The Day My Morning IBS Started Happening At Night

By Karina

3 min read

Sometimes, strange things happen for no apparent reason. Like when my morning IBS (that’s been haunting me for years) suddenly disappeared, only to get replaced by episodes at night.

Morning IBS and I have a history

My morning IBS and I go way back. In fact, my first serious relationship with IBS started in the morning.

I will never forget how my world suddenly got turned upside down when I started getting terrible symptoms as soon as I arrived at work. How I couldn’t concentrate on anything because I was constantly going to the bathroom. The pain, embarrassment, and misery that accompanied my first IBS flares. Always in the morning.

The relationship didn’t end there. But we figured out a common ground somehow.

I started getting up super early so I could have my morning IBS flare at home. That worked better, but it wasn’t easy by any means.

My whole life revolves around morning IBS

I barely remember what my life was like before IBS happened. I know that I was a morning person, though. The kind who loves getting up early and getting everything done before noon. My brain doesn’t function very well in the evening, so I always studied and worked at the beginning of the day.

With IBS, everything changed. The illness had a personal vendetta against me getting up early, and it made that very clear. So, I stopped being a morning person.

Getting up as late as possible, never leaving the house before 11 am, working in the late afternoon became my new normal.

For years and years, I avoided making any appointments in the morning. While traveling, I always made sure that the hotel did not require me to leave early. Breakfast ceased to exist, and I almost forgot what it looked like to eat before lunch. Basically, mornings were reserved for IBS, and IBS only.

When hormones are at work

Then, hormonal changes happened. I got pregnant, had a baby. And I struggled with morning IBS so much.

Mornings aren’t easy as a parent anyway, and they’re incredibly hard as a parent with morning IBS. But I managed, somehow. I tried getting up before my baby, stopped eating later in the evening, and asked my fiancé to help me before leaving for work. It was okay until my baby turned three months old.

At that point, things started changing. I mean, not only IBS-wise. It’s normal for hair loss and things like that to start 3 months postpartum. But for me, my morning flares suddenly stopped.

I didn’t even realize it at first. Since I had gotten better at managing morning IBS with a baby, I thought that I just had a good day. Then two. Then three.

After a week, breakfast became a thing again. I started working out during the first nap, instead of spending it in the bathroom. I got so much done before noon again.

With IBS, there’s always a surprise

Unfortunately, the disappearance of morning IBS flares didn’t come without a price to pay. The moment I was able to start my day on a good note, my nights started being pretty rough.

Every day, in the middle of our bedtime routine for the little one, I start feeling a bit sick. Once the baby is sleeping, it only gets worse. Now it’s at the point where I’m unable to go to bed early because I have to wait until my IBS flare stops. Or gets somewhat better, at least.

There’s just no winning with IBS. If one thing improves, another one gets worse.

I’m not sure if this change is temporary or if it’s here to stay. But for now, I need to figure out how to deal with my new IBS flares at night. Do I just skip dinner? Do I now HAVE to stay up late?

If anyone else has recurrent IBS episodes at night, I’d love to know what you do to make them better!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The IrritableBowelSyndrome.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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cmarlene101 Member
Your symptoms and my symptoms are almost identical. I first noticed IBS pain at 35 years old at my stressful job at an advertising agency. It hit me in the afternoon and and at first I thought it was menstrual pain (without the period!) Then IBS cramping began keeping me awake at night which made early mornings at work very difficult. And I had to manage alternating diarrhea and constipation while at work, which really affected my work focus. Now, at age 71, I am retired and still wont make appointments or outings before noon if I can help it. My mornings are also for IBS. Three years ago, I was also diagnosed with Microscopic Colitis. It is my personal belief that my IBS morphed into the MC, which causes long-lasting diarrhea for which I take a cortisone type of medication. Now, I never know what symptoms I will have so I stay home and keep myself prepared for anything. I do see a gastroenterologist who prescribes Budisparone, Bentyl, and atrophine for the symptoms. It is frustrating to be at the mercy of your digestive system, but other than migraine headaches, my health is good. I am quite sure that added stress makes IBS worse.
1. Elizabeth Alvarez Moderator & Contributor
 Wow, I'm sorry about your diagnosis of MC. I can relate to your story. I hope with your current treatment you continue to improve and don't have to deal with the morning issues. Big hugs, Elizabeth (team member)
Jiffi Member
Hi Karina I’ve been through the same early morning IBS and then that swapped to 3am IBS. The only thing that appears to lessen the pain is an electric blanket coupled with 2 Paracetamol. That usually does the trick. If all else fails I add in breathing exercises that I learnt when I was practicing Kundalini yoga. For a time a course of SSRIs worked but I guess my body simply learned to tolerate them and back to square one. One thing I must mention: I spend up to 4 months a year in Greece and have very few episodes of IBS. I think it comes down to the fresh food and sunshine. Jiffi
hateibs Member
This rings a bell. I always do #2's in the mornings. Now that's my regular thing even before IBS. With IBS, it was still mornings. Like you, I couldn't imagine any urgent appointment etc before 11am. No matter what, I had to have those few hours in the morning to be sure I could function in normal life. I couldn't eat early breakfast ....too busy. My breakfast happened about 10:30 if I was lucky. Anyway I since learned that's not a bad thing,. and that a 14-16 hour overnight fast actually helps the gut do something very important. Peristaltic "sweeps" which is the gut's idea of housecleaning. So going without early breakfast was something I could happily adapt to. But the world and its demands -not so. I needed that time for myself and my needs. Even if my needs were different to other peoples'. So be it. (well I can say that can't I? Because I am in my late 60s and retired. It's not the same story for those who have to cummute, earn a living, be at work by nine 🙁 I really feel for IBS sufferers in that situation. Believe me I do.) Then suddenly a month ago I was getting ready to go to bed,and whoops....needed the bathroom urgently!! No fun, because I needed the bathroom two more times between bedtime and 4am. Of course I daren't go to bed, and had to sit up waiting for the next time, listening to the radio, drinking peppermint tea.....and I even had a shot of brandy which calmed my nerves and made it all much more bearable. Eventually I got 4hrs sleep. The following Sunday it happened again! Yikes. It hasn't happened since but I know things can take us by surprise and happen sometimes. I blamed it on some frozen fish I'd eaten. That didn't quite figure, but I shall not ever eat that brand again....whatever. (The store said there had been no reports and no recall on the product.) But since then, no more night time IBS......Who knows what will happen next -hey? 
1. hateibs Member
 <inline-mention username="Elizabeth Alvarez" user-id="2297012"/> Thanks Elizabeth. Kind hug from me too. Yes, peppermint definitely helps. Camomile helps also to some extent. It's calming at least. These disruptions when unexpected, of body rhythms make me a bit shaky. Some nice smooth classical music helps me too when alone with my IBS-partner in the midddle of the night! LOL! 
2. Elizabeth Alvarez Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="hateibs" user-id="4146293"/> Oh yes, calming music helps me a lot too! Music can really be a great tool for comfort. -Elizabeth (team member)
lisaw Member
This made me laugh. Never heard IBS as serious relationship. One we can’t seem to break up with.. Morning IBS-er here too! Skip breakfast, check, no morning appts , check, and work close to home, check. But..sometimes get that evening surprise, check, check. 
1. Michaela Contributor
 Hahaha it can sneak right up on you! Hopefully that doesn't happen too often. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Michaela (irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member)
2. Shannon Grantham Contributor
 Oh my gosh that is too funny! It is so right though! Thanks for the share 😀 Hugs - Shannon (team member)

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