Is Your IBS Worse in the Morning?

By HessP

1 min read

My IBS symptoms always seem to the worst in the morning. Out of curiosity, to see if there is a common trend, is your IBS worse in the morning? If not, when is it usually at its peak?

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trntcmprkr Member
Yes. 
1. sksmith Member
 Mine is DEFINITELY worse in the morning. I too cannot eat greasy foods and limited on vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, brussle sprouts. I have just been told to quit caffeine, and it's helped a lot!
trntcmprkr Member
Yes mine is worse in the Morning. That is when I have been eating my yogurt for my gastritis. It doesn't always but a lot of times it triggers an episode. I also have an urgency to go right after I eat. I say that I am like a puppy, feed me and immediately take me out. I do try to stay away from fried foods and spicy foods. I bought a head of cabbage to broil and have decided to eliminate cabbage from my diet. I need suggestions on what to eat.
1. HessP Member
 I'm sorry to hear that your IBS is worse in the morning as well, trntcmprkr! And I can also agree that fried and spicy food definitely trigger my IBS symptoms too. It's important that we do our best to note down the foods that tend to trigger our symptoms, so that we know what to avoid as much as possible. Have you ever heard of or tried the low FODMAP diet? If not, here is a link with more information: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet/</a> . You may want to speak with a dietitian if you find yourself interested in trying out the diet. I hope you find the information helpful! - Hess, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team member
jaeger91 Member
No. My IBS is worse in the evening or at night. Usually my pain, nausea, and other difficulties start up either after dinner or at bedtime or will wake me during the night.
1. HessP Member
 I'm sorry to hear that, jaeger91! I think it's important for us to share our experiences because although many of us suffer from the same illness, a lot of us experience symptoms a little differently than one another. So thank you for pointing that out and sharing with us. Please know you are not alone and we all empathize with you. Stay strong and positive! - Hess, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team member
2. holly5757 Member
 Mine too. Mine start in the evenings and continue all through the night. My belly just rolls with gas, pain, nausea, acid indigestion. People think I have insomnia because I complain of never sleeping. The reason I do not sleep is because my belly issues keep me awake! I have even stopped eating dinner as it was making things so much worse. Thank goodness for the internet and my phone so I have something to look at while I am miserable to keep my mind occupied.
ksquared26 Member
Mine is usually worst right after lunch. Morning and late afternoon are usually my best times.
valsage Member
Yes. Definitely. Usually, things start around 3:00 AM when I begin to have bad dreams. Then by 5:00 AM the horrible cramps in my intestines begin. After that, it is time to rush out of bed and go to the toilet, where I will spend up to 5 hours in agony.
candacel Member
My story is exactly as Hess described his. My day begins with 4:00 am gas pain wake up call.
1. HessP Member
 I'm so sorry to hear that, CandaceL! However, I'm glad you can relate to my experience, which shows we're all in this together. Stay strong and please feel free to reach out for support anytime! -Hess, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team member
roni Member
Hi Hess, YES always in the morning. The only positive for me is that once I am over all the "drama" in the morning I usually feel safe to be out the rest of the day. The down side is that when I have to be somewhere like work or a weekend that I am expected somewhere I have to get up HOURS and HOURS before. Example: Easter we were expected at my parents at 1:00 in the afternoon, we live an hour drive away. I got up at 5 A.M in order to have plenty of time to get my personal self ready and go through the "morning drama" and be on time. I get up every morning 3 hours before I have to leave for work. If I don't I will be late and I am usually late most mornings either way...it is just AWFUL. I will say though I do not have a lot of pain for the most part. ( I do stay bloated all the time I look 6 mo pregnant most days)...very attractive! I just can not leave the house for the D and of course the pure stress of going out and not "knowing" I am over the drama yet....I think it is just as hard mentally for me as the physical and maybe worse in my case. Thank you!!
1. HessP Member
 Hi Roni! Your story definitely resonates with me! I, too, have to get up hours before I have to go anywhere just to make sure I'm all set with the toilet and feel well enough to go wherever it is I need to go. It's definitely a long process to get ready before I step foot out the door, haha! Thank you for being able to relate and please know you'll always have support here! =) - Hess, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team member
lindef12 Member
Yes worse in the morning. Since I had to retire due to IBS, I have to schedule any appointments after 1:00 pm. It takes that long for me to feel ready to go out most of the time. If it’s earlier than that I feel weird, nauseous, bloated. Every single day is a struggle at one point or another. God bless you all living with this disease.
prodgirl Member
Yes, no matter if. Wake up at 4am, or 8am. My movements do not start until about 8:45-9am and continue until 1pm ish. I’ve had all my hormones, and serotonin checked too. Even tried the 5-HTP program and no luck.
spmitchell Member
I read all these comments and so many of you live this same life as I do. Work is so hard in the mornings. It’s like do you eat or don’t you. Have anyone of you ever tried an antiobiotic called Xifcain (may not be spelled correctly) and if so please give me your comments and feedback. Thanks in advance.
1. Chris H. Community Admin
 Thanks for your comments, <inline-mention user-id="2330549" username="spmitchell"/> ! Really glad you decided to post. It's OK to ask others about their experiences with a treatment as long as no medical advice is given. We have more information about that on our community rules page here: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/about-us/community-rules' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/about-us/community-rules/</a>. We also encourage all community members to speak with their doctor (if they haven't already) about any new treatments. Thanks again for commenting! - Chris, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team Member
2. AmnaR Community Admin
 <inline-mention user-id="2330549" username="spmitchell"/> , I'm sure others might respond as well. But in the meantime, I wanted to let you know that one of our patient advocates has written articles about her experience with Xifaxan. Here are the articles - <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/getting-tested-for-sibo' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/getting-tested-for-sibo/</a> and <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/treating-sibo' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/treating-sibo/</a>. I hope its helpful! - Amna, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team Member
dl21286 Member
I can relate to this completely. I have to say that it is so comforting to hear others tell these stories. Mornings are the worst.
sadstomach Member
Worse in the morning, yes. I’m so scared to eat anything, as soon as anything goes in my mouth I feel as though I need to go to the bathroom right away. I get constant headaches because I’m not eating enough, and my stomach growls, but I just don’t know what to put in it because everything seems to upset me. I’m very sad and gasy, I just wish I knew what to do.
1. HessP Member
 I'm very sorry to hear that, sadstomach! Please know that many of us here can relate and you are not alone. If you haven't already, you may want to start noting down which foods tend to trigger your symptoms the most and do your best to avoid them as much as possible. I think you may find this link helpful in regards to creating a symptom diary: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/coping-and-diet/ibs-symptom-food-diary' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/coping-and-diet/ibs-symptom-food-diary/</a> . Also, have you ever tried the low FODMAP diet, which is a diet that helps eliminate many of our trigger foods? If not, here is more information about that as well: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet/</a> . I hope you find these links useful and helpful. However, if there is anything specific you need help with, please don't hesitate to ask. We're always here for support! -Hess, <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net' target='_blank'>IrritableBowelSyndrome.net</a> Team member
lynnet Member
Mornings are by far my worse times. Cortisol levels are highest in the mornings. Team that up with IBS-D and I am miserable as I feel so incredibly nervous! It is so comforting to know that I am not alone. Thank you for this forum!
alyssa97 Member
Yes, mornings are the worst for me. It doesn't help that as soon as I wake up I know whats coming for the next few hours, which makes my anxiety sky rocket. I lose my appetite in the morning just knowing that if I eat anything I'll need to use the bathroom soon after.
1. sarah.wallin Community Admin
 Alyssa97, thanks for chiming in with your experience. I'm sorry to hear the anticipation makes you feel anxious and that you have loss of appetite too 🙁 Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I am wishing for some morning-time relief for you. -Sarah (IrritableBowelSyndrome.net Team Member)