Living with ibs (Part 1)
I deal with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. A general term for intestines that are pissed off and not functioning well.
When I first heard about IBS I thought that was when people pooped all over themselves. Seriously. You may have your own version of what you think IBS is, but sadly this was mine.
Here’s what IBS actually looks like. And I’ve been living with various intensities of this for six years depending on types of food, how food is cooked or fermented, my stress levels, how I sleep, medication, supplements, and probably more that I haven’t figured out yet.
Anxiety before and after I eat. Will I feel ok after this, or need to plan to feel bad after? I better pack some plain rice cakes to bring out in case there are no good options.
Forget eating out at restaurants that primarily use any onion or garlic in their main items.This means I’m cooking and cleaning up at home a lot more.
Stabbing cramps in my intestines and anus after eating certain foods
Gas
Bloating
Constipation, or not pooping for up to 4 days
Clogging toilets, oh do I have embarrassing stories about this!
Having to use laxatives to poop
Diarrhea
Depression
Weight loss
…And I am not alone.
When my symptoms got really bad about 3 months ago I drew a line in the sand. Either I will have these symptoms pop (poop) in and out of my life and increase my stress. Or I will go to a doctor, do my own research, talk about it with people who experience it too, and listen to experts in guts. I also eventually ordered several different lab tests with the help of my GI Doctor.
First, I started by researching on my own and signed up for email newsletters from IBS specialists and registered dietitians (1). I learned about Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth or SIBO and how often an IBS diagnosis overlooks this. I read the SIBO-IMO criteria and thought, This is what I have!!! I also spoke with a friend who was also dealing with IBS and he recommended a GI Doctor. Thank you friend!! I additionally bought a couple of books on the nervous system and polyvagal theory. The nerves in our digestive tract communicate with our brain, so learning about this relationship seemed fundamental for my understanding of IBS. Check out Anchored, by Deb Dana (2).
I will say this, speaking openly about poop and depression is weird at first, but to have an open nonjudgemental convo with a friend about something you both struggle with is not only helpful but can bring you support. Plus we all poop and feel down sometimes.
I scheduled an appointment with a GI Doctor specialist that Monday morning after speaking with my friend. At my GI Doctor appointment, she recommended a colonoscopy, endoscopy with several disease biopsy tests, which I opted for, in case. I was desperate to find out what was going on and I wasn’t getting better! I also had her order a trio smart SIBO breath test to see if there was a bacteria overgrowth in my small intestine(3).
I had my colonoscopy/endoscopy with negative results (yes!).
However, I did test positive for SIBO, with IMO, or Intestinal Methane Overgrowth. This is because of an increased archaea population in the small intestinal tract.
Yes, I was relieved to find this out, now I can figure it out! But ugh, where do this little bugs come from? I eat so “healthy.”
But now, after six years of mixed symptoms I have something scientific, on paper, that made sense based on my symptoms! I think of all the cramping and bloating and now I think know where this is coming from. How do I kill the little critters?
I continue to do my research on this. How the archaea got there and how to treat it. Trust! I have read some scholarly published articles and readit posts that range from too much probiotics, cutting carbs, surgery, antibiotic use, covid vaccine. Honestly, I could checkmark all these things.
And again, I’m not alone.
You can look up SIBO if you’re curious, I had no idea what it was. If you wonder why you get super gassy or bloated after eating or have some of the symptoms I listed above, see a GI Doctor, and you may want to look into the SIBO breath test.
As of now, I eat a low FODMAP diet to mitigate symptoms and track what I eat to collect data and insights on what foods aggravate symptoms or feel good. I use the Monash University, out of Australia, as a resource for this and downloaded their app to make food shopping, decision making, and tracking simpler (4). And yes, even sometimes the diet doesn't work here and to be honest there are times where I don’t follow the diet and feel fine, then again other times I don’t. Sometimes my symptoms are so bad I can only eat rice.
I also work on my happiness and try and stress less using what I’ve learned about the nervous system and feeling safe in Deb Dana’s book, Anchored. I’m mapping out a treatment plan with questions for my follow up visit with the GI Doctor so we can decide together what will be ideal and most worth trying.
I want to be able to have my cake and eat it too! I believe I can get there, but need to deal with this part first…Treatment plan TBD (in Part 2) .
(1) Check out Gut Specialist Dietitian, Joe Leech and Founder of Nutrition Resolution Alyssa Simpson
(2) Deb Dana (2021) Anchored, Sounds True Inc. Boulder, Co
