I'm from Ireland just to preface but I want to do one of those food sensivity tests as my stomach is so inconsistent

Hi all. I recently had an Egd with biopsies done this past Thursday. The day of after the procedure I felt fine, just a little sore throat. The day after I started having pains in my upper stomach, which were quite bad (like spasms and sharp shooting pain) I couldn't hardly eat or drink water. My doctor called to see how I was doing and I told him what was going on, he just told me to take a PPI ( I don't even have acid reflux problems).

Day after that I started having chest pains, I still have them now and I've been trying to see if maybe they will just go away but it's been 3 days with chest pain now. Still can't eat much either.

I'm just wondering if i should call my doctor and let him know, I'm just embarrassed because I feel like I'm being over dramatic? And that I won't be taken seriously. Has anyone one else experienced this?

20 F,I've been struggling with stomach issues since my childhood years already and doctors thought I had IBS and had this diagnosis for a long time but I would still flare up, obviously I went to other doctors for a second opinion and they told me I actually have GERD,I would normally get acid reflux whenever I would eat certain fruits and foods with spices,I even went Gluten Free cause I thought that was the issue,turns out it wasn't,cause I can digest those perfectly fine,My triggers are with Milk, Chillies,Spicy Food and Fruit with high levels of acidity,it all clicked when I did an elimination diet and found out what my triggers are.Just thought I should put this out there for anyone that may be struggling and might be misdiagnosed.

I guess i’m in the middle of a flare up, but over the last 6 months since being told by the doctor i likely have IBS, my symptoms only seem to get worse. I’m currently taking psyllium husk and peppermint oil. I’m at the point where eating anything causes bloating. I’m down to two small meals a day, and sometimes try to have a snack, but yesterday that seems to have tipped me over the edge. I can’t even tell if the medication i’m taking is working or not. Over the last 6 months I think i’ve had every symptom of IBS it’s possible to have, i’ve cut out a couple of fodmaps which cause me the most pain, but aside from that, anything i eat at the moment is causing intense bloating. I can’t go into work. I’m exhausted from eating so little. I feel like I can’t live my life. If after 6 months my symptoms are as bad as this, what does this leave for the rest of my life?

Has anyone had any trouble digesting certain foods they ate regularly before being diagnosed with IBS? For me, it’s kimchi and yogurt. I never thought my favorite foods would be one of my worst triggers since they were so regular in my diet. They were my breaking point for me to finally see my physician about the GI issues I had.

Most of my symptoms have improved after discovering a good routine for myself and adding Konsyl to my diet. I eat apples, garlic, sour cream, and other types of fermented or high FODMAP food just fine now but I still can’t eat them. Which is odd because they’re supposed to be high in probiotics?

I also still need to try kombucha again. It just makes me sad that I can’t eat them anymore :\

I didn’t feel good at a restaurant today. It confirmed for me that my IBS is mostly caused by anxiety. I know of the brain gut connection, and I know the more you use a neuronal network the better and faster they respond. Which means that my stress induced bathroom flare ups are triggered instantaneously.

It feels like I don’t have any control, it starts when it pleases and goes away. It’s humiliating and makes me want to stay in my room and never leave.

I remember how life used to be without this, and I truly miss it. I took it for granted. I didn’t realize how easy it was to do things like going to a restaurant, enjoy a meal with people, flying, watching movies…

I know I don’t have it as bad as most of you here, my symptoms are mild. I’m just hurt by all of this and wish for a better future for all of us.

Hello, my gastro has proscribed Bentyl, but my issue is severe constipation, stomach distension, burping, inability to move bowels. I have repeatedly asked how Bentyl is supposed to help since constipation is a side effect, and he does not respond.

I desperately need help. I cannot move my bowels for days, even though I am taking Miralax as as prescribed.

I have read so many experiences where Bentyl worsened constipation, but it seems to help occasionally. Can you please share your experiences? Is there any chance this might help me? My stomach is so tight, hard, and uncomfortable, I am miserable. I have not been able to wear normal clothes for days.

Does anyone know the problem of getting extremely sweaty, especially in the morning before going to the toilet? Unfortunately, no doctor has been able to help me yet.

I wish there was an underlying physical cause. But so far nothing has been found. Is this "just" a nerve thing?

Which doctor should I go to who will take me seriously?

PS: I've got IBS-D

I just started Linzess last week. I’m a pharmacy technician and i’ve never heard of this medication so i’m kinda confused. i was started on 145mcg but had bad side effects so i was brought down to 72mcg. It’s been a couple days now with 72mcg and a week with both. i haven’t noticed any changes yet and idk if it’s because it’s not working yet and i have to give it time. Ive been dealing with constipation since the beginning of January and i’m at my wits end. I got hit by a truck with this constipation and i’m so over it.

Since a few days, I have the worst flair up of my IBS-D that I had in YEARS and nothing seems to help :( The road to recovery was HARD, but I felt like I made so much progress and now I dont know what to do anymore. It just makes me so sad and depressed.. Guess another marathon to the doctors office will be on my to do list :(

Everytime I eat food items like lentils or beans (I suspect), I have significant lower abdomen pain (7/10). I also feel like that side of my abdomen is visually bloated. The pain lasts for a few days after every meal, before it subsides.

Does anyone have similar symptoms? I’m so tired and quite annoyed with the pain.

Thanks for sharing and I would appreciate any home remedies!

The name irritable bowel syndrome makes it sound like the condition isn't a real diagnosis or a serious condition. It just sound like "oh so you have a sensitive tummy?" No, I can't properly digest a large list of sugars found in most common foods so eating is really hard to navigate and if I accidentally eat even a little bit of the wrong thing I will have diarrhea for a week accompanied by dehydration, joint pain, stomach pain, fatigue, nausea, and headaches. I know there are others who have experienced way worse symptoms than I have. We experience much more than just "irritable bowels". don't we deserve a more respectable and specific term for the condition?

I have my first appointment on Friday. I know they will ask me questions, and we’ll probably talk alot about my symptoms, but after that what can I expect? I read online that they will likely push on my stomach and order a blood test, which I’m sure takes several days for the results. As I’m waiting for results, can they prescribe me medication to help with the pain? I’m already on dicylomine and it doesn’t help much, so I’m wondering if they’ll prescribe me something different to help. Thanks in advance! I’m excited to hopefully get some answers!!

normally, i will not have bowel issues if i stick to a strict diet with high fiber and vegetables. my stomach will be sour though, and gurgle similarly to hunger pains but in a more extreme way with some nausea. usually i can deal with it, but sometimes it gets too bad, and the only thing that helps with it is eating lots of carbs (like bread and cereal). the gurgle/ acid reflux will go away, but my bowel will start having issues. the issues progress fast when i only had the reflux for a day, and slow if i had it for a week or so. first it will start as really painful gas, then one instance of loose stool one day, and the next day, painful diarrhea. the diarrhea will last for up to a week, but doesn’t come if i dont eat anything. its not like multiple trips to the bathroom, but if i eat, it will come.

this has been happening for many years, around 9. also, this only happens during the school year. i don’t get it on breaks or in the summer time, and i try to keep stress minimized, but honestly, my stomach issues make my stress 10x worse.

any recommendations??? or anyone who is going through something similar?

Hi everyone. I am a 25 y/o M. I have been struggling with a chronic stuffy nose and IBS for the past 7 months after a bad sinus infection/flu. After being sick for a couple of weeks (bedridden with major body aches, mucus in stool, headaches, etc) I couldn’t shake this chronic sinus congestion and my stool never got back to being solid and brown in color. In addition to these symptoms, I have occasional yellow/green nasal mucus, burping (I never burped like this before being sick), throat discomfort more freuqent headaches and ear ringing. Plus I feel as though I have more frequent sinus infections.

I’ve had a ton of stool tests, bloodwork and procedures done, but doctors are unable to find the root cause.

Blood tests done in the last several months. The most recent results:

• pancreatitis: normal range
• Complete Blood count: white blood cell low, absolute neutrophils low (
• TSH W/REFLEX TO FT4: normal
• CAMPYLOBACTER SPP. AG,EIA: negative
• SHIGA TOXINS, EIA W/RFL TO E.COLI O157: negative
• SALMONELLA AND SHIGELLA: negative
• GIARDIA AG, EIA: negative
• OVA AND PARASITES: negative
• ultrasound: nothing out of the ordinary.

I recently had an upper endoscopy done (1 week ago) and the doctors said everything looks okay. Additionally, they took biopsies and the biopsies also came back fine. Negative for celiac disease. Negative for H. Pylori infection. Negative for Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Has anyone had similar symptoms and if so, were you able to find relief? I feel like I have been searching for answers to no avail and I am giving up hope.

Does anyone know if flare ups make period pain worse? For context, I've always had bad periods that have been extremely heavy and painful (I'm 5'2, 20 and underweight) so went on the contraceptive pill about 3 years ago to make these better for me which did really help. However recently I've started noticing them being awful, worse than before I even went on the pill. I've been having a flare up now for a good few days but have been experiencing pain like never before.

A few nights ago I woke up with the strangest stomach cramps and the worst pain i've ever experienced. It almost felt like i needed to d* or v*, but either never actually happened. I thought it could be noro, but knew that Id actually have d* or v*, and I didn't. When I woke back up in the morning I had my period, accompanied with the worst period cramps I'd ever had. The pain was also in my lower thighs and I couldn't walk. I took ibuprofen and my body did not respond to this, when it usually does, so I was screaming out in pain in bed. I've genuinely never experienced anything like it before. I've noticed my last few periods getting worse over the months, but this is the worst it's been. I had 2 bm* today which were also extremely painful too. I usually do get bad bm on my period and always have done, so this isn't totally abnormal for me. I'm still on the pill, booked a dr appointment to get contraceptive and my symptoms assessed, but was wondering if a flare up could contribute to this bad period?

I'm suffering from IBS and feeling overwhelmed trying to diagnose my trigger foods. Should I be looking at what I had for breakfast or what I had for dinner the night before as the cause when my symptoms are bad? My doctor suggested to either increase or decrease the amount of fibre I eat but I don't know which to try and I'm afraid of having a worse reaction.

I'm dealing with bloating/cramping, constant stomach rumbling noises, gas and having to go to the bathroom several times at work (an office where you can hear a pin drop of course). My diet is very plain though, toast, yogurt and half a cup of tea for breakfast. Just a sandwhich with a couple slices of turkey for lunch, and some crackers and plain cookies for a snack, only water to drink at work. For dinner typically meat/fish and potatos and a plain salad with no dressing or onions.

basically i’ve been struggling with constipation since childhood and at 18 i just not got diagnosed with ibs. i’ll have a bowel movement every 3-4 days but it’s barely anything and sometimes i could even go a week+ without any movements. laxatives can sometimes take up to a week to work and fiber increase definitely doesn’t work. i had a colonoscopy done jan 15th and my doctor didn’t find anything but hemorrhoids. i’m constantly bloated and in discomfort. i might have ibs but i don’t know if i totally believe that. especially if i’ve been struggling with constipation since i was a toddler. i’m scared i’m going to be in constant discomfort for the rest of my life

Hey everyone! I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 17, and over a few years of trial and error, I managed to get to a place where it’s no longer a major issue for me. I know that’s not the case for everyone—some people deal with chronic IBS or IBD that just doesn’t let up, and I respect how tough that can be.

I’ve channeled my personal experience (and my tech background) into creating a device/app combo that could help people manage and better understand their gut health. The plan right now is to track:

1. Stool Frequency & Consistency (using something like the Bristol Stool Chart).
2. Food Logging (to identify potential triggers or patterns).
3. Stool Analysis & Detection (for any abnormalities, like blood in the stool).
4. Additional Tracking (hydration, stress, sleep, etc., if it’s helpful).

However, I’m aware there are limits to what an image can tell us compared to an actual lab test or physical analysis. That’s why I’d love your thoughts on what would truly make this tool useful on a day-to-day basis.

• What features would be a game-changer for you? (E.g., reminders to log your meals, symptom trackers, medication/supplement scheduling, integration with fitness trackers, or maybe even a stress-level monitor?)
• How do you currently track your IBS/IBD symptoms (if you do at all)? (Are there features in existing apps or methods that you love—or hate?)
• Is there any one specific annoyance or challenge you wish tech could solve for you when it comes to gut health management?
• How could we make this device/app feel natural and not just another chore? (For instance, automated data collection, streamlined logging, or user-friendly charts?)

I’m asking as someone who’s been there but knows my own journey isn’t universal. I want to build something that truly addresses everyday struggles for people with IBS/IBD, and I’d be grateful for any feedback. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your insights!

— A (once IBS-ridden) tech guy who wants to help.

Hi, so, my IBS gets pretty bad the week before my period starts, sometimes during, and sometimes the week after. I was suggested to try birth control, by a few OBGYN's. Which do y'all use?

Edit: Going to add more information. I've been dealing with IBS for a couple of years. A medication I was on for something else may hvae caused it. I have seen multiple Gastrenterologist and I have seen a OB doctor and a GYN doctor. The Gastro doctors have given different kinds of medications to take, they have been a miss. I am now going to try and take Miralax every day. The OBGYN doctors have checked me for Endo (not through surgery) so far, I haven't been diagnosed with Endometriosis. Since my IBS is worse on my period, supposedly my Progesterone gets too high, I was told both control could help.

Thank y'all

I’m 23, had chronic diarrhea since i was 14. Conveniently, have also had hemorrhoids since i was 14. I finally had my colonoscopy. I have such bad pelvic/abdominal pain, i had a laproscopy a few months ago, all my gyn found was intestinal adhesions and a flared appendix. He didn’t take it out because he’s a gyn. But the colonoscopy didn’t say anything about my appendix and oh my god i just want it out so i can stop worrying about it. All it showed was “procedural findings: hemorrhoids” obviously?? She also wants to start me on amitriptyline because the bentyl more or less messes me up (dry mouth/not pee enough/dumping syndrome symptoms, MAKES ME BLOAT MORE?) so i’ll try that i guess. im just really disappointed its ibs, we learned in school that ibs is somatic (i dont really know how true that is since you cannot forcibly make yourself have diarrhea 24/7) but we’ll see how it goes

I’ve been having an Ibs flare usually I try not to take anything but today it’s getting to the point I’ve had enough and just want it to stop

I’ve taken an Imodium which I rarely take and about 30minutes later I have an awful bitter taste in my mouth, is this a normal side effect and does anyone else get it? I can’t really find much on it

for example: nothing tight for bloating, etc

Y’all, I just tried chicory fiber syrup and it’s such a game changer. I find it hard to meet my fiber goals, even with Metamucil in the morning, and I find that this helps. A teaspoon contains 3g of fiber so you can easily add it to your coffee/tea, oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes etc.

It has a really mild, sweet flavor and it’s easy to go overboard so it comes with a warning to add it to your diet gradually lol

Sharing for those similar to me with IBS-C - prob not recommended for those with mixed or D.

Any advice for trapped gas with ibs? How long can it last for some of you? Could it be something other than my ibs?

Background leading up to now: I was feeling nauseas for a couple days, either from a little stomach bug or the copious amount of lemon I have been consuming.

So I took Zofran. Miracle! Instantly better until it wore off. I ended up taking it 3 times in 24 hours.

Idk if any of that is related, but about a day after my last zofran dose I started getting a really intense, aching gas pain left of my belly button. Splenic Flexure area but now more descending colon.

I’m not entirely sure it’s trapped gas but it sure feels like it. It’s a bit nauseating as well.

I took gas x and have been farting up a storm to no avail. I also haven’t had much problem or change in my bowel movements. A little bit irritated in d* form but nothing unusual.

Is any of this relatable to anyone? Just looking for some answers and camaraderie!

I’ve had this my whole life and I’m almost 24 now. The only thing that has helped has been burning calories but I have to increase the amount of calories I burn for it to stop bloating so much.

i’ve used charmin ultra strong for pretty much my entire life, but lately it seems like they’ve changed how they make the toilet paper and it suddenly started feeling really rough and causing way more irritation than usual during flare-ups. i switched to ultra soft but it leaves a LOT of lint residue which feels so gross. what toilet paper do you guys use that’s soft AND strong?

Once every month or so I'm awoken with disgusting sulfur burps, followed by diarrhea, loads of gas and nausea. Then I sleep until midday because I'm so exhausted.

I have no idea what triggers this. At first I thought it was food poisoning, but the fact that it's reoccurring frequently 1-2x a month makes me know something else is going on. I track my food and there's literally nothing I eat differently leading up to each attack.

I eat gluten free, minimal dairy, cook all my meals from home, and rotate the same meals everyday. I have no pressing gut issues outside of these attacks, besides my normal bloating.

Has anyone else experienced this, and what should I do? I feel anxious not knowing why this keeps happening.

Hi I’ve read the other posts about the upper right quadrant pain and nobody seems to figure out the reason. I am having pain in my abdomen right side for 2 years now. Btw in 25 years old male. The pain is constant and always same level. My diet never changed it. I research a lot I tried a lot of things but I just thought about it that I had appendectomy 4 years ago and it was an open surgery I had a big scar and I had to stay in hospital for 5 days. Do you think I could developed scar tissues? I am constantly bloating and having a lot of gas burping and gas sounds from my stomach. When I’m sad or stress I feel more pain. It’s never going away. Do you think it could be related about my surgery?

Stress....stress....It hurts your body in many ways and it seems I'm finding, the more I'm stressed, the more my gut hurts and have more flare ups. I'm also breaking out in random rashes which who knows where they've come from, docs dont seem to know, just take another pill.
IBS is life altering in a lot of ways so I'm at a loss. So I need to be on antidepressants/anxiety meds? Seems the more stressed I am, the more I also tend to surf reddit to engage in pointless arguments with strangers which causes even more stress and it just snowballs. I feel like I'm complaining constantly to the point where my wife just checks out because she hears enough people complain at her work and doesnt want to hear me complain. I feel like I'm spiraling. I can understand how so many people turn to strangers online when they feel lost and alone.
How the hell do you deal with stress? Because it seems like the older I get, the more stressed I get and I dont want to stress myself into a heartattack or stroke.
I suppose I need to bug my doc again.