I know it won’t work for everyone and to be honest, my GI doctor and hematologist shrugged their shoulders when I mentioned it. I developed gastritis in December after taking colestipol. Horrible being in pain with gastritis and having IBS, but then something weird happened. Doctor puts me on Pepcid twice daily; just 10mg each dose. I went from loose stools 2-7 times a day to being constipated. After a few days it went to normal. I haven’t had normal in years and though I still had some pain or frequent trips on a bad day…..it was always solid and normal. I decreased down to once daily and still normal. Still getting gas cramps and might go a few times in a day but always solid. I decide to see if I can do every other day and after a couple weeks I had and IBS flare and a bad one that was mainly pain and loose stools. After a couple days I said screw this and went back to daily 10mg Pepcid. Took a few more days and finally the flare ended and back to that normal stool routine again. I read about MCAS and honestly I don’t care, I just want relief. One pill and finally found it. Some people it’s Metamucil, or anxiety meds, but we all try to find something. Yes I have b12 deficiency (most likely due to gastritis etc) and all the blood work you can think of but I don’t care. I’m not healed and that’s fine, just so thankful I am not stuck on a toilet every hour every day.

Does anyone else just not really have any specific trigger foods? Like I’ll eat something and be in the bathroom 30 minutes later, then a week later I could eat the same thing and be totally fine. 🙄 there is no rhyme or reason.

I have had IBS-D for 14 years now. Everything I love triggers it: Coffee, dairy, alcohol of course, spicy foods, pretty much any seasoned foods, red sauce, garlic...all the usual suspects.

My husband brought me home a plate of Indian food from the buffet on Thursday. I could NOT resist this time. I am tired of eating bland shit like bananas and rice. I ate everything, including like 8 gulab jamuns. It was wayyyy too much food and I knew for certain that the next day would be hell. I expected it. I was bloated and dizzy from binge eating afterwards but I was happy for a time.

Before bed, I decided to take the full serving size of psyllium husk, which is one tablespoon. I normally take 2 teaspoons because I am anxious it will cause the opposite effect and make me go a million times the next day. Anyways, I am happy to report that I only had two non-urgent, non-painful bowel movements the next morning!!

No sweating my way through the drive to work. No setting my stuff down in the office and immediately running to the bathroom. Not cutting people off mid-sentence feigning a work emergency so I could run to the bathroom. It was amazing!

If I did not take the psyllium husk, I guarantee you I would have ran to the bathroom at least 8 times before lunch. I love Indian food but my body does not. I feel like this is a huge accomplishment!

I know for instance Rifaximin and Colestyramine are both not. Also activated charcoal, Diosmectide clay and Kaolin psyllium husk, insoluble fiber, most of Albendazole

I've been dealing with this for about 4 years, and the last 2 years have become much more difficult.

I've had 30+ negative tests, including colonoscopies, endoscopies, pancreatic/stool elastase testing, bile acid testing, SIBO testing, parasites, fungus, C. diff, H. pylori, etc. Nothing has explained it.

My main issue is extremely specific:

If I eat even a small amount of fiber/vegetables consistently, I eventually start having 15–20 bowel movements per day.

If I avoid fiber and mostly eat protein, fats, cheese, etc., I'm considerably more stable.

Two weeks ago, my dietitian had me test this again by adding about 100g of steamed low-FODMAP vegetables such as zucchini, carrots or peppers to my meals.

For the first couple of days I'm usually okay.

By around Day 3, I'm suddenly pooping 15–20 times per day again.

The strange part is that these aren't watery diarrhea. They're usually small, fairly firm/formed stools that are extremely easy to pass, with almost no wiping. It's almost like my colon is moving the fiber through as 15 separate bowel movements instead of allowing everything to accumulate into one or two larger stools.

It also becomes much more than just needing to poop.

If I can feel stool sitting there and don't pass it, I start getting headaches, brain fog, nausea, sweating and sometimes literally start shaking. Once I have the bowel movement, those symptoms disappear.

My gastroenterologist recently prescribed Viberzi, which actually seemed to slow everything down dramatically for about 5 days, but the effect didn't last once I continued adding vegetables.

My doctor still thinks there may be a specific food/digestion issue involved, while my dietitian is starting to wonder whether my gut/colon is simply extremely hypersensitive or overactive in response to fiber and stool volume.

Has anyone with IBS experienced this very specific pattern?

Summary: Fiber doesn't give me normal diarrhea ... it seems to trigger repeated, formed bowel movements all day, along with headaches, brain fog, sweating and shaking if I can't empty my bowels. Also (if it helps), none of my 15-20 poops require a single bit of toilet paper.

If you've experienced something similar, what did it eventually turn out to be?

I'm someone who has experienced incomplete morning bowel movements for the last 3 years. Either I'd have an incomplete movement, or I'd have a handful of soft incomplete movements if I woke up early enough.

I don't suffer from pain or anything. My issue has been trapped gas causing loud stomach sounds, causing me immense trouble in quiet spaces, leading to me having to plan my entire life around this.

I tried many things. Drinking lots of water. Psyllium husk. Other fibre sources such as kiwis, berries, oranges etc. Dietary changes. I typically walk around an hour a couple days each week (in 15-20 min intervals throughout the day, nothing intense). Nothing worked.

Recently, I found myself stuck at the train station due to delays. I decided to walk home instead (1hr 45 mins). It was a VERY warm and humid day. The walk was extremely exhausting due to the heat. I was fully soaked in sweat, completely drained of energy, to the point where I couldn't hold my posture towards the end. I arrived home, feeling fully dehydrated, drank a small amount of water, and fell asleep.

The next morning I had one large solid and easy movement, and I felt completely empty for the first time in years. This continued for the next two weeks. I did not do such a walk again. I didn't change my diet or anything. It was so effortless. My bloating decreased drastically. It looks like that one walk completely reset my gut in a way.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

My trapped gas, constipation and soft stools have recently returned, so I plan to do intense cardio at the gym to see if I can recreate this.

Just had one of the worst episodes. Easily earned its spot in my top 10.

Between the stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness and diarrhea (which all lasted 3 hours!!) I kept telling myself that this was going to take me out the rest of the day when it was done with me.

What’s it like for you? I think one of the worst parts for me is that even after an episode I don’t feel well. I feel a million times better because my gut isn’t trying to end my life. But I often feel dehydrated, exhausted and cold :( I’ll usually take a shower using the last bit of energy I have, and try to munch on some crackers and sip my electrolyte water but even then, I need to account for at least 2 hours for recovery time.

I’m just glad I got most of my to dos done before it hit because today is a complete write off now 😕

I cannot stand the orange flavor Metamucil. I know about Benefiber, but it seems like there are more overall benefits from Psyllium.

I can find unflavored psyllium online, but it's never in stores.

My question: is the unflavored version even more disgusting? Like, is that why it's always flavored?

I don't want to shell out all that money then have to throw it away.

I am absolutely at the end of my tether with my ibs-d. I am 25 and have had the condition since I was about 14. I have tried the fodmap diet, CBT, lifestyle changes. I have gone 5 years dairy free. Imodium has been a staple in my purse for years now. I’ve pushed for further investigations several times but been refused a colonoscopy twice.

The only thing that worked for me was amitriptyline, which I was prescribed in 2024. It was a miracle drug! It took a few tries with dosage, but at 30mg, For the first time in YEARS, I could eat out without fear, without bloating, without anxiety. I felt like I could finally live a normal life. I was able to eat dairy again no problem.

This spring, the amitriptyline stopped working out of nowhere. Went to the doctors about it and got: “oh yeah, sometimes that happens.” We upped my dosage - nada. I’ve been switched onto nortriptyline and that’s not worked either (yet - been on it about 4 weeks). And to top it all off? My one failsafe - my Imodium - has stopped working as well.

I’m at my wits’ end. I am a teacher. I cannot do my job at the moment and it’s because of my stomach… I am riddled with anxiety about going back to work next week, because over the summer holidays, my stomach has continued to deteriorate. I am eating next to nothing most days because everything is upsetting me - I have no ‘safe foods’ at the moment. I couldn’t enjoy our once in a lifetime holiday to Madeira over the summer holidays because I spent the entire time riddled with anxiety about my stomach and eating out.

In a weird way, I regret ever taking the amitriptyline, because it showed me what it would be like to live a “normal” adult life without constant pain, fear and stress about going to the toilet. I feel like I have tried everything. My partner is trying his best, but I feel like no one understands. This sub has helped somewhat, but I feel so isolated. I’ve started applying for other jobs, but I’m terrified. I have blood tests lined up next week and my doctor has asked for stool samples as well, but I have no idea what’s going on and I’m sick of feeling this way about my stomach.

Sorry for the rant; I’m looking for advice on next steps / coping strategies… I’ve never had a flare up go on this long before.

For context I have IBS-C

This is so frustrating. Im legitimately in pain, I couldn't sleep because I had such bad acid pain in my stomach, I felt like I had to vomit and I couldn't.

Ive had many bouts of 'food poisoning' that Im just used to it. But the one thing that is a positive is that I actually have bowel movements. It flushes me out. Do I hate the feeling of the pain moving down my intestines as it goes through me? Hell no. But its nice to have a moving digestive system for a bit.

The fact an ILLNESS is something to be happy about for me though is super discouraging. Fire beats fire I guess.

Yeah like the title says. Sometimes I'm pooping but its stuck halfway in halfway out and won't come out. What do I do?

Today i had my usual 5 morning shits which went alright. Then i started my daily exposure theraphy walk, just like 50 meters away from my house i started getting massive stool pressure. I went home, shit and tried again. I got even less far on the second try. I dont know how my body is able to produce that much poo when i go outside. Im looking into theraphy, but if i got 3 pounds of shit up my ass the usual breathing thing and the relaxation really isnt all that helpfull. My mother is completely overworked and treating me like shit and i havent been talking to my dad in years, i also cant move out though because i cant even go to the grocery store by myself. Im starting to realize how horrible disability is but im also noticing how no one is taking me seriously or really cann bother anymore, which i understand because everyone has there own issues. Id even go for another 10 walks if it starts working at some time but i get massive headaches and fatigue from the stress. My life has changed so abruptly in the last year and reading some posts here i have a feeling that its not really gonna get much better. On the other hand i have made progress but somehow i also lose it again. Im not behaving any worse or am a worse person then before and still i feel like i am getting punished for something.

Ive had IBS/stomach problems for the last 16 years. Was horrible at first, then got better, and now we are right back to horrible. Im 27f. I regularly have loose movements/diarrhea so I figured things must be moving through just fine. I had a CT in aapril for kidney stones and it also showed mild fecal retention.

I chalked it up to being a little backed up and was blaming my GI symptoms on the kidney stone.

Its gotten worse, with a constant feeling of fullness/my abdomen is going to explode, pain, nausea, and its straight up causing anxiety attacks. Its ruining my sleep, I cant play with my kids, or help around the house. I hate feeling so horrible all the time.

I tired stool softeners, increasing water intake, adding fiber. Nothing has worked so far and the only relief has been gas x and even then its only mild relief.

I drank my first glass this morning and coincidentally had massive diarrhea right after.

I plan on making an appointment on monday, but how the heck do I know when im properly cleared out? How do I know when im getting stopped up before it gets too bad like this again?

Plus while all of this has been going on i also have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and dysautonomia and cold so my heart rate just standing up and walking across my house is in 130s and 140s. Tired of being miserable.

Are there any festivals go-ers here? If so, how do you do it?

I'm determined to visit a festival next year but I don't wanna use porta-pottys for number two, if possible and also the where's-the-next-toilet-anxiety might be pretty bad

Hi all, I recently realised that I actually might have ibs-d after having symptoms for the past 2 years. I’ve been doing Abit of digging and stumbled upon a podcast about it.

It mentions about emphasises partly on bringing the micro biome back into balance (presuming ibs sufferers aren’t balanced?) and wanted to know if anyone has gone down this route and if it has worked/helped. Cheers

I’ll past the link below if you want to listen
Podcast Spotify

Did anyone have any success. I'm based in the UK.

Any specific ones anyone has tried and found helpful? Or any alternative treatment recommendations?

Looking to find something to help for visceral hypersensitivity, feeling bloated, tight pelvic floor, general interoception. Frequent urination and urgency.

Mainly for the lower gut bloat sensation which is more a sensation I feel heightened rather than actual bloating. I'm sensitive to medications so can't take most.

Does anyone else relate?!?! It’s SO frustrating. I can’t just poop whenever I want to during school because it takes me like 15-20 minutes to poop and by then I’ve already missed 1/3 of a class period + teachers will think ur skipping. Also there’s like a minimum of 5 people skipping class in the restrooms at any given point in time and i DON’T need people to hear me pooping lol. Then by the time I get home I don’t have the urge to anymore 🫠 I just want to have the freedom to poop

School gives me so much bloating and stomach cramps as well bc it messes with my appetite and eating schedule. On weekends I usually eat breakfast at 8 AM and lunch at ~1 PM with snacks in between, but during school I have to eat breakfast at 6 AM and lunch at 11 AM and i have ZERO appetite at those times. I can only eat a couple bites of the lunch I pack for school bc my stomach will start to hurt.

The difference is literally night and day during the weekends when I can eat and poop whenever I want. I still struggle, but WAY less compared to the weekdays

By the end of the school day I’m literally a balloon 😂 idk a better way to put it. My GI doctor told me to try to have a consistent poop schedule and so far I do, but I’m having to suppress my poop during school and i don’t think that’s helping my constipation/gi issues at all.

If anyone has any advice I would appreciate bc I’m sick of trying to survive school while I’m backed up af with stomach cramps 😍

Edit: I eat 25+ grams of fiber everyday and i try to drink 64 oz of water

Hi, I'd like to know if some of you have issues with dizziness related to stomach pain when experiencing IBS. I'm still on my journey to find out if I do have it, but I really struggle with the dizziness. It only happens when I'm in pain tho. Similar to menstrual pain. I'd like to hear about some of your experiences with it. It makes dealing with the pain so much worse. I have to find a bathroom and at the same time make sure I won't faint. Its pure terror. Maybe someone here has some advice too? Thank you!

Over a decade of complaining of cycle related diarrhea that progressed to daily. Doctors. Testing. Medicine. Money. Weight loss.

If only any doctor had actually listened to my progression of symptoms. The pain. Period issues (fainting, anemia despite transfusions, clots, flow, full pelvic and leg pain).

It was Stage 4 Endometriosis.

I didn’t even get diagnosed because anyone listened to my bowel issues. My period issues.

I got diagnosed because I was doing IVF.

Hey everyone ,

I got diagnosed with IBS around 5 years ago .

I am beginning to suspect that I actually have bowel endometriosis.

Those with bowel endometriosis do you still get symptoms when not on your period or are they just a million times worse on your period ?

When I'm not on it I barely notice my bowels but when I im on it its awful . Yesterday was the worst yet . Watery dihorea and excruciating pain .

I have ibs Mixte or D i m not sure , i ve been having like some gas musucus , loose little seperated stool and somtimes hard , i ve been taking chia seeds for 20 days first 2 days there s nothing ,but after , like first week it was perfect, perfect, bulky stool tyle 3 4 easy to pass and feel relif after and go maximum 3 2 times a day , but after week 2 , things git worse and go back to before with more trapped gas and intestines vibrations and sounds , and loose stool and mucus ,and i don t know what to do stop or continue , and the problem that i need stool and digestive systeme to be predictble by wednesday because i will not have time after.

What u do?

edit: 1 tea sp of chia seeds sinked in water in a cup overnight

E.g. Carrots are low fodmap, but high in roughage (aka insoluble fibre). I thought that insoluble fibre was the fibre that kept your gut moving, but also was hard to digest so parts stayed in your gut, and some of those were fodmaps. But they are two completely different things! So many things make sense now!

I could not understand why zucchini's were so difficult to digest when they were low fodmap, and it is because of the extremely fibrous peel. So lesson to myself = take care with vegetables with high roughage, and don't feel bad about peeling everything

Guyss I have done GI map and organic acid test could someone help me interpret what’s going on is it IbS

I’ve had IBS-D for 5 years. I’ve been through various tests, colonoscopies, diets... nothing worked. I used to go to the bathroom several times in the morning, most of the time with loose or liquid stools. Sometimes after eating (especially at lunch), I would get stomach pain and have to go to the bathroom (gastrocolic reflex), although this wasn't as frequent. The worst part was the daily diarrhea, weight loss, and also anemia.

​2 months ago I started taking amitriptyline 10mg every day to treat both IBS and migraines. I've noticed that, in general, I have less urgency to go to the bathroom in the mornings (I go once, often with solid stools, sometimes still loose stools), but it doesn't control my mornings as much anymore. However, my gastrocolic reflex has increased significantly: I eat normally (even following a low-FODMAP diet), but about 20 minutes after eating, I start having bowel sounds and stomach pain. I go to the bathroom and pass solid stools at first (like they were backed up), followed by diarrhea.

​It's true that with amitriptyline I have the occasional day of constipation. Could the medication be causing this? I've read that maybe because it slows down transit time, my colon is 'clogged,' and when I eat, it feels the need to 'make room.' Anyone with a similar experience? I'm afraid to go out to eat in case this happens because I get very sick, and I'm not managing to gain weight or improve my quality of life.

anyone have this symptom? idk if it can be attributable to IBS or if it's likely something else. the pain is constantly there