A.K.A. a stuffty situationAccording to Mayo Clinic:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. IBS is a chronic condition that you will need to manage long term.
So yeah uh, I've been suffering from these symptoms ever since the beginning of my senior year of high school, and I've been recently diagnosed with it (IBS-M). I was just wondering if anyone else suffers from it. Pretty annoying honestly.
There are 3 general types.
- IBS-C: Constipation
- IBS-D: Diarrhea
- IBS-A/M: Alternating/Mixed
I know this isn't the most pleasant thread ever, but it actually is important. People are embarrassed to talk about this stuff, which can really delay treatment for more serious conditions, like colon cancer. If you feel awkwardness, pain, or discomfort during a bathroom break, you really should talk to your doctor. They will not judge you; they are there to help.
In fact, there are active communities that promote discussion about this. Reddit has a pretty helpful one over at
r/ibs.
Read more about IBS at
Mayo Clinic and
WebMD.
A lot of people who suffer from IBS endorse the low FODMAP diet. Read more about what FODMAPs are
here and what a low FODMAP diet would consist of
here.
Many others have also taken probiotics. Popular ones consist of
Align and
VSL#3. Read more about probiotics
here.