How do you manage IBS-M?
Can anyone share strategies that work to reduce flare ups of mixed-type IBS? My gastroenterologist told me to pick which bothers me most, constipation or diarrhea, and work on treating that. The problem is that treatment for one causes the other to become more severe. Plus, I don't have times of one or the other. I have them both together. It gets frustrating.
That's a tough one, jaeger91! I'm sure both are very bothersome! While we wait for some other folks to chime in, I thought I'd share this article with you about one of our advocate's stories about living with IBS-M: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/two-faces-of-ibs/. And, in case you haven't read up on this before, I thought sharing some information about the low-FODMAP diet might help: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet/. A lot of folks have been able to achieve some symptom relief with this plan. Keep us updated! - Chris, IrritableBowelSyndrome.net Team Member
For me, it's keeping stress as low as possible, being prepared for whichever (or both) hits, and that low--FODMAP diet. I hope to learn more here, being new here.
Thanks for your replies. I have stress well under control most of the time. It took a job change, but it's good now. I haven't tried the low-FODMAP diet because I really enjoy the foods listed, and I've been telling myself that if I eat something, and it's fine one day but not another day, it's probably not the food. I tend to think it's just the fact that I put something in my stomach at all. I guess I need to try the diet to know for certain, though. It's definitely worth a try.
