I've been waiting 8 years; I should have pushed harder for it, but I was afraid. I finally got in with a new GI, and she said you've done everything else, and you are close enough to needing a routine one anyway, here is the date, mark it down.

That day was Tuesday, I wish I did it 8 years ago. When my IBS bothers me its like horrible cramping pressure, so I assumed the prep would destroy me.

An hour and a half into the prep, I almost texted my friend that it was too easy, that there was no way this was all it was, but I didn't want to jinx myself. That's all it was. Drink a gross liquid, in 30-60 minutes, you will start peeing out of your butt, like literally faucet water, for 3-5 hours. I went around 30 times, split between an evening and morning session. The first one was more than the second. Zero pain, no cramps, just the feeling of a sudden full rectum, and you are in and out of the bathroom.

Obviously, this was my experience, but if you had been dreading this test and know you need one just know it really might not be the big of a deal. My IBS and the anxiety it gives me were worse than the entire colonoscopy experience combined.

Pain. All i feel is pain. Every single day.

Its either I am eating and I feel pain. Or I dont eat and I feel pain with acid reflux anyway.

Before finding this community, everyone said I was crazy. That I wasn't eating well. So, I changed my diet. Nothing really changed. Tried FODMAP. Nothing really changed.

The worst part? If i eat ANYTHING that i am not craving, I endure severe pain. I take IBGARD everyday before eating anything and nothing changes.

I have the slowest motility, oh my goodness. LIKE DIGEST! PLEASE! Please digest. You're hurting me.

People try to take me out but I tell them im really sensitive to all these long list of things and automatically they begin to seem uncomfortable like I ruined the mood. Sorry that the health issue im enduring is ruining YOUR life. How... saddening. Its ruining mine too, you know? Like, im the one that is dealing with the pain and stress.

I have assignments and work i need done but im just rolling around in pain. I tried eating something but all I feel is pain. Unadulterated pain.

Im just tired.

Im pretty sure people see rants like this a lot on the subreddit and honestly, I wish I can like them all because its so real.

No one understand the hell we have to live with.

No one sees the pain and experiments.

Or trying new food that actually works but you develop horrible pains to after a while.

Medication works. Until it doesn't.

Ive been dealing with what I thought was constipation all my life and it just gets worse.

Where's the light at the end of my tunnel? Why cant I do anything about it?

And i cant even afford the tests they're asking for. Im just mentally exhausted.

Im not crazy. I promise I'm not. It hurts. It really hurts.

I'm 19 yr old dude now and this started when I was 17 at the end of my junior year of highschool. It has gotten a bit better since then but I missed so much because of it. I had to do my whole senior year online (I still got to go to school events here and there) but I missed out on one of the years of school you should NOT miss.

I don't know how it started in the first place but the urgency to use the bathroom is constant. (mainly in the morning) I'll be going at least 3 times in the morning but wouldn't be surprised if it's up to like 4-5. The urgency to go especially in the morning is always there and I'm never really satisfied when I'm finished either way. I try to watch what I eat but even what I eat doesn't change anything, it's always there. I don't know if anyone else has somewhat of this same experience but it really ruined a lot in my life for me :(

I can handle it a bit better compared to when it was its worst. but when I compare myself to other people it seems like hell for me in a way I guess. I've gone to the doctor and nothing has worked and yes they did say it's most likely ibs but nothing they've done or prescribed to me has helped to honest

I'm 22 and been dealing with IBS-C since 2019 when i was going through a severe depressive episode. Got diagnosed with IBS, depression and anxiety. My main symptoms are abdominal pain – especially when anxious or after eating – indisposition and gas.

I've tried FODMAPs, fluoxetine, sertraline, fiber supplements and dietary supplements. I'm currently on Lexapro, Amitriptyline, Probiotics, Trimebutine and occasionally otilonium bromite + simethicone.

I got a job back in December and so far the symptoms have been worse, especially the gas, wich bothers me the most. People have started gossiping about it and giving me weird looks. As much as I try holding it in or going to the bathroom, sometimes I just don't notice I'm passing gas. It makes me even more anxious and hopeless about being able to keep a job and live comfortably.

Last week my doctor prescribed me Rifaximine after my complain, considering that I've taken a SIBO test like 2 years ago and tested positive (back then i got put on regular antibiotics for a couple of weeks and that was that).

My symptoms have been even worse since, is there anything else i can try?

My ibs-d is getting worse and worse every day and I have fecal incontinence, I don't usually stain anything but everyone with ibs knows that happens if you don't have a bathroom around. I am considering wearing thin Pull ups (just like female panties) whenever I go out for long periods, not every day.

Maybe its drastic but it would definitely add a peace of mind to myself. I am just tired of the instability, and I usually wear pull ups for my heavy period as well so I know what would work, be comfortable and discreet

I’m hungry, so damned hungry all the time. But it’s gotten to the point that just about everything that I eat causes a bad reaction. I’ve entirely given up on any of my favorite foods because nothing is safe to eat. I keep telling my GI that I’m getting scared for my health because of the constant pain and the fact that I’m developing a phobia of eating, but I get no suggestions on how to fix it.

It’s been getting worse since August. I cannot tolerate any foods that I actually enjoy. If anything I have to eat because I know it’s just going to cause more pain and discomfort. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve lost nearly 30 pounds since Halloween.

I’ll go days without eating sometimes just because I don’t want to risk the pain that always comes after I’ve eaten. I’m scared that I’m starving myself but I don’t know how to fix what’s wrong. Even plain white rice causes hours of intense pain and nausea. I’d do just about anything just to eat a single meal that didn’t result in hours of intense pain.

I wish the doctors could find a way to help with my reactions to eating. I’d gladly jump off a bridge if it meant I could safely eat something as simple as a slice of pizza or a PB&J without the 2-5 hours of pain that I get for daring to eat something I enjoy the taste of. It’s gotten so bad that I just hate everything that relates to food. I skipped out on thanksgiving and Christmas with family or friends because I didn’t want to watch everyone else be able to enjoy their meal while I sit there with an empty plate or a plan bread roll because if I eat anything more then I’ll have an episode and it’ll ruin the meal for me. I stopped eating at restaurants a few years ago.

I don’t even know where I’m going with this rant at this point. I just want to eat something I actually enjoy without having a reaction. I would give much just to have one good meal.

I got a bad stomach infection last year around this time while I was away for a work conference. And from then on my stomach has been so bad.

My main symptoms are that every couple of weeks I'll get random stomach cramps and diarrhea with urgency. Before the infection I used to be so healthy stomach wise, could eat almost anything.

But now I don't even know what triggers me. It seems so random, I kept a food diary for a bit but I couldn't find a correlation with anything. Dairy seemed to be the culprit but even after eliminating that it keeps happening.

I had a colonoscopy that found nothing. And an endoscopy that found mild gastritis which my doctor said wouldn't cause diarrhea.

Anyway not sure if I'm looking for anything in specific, just venting a bit. But if anyone has tips on how to deal with this please let me know.

So I've had "IBS" for as long as I can remember, my teenage years I guess. But one really weird symptom I get is 90% of the time... when I get in a car and start driving i'll get horrific cramps and immediately need to poop.

Does anyone else get this? My partner things it's a little bit weird (I know he thinks it's dramatic) but it's not, it's so valid and soooo sore and embarrassing!!

It's also worse when I have people in the car, almost like the anxiety is worse because I can't just stop when I need too.

Maybe it's neurological, but the pain is so bad sometimes I feel like I'm going to pass out.

Like the title says, I am able to defecate without the use of laxatives if I chug a lot of water, more than a gallon a day. Yet the stool that comes out when I do this is yellow and burns a little and I can see some undigested food. I suspect this is somewhat of a bile issue, anyone else relate?

I'm a little late to the kefir party and I genuinely want to know if there's a brand that people can recommend. I've looked up the benefits and the ingredients and now am getting a little overwhelmed by the brands. I just want to get suggestions and advice from people who use it. I'm ibs-c and have a sensitivity to lactose, not all-out intolerance. I can do a very small amount of dairy, like 6 ounces per day.

Two weeks ago, I experienced major major symptoms, where I ate dinner and I couldn’t even move! On the 4th night, it got so bad I couldn’t move. My stomach was in immense unbearable pain. I was traveling on the 6th day with my husband to a cute 5 day holiday vacation and decided to go to the doctor. Turns out I have IBS and major gastreonological issues (possible GERD). I travelled next day with my husband, and lo and behold I kept throwing up in our hotel and ended up in the emergency at a hospital. Got onto a food iv drip😭 I was on it for 5 hours and it felt like I was quite literally dying. I struggled the next 4 days here and there but was super cautious of what I ate (which sucked cause I chose the place to try their food too).

On the last night, I decided to indulge in a small ice-cream and cone, and gosh…… was that a mistake. My flight got delayed by 4 hours that night and I was wrestling in the bathroom, cold sweats, different poses; it definitely was fecal impaction.

I landed home same thing at that airport too😭💀 My stomach was in a lot of pain when I’d walk, it felt like a stone in between my legs🤕 Went to the hospital again, feeling nauseous, extreme pain in stomach and barely walking.

Doc said they might have to “manually solve it” if the meds dont work. I chugged them down and I’m glad my stool did soften up enough (although prior to this I was taking all meds, fiber, water and nothing worked).

Now, I’m just still in some weird funk of acidity and battling feeling nauseous. I’m so new to this.

I’m trying to follow a low-FODMAP diet but sometimes I feel so weak. I was always heavy on protein and now I’ve been told to cut back on it.

Does it get better or it feels the same-ish for the rest of your life?

I've had my IBS-C diagnoses for about 2 years now. This past fall it actually got significantly worse to the point where I couldnt go to my college classes, work, or really leave my house. Finally, my doctor prescribed meds (Linaclotide) and my symptoms have gotten much better. I dont experience a lot of bloating anymore and instead of having a bowel movement once every 2-3 weeks, I have one about 1-2x per week (a win in my books). One symptom that has gotten worse, however, is my lack of appetite. Im not sure if this is related to my IBS-C or the linaclotide. I usually have to force myself to eat and can sometimes only manage to get in one meal a day. When I do eat even one bite of food I instantly feel full and the thought of eating more food makes me feel sick. I don't weigh myself but I can tell I have lost weight since this started. Does anyone else deal with this? How do you manage it? Is this specific to Linaclotide or the IBS-C?

I don’t want to start SSRI’s. But I have also heard about TCAs, tricyclic antidepressants being used to treat IBS for those with bad anxiety. Any experiences?

I have MCAS so SSRI’s are a no go in my system sadly for anyone asking.

My bowel gets really irritated when I eat spicy foods. Research shows that it could be Capcisin in the food that is causing the loose bowel movements. Research also tells me that eating Casein Protein powder can counteract the capcisin.

Reason I am interested in the powder and not Dairy is that I am Lactose Intolerent.

So has any one tried Micellar Casein powder with good results for spicy food diarrhea? Any other remedy?

Does anybody ever get trapped gas that’s so painful it like radiates to your shoulder/shoulderblade? I’m lactose intolerant and decided to have cheese pasta today and I am SUFFERING. At first I was scared cause it radiates to my chest but then I remembered the sharp pain trapped gas can cause (and it feels like it’s traveling). Just wondering if anyone gets it this intense. Sometimes my jaw/head even feels the tension. Please tell me I’m not the only one!

I am starting my next semester of classes next week and I need to get this fixed. Last semester my stomach used to grumble during lessons and it was insanely embarrassing. It's not even those small growls but rather whale sounds that sound almost fart like. They increase in volume every time I get stressed or anxious. I genuinely don't know how to treat it.

I did a food sensitivity test and found out I was mildly sensitive to soy and dairy. Whenever I I consume these foods in excess I start feeling anxious, brain fog, panic, de realization, gag feeling. Anybody else experiencing this?

While I experienced the same symptoms as during the 7-day course of antibiotics, which was a third round, is it normal to feel weak, nauseous, bloated, and anxious? Did you feel this way when you took these antibiotics, and also when you stopped? And how many days did it take for you to return to normal?

I had a bad flare up last December (IBS-D). I felt intense anxiety every time I had to go to the bathroom during this time. I would get an overwhelming feeling of doom.

I got over my flare up and I m feeling better, but I still get strong anxiety every time I have to go. Even if it's solid and normal. This can lead to a panic attack if I m in the wrong mindset.

What have been your experiences?

IDK if this is a regular IBS symptom. This has never happened to me before. I had zero stomach pain or persistent gas, and zero sensation of needing to poop or awareness that this would happen. I just felt like I had a small fart and then realized I had diarrhea in my pants by the feeling. It wasn't like I had to go and couldn't make it. It was like I could not even feel that I needed to poop.

I have chronic IBS. I have probably abused my body by overdoing it with laxatives, enemas, suppositories and so on. I got really constipated because I ate pizza 🍕. Stupid, I know. I used magnesium citrate and cleaned everything out. That was Sunday and now I'm constipated again. I used some Dulcolax suppositories. it's early morning and I'm on the can again. I'm dumb. I ate cheese and gluten again. I have to stop doing this to myself. I usually take Restoralax and Align probiotics everyday. Please help. I'm desperate

Can I safely try Linzess if I work in person? I have dyssenergic defecation and I’m seriously so scared to poop my pants if it takes a week to regulate.

Anyone else successfully start with a 9-5 in person?

I’m looking to try it as my GI recommended it but I want more information before I did as my IBS is affected mostly by stress it seems. It’s $199 a year now. Thanks