Diagnosed by IBS with 50 years enduring digestive issues
The medication I was prescribed came with many side effects that interfered with day-to-day responsibilities. I stopped taking it. It has gotten worse now. Also, now I'm confused about what it is? Is it Lactose intolerance or IBS or both?
Hi
, I'm so sorry that you've been dealing with digestive issues for so long. Did you just now get diagnosed? What tests did you do before getting the diagnosis? If you're unsure about lactose intolerance, I would ask your doctor for a test, we have more info about that here: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/testing-and-diagnosis/lactose-intolerance-tests. It's technically possible to have both lactose intolerance and IBS.
I suppose you have tried managing your symptoms through diet? I'll share some common triggers just in case: in addition to dairy, other common triggers for IBS are caffeine, fatty foods, gluten, and spicy foods. Since triggers are very individual though, keeping a food diary can be very helpful.
As for the medication, there are many different kinds, so if the one you were prescribed didn't work, I would ask your doctor about trying a different one. You can find an overview of different IBS medications here: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/medications. There are also other remedies, including probiotics, fiber supplements, herbal supplements, and so on that might help.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you need any other info!
Karina (team member)
