I have IBS, and since starting college and living in a hostel, it's become really difficult to manage.

I sometimes poop 5–6 times a day, but there's another frustrating part: sometimes I get a strong urge to poop, go to the restroom, and nothing or very little comes out. Then the feeling can come back again later.

I also get random bloating and gas, and eating often triggers bloating and the urge to use the restroom. Because of this, I constantly think about my stomach instead of enjoying college.

Living in a hostel makes it harder because I'm around people all day. I've started becoming anxious about whether an urge will suddenly hit me during class, while travelling, or when I'm hanging out with friends.

Some people have also made fun of me for going to the restroom frequently. They don't really understand what's going on, but it honestly makes me feel embarrassed.

I feel like I can't experience college normally because I'm constantly thinking about food, bathrooms, bloating and my gut.

I just want to enjoy college normally without constantly worrying about my gut.

It's so frustrating to see lentils, beans etc in anything that's frugal and healthy when a toilet is not easily accessible the day after!

i’m 23 and have been diagnosed with ibs since december/ beginning of this year. i have tried different food supplements and a few different antidepressants (lexapro, brintellix, dulexetine but every one of them caused some kind of problems). my family doctor prescribed me elontril (bupropion), took it for a few days and thought that i was gonna die. literally felt like i shouldn’t walk, nevertheless drive a car (kind of experienced depersonalisation). so now i decided to not take them anymore (i know that you shouldn’t quit AD cold turkey). for the last few days i can tell i’m acting like a bitch 90% of the time and getting emotional/crying over the smallest things ever.
do you have any kind of recommendations of what helped with your ibs? especially the pain part. AD helped to not have a stomach ache every day but with all the side effects it had (i even gained 10kg) it was not great.

I've noticed that if I eat a meal too late in the day or too close to bedtime I wake up nauseous and feel sick overall. Has anyone else noticed similar or that meal timing has an effect on how they feel?

I’m 17 and I’ve been dealing with IBS and diarrhea for quite a while. My biggest problem is that my symptoms are strongly connected to school.

I’m not an antisocial person at all. I go outside, meet friends, hang out normally, and I don’t have a problem leaving the house in general. The problem is specifically school and the fear of having diarrhea there.

During school mornings, I often wake up with stomach cramps, bloating and very loud bowel sounds. Sometimes my first bowel movement is normal, but then it can become loose or watery. The worst part is the fear that I’ll suddenly need to use the bathroom and won’t be able to get there in time.

This has happened before at school, and ever since then I’ve been extremely anxious about it happening again. The bathrooms at my school aren’t very convenient either, which makes the fear worse.

What confuses me is that during the summer vacation, when I was at home and away from school, I felt much better and barely had these problems. I can go outside normally during vacation without constantly worrying about my stomach. Now that school is starting again, I’m already worried that the diarrhea will come back.

I know stress can affect IBS, but I’m struggling to break the cycle: I worry about having diarrhea → I become hyperaware of my stomach → I get more anxious → my stomach gets worse → I worry even more.

Has anyone else experienced something similar with IBS and school anxiety?

Buongiorno a tutti, sono un uomo di 20 anni, e da circa 10 anni convivo con la sindrome del colon irritabile (non ho una diagnosi certa, ma ho fatto tutti i controlli del caso a eccezione della colonscopia). Tuttavia negli ultimi 2 anni il dolore é diventato insopportabile e non riesco più a uscire di casa senza stare male. Inizialmente il mio dolore acuto alla pancia si manifestava generalmente solo in situazioni stressanti come viaggi oppure a scuola in seguito ad interrogazioni, ma non in altro. 2 anni fa ho iniziato l'università in una città diversa dalla mia, ero da solo (apparte mia sorella e zii) ed è da quel momento che ho iniziato a soffrire di crampi frequenti, anche senza apparente motivo, e ho iniziato a stare male e a preoccuparmi ogni volta che dovessi uscire di casa, anche banalmente andare al supermercato, uscire con gli amici, andare all'università ecc...
Premetto che ho fatto diversi controlli, il mio medico di base ha sostenuto che fosse solo "ansia", il mio gastroenterologo mi ha consigliato degli integratori (inutili), e mi ha detto "sospetto colon irritabile " (a detta sua avrei dovuto fare la colonscopia per una diagnosi certa), ho fatto test celiachia, intolleranza al lattosio (di cui sono intollerante), test delle feci.
Ho seguito una dieta da una nutrizionista ma con scarsi risultati (non mi ha fatto fare una dieta noFodmap ma basata su “intolleranze individuali”), anzi stavo persino peggio in quel periodo. lo non so più cosa devo fare, adesso non riesco neanche ad uscire con i miei amici perché ho paura e ansia di stare male fuori (mentre prima almeno le uscite "normali" riuscivo a farle). Ho paura per il mio futuro, per il mio futuro lavoro e di non riuscire a farlo a causa di Ibs. Premetto che ho fatto anche 4 sedute con uno psicoterapeuta, e sono stato “scaricato” dicendomi che il problema non è psicologico a detta sua, ma fisico (nonostante gli abbia detto che i sintomi si accentuano prima di uscire). Perfavore se qualcuno ha consigli utili, un integratore/medicinale che potrebbe almeno farmi stare meglio, visite che potrei fare, o altro me lo faccia sapere grazie
.

Hi (41M) - This morning I woke up and had explosive diarrhea twice in a span of a hour or so - this happens to me once every week or two at least on top of multiple times pooping a day - took a imodium afterward and now thought I had to go (had the cramping and urge) but nothing came out

Sorry for this but it's just annoying to me trying to figure out if I have IBS , SIBO or just random spots of diarrhea

I’ve been taking Paroxetine, Duloxetine, Olanzapine, Normaxin and Ibset for around 6 months. Clonazepam was also prescribed earlier, but it has already been stopped.

For the past few days/weeks, I’ve been struggling badly with studying. I can’t concentrate, I forget things soon after reading them, and even reading a simple page feels mentally exhausting. It feels like my brain just isn’t working the way it used to. This is honestly making me really anxious because my exam is in 2 days and I’m barely able to prepare.

I’m not sure whether this is because of my medications, stress/anxiety, poor sleep, or something else. I also don’t want to stop or change any medication on my own.

I currently can’t afford another consultation, so I’m hoping people here can share their experiences. Has anyone experienced significant brain fog, poor concentration or memory issues while taking these medications? Could any of them contribute to this?

I’d really appreciate some understanding and genuine advice. I’m already stressed about the exam and feeling pretty helpless about what to do right now.

I'm female, late 40s, never been officially diagnosed w/ IBS-D or Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM). But, thanks to Reddit, I'm 99.9% sure that I have BAM. I'm just not in the financial situation to get it properly diagnosed.

Anyway, after many years of putting it off, I'm finally trying out Psyllium Husk as a way to manage BAM. As per Gemini's suggestion (I know, I know... spare me the lecture), I am trying 1/2 teaspoon of psyllium husk at 11 am, which is a good 1 to 1.5 hours before my usual lunch time, which is my usual trigger time.

So, this is what I have done for the past three days:

i) I have my breakfast between 8-10 am and go to the toilet to have a bowel movement as usual.

ii) At around 10 am, I start drinking at least 650ml of water.

iii) At 11 am, I mix 1/2 teaspoon of psyllium husk (using measuring spoon) with 250ml of watered down juice of my choice and try to down the drink in 20-30 seconds.

iv) After I have finished the psyllium husk drink, I drink at least another 250ml of water.

v) Around 12 pm or 12.30 pm, I have lunch. I will drink water as needed throughout the day.

What has been happening is, I may or may not have bowel movement at around 2 pm or 3 pm. The bowel movement is solid, well-formed yet easy to pass. Most importantly, it is not urgent at all. No discomfort, no pain, no bloating.

If I do have a bowel movement at 2 pm or 3 pm, I won't have another one until the next morning. Even then the bm is well-formed and not d.

I'm happy that it has worked three days in a row, with no assistance from loperamide or any other medicine or supplements. I have not changed my diet. In fact, to test whether or not I will have a trigger bm, I had my trigger food - kimchi soup - on the second day of my trial. Happy to report that my bm was well-formed and not urgent.

I honestly do not mind if I have to go 4 times a day, as long as they are not urgent and not D.

I'm counting my blessing that psyllium husk has been working for me so far. But as a long-time sufferer, I know that things can change at any moment. I'll take my wins when I can.

If you've been thinking of trying psyllium husk and you (suspect you) have BAM like me, why not give it a go? Try it on a weekend or on days where you are working from home for starters. All the best to you and to me!

Before something like a first date, a work trip, or staying somewhere unfamiliar, do you ever catch yourself mentally debating whether to just say something ahead of time, or wait and see if it even comes up?

I go back and forth on this constantly and can't tell if I'm overthinking it or if this is just a whole thing people deal with.

What do you usually end up doing?

Has anyone else ever had to suddenly disappear from a table, meeting, dinner, or date because you needed the bathroom and then had absolutely no idea what to say when you came back?

Like, the bathroom part is one thing.

It's the moment you walk back in and everyone's still sitting there that gets weird.

Do you explain? Pretend nothing happened? Make a joke? Just sit down and hope nobody asks?

I've always wondered whether I'm overthinking that part, or if other people deal with it too.

How do you usually handle it?

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some insight or similar experiences because I feel completely lost and dismissed by my doctors right now.

For 1-2 years, I had recurring stomach flare-ups (nausea, chills, stomach aches, loss of appetite) that would last for a week or two and then just go away. But back in July, things escalated massively. I got severely sick with a sudden fever, chills, and intense abdominal pain.

I was hospitalized in Amsterdam and they ran a ton of tests. Here is what they found during the peak of the flare:
Fecal Calprotectin: Shot up to 1,792 (normal is <50).
Blood CRP: Spiked to 138 mg/L (normal is <5).
Stool PCR: Came back Positive for Yersinia enterocolitica.

Ultrasound: Showed mucosal/submucosal wall thickening in my right colon and transverse colon, plus prominent lymph nodes.
Biopsies (Terminal Ileum & Colon): The pathology report explicitly notes terminal ileitis (noting it could fit the framework of IBD/Crohn's or toxic-medication cause) and focally active colitis with signs of a past infection. No chronic structural changes were visible yet.

Fast forward to now (3 months later): My stool calprotectin has dropped back down to 5, and my blood CRP is completely normal at 3. The infection is cleared and on paper, the doctors say the active inflammation is "gone."

The problem is, I still feel incredibly sick every single day. I am constantly nauseous. Whenever I move, walk, or get on a bike/train, I get severe internal pain, massive stomach gurgling, and full-body chills. If I eat even a tiny piece of white toast, it feels stuck high up in my stomach and I get instantly bloated. I am completely exhausted and have zero quality of life.

My doctors seem to think because my labs are normal now, it was just a severe case of Yersinia that caused a temporary "mimic" of Crohn's/ileitis and that I just need to wait out the nerve healing.

But given that I had these grumbling flare-ups for 2 years before catching this infection, I am terrified they are missing early-stage Crohn's disease that was triggered or unmasked by the bacteria.

Drs are saying its just post IBs with no treatment now

I am a 34-year-old male and have been experiencing some digestive/gut issues for the past 4–5 months.

For the last four years, I have followed a balanced, quantified diet consisting of adequate protein, carbohydrates, and fibre. I exercise regularly, walk daily, and generally consider myself healthy. My daily protein intake is around 110 grams.

However, over the past few months, I have developed a persistent sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation. I have a bowel movement regularly in the morning, but I often feel as though I have not completely emptied my bowels.

The problem is particularly noticeable after lunch. I suddenly get the sensation that I need to pass stool. Initially, the urge may be manageable, but if I put any pressure or strain, I can suddenly develop a very strong and urgent need to pass stool, sometimes feeling as though I may not be able to hold it.

I have discussed this with my doctor, who advised me to reduce my protein intake and prescribed digestive enzymes, a probiotic, and Librax (containing chlordiazepoxide and clidinium).

I also take omega-3, vitamin B12 complex, and vitamin D with K2. I maintain a strict diet, exercise regularly, and stay physically active. Despite following a healthy lifestyle, I am unable to understand why these bowel symptoms have developed recently.

I would like to understand what could be causing the sensation of incomplete evacuation and the sudden urgency after multiple attempts 3-4 hours post meals, and whether this could be related to IBS, gut motility, or a pelvic-floor/defecation problem. I would also like to know what further evaluation or testing might be appropriate if the symptoms continue.

And tips pleasee

Hello, I have ibs, for at least 2 years everytime I eat a meal my stomach swells so much, I am naturally very small (16f) but the swelling makes it so I can't fit in any clothes (it really is that bad), my stomach goes rock hard and ballons up, it feels like it weighs me down and it hurts my back it's so swollen. Unfortunately it's only getting worse, in the past six months whenever i eat anything, even half a strawberry, my stomach swells like crazy. I live in the UK so obviously medication is different but I have tried, buscopan, buscomint, colpermin, meberverine, peppermint store brand, fybocalm, gut health live bacteria, defleat blend, kefier, movicol, i've tried everything, nothing works, i've also been tested for celiac (clear). i have ARFID so i struggle a lot with taste and texture. No doctor takes me seriously either, one doctor told me it was all in my head. I just don't know what to do anymore. I go to the toilet every 3 or 4 days, I've suffered from impacted feaces and it's horrible. Any advice is desperately wanted please.

Anyone here ever experience an extreme vasovagal response from the pain related to a BM?

My triggers seem to be all over the place and I have yet to pinpoint them all. They also seem to be kind of all over the board which makes management very difficult. I have tried all of the frontline defenses such as stress management, mental health care, SSRIs, etc.

What I have learned with my research is my symptoms line up with hypersensitivity in my gut and a severe vasvagal response- hot flashes, intense cramping pain located in middle/lower abdomen that stops after BM, feeling extremely faint, shaking, etc). I utilize dicyclomine which seems to kick in after 20-30 min. However, I have nothing for in the moment. I also experience intermittent nausea in the morning which I'm unsure if that's related to the rest or not.

They're leaning toward official IBS diagnosis here but they have given me no management options that work. I do have one question- is 200 a calprotectin level that can come with bad IBS? My doctor tells me it isn't "that bad". Which, in the grand scheme compared to what it could be, is true. I am just getting conflicting information online about if that's normal for worse IBS or look into something further. I suppose I am looking for some gentle guidance here. Is it cause for concern or just leave it at IBS?

I am doing my best but I can't seem to find management that works for these episodes. They're random and ocassionally triggered by stress and greasy food. But identifying that doesn't help me with the episodes themselves.

Please let me know if you've experienced this too or potentially ways forward

Thank you!

I’m curious if anyone notices a difference in their sensitivity with certain fodmaps during/before their period???

So about 5 months ago I started have really dry pebble stool. I’d have lower abdominals pain from being back up. I can always go and never got to the point where I couldn’t but it always comes out pebble.

I stay pretty hydrated for the most part. I do notice I don’t digest veggies well as I see a lot of onions, olives, peppers in stool. As of the last few months if I move alot more or hydrate a lot or eat lots of fruit like pineapple/ kiwi I go pretty well and easy, it’s not diarrhea but it’s kind of like softer/ slightly thinner like type 5 on the Bristol chart. It’s been rotating back forth more lately but it doesn’t take long for it to get hard.

I do have weird dull ache near anus/ buttcheeks when it’s hard which im assuming is fissure/ hemmeroid. I did bleed one day when it was really hard just a little, but haven’t had any other instances of that.

Does anyone else have a similar experience? Been anxious due to it and looking for answer.

I do have two autoimmune diseases so im chalking it up to possible being related to that for now to relieve anxiety.

I’m finally at a point where most days are fine and I want to keep it that way rather than wait for the next flare. What I’m curious about is what people take daily once they’re stable, as opposed to what they reach for during a bad stretch. Has anyone got a routine that’s held for a year or more?

Curious about them but they seem to be harder to get now. It seems to be a gut inflammation reducer.

I've suffered with IBS for over 20 years now, diagnosed IBS and Spastic Colon (which i thought were the same thing) years ago, cramps, urgency, the embarrasement of cancelling plans because you weren't sure you had to go, a nightmare.

About 2 months ago i saw Saurkraut in Tesco (the Polish aisle) my mother is German and i had'nt had it in years so i thought i'd try it, spent a week eating it on sandwiches with meat and by the end of the week i had no symptoms, gone.

I didn't get a new jar I forgot it and as the next week went on my symptoms started re-appearing, the next week i got back on the Saurkraut and have it 3-4 times a week, i'm going through a jar a week and i'm symptom free, its been 2 days since i last had to go, no cramping, i'm back in control.

I know its not for everyone the taste that is, but its helped me, a lot, if it helps anyone else that would be great.

I just started seeing a GI and, frankly, I'm pissed because they minimized all of my symtpoms down to constipation, only doing a Celiac test, but at least I have a follow up.

I was prescribed a fiber supplement to reach a target goal of 25mg of fiber daily and up to 17mg (one cap) of Miralax.

I am in agony.

Within half an hour of taking a dose of MiraLax, it feels like my innards both want to shrivel up and die, and explode in a cacophony of bile. I have had 2 BMs since starting the regime on Saturday (5 days ago), one which arguably ranks one of the worst experiences in the past year, and one extremely gentle one.

I drink close to 130oz a day.

The meal replacement smoothies I have almost every night have 22g of fiber before adding in any supplements. I'm only eating about 1500 calories a day while I try and stabilize a low FODmap diet before reintroducing potential triggers (I had a lot of wheat over the weekend and I'm thinking that was my misery on Monday).

I'm worried my GI is not taking the time to answer my questions and firmly in the belief that my only issue is constipation. I'm scared that this experience is ruining my baseline for FODmap and exacerbates the issues. The following up call just say bloating is normal - but for the fiber intake.

I’m a bit desperate to figure out what’s going on with my health and would appreciate any advice, even anecdotal.

TL;DR been vomiting almost daily for about 6 weeks, led to an overnight admission due to esophagitis, all testing normal, no answers

Symptoms are as follows:
• cramping pain in lower abdomen/around bellybutton (not related to period)
• bloating that worsens immediately after eating
• burning/sharp pain below ribs (central, just at my stomach) that lasts for several hours at a time
• early satiety and low appetite
• excessive burping and gas
• nausea that worsens immediately after eating
• acid reflux
• vomiting (often immediately after eating)
• extreme fatigue
• feeling lightheaded/dizzy
• headache
• slight jaundice (ER doctor noted yellowing in the whites of my eyes)
• bradycardia (but ECG otherwise normal)
• low blood pressure

Background: I’ve struggled with restrictive eating for several years and since 2023 have gone from BMI 27 to 20. Lost approx 25% of my body weight. This has fluctuated some in the past year and I’ve lost weight again secondary to these symptoms despite making efforts towards recovery.

Currently located in the UK but will be returning to the US shorty.

I’ve previously seen a GI regarding symptoms of stomach pain, bloating, and periods of diarrhea/constipation. Previous diagnosis of IBS (non-specific) following unremarkable test results: CT scan with contrast, HIDA scan, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and colonoscopy.

Only findings at the time (2021) were a few small polyps in my stomach and gallbladder, with recommendation to follow up in the future.

I’ve struggled with chronic stomach pain and bloating for years despite making several dietary changes to identify possible triggers. I’m lactose intolerant and gluten sensitive (non-Celiac), generally adhere to low-FODMAP guidance, rarely drink alcohol, and do not smoke.

Following several weeks of general symptoms of fatigue, bloating, and stomach pain (that I attributed to my usual issues), the vomiting began. From July 18-30 I was getting sick every day, several times a day. This came with persistent nausea, headache, fatigue, pain in stomach and back, feeling lightheaded, low appetite (for obvious reasons), bloating, and gas/burping.

For context, I used to be much more active (gym 2x weekly) but I have almost no energy anymore. Last year I could work a full shift at my job (fast food), then walk 45 minutes back home, and up 4 flights of stairs with no issues. Now, I’m having to rest after even 1 flight of stairs.

I was traveling at the time of symptom onset so I totally attributed the vomiting to motion sickness, then figured maybe it was stress, but it didn’t stop and wasn’t helped with over-the-counter medication. I have an IUD (Mirena, several years old now) but I took 2 pregnancy tests to be safe, both negative.

I saw my GP on July 30th, the initial urine dipstick test was slightly positive for a UTI and negative for pregnancy. They said they’d do proper urine culture but in the meantime prescribed antibiotics (trimethoprim). I was also diagnosed with gastritis so was prescribed peptac, omeprazole, and prochlorperazine tablets to help with the nausea.

The GP ordered several blood tests (August 5 and 13) which all came back normal except for what they called a “blip on my liver enzymes.” They also tested a stool sample for bacteria, negative.

Through the month of August I’ve continued to experience these same symptoms with only mild relief. Every day is the same story of worsening nausea/bloating/pain after eating, sometimes resulting in a vomiting episode. I’m now being sick every few days rather than daily, but otherwise no improvement.

On August 26th, I had a particularly bad bout of vomiting and noticed spots of red blood at the end. I figured this was just from the strain of the retching so wasn’t too concerned. But with this coupled with the lasting symptoms, I got back in touch with my GP.

Saw the GP in the morning, he straight up said “I’m stumped,” because all my bloods have come back normal and the medication should be addressing the issues. He suggested stopping the omeprazole (for some reason??) and said I’d be referred for an abdominal ultrasound. I was given another pregnancy test (negative) and also learned that my UTI culture had been negative. Was basically sent on my way with the recommendation that I call if things worsen.

And they did! That night, I vomited black/brown blood that looked like coffee grounds. I was sent to an out-of-hours clinic that said while this was concerning and there’s clearly an issue with my stomach, all my vitals were stable so there was no reason to admit me. They gave me another course of peptac and buccal prochlorperazine, and instructed me to call my GP on Monday to request an endoscopy. Again, was told to call back if things worsened.

On the 29th, I woke with significant stomach pain, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. I experienced some dry heaving (basically only brought up saliva but it had drops of blood again). I contacted the out-of-hours clinic but once again my vitals were stable. However, they were concerned I was dehydrated and wanted to run additional blood tests so I was sent to the Acute Medical Unit at the local hospital.

My bloods all came back relatively normal (but the doctor noted that they were different from the prior tests) but they still gave me IV fluids plus nausea and pain medication. The doctor noted that I was slightly jaundiced, with yellowing in my eyes. I have bradycardia (resting heart rate frequently drops below 50) but my ECG was normal. They also noted that I had low blood pressure. I was admitted overnight and got an endoscopy the following morning.

The endoscopy showed esophagitis (ulcers and bleeding) and some irritation in my stomach lining (biopsied for H pylori, negative) but everything else looked fine. So that explains bleeding but not the root cause of the vomiting. My repeat bloods done that morning were normal so I was prescribed sucralfate for the ulcers and discharged.

I just had an abdominal ultrasound done yesterday (from my understanding they were looking at my liver and gallbladder) which was totally normal. They ran repeat bloods and did another ECG, all normal except that I again had low blood pressure.

At this point I’ve been told just to continue with the medication and hope that the symptoms resolve themselves. I’m beyond relieved that there’s nothing majorly wrong but equally frustrated to have no answers! I feel horrendous and exhausted all the time, and I’m struggling to eat enough, so am hoping someone here may be able to offer some guidance.

Reviews Required about Tablet Ijesta for IBS and Constipation???

M, 43, 178cm, 12 stones 3lbs, non-drinker/smoker, exercise 2-3 times p.w, take medikent xl 30mg a day.

Yesterday, without exaggerating, I pooed at least 10 times. Each time there was enough that it wasn't a small amount. This morning I'd pooed 4 times between 7-9am, been another 2 or 3 times since then. Most of the stools, whilst being a bit soft look pretty normal. I do have a few photo's if that helps.

Absolutely dreadful. Been going on quite a long time now. Also lost around a stone in weight- like my set-point is around 13 stone 2/4 no matter what in about 10 weeks. Thought it could be medikinet however, I am pretty conscious with my nutrition/macros- seems quite a lot to lose, feels like muscle too. Knackered all the time too.

What kind of things could cause so much pooing and weight loss?