Amy Dodd Pilkington

I recently gained a fair amount of weight after developing hypothyroidism. My doctor suggested some of it could be water weight and recommended I reduce the amount of sodium in...

After a nice bit of a reprieve from IBS-M symptoms, I have experienced a string of IBS-C (constipation) flares. These flares have been off and on for a couple of...

I’m getting older. I’ve had four children. While bladder leakage shouldn’t be considered normal, it is common and was not unexpected. It’s a minor (major) annoyance, but I did expect...

I had my gallbladder removed almost two years ago. I have had hypothyroidism for over a year now. All of this together had been balancing itself out, and it is...

It’s quite challenging to stick to a restricted diet. It’s even more challenging when your meals and snacks are repetitive because numerous dietary restrictions leave limited options. I know these...

It has been about 2 1/2 months since I started a restricted diet. I have drastically reduced the amount of sodium I consume, and I noticed a big difference in...

I was recently injured and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or ibuprofen, was the best way to treat my injuries and provide a bit of pain relief. Unfortunately, ibuprofen is...

I have irritable bowel syndrome with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M) which means I have episodes of IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and IBS with constipation (IBS-C). Treating one type of flare...

I have been experiencing more frequent flares recently. This means some of the most agitating symptoms have returned. I am talking about cramping and bloating. We all know how bothersome...

Over the years plenty of people have asked me how long an IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) flare lasts. This question is often asked after I take the time to explain...

If you have IBS, you have likely identified foods you consider safe or better choices because they are far less likely to cause or agitate a flare. I’ve always had...

Once again, an episode of constipation has ended. It was quickly replaced by a bout of diarrhea. Quite often this change happens during the same bathroom visit. It doesn’t matter...

My doctor explained to me that my thyroid acts much like the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause. It spits and sputters, releasing more or fewer thyroid hormones with no...

If you have IBS, chances are you have seen mucus in your stool at some point. If you haven’t and it suddenly appears, it can be alarming. Any time you...

If you have IBS, you likely dream of regularity. It must be nice to have a predictable schedule. I’m envious of those people who have a routine of going in...

It seems I keep adding to the list of ailments I have. Since many of them are affected by diet, the struggle to eat as I should is more difficult...

I have IBS-M, and that means I have mixed episodes of diarrhea and constipation. This makes it even harder to predict flares. Having IBS often seems like being stuck in...

This year started off with a bang, and it caused a lot of changes. All of it has had some effect on my symptoms of IBS but I’m not sure...

I recently took a vacation that involved being on the road for more than 60 hours in total. Being on the road all day during a week-long road trip had...

In recent years, my challenges have changed. I am now in an ambulatory wheelchair. Since this change, I have not traveled. Everything was a big adjustment, and, quite honestly, I...