I completely cured my IBS (4 Years and running). Here's how I did it.
FAIR WARNING BEFORE I GET STARTED: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. PLEASE CONSULT A GASTROENTEROLOGIST OR SIMILAR PHYSICIAN FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.
With that said, hello! My name is Bryce and just about 4 years ago I suffered some of the worst IBS known to man. After a bad spell of food poisoning and antibiotics, my gut health had never been worse. I lost over 45 pounds and was so skinny and malnourished, I could hardly get out of bed. I couldn't eat anything without feeling almost immediate, stabbing like pain, and if I somehow survived that the bloating was so bad it lasted days. I used to cry myself to sleep at night, begging for all the stomach related pain to end, and I tried EVERYTHING, man. Low Fodmap, exercise, laxatives, probiotics, SIBO test...you name it. Nothing I tried worked, and I saw 6 different doctors who all failed me. Finally after nearly 3 full years of nonstop suffering, I finally found a way to CURE myself. And when I say cure, I mean CURE. I eat almost everything again, things I never thought I'd ever eat again: pizza, chick fil-a, mcdonalds, burgers, etc. Here's how I did it. (Note I was diagnosed with IBS-C).
- Daily Exercise - VERY underrated in moving things in your gut. Doesn't have to be strenuous, but you will notice a difference if you don't do it.
- Low Fodmap/High protein diet - I know low fodmap doesn't seem to work for many of you (as it didn't for me the first time I tried it) but it really is the food groups that digest the easiest in your system. When recovering, sticking with lightly seasoned (salt and pepper only) meats and white rice was a great way for me to get calories, and I tried to force myself to eat three meals a day. This may be hard at first, but your body NEEDS FOOD. I promise it will adjust, and oftentimes if things get stuck in you (like IBS-C) part of the reason for that is a lack of nourishment going through you, meaning things get clogged and undernourished.
- Miralax (SPECIFICALLY FOR IBS-C) - Whenever I noticed things not moving properly, I took a gentle dosage of Miralax, a stool softener (not to get confused with a laxative). This worked well for me because Miralax can be mixed with nothing but water, and it doesn't force everything out like a laxative does, hurting your gut health.
- Probiotics...THE RIGHT ONES - This one is key for me, and I know many of you will have tried these and tell me it's bullshit, but please keep reading. You need to find the RIGHT probiotics for you, otherwise you may be feeding certain bacteria's in your gut you don't even need. The best strains that have worked for me are Bacillus Coagulans, Bacillus indicus, and Bifodobacterium lactis. A lot of probiotics actually contain milk or a milk derivative or inulin, and if you are sensitive (like me) it is possible that these actually cause an upset stomach, turning you away from them. ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: when you start one of these strains, it is very common it makes you MORE gassy for the first few days because the bad bacteria in your gut is fighting with the new good ones introduced. PLEASE DON'T STOP TAKING THEM. If you do, the bad bacteria will win and you will continue to have symptoms. Allow your body to grow accustomed to these strains, and before you know it you'll feel a lot better and taking it will be second nature. The best time I've found to take it is right at night (if you sleep poorly, try a low dosage of pure melatonin with no additives or sugars) because it sits in your system the longest and you'll be asleep for the worst of it. As someone who thought this was bullshit, PLEASE TRUST ME. THESE DO WORK. YOU NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT ONES FOR YOU! I'll link the two I use below if you are interested. They are both Low Fodmap and contain different strains that I rotate when I'm done with one.
Microbiome Labs MegaSporebiotic: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TJ4TH8Q?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
(NOTE THIS WAS PRESCRIBED TO ME BY A GASTRO DOCTOR. FOR THIS TIP ONLY I WOULD CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING) Rifaximin - This was a treatment I received that really put me over the edge. It basically resets your gut bacteria and has you rebuild it slowly. I began this after the probiotics when I was already starting to feel better, but I do believe it's a major reason as to why I got cured. I would seek medical advice from a trained professional about this treatment. It worked for me, but I cannot promise it will work for you.
Fodzyme - This is more a bonus tip, but once you start feeling better, if you want to reintroduce foods back into your diet, try using this enzyme. It has worked wonders for me, and has helped me eat foods I'd never imagined again with no discomfort whatsoever.
Stress - Seek a therapist and try to destress. I know this might sound crazy, but stress hurts your gut health more than you know.
Thank you for taking the time to read through my post. Again, I am NOT a doctor, but I sincerely hope I can help you all. I understand how awful IBS can be, and just how dark of a place it can take you, but please remember there is a way out of this. I promise. Science is getting better by the day, and even if none of my tips work for you, I'm certain you'll find an answer soon enough. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. I really hope this advice can help you all as much as it helped me.
EDIT: I've noticed there are some people who do not like my choice of the word "Cure", so I will now define EXACTLY how I feel and why I chose this word: I do not think about my IBS ever anymore. Not at all. I eat whatever I want, when I want, how I want. Sure, there are days I have flair-ups, but I consider it normal digestive issues that are typically resolved in hours compared to weeks. To the people fear mongering: I am sorry your IBS is awful, mine was too. But I truly was able to "cure" my symptoms, regardless of what the internet or others have told you. I hope you can find peace. To the people who believe me: There IS HOPE for you. I promise. I may have been worse than you. I ate 1 meal a day for a year and a half as a 6'2 man, dropping to nearly 135 pounds and always in complete agony. This morning I had pancakes and a banana for breakfast as well as a glass of lactaid chocolate milk, and for lunch I'm sure I'll make myself a steak with rice. DO NOT LOSE HOPE. I will try to respond to as many of you as I can.