IBS Discussion and Symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is especially hard on people at work, but there are ways to cope as more and more employers support work from home / telecommuting policies. We have seen people who have stopped working, because they can’t cope with getting ready in the morning, leaving, and having that uneasy feeling of having to deal with symptoms. To reduce your own potential economic loss we have adopted a letter which you or your doctor can submit to your employer to support working from home. Link: https://www.ibspatient.org/dealing-with-ibs-at-work-letter-to-employer-about-working-from-home/

Hi can anyone help I have had IBS for 40years had all the tests and did the food maps etc but nothing helps me as I am in pain daily and feel I have no life I take dihydrocodeine for the pain and that helps sometimes I have had a lot of operations and endometriosis twice and have sensitive stomach and helocobactor they say scared tissue does impact me not sure I am under a lot of stress the past year due to ill parents so this will impact the IBS eh I am now lost on what else I can do to get rid of this pain any ideas Thank you xx

Severe IBS-C pain with excruciating trapped wind — does anyone else experience this? Hello. I’m an older woman in the UK and have had IBS with constipation for many years, but over the last year or two it has become much more difficult to live with. My biggest problem is the pain. I get very severe cramping which feels like powerful but very slow contractions of the bowel, often with trapped wind. Sometimes the pain is almost unbearable. I can actually open my bowels, sometimes more than once, but still feel as though I haven’t emptied properly and that everything is moving through far too slowly. I use macrogol (Movicol) to keep my stools soft, so it isn’t simply a matte…

Hi all. 75 year old UK male , officially diagnosed in 1983 when it was still called Spastic Colon. (43 years) Usual symptoms : (1) Soft motions based. (2) Abdominal pain, (Usually lower abdomen), can be worse after a bowel movement and can last for hours. (3) Latose Intolerance started about 5 years ago and now also dairy Intolerance as well. (4) Bloating and trapped gas. (5) No constipation. (6) Mucus. Medication was originally Colofac for many years. now Buscopan which seems to work better. Fewer attacks over the past 10 years. (Less stress since retiring at 65)

Study links chronic xanthan gum consumption to colon inflammation

Help! Has anyone had experience with feeling ill occurring after having a normal, large bowel movement? These symptoms usually appear an hour or two after the bowel movement and last about 24 hours. The symptoms are a slight headache, nausea and indigestion. For background: I am female, senior in age, have had IBS my entire life but it is basically under control, very petite (5'2" and 90 lbs.), have wheat allergy so I am gluten-free and also maintain a very low, low fat diet since I have an annular pancreas which does not allow me to digest fats (especially oils) without triggering another case of pancreatitis. I have had numerous upper endoscopies and colonoscopies that …

Hi, anyone suffering from back pain related to IBS? I have seen several professional (osteopath, chiropractor, naprapat, etc, you name it, I tried it) as well as doctor and did a series of examinations but it always came back clear. They told me to train more which I did but nothing changed. The pain usually come for between 2 weeks and 2 months then disappear and will come back later. I cannot link it to my IBS flare up as I have daily flare up. The pain is at the worst during night and when I woke up (sometimes I cannot move from my bed) and then after a day of working. I have read that IBS sufferer could have "join pain" problem but I have never heard of anyone h…

Hi, I have the following diagnosis. IBS-M = Mixed Diarrhea / Constipation IBS GERD TYPE 2 diabetes. I’m actively looking for a nutritionist in the Boca Delray area who can help me with my eating patterns. Seems like the foods I can eat for Gerd. I can’t eat for IBS and vice versa.. My diabetes is under control, but my stomach is not.

Hi! Who all has Fibromyalgia and IBS? I recently got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and im pretty sure I have IBS related to it. My rheumatologist says that they go hand in hand a lot. Im seeing a GI Dr to figure out whats going on but I was wondering what helps ppl with their symptoms and their experience when first diagnosed compared to how you feel now. I also have issues with my stomach causing my vagus nerve to flair up and it feels like my head is going to explode and have massive pain in my neck and neck spasms when my stomach is super upset/IBS flare up. Its like my stomach spasms and causes my vagus nerve to spasm which causes my neck to spasm and I can hear my hear…

I have found a medication that has helped me with my ibs sooo much. It's called IBgard. You can get it from Amazon. It's a little pricey but has helped relieve my pain quite a bit.

Hello everyone, I am a 59-year-old male living in the UK, and I have been struggling with unexplained abdominal symptoms for about one year. My main symptoms are: Constant abdominal discomfort, present every day. Visible abdominal bloating/distension, often present from the moment I wake up and lasting all day. A feeling of tension and pressure around my belly button area. Sometimes I also feel tightness under my ribs, both in the front and in my back. Loud bowel noises. Occasional short episodes of more severe discomfort lasting 5–15 minutes. What is unusual is that I do not have the typical IBS symptoms: No diarrhea. No significant constipation. No abdominal cramps. No …

Hi, new to the forums. I am now 56 but was diagnosed with IBS back in around 1991 after a bad burger at a BBQ triggered long term IBS D. I also have what I call an irritable bladder where I pass small amounts frequently but all tests on bladder have been normal. My IBS had got a tad better over the years but never 100% and one of the slightly positive reactions from meds used to treat my urinary issues was a slight constipation effect which was a relief after years of several BM per day. It got to the stage where I incredibly just needed to go once in the morning most days and had a period of months that I considered "normal" albeit with quite large solid stool (apolo…

Hello, I have suffered with IBS-D and IBS-C my entire life. After asking my gastroenterologist for a doctor's note indicating I may need to use work restroom frequently, he said he just could not write the not without doing test. Well I got the colonoscopy in September 2025 and it has been worse since then. I ended up losing 13 pounds. I was then diagnosed with SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. The prescription was $1800 and my insurance did not cover it. I asked for an alternate medication which really did not improve my symptoms. I have to think of where I am going and if there are public restrooms. I am beyond miserable and see not "relief" in sight. Has any…

Hi everyone, my ibs bouts stsrt with a strong headache and nausea. Then low ache in bowels. Usually constipation. 2 days I can't move or eat. Vary thirsty. Interested if anyone else has this.

I have very bad anxiety and stress and it causes Ibs symptoms discomfort in the rectum and wind I don’t think it’s food related does anybody else have this ?

I suffer badly with gas attacks due to my IBS. My gastroenterologist has told me to 'go easy on fruit and vegetables ' . Can I still take Fybogel? Any other advice would be welcome. Thank you

Hello, my name is Anastasia. I don't see the point in telling my whole story, so I'll keep it short. I am 21 years old and have been struggling with flatulence for 10 years. I have tried diets, pills, and even treated SIBO with antibiotics. Nothing helps. It is especially bad in the morning. I'm constipated, but I go to the bathroom every day. On top of all this, I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. It's really hard for me, and I don't know what to do. Maybe someone else has had this exact problem and can help me somehow??? :( (I use a translator. Sorry if something is not right)

Does anyone else get severe burning pain low abdomen with their IBS?

I just got diagnosed with IBS after a 6 year fight through ER’s, Urgent Care’s, and primary physicians (more than I can count). If your patient is telling you they will do anything for you to help them please listen. It took me actually getting on my knees, crying, rocking in pain for a ER referral to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy and a endoscopy. If your patient is so scared going into surgery they are crying (knowing it’s a minimal procedure) and they ask a female nurse to stay with them the whole time, they probably wouldn’t put themselves through it for nothing. To me it’s always felt like bad gas (sometimes I felt so bloated I thought I would actually ruptur…

Like many I’m finding trouble getting a diagnosis and managing symptoms. I’ve gone 57 years of having no intestinal problems to speak of. At the beginning of January 2025, I had a period of wind mucus urgency diarrhoea which lasted for around 2 weeks then a return to normal. I’ve had a few months of roughly two weeks on and two weeks off. Over the past couple of months this has changed to being fairly normal with some stools on the constipation end of the scale for days followed by a period of mucus, water, urgency leakage and little diarrhoea (sometimes) which typically last 24/48 hours. I’ve had good evacuations in the day before these episodes happen I’ve had all …

Hi all, I am a 34 and been suffering with my stomach since my early 20s and was diagnosed with IBS. I am currently suffering with awful bloating daily, constipation and episodes of loose stools. I have tried so many different things to improve it but nothing has helped. I had stool sample a year ago which showed a small amount of inflammation but nothing to be concerned about. I have however been referred to the hospital for further testing due to my late father having crohns/bowel cancer but have been waiting nearly a year for appointment. Does anyone have any advice on easing symptoms? Its really getting me down now. Many thanks

Hello just found this forum , before I start would like to say I suffer with extreme anxiety and extreme fear of doctors ,hospitals and any kind of tests which stops me going to see a doctor for anything, for about 2 years I've had bad gas and watery stools and stomach pain but only in the mornings which keeps me in bed and cant go out till it starts to wear off, ive stopped every kind of food but dont make no difference so its hard to pin point any triggers, apart from that the odour is terrible and so can never stay anywhere over night at other people's houses or anything like that , I even wait for my husband to go out the house before I go to the bathroom, to say thi…

I am not a doctor, so take this information with caution. Most of the following is based on my personal experience. In my view, most cases of IBS seem to emerge from a genetic predisposition. Because IBS covers such a broad spectrum, there isn't just one root cause, but several factors playing together. I suspect that in the beginning, there was a single genetic factor that initiated the others in a "domino effect." For a patient struggling with IBS, many things matter—not just food. Here are my tips and my personal struggle. I started smoking at 16. I mention this because it is an important part of the problem. I began eating unhealthy foods and heavily consuming process…

Hi all- I suppose I'm looking for some support. I've (25F) suffered with my IBS since I was a child but I was always told it was in my head. My pain is generally worse first thing in the morning- during flare ups it wakes me in the early hours and I can spend hours on and off the toilet. I get intense pain and a vasovagal response. I get rectal bleeding which caused me to think I had endometriosis, so I've had a diagnostic laparoscopy, endoscopy, colonoscopy, countless stool samples- the list goes on. Nil acute, just found mild gastritis in my endoscopy and my surgeon from the lap commented that my bowel was super hyperactive & spasming even under general anaesthetic.…

Hello all, I was diagnosed with IBS at 16 and have struggled since. I have had a colonoscopy and OGD which came back nil acute. I am now 25 and for the past two years have been having frequent accidents and my bloating has got progressively worse where I am severely bloated everyday. I am an ICU nurse and have been signed off as my symptoms have got so much worse. My IBS has sent me into a downward spiral with my mental health and i've been on Fluoxetine since 16 but have recently increased to 60mg. I feel completely lost and stuck. Struggle to leave the house don't know what to do about work. Currently having therapy for my mental health. I've had all treatments the NHS…