The reality behind IBS

Hey! How are you doing? 

This post will hopefully give an insight into how I've found dealing with IBS over the last year. This is only my story and I am sure everyone struggling with it, will have a totally different story to tell. 

* This post does involve TMI sections, so maybe skip this one out if you don't like reading about sick etc. *

I was diagnosed in March 2019, after having spent 3 months being poorly and being sick a lot. Shout out to my housemate who would look after me whilst I nearly fainted in her room multiple times. Being ill when you're in your first year of university and away from home is quite scary, so I wouldn't have coped without my great pals.

I had numerous visits to the doctors back and forth, with blood tests to try and find out what was going on. My GP first suggested I cut out dairy, which was probably about 60% of my diet so took a while to adjust. After a few weeks of it being cut out of my diet completely, I started to feel less sick and less bloated again.

My doctor and I could both see a correlation and decided it was best I stayed away from dairy, despite my LOVE for it. I had never had issues with food intolerances before, so it came out of nowhere. However, since having researched more about IBS, it is common for symptoms to occur in yours 20/30’s. 

This all happened only a year ago, so I am still adjusting to what I can or cannot eat and what helps settle my tummy. Personally, I find particularly stressful times, like exams, anxiety and deadlines are the times I am more prone to a flare up.

A flare up is often the term used to describe a bad day for somebody suffering from IBS. My flare ups can range from being a little bloated and cramping for a day to being sick for a week. Flare ups can occur even if I have stuck to my dairy-free diet, as I said before that stress is a contributing factor too.

Running has helped me feel so regulated and improved my energy levels. 

I also found out the other day that high intensity exercise that involves your core can also cause a whole lot of cramping and trips to the old lavatory. Although Ironically, exercise of a low intensity is good for those with IBS and will help you stay active and feeling fresh!

Another symptom that I have found is feeling unusually fatigued. For instance, I can wake up and by 10am I can feel shattered again even if I slept well. Some can mistake this as being lazy and sometimes it is, but more often it’s my wonderful digestive system playing tricks on me.

This is exhibit A of a self -care evening after a flare up day! 

After having said all of that, I am so lucky with what I can eat. Often, IBS suffers are restricted to a dairy free and gluten free diet. Which thankfully, for the time being gluten does not affect my tummy.

This is a very brief summary and I missed out a few symptoms for your own benefit. However, if you’re a close friend, then I am sure you already know the reality. To have a day where I am in no pain and my bowels are working properly is a very blessed day indeed! I want to really make a point that this isn’t a space for me to have a moan, but more to fill in my story and experience.

I hope this has helped give an insight into how IBS effects my life. I am very open about this topic, so happy to chat further if people would like!

Lots of love,

Charlie x