Terrible but not textbook IBS symptoms
As the topic states I suffer from fairly debilitating but I feel are not textbook symptoms in the IBS community. I've had both an endoscopy and colonsopy in the last year which revealed nothing out of the ordinary other than a small stomach ulcer and hemmroids. What I mean by "not textbook" is I have hardley any relief ever, and I don't have chronic diarrhea or constipation, I go up to three times a day. Only a short period after going do I have some mild relief from lower intestinal pain and constant flatulence but it quickly returns, and eating or drinking amplifys it, I also can't pin point an particular food/beverage that's causing it, I don't have any known allergies or intolerance, I've tried numerous probiotics and digestive aids without help, I'm also not on any medications that would cause any issues. It started back in 2015 and it's an complete mystery, the only thing that is different is I moved to a higher elevation from sea level around that time.
I'm so sorry that you're struggling with this! Having symptoms all the time is so hard.
Have you tried managing your IBS by adjusting your diet yet? You've said that you can't pinpoint any particular food or beverage that's triggering it, but maybe it could be a combination of different things? Some community members found relief by working with a specialized dietitian, although I don't have any personal experience with that. In my case, the Low FODMAP diet, keeping a food diary, and cutting out gluten really helped.
Did you do other tests as well? Maybe you could ask your doctor to be tested for SIBO (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/getting-tested-for-sibo) which can cause similar symptoms.
Did you maybe go through a stressful time when you moved in 2015? I'm just asking because my IBS appeared when I started a new job and was definitely caused by an increase in stress and anxiety. It doesn't really help to know that, but at least it's an explanation...
Sending hugs, Karina (team member)It was stressful, but I've been through stress before. I've went through treatment for sibo to no avail. I've tried digestive enzymes and probiotics, several over the counter treatments and a few prescriptions for ibs from my gasterologist. Unfortunately the discomfort continues. I've also had my blood work done to check things like my thyroid. All normal, there's nothing physically wrong with me, but I'm sick as if my organs are not functioning correctly.
that is because your organs are not functioning correctly. IBS is a functional disorder. there is nothing wrong with your gut, it's just not acting/working/functioning like it should (like it's "programming" is wrong). I would suggest a food sensitivity test if you have not already done it (i tried an everlywell one, and it found several triggers). finding and avoiding your triggers is the first step in managing IBS. it is difficult to do without a test because the affects are delayed by days or more sometimes.
That's such an interesting suggestion! Did you see an improvement in your symptoms after eliminating the triggers suggested by the test? I've heard mixed reviews about these types of tests in the past, so I've always been wondering if I should try one or not.
This article talks about them as well: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/underlying-cause
Thank you so much for sharing!
Karina (team member)
It found several of my triggers, some that I suspected, but i do not think it found all of them. Avoiding those triggers has seriously helped. I also later tried the low FODMAP route, but brought them all back to my diet, because i was not sensitive to them.
I would highly suggest it. the only downside is the cost. They send you a kit, you drop some blood on it and send it back. week later, you have results you can access online.
I am about to do another test (about a year later) and see if there has been any changes, as I have been managing my IBS well for the last few months. This is more for my curiosity, but it also does not hurt to have extra data.
That's great! Really appreciate you sharing. Glad to hear that you've been able to pinpoint some triggers and find relief. I agree, I'd be curious as well for the extra data and to see if any triggers/sensitivities have changed. Keep us posted, if you'd like. Wishing you continued relief ahead. Best, Kelly, Irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member everything is a trigger then, I can't drink water without insane gas production, my symptoms are instantaneous after eating, very rarely have I gone more than an hour after eating without some sort of pain. I'm at a pain management point, but thanks for your suggestion I appreciate all the feedback.
the delay of days to a week will make it seem like everything is a trigger, but that is likely not the case. And yes, you can certainly feel it start shortly after eating.
of course everyone is different, but I ended up eating the same thing for 1 or 2 weeks straight before things settled down for me. For me it was SMALL portions of steamed rice and a few steamed veggies (all in same steamer), and a little salt and pepper. This is basically my fall back safe food. if I get an unknown trigger reaction and it lasts for too long, I will switch back to my safe food for several days to make sure I am not accidentally eating a trigger.
Eating "normal" portions is a trigger for me too. I mean "normal" as in the size I would normally eat before I had IBS. I still can't eat that much, and just cutting back seriously on the quantity eaten in one sitting can help a bunch.
Stress is another big trigger of mine. I avoid it as much as possible and make sure I spend time relaxing every day.
Hope this helps.
