r/IBSHelp

I've dealing with chronic constipation and IBS for a while now and honestly nothing has really worked long term, tried probiotics, fiber and a few other things but most just stop working, what are people here actually using that made a real difference?

out of what I've tried so far Emma Relief has been the most consistent for me but genuinely want to know what else has worked for people dealing with chronic constipation and IBS.

Recently, I watched one of YouTube Shorts where you mentioned how stress and anxiety can manifest in the body as physical pain or other symptoms. I didn’t fully understand it, but I understood that there is a connection between our stress, anxiety, and how our body behaves.

When it comes to me, I have been struggling with IBS-like symptoms for a long time. I have done several medical checkups and tests, and the results showed that there is nothing physically wrong with my gut or bowel. However, I am still struggling with these symptoms. The doctors told me it might be related to my way of thinking and advised me not to think about it too much. But the problem is, it’s not that simple.

This issue has been very stressful and difficult for me. For example, I even quit a job because of this condition. I joined a new position that required me to travel. On the first day, when I was about to get on the bus, I suddenly had a strong urge to use the washroom while I was on the road. There was no place nearby, so I had to ask a shop owner if I could use their washroom. I felt extremely embarrassed — I just wanted to disappear. Because situations like this kept happening, I decided to quit that job and join another company.

At the new job, during the first few days, I still had the same urges. Luckily, the office was not far, and I was able to manage somehow. But this has been the pattern of my life. I have been dealing with this issue since childhood. I don’t remember exactly when it started, but even as a child, I had the fear of needing to use the washroom in public situations. I used to spend a long time in the washroom, and sometimes my parents would scold me for it. In school, I also had embarrassing moments asking teachers to let me go to the washroom during class.

It is very hard for me to speak about this publicly because it feels very embarrassing. After watching your video, I decided to open up about this and see if anyone has experienced something similar. I’m not even sure whether I truly have IBS, because the medical test results didn’t confirm it, but the symptoms are very similar. That makes me even more frustrated.

I have tried to manage it by not thinking about it and ignoring it, but it always comes back strongly. I really want to overcome this. It has been very difficult for me. I want to travel, join new places, attend hobby groups or classes, but whenever I try, the symptoms start again. Because of this, I often prefer staying at home where I feel safe and comfortable, doing things online instead of going outside.

I don’t know what is actually wrong with me — whether this is stress, anxiety, or something else. The most disappointing part is that even my medical results cannot give me a clear answer about what is going on. That’s why, after watching your video, I wanted to reach out. If anyone has been in a similar situation, I would really like to know how you managed or overcame this issue.

I cannot understand how ibs causes mucus in stool. I have a lot of amount almost everyday and have done many things to rule out other conditions. Went to numerous GI specialists and none of them were concerned about this mucus. An ER doctor told me that i have internal haemorrhoids and maybe that can cause the mucus but nothing else. So can someone explain the link between mucus and ibs and how this is not related to infection and inflammation?

Ive had IBS for as long as i can remember (now 28M) and always had mild stomach cramps with the odd bad flare up. Been to the gp countless times for a variety of tests to rule out coeliac or crohns and every test i do comes back fine. It seems the older im getting though the more frequent and severe the flare ups are getting. Have been completely bed bound for days on end on a handful of occasions this year alone. The pain from the cramps is utterly excruciating and completely debilitating but as far as the doctors are concerned im absolutely fine??

Ive tried the low FODMAP diet and never figured out what the triggers were because i can go weeks or months without a flare up then have 3 in a week. Have been prescribed Mebeverine Hydrochloride which sometimes works for little stomach ache but doesnt touch the side when it comes to a proper one. Is this it then, do i just live forever like this now? In constant pain, worrying whether its this mornings coffee or tomorrows sandwich thats might rule me out for another 3 days.

Start to lose to faith that ill ever get it under control. Apologies for the essay but if anyone has any other remedies or tried and tested methods that have worked for them id be grateful to hear them!

Hello, I’m a 30-year-old female and for about the past month I’ve been dealing with diarrhea, cramping, and a lot of gas. I had stool testing done for parasites, C. diff, and other bacteria, and everything came back negative.

A few days ago I had a bowel movement that looked mostly like blood, so I went to the ER. They did a CT scan and said they didn’t see any masses and that my colon looked normal. They recommended I follow up with a GI doctor, and I do have an appointment scheduled for Monday.

I know no one here can diagnose me, but I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar? Did it end up being IBS, colitis, or something else?

I struggle with anxiety, overthinking, stress in daily situations like in job interviews, important meetings like presentations, chefs, exams or overthinking about future

Symptoms:

fast heartbeat

physical tension

shaking hands/legs

shortness of breath

too much fear

What actually helped you most for this type of anxiety (supplements or anything else)? Thanks in advance

im 23 yr old female, have been taking trulance for almost a year for ”ibs-c“ per my gastro doctor. found a hollistic health doctore a few weeks ago and we did a food allergy panel and it came back level 3 for all dairy gluten wheat peanut etc. now i’m on a elimination diet for 6 weeks and went out to eat on my 3rd week last week. was starting to feel a little better but still having bad cramps bloating & gas. now im back in terrible pain and blaoting looking 12 months pregnant. turns out there was butter in one of the foods i ate out but they didnt tell me. is anyone going through this?? i feel like i can’t even out anymore and it’s causing me to be depressed. i also have the biggest sweet tooth so it’s making it worse. what do yall eat? any suggestions? help please !!!

Newbie questions must get tiring: there must be resources in a guide on this group. I just done know how to find.

I grew up thinking everyone had dry little rabbit poo, but turned 51 and the pain!!!
Then IBS C!!!

My problem is how to proceed with a diet & how to start the path to ask for further tests since doc just put me on Liness

Hello all,

Im a female and been having recurring stomach pain for 2 years now. Pain will stay for around 5 - 6 months, then I'll perfectly fine for the next few months before stomach pain returns. Pain is always in center, comes with cramps, and on really bad days, I am sitting on the toilet feeling like I'm going to pass out from the pain. Sometimes I get cold sweats, weak, shaking, nauseous and I would crawl into bed with a heat pad. Heat pad and pepto bismol helps to a degree but after these severe attacks, I'd have dull stomach pain for the next 3 or 4 days. Pain comes whenever I'm done eating or hours after I'm done eating. I strictly avoid spicy foods since they trigger stomach pains, eat generally healthy with occasional fast foods, and don't drink/smoke.

Took ultra sound, so many blood tests, endoscopy, H. Pylori, and CT scan. All came back showing that there was nothing abnormal. Currently on high blood pressure meds & antidepressants. GI specialist wonders if this could be psychosomatic but I am not sure if this really could be the case. I had another painful flare up a week ago and i was normal in terms of mood. We have gallbladder issues ruled out as well as any acid reflux. Most recently I did a heptatitis B blood test and have not gotten results yet.

Just unsure what other approaches I can do to figure it out and hoped perhaps someone here had a similar experience to provide any ideas as to what other tests could possibly help me figure out the pain.

Thank you

Edit: unsure if this little extra info will help, but wanted to include my father passed from stomach cancer. Originally started as a H.Pylori diagnosis and it led to stomach cancer. Unsure if it was misdiagnosed initially as about two weeks after the H.Pylori diagnosis, a diff doc (we went for second opinion) told him it was stomach cancer and it had already developed pretty badly. My doc has run several tests to check if I was having any signs of it as I mentioned these symptoms were very similar to what my father had before being diagnosed. So far i've been cleared with blood tests & h.pylori test

29M. Looking for honest thoughts because I’m struggling to work out whether this sounds more like IBS/gut irritation or whether I should be pushing for further investigation.

For years I’ve always had a fairly gassy stomach and variable stools on/off, but never really focused on it because it wasn’t affecting me much.

Around 2 weeks ago I woke up with lower left abdominal pain/tenderness, especially when pressing the area. That pain settled after around 4 days, but since then my stomach/bowels have just not felt right.

Symptoms:
constant “upset stomach” feeling across lower belly/suprapubic area

cramping rather than severe pain

loads of bowel noises/swishing/gurgling

Fair amounts of gas

periods where I couldn’t fart properly followed by loads of farting

bowel movements fluctuating from constipation to explosive diarrhoea

currently going around 4–6 times a day

stools often fluffy/fragmented/soft rather than proper formed stools

some floating stools and bubbles appearing from stools

messy wiping/wet glossy stool residue

stinging around anus from frequent wiping

symptoms massively worsen after alcohol/takeaways, etc

The weird thing is I’m still:

eating normally

able to drink alcohol

passing gas

not losing weight

not vomiting

not waking in the night needing the toilet

I’ve had quite a lot of tests done already:
Full blood count normal

CRP normal (3.0)

FIT test normal

Stool pathogen PCR negative

Stool culture/microscopy negative

Kidney function normal

Thyroid normal

Liver tests normal aside from ALT 41 (still within range)

Ferritin mildly elevated at 363

No anaemia

Doctors currently don’t seem massively concerned based on the tests, but I’m struggling with how suddenly this all came on and how persistent it’s been for 2 weeks now.

Does this sound familiar to anyone with IBS/post-infectious gut issues/food intolerance etc? Or does anyone think I should be pushing harder for gastro/colonoscopy?

Anyone on it? It calms the inflammation and intestines.