What is your diagnosis journey?
For many community members, the process of getting a diagnosis of IBS was not quick. What was the most challenging or frustrating part of your diagnosis journey?
All of it. I’ve been in pain every single day for three months. I’ve had every test known. All I know is there is something bad going oon in my stomach. I’m now trying yet another diet. The anti Candida fungal diet as my dietician thinks I have an overgrowth if fungus in me. It’s affecting my mental health. I’m getting depressed trying to cope with the constant diarreah and cramps. I’m desperate to find some respite.
I wearied of 'white-knuckling' it - guessing at what made it better or worse. Neither GP nor GI offered any treatment. I relied entirely on fasting and Immodium during episodes of chronic diarrhea with little or no respite. My son saw how frustrated I was and went digging. He found MindTrax, Learning Strategies and Holosync for urgent stress mgmnt, which helped immediately, then most recently, Viome, which analyzed a poo sample then prepared a list of foods to avoid/enjoy as well as personal daily supplements. I have been maintaining the food recommendations and listening to an hour or so of daily meditations and finally no more diarrhea. Stress is under control and I hardly miss Avoid foods like beef, strangely, the result has been so positive. The protein shake in which I mix a tube of powdered gut supplement has made a BIG difference, IMO. Supplements mean lots of exercise to and from the bathroom but it's all worth it. Most important is the 3-prong approach - stress mgmnt, diet/supplement mgnt and a regular exercise regimen. I would've acted sooner but couldn't be sure which foods helped/hurt or why. Winging it was just crazy-making. Happily, Viome has done the work needed to back their food recommendations. It's not intuitive but evidence-based. They provide reasons for each recommendation plus links to articles that explain further. My son had been having trouble himself with stress mgnt - who doesn't? - which is how he found the recording srvcs, bless him. I didn't think I needed them but he convinced me I did and we found that they did help a ton and instantly! Quite dramatic. My spouse now listens to the meditations, too, which has greatly reduced marital stress - another game changer.
Another milestone came early on - the realization that asthma puffers likely caused the problem. I let them go and strangely asthma let me go. No more puffers - a saving of $100+ a month! I encourage everyone to research prescription side fx. Puffer manufacturers quickly came up with alternative puffers absent the 2-3 ingredients they felt were the problem but, happily, I've not needed it.
Maybe this approach could help you, too.I have IBC contipation. I have pain when I eat and if have to take an inama ever other day. and have severe pain b/4 and akter. The doctor wants to remove my hole colon not halp but hold. And cannot wear a bag after. I would not have in control over my bowel. ONy meds is bentyl and it doesn not help the pain at all. I am at the end of my rope. Been to 5 doctors.
The most challenging part for me was the reaction that my family had to my new condition. I was told that my symptoms were merely being brought upon myself due to thoughts and was forced into stressful situations without any sympathy. This ultimately manifested itself into numerous mental health issues which made being a middle schooler that much more intense. After 5 years of being in the dark I managed to find a doctor which discovered the parasite Candida Albicans within me, which was causing my IBS. Although my initial reaction was elation at hearing that my issue was valid, I can't help but hold a slight resentment at the grownups in my life who failed to provide me with relief. Knowing that my issue could have been resolved if I only went to the right doctor and had people who cared about me enough when the parasite was contracted isn't easy to deal with. Yet, after 6 years I'm finally in my senior year of high school and can't help but feel that my life was stolen from me due to the inability to live like the rest of my classmates. I'm supposed to go to college in a few months, but I can't even begin to comprehend how I can survive when I'll be forced to deal with my symptoms in close proximity to others.
What have you done to try to alleviate your symptoms ? Has it got better? Mine is way better since I embarked on the anti Candida diet. My D has stopped. I feel semi normal.
After lifetime of explaining to doctors friends and what IBS puts you through daily,I am still met with an oh yeah or a wry smile.Forget it .I am so glad to find a forum where we are all supported and believed
Oh no, I'm so sorry that your friends and doctors haven't been supportive. 🙁 You're not alone in that situation. If you're interested, we have this article: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/coping-family-friends about dealing with friends and family who just don't get it.
We're so happy to have you here!
Karina (team member)
