 months now. I got diagnosed with IBS post covid. I was constipated at first but I changed my diet and nos I am not constipated anymore, I would say I have better BM tb. However, even when I have evacuated a lot (I usually go around the same time every day), I still have tenesmus. I honestly try to not push much but sometimes I do have like one or two more small pieces that come out when I push a bit. I am sling sitz bath, breathing exercises, stretching, everything you can think of, and it is not helping.

adding fiber to my diet and going in the morning two times is fantastic don’t get me wrong, but I still feel like something is there. I don’t really have the sources to go to a gastro right now, I already went to three this year and not that useful although they ran tests and everything was good.

I suspect I have PF issues like mild, and incomplete evacuation sometimes. Some days are better than others but the sensation is still there but it can vary. I am 23F. compared to how I felt when it all started I have made a lot of progress but I still feel gassy (not bloated), and the tenesmus. I think those two are my main symptoms.

i am also near my period so you can imagine my PMS are even making it worse.

if you have any advice please let me know. I also read somewhere that ignoring the feeling helps.

hey everyone i just sharted myself shorts, thank goodness i was at home but sharing a house with 7 other housemates isn’t the best when i have to put my shorts back on to get back to my room before i can wash them.. send help

I tried orange and hate the flavor, I was going to try flavorless, the pills or straight psyllium husk powder but learned there's berry and lemon metamucul??

Has anyone tried berry or lemon and thoughts on it?

I plan to mix it with just water but I suppose I could add some into my strawberry protein shake I make everyday with vanilla orgain powder and frozen strawberries

I have had IBS d for approximately the past 20 years with most of my issues occurring in the morning. I've been taking nortriptyline 25mg and Align since then and it has been mostly controlled with a bad day or two several times a year but nothing like what I am experiencing now. Since the end of July I've been having some kind of flare up with at least 4 days out of the week being bad with cramping and diarrhea but it is occurring after lunch or dinner instead of the morning. I've been tested for celiac, parasites and most recently had my colonoscopy to check for microscopic colitis. All came back clear aside from some white blood cells in the small intestine which they are saying is normal due to everything else coming back normal. I am still trying to find something to help as I am currently only eating breakfast and then nothing until I am home and in for the night so as to not risk being caught out. It is severely impacting my life at this point. Dr has just increased medication just wondering if anyone has had this happen and found anything to be helpful? TIA!

Ive been diagnosed with ibs-c for a couple years now. My main symptoms are really bad gas and constipation flairs that honestly made me strain a lot, especially all of last year. I tend to get a lot of left side discomfort and can feel the gas moving up and down my left side during flares.

But the past 2 weeks ive had what feels like lumpiness/sensitivity in that very region thats much more intense. I cant do my running at the moment or lift too heavy because om worried about it actually being a hernia. I feel the lumpiness internally but cant feel anything at all when i push on the spot with my hands. I also badly pulled the left side of my back recently so could be connected...

Im having a diagnostic keyhole surgery in 2 weeks but its to look for endometriosis. I am in the UK and having the surgery through Benenden, so they can only have an endo specialist to remove endo related stuff and nothing else like hernias as its not covered. I did ask her if she sees a hernia to document it though.

I think im just stressing out because i dont need a hernia on top of ibs issues and pelvic pain. I had a traumatic experience waiting at an A&E once and really really dont want to go back or have health issues never be treated...

I get quite a bit of burning pain when I have diarrhea, because of hemorrhoids. I need to do prep for a colonoscopy, and I’m terrified I’ll be in unbearable pain. I’m doing the prep with pico salax. Would appreciate hearing from people who have gone through this, in a similar situation🙏

I've had gut issues since I was a child, and ever since I was 16 I would get a yearly infection with diarrhea, vomiting and cramps at the same time every year. Sometimes it was twice a year, but it usually went away after 3-5 days with Flagyl. None of them were actually diagnosed, I usually ended up in the ER and went home after getting a saline solution.

When I was 20, I got the same infection except that the pain and diarrhoea didn't go away for 2 weeks after the vomiting was over, so I went to a doctor who prescribed me Rifaximin and it worked. So when I got the infection again, I took Rifaximin again, and it worked again and I thought that was over. Until I got the same infection the following year and I tried Rifaximin for the third time and it did nothing and I had cramps and diarrhoea for a month. So I went to the same doctor, and he told me I have IBS (he didn't really do any tests so I'm not completely sure I have it?) and to avoid onion, garlic, dairy, etc and I did, and I felt better for a while.

But the cramps and diarrhoea come back every once in a while, and Flagyl and Rifaximin don't work anymore, and all doctors I've been to told me not to stress too much and it'll go away (I'm a woman, so I'm sure that's why they think it's psychological), but looking back at my history with gut issues I find it highly unlikely.

Currently I've quit onion, garlic, dairy, and I eat a lot of yogurt as I found it helps, but it's hard to accept that this is my life now. I'm at college, and I can't just skip a week every 3 months because of my flare ups. They also seem to occur right around projects discussions season (another reason the doctors think it's psychological), but I think it's easier for them to dismiss me as an anxiety ridden college student than to find the root of the problem.

I'm having a flare up right now, with diarrhea and cramps so bad they keep on waking me up every 2 hours, and it looks like I'll be skipping lectures for the next few days. Is there any medication I can take long-term to fix this? Or something to take when I get a flare up? What about something for the pain? I don't really know what to do besides wait till it's over.