If you've been following my blog, or know me personally, it is no secret, I will SHOUT IT from the rooftops, I HAVE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. Or, as I typically refer to it, Irate Intestines.
My Celiac is what pushed me to start the blog, but having Celiac Disease, while it is not easy, is a walk in the park compared to the constant suffering I have endured over the last five years with my IBS.
As my website continues to grow, I see it as an opportunity to expand the platform of what I post about. My IBS is a part of me, it is something I deal with on a daily basis, that I've finally gotten control over. I know that I am not alone, 1 in 5 American have IBS and it effects women twice as often as men but most times, it feels like I am alone in my fight because people are too embarrased to talk about their symptoms and struggles. WELL GUESS WHAT, I'M NOT EMBARRASSED, I OWN MY IBS LIKE NO OTHER, AND IT NO LONGER OWNS ME. I'm here to share my story, my struggles, and my tips with others, in hopes to help those who are too shamed or shy to ask questions and seek advice.
Most people when you drop the terminology of IBS, think of it as a few stomach upsets here and there, and maybe a few too many, or not enough, trips to the bathroom, but nothing major. WRONG! While that may be the case for some people who have mild or even moderate IBS, I have SEVERE IBS. According to my gastrointerologist, I am one of the most extreme cases he has ever treated or seen. I wish I could say the perplexity of my problem earned me some sort of award, but instead it's just earned me a bunch of trial and error with medications, natural remedies, and more scopes, poking, and prodding than a body that's been donated to science over the last five years.
Now, I'm going to keep my explanation brief, because you didn't come here for a science lesson, but in case you are misinformed or unaware of what IBS truly is, here's a snippet I've written, links included:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, known as IBS, is a chronic and unpredictable condition. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a pattern of intermittent symptoms. Simply put, the function of a person's intestines who has IBS is faulty and there is not necessarily a rhyme or reason why. The faulty interaction in the nerves and the muscles of the intestinal tract, Central Nervous System, and the "brain-gut" connection is what creates a slew of super fun symptoms. The intestines either function too much, resulting in IBS-D, don't function enough, causing IBS-C, or if you're lucky like me, you get IBS-Mixed which is a lovely compilation of the two. A medley that makes me quite the muse to be around at times :). With IBS-Mixed, my main symptoms are: bloating, distension, acute abdominal pain, urgency, feeling of incomplete emptying, low back pain, fatigue and heartburn. No two people's IBS symptoms will be alike, and neither will be their course of treatment. EVERYONE'S IBS IS DIFFERENT! Symptoms may come and go frequently, with short or long durations. Long periods of symptoms are what I refer to as "flare ups." At my sickest, I was having "flare ups" that would last for weeks at a time or experience a flare every other week, that would last for a few days at a time. Currently, I do experience some sort of IBS symptoms on a weekly basis, (1-3 days a week) but my symptoms are MUCH more manageable now and I take extreme care to keep it that way!
My Celiac is what pushed me to start the blog, but having Celiac Disease, while it is not easy, is a walk in the park compared to the constant suffering I have endured over the last five years with my IBS.
As my website continues to grow, I see it as an opportunity to expand the platform of what I post about. My IBS is a part of me, it is something I deal with on a daily basis, that I've finally gotten control over. I know that I am not alone, 1 in 5 American have IBS and it effects women twice as often as men but most times, it feels like I am alone in my fight because people are too embarrased to talk about their symptoms and struggles. WELL GUESS WHAT, I'M NOT EMBARRASSED, I OWN MY IBS LIKE NO OTHER, AND IT NO LONGER OWNS ME. I'm here to share my story, my struggles, and my tips with others, in hopes to help those who are too shamed or shy to ask questions and seek advice.
Most people when you drop the terminology of IBS, think of it as a few stomach upsets here and there, and maybe a few too many, or not enough, trips to the bathroom, but nothing major. WRONG! While that may be the case for some people who have mild or even moderate IBS, I have SEVERE IBS. According to my gastrointerologist, I am one of the most extreme cases he has ever treated or seen. I wish I could say the perplexity of my problem earned me some sort of award, but instead it's just earned me a bunch of trial and error with medications, natural remedies, and more scopes, poking, and prodding than a body that's been donated to science over the last five years.
Now, I'm going to keep my explanation brief, because you didn't come here for a science lesson, but in case you are misinformed or unaware of what IBS truly is, here's a snippet I've written, links included:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, known as IBS, is a chronic and unpredictable condition. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a pattern of intermittent symptoms. Simply put, the function of a person's intestines who has IBS is faulty and there is not necessarily a rhyme or reason why. The faulty interaction in the nerves and the muscles of the intestinal tract, Central Nervous System, and the "brain-gut" connection is what creates a slew of super fun symptoms. The intestines either function too much, resulting in IBS-D, don't function enough, causing IBS-C, or if you're lucky like me, you get IBS-Mixed which is a lovely compilation of the two. A medley that makes me quite the muse to be around at times :). With IBS-Mixed, my main symptoms are: bloating, distension, acute abdominal pain, urgency, feeling of incomplete emptying, low back pain, fatigue and heartburn. No two people's IBS symptoms will be alike, and neither will be their course of treatment. EVERYONE'S IBS IS DIFFERENT! Symptoms may come and go frequently, with short or long durations. Long periods of symptoms are what I refer to as "flare ups." At my sickest, I was having "flare ups" that would last for weeks at a time or experience a flare every other week, that would last for a few days at a time. Currently, I do experience some sort of IBS symptoms on a weekly basis, (1-3 days a week) but my symptoms are MUCH more manageable now and I take extreme care to keep it that way!
"Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a complex and chronic disorder that can be debilitating for individuals on a daily basis and interfere with their social and work life. Symptoms are hard to talk about with others which adds to the challenge of living with such a condition." --International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
SO, HOW THE HECK DO I MANAGE SUCH A COMPLEX CONDITION? Through trial and error and EMBRACING these Irate Intestines of mine. I am no longer surviving my symptoms, I am THRIVING with my symptoms. Yes, I can feel AWESOME one day, then the next, I can't button my jeans because I'm so bloated, too tired to even walk up the stairs, and I'm either sipping on Magnesium Citrate Cocktails in hopes for some relief or running to the restroom BUT THIS IS MY LIFE AND I HAVE EMBRACED IT, AND I MAKE IT WORK FOR ME, AND I WANT TO HELP MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!
This section of the blog is for me to share my experiences, tips, and treatment options to help others with IBS!
This section of the blog is for me to share my experiences, tips, and treatment options to help others with IBS!
- If this topic interests you, PLEASE leave a comment below so I know I'm not typing just for the Carpal Tunnel in my near future
- Any specific questions/topics you want me to cover?
- Do YOU or someone else you know have IBS? Do you or they OWN it?
I am not a medical professional, and by no means should you solely use my advice to diagnose and alleviate your symptoms. Irritable Bowel Syndrome must be diagnosed by a doctor, preferably a gastrointerologist who can help you find your best method of treatment. What works for one individual will not always work for another. We are all different individuals who will require different methods of treatment. All treatment should be done under the care of a physician.
