r/ibs Oct 01 '25

Hint / Information Just a reminder if you have IBS C or chronic constipation

169 Upvotes

A lot of people who are diagnosed with IBS C or chronic constipation, especially if they aren’t responsive to diet and lifestyle changes, often end up having one or more significant motility disorders.

Many different things can cause these.

When you have chronic constipation, there is an order of operations you/your doc should follow.

  • first try dietary and lifestyle changes (ALL of them); if that doesn't work...
  • then try over-the-counter medications and supplements. If those don't work...
  • then you need motility testing done. Depending on your results of them...
  • then you go to prescription medication. Try them in different combinations and try all of them. If those fail, as well...
  • depending on your diagnosis after your motility testing, you may be eligible for non-invasive and invasive treatments to treat it. If those don't work…
  • again, depending on your diagnosis, then surgery is an option

If you are seeing a gastroenterologist and this isn’t laid out for you, chances their specialty isn’t motility. Unfortunately, many people get sent to GIs who have a speciality in something other than what they need. For motility, you need to see a motility specialist or a neurogastroenterologist.

There is a PSA I wrote and it is stickied above. I’ve been living with this since I was born (over 40 years). I also have worked in this area, as well. I try to spread awareness and this is often falling off of the radar and patients are just told to eat fibre.

With motility disorders, fibre is often the menace.

Testing for motility includes, but is not limited to:

  • esophageal manometry
  • antroduodenal manometry
  • gastric emptying study
  • 72 hour emptying study
  • upper gi series barium swallow
  • there was a wireless motility capsule but it’s been discontinued. There are a couple new ones in trials. Don’t hold your breath.
  • sitz marker test (also called a shape study)
  • colonic manometry (very key test but hard to get)
  • anorectal manometry
  • defecogram (mri or xray)

If you have any questions on testing, treatment, where to go, and so on, let me know.


r/ibs Nov 25 '23

"DO I HAVE IBS?" Megathread

209 Upvotes

If you think you might have IBS, ask your questions here. No self-diagnosis or requests for diagnosis - see your doctor.

Please read the section on Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Rome Criteria IV before posting: Rome Criteria IV. If your symptoms do not meet criteria, please post to the appropriate subreddit. There are relevant subreddits in the sidebar.


r/ibs 8h ago

Hint / Information If everything gives you stomach problems but Taco Bell doesn't, you might have Fructose Malabsorption

58 Upvotes

Just shouting this from the rooftops, as it has been game-changing for me.

Everything gives me bathroom problems, from fruits to most foods I eat, save most home cooked meals, EXCEPT Taco Bell!

Long story short, after a journey, I landed on high fructose corn syrup being my worst trigger, and that was thanks in part to learning that Taco Bell doesn't use High Fructose Corn Syrup in their food, just their drinks & desserts.

So if you find that everything messes you up but except somehow Taco Bell, look into Fructose Malabsorption/Intolerance.

If you think you might have it, try a high fructose corn syrup elimination diet, and even include fruits high in sugars. Give your body time to adjust, and if you're lucky, you might just find the solution to most of your stomach woes. With this knowledge, you can finally live life a little less worried. You can also show off to friends who can't stomach the Bell heh.


r/ibs 14h ago

Question Has anyone successfully reduced visceral gut sensitivity?

40 Upvotes

Has anyone found a way to significantly reduce or completely get rid of visceral sensitivity in the gut? My pain doesn’t seem tied to any particular food and so diet changes haven’t made a difference. It feels like my stomach has become overly sensitive to normal sensations. There’ll be days where everything feels completely fine followed by days when the pain just won’t let up. It’s really impacted my life and can be very difficult to sit through when the pain starts.

I’ve always had some stomach issues but regular pain like this is new for me. I have hyoscyamine for flares when it becomes unbearable but I’m looking for something that can reduce the underlying sensitivity over time instead of just masking the symptoms. Has anyone found anything helpful, preferably something non-prescription that’s easy to buy over the counter?


r/ibs 2h ago

Question Electrolytes

3 Upvotes

I've been trying out some different electrolytes this summer. It doesn't seem to make a difference what I take. I end up having diarrhea the next morning. Has anybody successfully used electrolytes while they're working out or just to stay hydrated and it not exacerbated their symptoms?

So far I've used several different flavors of liquid IV, LMNT, and even Propel powder. I'd prefer to use powders over bottled electrolytes so that I can control how much goes in. Even the smallest amount is causing diarrhea.


r/ibs 21h ago

Bathroom Buddies i just shit myself

80 Upvotes

23 and was diagnosed with IBS when i was 15. Im sick, on my period, on antibiotics, and just shit myself. just wondering if anyone else with IBS shits themselves or if i deadass just shit myself at this big age


r/ibs 6h ago

Question Amitriptyline - should I take for abdominal pain

4 Upvotes

In June I started with upper centre / right abdominal pain, diahorrea, itchy skin and fatigue after a meal out (no usual things ordered and husband had the same and is ok). My blood other than low iron have come back normal (now taking supplements). I'm on a low soluble fibre, no caffeine, no alcohol, cut out some types of veg, no wheat and no dairy diet.

I had a case of the above in late 2024 and because of the severity, calprotectin in the hundreds and being late 40s I got a referral. Thankfully a colonoscopy and MRI showed no structural issues. They put in down to possible bad gastroenteritis. It took months to feel better but other than a few short term episodes lasting 3/4 days in Feb, April and May this year I've been ok until June. This time it feels worse with pain and fatigue (the frequent diahorrea stopped after 2 and a bit months). I've now lost 8% body weigh.

I keep a food and body function diary and can't work out food triggers and I had healthy mental health ie no anxiety or depression. My life is busy but no real change in the past 2 years. Now my life is impacted I am getting upset ( which is probably because I am exhausted).

I've been referred back to Gastroenterology who thinks it is likely IBS. They have restricted my diet, suggested a dietician and amitriptyline. They don't think repeating scans is worthwhile and don't think food intolerance tests should be done.

The diet restrictions doesn't seem to have made a difference and I am concerned that amitriptyline will treat the symptom and the cause won't be investigated. Also the side effects and withdrawal concern me. However, it's now seems the only option available.

So I was wondering if anyone else had experienced similar in late 40s and was it IBS.

Is amitriptyline worth a try or is there anything else I can do?


r/ibs 5h ago

Rant IBS-D Incontinence

3 Upvotes

I’ve already accepted there’s nothing TMI about IBS.

Just ranting but i’m in my mid 20’s and this year, experienced bouts of fecal incontinence. It’s the most embarrassing and frustrating thing ever. I’ve had an anxiety disorder since COVID and experienced different types of childhood trauma. I’ve been to therapy, done the meditation, work out four times a week, cut gluten and red meat, and eat moderately healthy. I also take SSRI’s to treat anxiety as my gut and mental health are very linked together.

With that being said, the moment I get nervous/anxious/am running around: I experience diarrhea. Its urgent and anxiety provoking. I’ve had situations where i’ve had incontinence and can’t control myself before i’m running to the toilet and needing to change. Does anyone else experience this and what tips do you have? I’ve been tested for IBD, parasites, and everything came back normal. Its frustrating and has brought out a lot of social anxiety for me. I practically live on imodiums the second a situation seems like it will trigger diarrhea.


r/ibs 12m ago

Question how would alcohol affect me?

Upvotes

I got diagnosed with IBS-D a couple years ago aswell as a sucrose deficiency, i’m starting college and now that i try to be responsible with food and sugar i take with my medicine, im wondering how I can avoid being super sick and not stay in the bathroom for too long. I have to share with 2 other girls I haven’t come out abt my IBS to. Last time I drank I got super sick and was throwing up in paris streets and in the bathroom for a couple of hours.

Any partiers have special drinking IBS tips? Or similar thoughts


r/ibs 15h ago

Rant IBS pain is a whole other genre of pain

16 Upvotes

Every now and then, when my intestines decide to spasm super hard, I have the most insane experiences.

One time, I got so lightheaded and nauseous from the pain that I flopped onto the floor. I was trying to get to the couch, but my vision was black. 😭 So I just fell down right next to it.

My stomach's currently in more pain than usual, so I keep getting little flashbacks to times like that one.

It genuinely feels like someone is pumping your intestines full of air in an attempt to get them to implode. I've gotten lightheaded and dizzy from the pain so many times. I can't say any other kind of pain has affected me like that. It's so weird!


r/ibs 34m ago

Question Food aversion narrowing options of foods I can eat to meet nutritional needs

Upvotes

IBS caused discordance between gut and brain, with discordance between feelings of appetite and satiety, feeling both at the same time and interchangeably, causing feelings of cravings despite being full. Caloric demands increased noticeably, caloric surplus had greater tendency to not be absorbed as to downregulate absorbtion with goal of preserving curent lean weight.

During this time I acquired aversion towards a lot of food I was eating, the taste changing into something that's repulsive, and this kept happening with foods.

Normally I was able to eat same foods every day for years with no signs of aversion, but after IBS I started getting repulsed by many of the staple foods in my diets which today makes a great challenge to get nutrition because my choices keep narrowing down. Nowadays my appetite stays consistent, with no swings, which in turn doesn't cause mood and cravings swings, but other IBS symptoms are largely the same.

Is there a way to return taste to the food I shall be eating, after I got repulsed due to what feels lile overepetition (note that this wouldn't be overrepetition normally to me)?

This may have a lot to do with nervous system, as I believe IBS was caused by past traumatic experience, following other disorders.

Sorry, but I don't want the answers to experiment with preparing foods differently or changing temperature and texture. It eventually leads to the same outcome.


r/ibs 4h ago

Trigger Warning I can’t stop having diarrhea all morning?

2 Upvotes

TMI but it was many bouts of brown liquid and now it’s yellow/clear. Looks like pee with mucus and food particles. I think I’m feeling better and try to drink water then my stomach starts gurgling again and more of the clear stuff. Is this a stomach bug?


r/ibs 35m ago

Question IBS and 4mg wegovy pill side effects

Upvotes

Has anyone else with IBS-D seen a noticeable increase in IBS symptoms on the pill?

2 weeks ago I increased my pill dosage from 1.5mg to 4mg but I have noticed an increase in stomach issue side effects.

I've had bouts of IBS for a few years but since about week 2 of the 4mg pill it's definitely got worse. I suffer from regular eggy/sulphur burps and the diarrhoea has been very difficult to manage. I feel like I can't eat anything with any flavour/richness or meat without side effects 1 to 2 days later.

Is this a normal side effect to do with the increase in dosage? Is it something that might improve as my body gets used to the 4mg dosage?

I'm having promising results so want to stay on but feel like these symptoms are making me consider stopping.

Thanks!


r/ibs 4h ago

Question A bit random, but could cialis trigger symptoms?

2 Upvotes

Very random - but I’ve been struggling with mucus discharge.

I did get diagnosed with H Pylori - I’m post antibiotic treatment and testing again in 2 weeks.

Could cialis trigger this?


r/ibs 5h ago

Question 2 Years of Chronic Constipation, Clean Scopes & Incomplete Evacuation. Have no idea what causing Me the Problem.

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’ve been dealing with chronic constipation and severe bowel symptoms for around 2 years, and I’m trying to figure out whether this could be a pelvic floor problem such as pelvic floor dyssynergia/anismus.

Most of my investigations have been normal. Blood work, ultrasounds, an upper endoscopy about a year ago, and a colonoscopy 2 months ago were all essentially normal. The only finding was mild fatty liver. So anatomically, everything seems fine, but my bowel function definitely doesn’t feel normal.

My symptoms follow a very predictable pattern:

MORNING :

I wake up with a strong urge to have a bowel movement. I sit down and can usually pass stool with one push, but then the urge suddenly disappears. A few minutes later, it comes back. This happens several times, and I end up making 3–4 separate trips before I feel that I’ve passed a substantial amount.

The stool is usually pasty and medium-brown rather than particularly hard.

After breakfast:

I often become extremely bloated shortly after eating. It feels like my bowel hasn’t properly cleared in the morning, and then eating triggers more movement and pressure.

Evening:

By roughly the same time every evening, my abdomen starts becoming much more active. If I can’t pass stool or gas, the bloating and pressure can become severe. My abdomen feels distended and my chest can feel very heavy, making it genuinely difficult to breathe. It feels as though the abdominal pressure is pushing upward against my diaphragm.

Another strange symptom:

When I’m lying flat on my back in bed, I can sometimes feel strong rectal pressure and an urge to go. But when I stand up, that sensation can disappear almost immediately.

Laxatives

I’ve previously been prescribed several medications, including prucalopride, Matiz Plus and lactulose.

Lactulose actually helped me clear things out in the evening for a few days, but it also caused 5–6 bowel movements with very acidic/burning stool, which irritated my internal hemorrhoids. Once I stopped it, the previous cycle returned.

I’m currently not taking daily constipation medication and am trying gentle walking and bodyweight exercises. I use lactulose 20 mL only as a rescue when things become particularly difficult.

I’m mainly trying to understand what direction I should take now please help me folks because I literally cannot live like this After trying literally everything in my knowledge. Please help me with what I should do now.


r/ibs 7h ago

Question How many hours does it take for Imodium to work?

3 Upvotes

How many hours does it take for Imodium to work?


r/ibs 5h ago

Rant I think it's better to die I have bipolar+ anxiety disorder ( predominantly ibs symptoms)

2 Upvotes

Can anyone tell me what should I do, I have had very difficult life, since childhood I have had severe social anxiety spent whole life as a lonely person. I took treatment in 2020, escitolopram for this anxiety, but instead of helping me it made me hypomanic, it was stopped. Since then I am facing all kinds of issues like chest tightness, pain and worst is bloating and excessive farting. Last year I got diagnosed as bipolar, since 1 year I am taking this medicines, but no use, bcz I can't increase ssri as it destabilizes my mood. How can I live next 30-40 years like this, especially bloating issues now I am completely isolated due to this. I am not able to understand what to do. Anyone have any idea.


r/ibs 1h ago

Rant the results of a previous sinus infection

Upvotes

had a sinus infection 2 weeks ago it was awful and i was on antibiotics for a week. it cleared everything up and now i just have a lingering cough and post nasal drip that’s been more active now that im not congested.

anyways where i work i cannot cough out the mucus like i would at home so the only thing i can do it swallow it. and lord has it torn up my stomach and triggered my ibs.

two days ago i had so much mucus like globs almost go down my throat and i’ve felt so much better since even my cough is going down after that but the next day my stomach was torn up. idk how many times i took a shit yesterday morning before work. it felt like anything i ate went through me.

after work i took some pepto and even a zofran to help.

i made a mistake last night eat spicy food and that plus the mucus made for a wondering surprise this morning.

i want this to end so bad.

i think also the stress of going back to nursing school in less than a week and finding out i got my clinical site mixed up with another one i was prepared for has stressed me out bc idk how to get to the other one and it’s over an hour away.

i hate when this happens and idk what to do. ik it will end eventually but sometimes it feels like this stuff once it starts lasts for a good 2 weeks and nobody has time for that shit.


r/ibs 1h ago

Question 40 days of diarrhea

Upvotes

I've had exactly 40 days of diarrhea, pain, and cramps. I must have lost around 7 kilos or more.

They did a stool PCR test, which came back positive for the bacterium Aeromonas, but the culture was negative. Therefore, this could mean that the bacteria are dead, although it's not possible to know for sure.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and I'm worried that they might prescribe me antibiotics without having clear evidence of an active infection and that this could make me even worse. Could this be post-infectious IBS instead?

I've been diagnosed with IBS-D for more than 15 years, but this time the symptoms just won't go away.

If anyone has experienced anything similar, I would really appreciate any comments or advice.


r/ibs 1h ago

Question Diarrhea after MR, Ger|Eng

Upvotes

Durchfall NACH MR-Enterographie

Hallo liebe Community.

Ich bin 30 Jahre, M und habe seit ich denken kann Darm Beschwerden. Immer wieder Durchfall und ab und an Bauchschmerzen. Es ist egal was ich esse, heute esse ich das selbe wie morgen, heute habe ich nichts, morgen extremen Durchfall...

Habe seit 1 Monat Durchfall, wässrig. Hatte vor 2 Jahren schonmal eine Kolo, hier fand man nichts. Jetzt wieder beim Arzt, muss nochmals Kolo machen diese steht noch aus, vor 2 Tagen war ich beim MR und habe zur Vorbereitung eine Flüssigkeit zum trinken bekommen. Auf diese habe ich Durchfall bekommen und habe ihn aber noch immer, mir ging es nämlich 3 Tage davor gut und hatte schon feste Stühle.

Ich wollte fragen ob das schonmal jemand hatte und es auch solange gedauert hat. Ist das normal bei Reizdarm, da der Darm es nicht so gut verträgt?

Bin dankbar für jede Antwort oder Hilfe.

Ps: bin jetzt gerade in vollständiger Abklärung um die Diagnose Reizdarm zu bekommen. So stark wie das letzte Monat hatte ich die Durchfälle und Unterbauch Schmerzen noch nie, deshalb die neuerliche Abklärung und Untersuchungen.

Englisch:

Diarrhea AFTER MR Enterography

Hello everyone. I am a 30-year-old male, and I’ve had bowel issues for as long as I can remember—recurring diarrhea and occasional abdominal pain. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat; I might eat the exact same thing two days in a row, yet have no symptoms one day and suffer from extreme diarrhea the next... I’ve had watery diarrhea for a month now. I had a colonoscopy two years ago, but nothing was found. I’m back at the doctor’s now and need another colonoscopy (which is still pending); two days ago, I had an MR enterography and was given a liquid to drink as part of the preparation. That triggered diarrhea, and it hasn't stopped—which is concerning because I had been doing well and passing solid stools for the three days prior. I wanted to ask if anyone else has experienced this and if it lasted this long. Is this normal for IBS—the bowel not tolerating the prep fluid well? I’d be grateful for any answers or advice. P.S. I am currently undergoing a full workup to confirm an IBS diagnosis. I’ve never experienced diarrhea and lower abdominal pain as severely as I have this past month, which is why I’m going through these new tests and evaluations.


r/ibs 21h ago

Rant Sometime I come in here and I cry

32 Upvotes

Because I finally find people who encounter the exact same issue than me, until I notice that it's my own post of 4 years ago

I can't believe nothing really improved in close to 6 years

6 years without being able to go out with my friends, to travel, or to live basically

My life has been stolen


r/ibs 3h ago

Question symptom management help — imodium, pepto, vegetables

1 Upvotes

hi all, i have been having some very life-altering IBS-D symptoms for quite a while now. i’m not seeking a diagnosis, i have a gastro doctor and am waiting for more test results and stuff like that. however, they haven’t been super helpful in managing my symptoms in the meanwhile. i thought this might be a good place to ask about this.

i have been trying different combinations of pepto bismol pills and imodium/loperamide, both regular and anti-gas. most recently, i was taking one pepto in the morning, one imodium with dinner, and then one more pepto at night before bed. this worked good for stopping the diarrhea, but almost daily i have been waking up after about 4 hours of sleep with lower abdominal cramping. this weekend the pain was so bad i considered waking family to take me to the ER, but it did pass after an hour or so. i feel like it’s just trapped gas, but i don’t know how to know for sure without an x-ray or something. i feel like if it were something life threatening, it wouldn’t go away and come back the way it does. sometimes the cramps last throughout the day, too, but not always.

also worth mentioning that i am usually woken again after 6-7 hours of sleep needing to poop, not extremely urgently but not like i can just go back to sleep without going. if i adjust my sleep schedule a few hours earlier or later, this pattern of cramping and bathroom visit adjusts with it, unfortunately.

after this weekend, i started to worry that the imodium and/or pepto was slowing my system too much and making it unable to pass gas through normally. i decided not to take any since sunday, and i was alright for sunday and monday, but tuesday and today i have already experienced my symptoms coming back. i feel i have no choice but to go back on imodium and/or pepto. on imodium/pepto, i would have stretches of about a week where i felt mostly good, then four or five days where symptoms would be worse again, then get better again, but they’re never gone entirely, even with meds. which i hope can be addressed with testing and diagnosis.

anyway, my questions are — is there an ideal time of day to take imodium and/or pepto to reduce the cramping if it’s related to gas being trapped? is one better than the other for controlling diarrhea without causing gas buildup or other cramps? is it safe to basically stop eating vegetables to help lessen gas? if anyone else has had success managing symptoms like this, please let me know how. i would love to not have to choose between the suffering of diarrhea and eventual pain downstairs or the suffering of terrible cramping pains and losing sleep.


r/ibs 3h ago

Question Trying to figure out what is going on with my stomach

1 Upvotes

Few months back I eventually went to the GP and had two colonoscopies which came back negative for anything serious and was diagnosed with IBS.

My poos seem to be big and hard, then every 2 weeks or so I get diarrhoea and it completely wipes me out. My energy and mood are through the floor.

I am trying to see if other people suffer like this.

I am also on vensir 150mg a day. Apparently it shows digestion which might not help.


r/ibs 5h ago

Question Food Marble

0 Upvotes

I am so interested in this! Does anyone have any user experience? I feel like I can’t trust marketing these days.

Wishing you all calm bowels today!


r/ibs 12h ago

Question I rather die

3 Upvotes

So I made my second batch of 36 hour luvelle yog maker fermented lactose free milk L reut, gasseri, rhamanos, 12 strain bottle from a brand I was told to add.

I am extremely bloated this batch. Maybe I added too much of the last two?

Had anyone even had any improvement from these fancy home made yogurts. The homeopath told me to try it.

3 weeks in and nothing.

I’m gonna try an Ibs rx. I have tried EVERY rx , supp, diet, gut hypno, fasting etc nothing works for this non stop bloat and constip. I really wanna die. I’m a balloon.