Welcome and Newly Diagnosed

Community Members should: Have the right to ask questions to learn about IBS Welcome new members to the Community Share their opinion with others in a constructive way Respect personal information Do not share other members' information outside the Community without that person's permission Enjoy healthy debate Stick to the topic rather than making comments directed at an individual Message other members to make sure they are okay Share your personal experience without providing medical advice unless you indicate the source that it came from Provide feedback about improvements, questions, or comments about the Co…

I have been to the doctor 3 times over the last month. It all started with right side/back pain and constipation. I then went back for chest tightness and left arm pain. Did all of the heart tests and came out ok. So I started taking sertraline(Zoloft) doctor thought it was anxiety induced. During that time I was on a 4 pill sample of Linzess 145mcg which seemed to work but cause very watery and frequent diarrhea. It also helped with the pain. Two days after the sample the pain came back so I took MiraLAX for a week. Finally after that didn’t work for six days I called and they prescribed me more Linzess at 75 mcg. I’m 3 days in and have had 4 to 5 watery bowel movements …

Not sure if I’m in the right place. Sorry if I’m not. I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Izzy and suffer with a mix of IBS but mostly diarrhea. I hope to gain recipes and how to cope. Thank you!!

Hello all, my 21-year-old daughter has had intermittent abdominal pain and related issues for several years, and is currently going through her worst episode ever, hence my anxiety and need to reach out here. She is a teaching assistant and works very hard but did not take one day off last term. Now aJust as term ends she is laid up sleeping and unable to eat. Hospital tests have thrown up nothing conclusive though they are investigating whether her gallbladder has anything to do with it - though her GP yesterday said she thought it was IBS. I guess I want to know to what extent psychological issues can contribute to IBS as the timing of this one suggests a psychological …

I was diagnosed many years with IBS. I have managed ok up 'til now but just a day or so ago it flared with acute pain and burning sensation around base of tummy. I have started a record of everything I am consuming. I eat porridge for breakfast and mainly fish and eggs menu. Would anyone like to contact me about this embarrassing nuisance of a disorder. I feel isolated and worried about this recent acute spell. Regards Gordon Harper

Hi my name is Jon. I suffer from headaches and lightheadedness due to trapped gas. I do not get the traditional IBS symptom of pain. Does anyone else's symptoms manifest as headaches and lightheadedness from trapped gas? My doctor's say this symptom is very unique, which gives me doubt they will ever help me. The minute gas is released I am fine. Thank you for your help. Day to day: I take an SSRI Remeron, exercise, low FODMAP, meditate, visbiome probiotic, gas-x, IBGuard, diaphragmatic breathing, drink water, chew my food. Things that set me off/things I avoid are chocolate, caffeine, eating too quickly, and carbonation.

Good afternoon, has anyone had any success with Viberzi? The side-effects scare me but I need to find a solution to the IBS-D. Thank you for any help you can provide!

Hello everyone, I'm new to this website, although not new to IBS. I was diagnosed with IBS-C many years ago at age 33. Zelnorm was a magical medication for me when it was available. Since then, I have tried Amitiza and Linzess, which I did not tolerate. I had high hopes for Motegrity, which is similar to Zelnorm in drug type and physiological action. Motegrity does work somewhat better for me if I take it first thing in the morning with 16 ounces of purified drinking water at room temperature, then have a high fiber breakfast about 1 to 1.5 hours later, followed by more drinking water. However, I still need to use over the counter (OTC) meds. Oh so very frustrating…

Just wondering if anyone has had this as I've been unwell since before Christmas. Diarrhea every morning then still feel I need to go. Dr examined me this morning and said she felt as though my bowels were still full. It a pain literally .

Hi all, I was diagnosed with IBS yesterday after 18 months of symptoms. Part of me is happy about the diagnosis but another part is is worried. I know what I need to do: change my diet, do stress management and exercise more. But something just feels really daunting about this.

Stress relief help please ! I am several year into IBS but have never been able to sort the stress out. I am now stressing about an 8 hour drive and family wedding. I’m gluten I tolerant but food has been sorted for me, but I’m stressing about everything else, which is making flare worse. Any way to deal with this ?

Hi all, 10 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS. In the past year I have been experiencing diarrhea more often. It causes me to call out of work, and puts me out for commission for the day. I take imodium but that sometimes take a while to kick in. I am also lactose intolerant, so I take a lactaid pill before I eat dairy. How do you deal with this? What do you take, and eat food wise?

Does anyone else feel utterly alone in the IBS battle because nobody understands? how much pain you go through, the crippling fatigue, eating restrictions, restricted social life... IBS-C gave me clinical depression, and its really hard to keep going. I am burning out. what does everybody do?

I'm glad I just discovered this community. I was diagnosed with IBS just over 5 years ago, dealing with the symptoms for about 8 yrs. I've recently seen 2 well regarded Gastroenterologists who did every imaginable test, scope, and biopsy to learn that my urgent, full elimination, morning diarrhea is not related to SIBO, Inflammatory disease, or anything else they can identify. "It appears you have IBS," is all I've heard. There's no pain or bloating, just a sudden need for 8-10 urgent trips to the bathroom before10am. Low FODMAP diet doesn't help. High doses of Immodium control it for the rest of the day, then I start the cycle all over again the next morning. I'm at my…

I found this site doing a google search for IBS support groups. I was diagnosed with IBS-C last year at 45. My symptoms started after taking the antibiotic, Cephalexin, that my podiatrist prescribed for an ingrown toenail that had become infected. My gastroenterologist recommended Pearl probiotics, a low FODMAP diet, soups, warm water, and Senokot. Both she and my family doctor sent me home with samples of Linzess and Trulance. The Linzess gave me instant relief, but was like taking magnesium citrate or Suprep for a colonoscopy (which I had in June). I also had an abdominal CT that came back normal. I consulted with a wellness clinic which recommended $1,400 in tests (foo…

Hi everyone, I'm really grateful to have found this community, and hope I can be supportive to everyone else struggling in here. I've had a long road with IBS-C (as have many folks here it seems) and my boyfriend finally suggested I look for a support group, as so much of the suffering with this condition comes from feeling like you're the ONLY one who can't eat normal food, and live a normal life among your friends and family. I've moved back and forth between the U.S. and the Middle East since college, and with one bout of food poisoning and another, picked up an IBS-C problem that I just can't seem to heal. After two colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, and a pill ca…

Hello, My son is 23 as of June 2026 and he had an appendectomy in October 2024. About 6 months later he developed IBS symptoms and is in pain on and off for the past 12 months. Has seen 2 GI docs who have done many tests but they can’t find anything definitive. He is currently taking Linzess daily and Bentyl when he has a flare up but no major improvements. Can anyone recommend a good GI doc in Philadelphia/Main Line/Montgomery county? Thanks so much. Beth

I don’t post here often, but when I do, it’s when I’m having symptoms I’m suspecting from my IBS-C. Mine likes to switch up between the C and then when I finally do go, it’s the opposite. I’m having that issue today and lately, it seems like I’ve had a flare since last summer. My system hasn’t calmed down. I’m under a lot of stress, and I get more stress and anxiety when I have these issues because it’s like did I catch a bug or am I having a flare? Like it says in the title, frustrating and I’m so exhausted from feeling unwell and not getting answers from docs besides “here try these 8 different meds,” when the side effects can mimic or be worse than what I experienc…

New to this group. Diagnosed about 8 years ago with IBS-D. I have my ups and downs with my incontinence because of this. Most of the time it is diarrhea and occasionally i have something that used to be a regular movement. I have a bunch of comorbidities to go along with this. So this might be a part of what i am going thru, not the top problem. Have a good day.

Hello everyone! My name is Emily! I have had what I consider to be IBS-D for years now. My symptoms are abdominal pain, loose stool/diarrhea, gas, bloating and fecal urgency. I went to the doctor today and was told for 2 weeks to eliminate gluten, artificial sweeteners, soy, lactose, etc. Basically if it’s processed, don’t eat it. If it comes from a container, don’t eat it. If “man” has touched it, don’t eat it. I was given a prescription for Bentyl for the cramps. This illness is so hard to deal with sometimes. I never know when the cramps are going to hit. And I cannot hold the urge to have a bowel movement like normal people. It is nice to know there are others that su…

Evening all. I haven't been diagnosed with ibs , however I have been having bowel problems since around February 2023. I have barretts oesophagus , diverticular and hemorrhoids. Also i take ppi's as i have too much acid .The diverticular was diagnosed after a scan i had as i had a fecal impaction and this diagnosis was back in around 2017-2018. In early 2023 I had a need to go and held off until I got home ( i know and I no longer do this) . The urge got stronger and stronger and I suddenly got cramps and had to literally just soil myself and things improved. I was ok for a couple of days and then install started getting an urgency out of nowhere and getting caught out , …

I totally feel you. Before I finally went to Manhattan Gastroenterology, I spent months in constant pain and anxiety. I was honestly afraid to eat anything, and the bloating was so bad I didn't even want to leave the house. Being newly diagnosed is overwhelming, but it gets easier once you have a clear plan. They helped me figure out my trigger foods and what actually works for my body. Hang in there, you’re not alone!

Hi all I have PI-IBS and had shoulder surgery four weeks ago so still in sling for another two weeks. I'm pretty sure the surgery flared up my IBS since I'm bloated and having trouble passing gas unless I take an IBgard...which helps but gives me diarrhea the next day. Normally I"m IBS-C but I was pretty good before surgery. Anybody have this experience and can give me an idea on how long it might last? Also, if im not bloating i still feel like i have to pass gas and wondering if my guts are just sensitive and theres nothing there...a form of tenemus?Thanks. Carol

I started 72 mcg of linzess 3 days ago. I have a soft formed bm then pure water for about a hour. Has anyone taken it at night. Is the morning less rough? I’m concerned of having urgency at work and possibly having an accident. I took ibsrela and it torn me up. Had accidents and had to wear depends. Is there a happy middle?

Hello all I suffer from numerous illness, Graves disease, Heart disease, Raynauds Disease, Restless Leg to name a few but my IBS is worse than all of them combined, i suspect tho not confirmed that i also have leaky gut issues as i get odor despite being extremely clean, Difficulty in the UK is, medical experts dont really accept leaky gut exists in the same way they dont accept Long Covid, pretty backwards health service in the UK. Anyways i suffer IBS, i dont know really what for except mainly C, i get very small amounts when i go to the loo, what i describe as Rabbit Dropping symptom, quite awful, that will go on maybe 4 or 5 days like that then suddenly without warn…