This IBS Awareness Month, I want to open up about the daily challenges faced by individuals living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Often misunderstood and overlooked, IBS is a complex condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. From dietary restrictions to unpredictable symptoms, the experiences of those with IBS are multifaceted and deserve greater understanding and empathy.
Here’s what I wish you knew about living with gut issues:
1. I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult – Some Foods Really Do Make Me Sick
It’s not that I’m a picky eater; certain foods can trigger IBS symptoms like bloating, cramps, and worse. When I decline to eat a meal, ask you to leave out an ingredient when cooking, bring my own food or choose not to eat, it’s not about being fussy; it’s about managing my health.
2. Bathroom Access is Important
Knowing where the bathrooms are is a priority for me. Sudden urgency can strike, and having easy access can make a big difference in managing my anxiety.
3. Trust Me, I Don’t Want to Be Sick
IBS is a real, physiological condition that can have a profound impact on daily life. It’s not simply a matter of stress or anxiety, although those factors can exacerbate symptoms. It’s definitely not a medical condition I can simply willpower away.
4. My Symptoms Can Cause Anxiety and Embarrassment
The unpredictable nature of IBS can be stressful. The worry of an episode flaring up in public can add another layer of anxiety. It’s a constant battle between managing symptoms and maintaining a sense of normalcy.
5. IBS is Unpredictable – My Symptoms Can Change Daily
One of the most challenging aspects of IBS is its unpredictability. Symptoms can vary from day to day, making it difficult to plan ahead or predict how the body will react to different situations or foods.
6. Looks Can Be Deceiving – I Can Feel Awful Despite Appearing Okay
Even if I look fine on the outside, I might be battling uncomfortable symptoms on the inside. A smile doesn’t necessarily mean I’m feeling 100%.
Are you ready to take control of your gut symptoms?
No thanks, my gut is perfect.
7. Exhaustion is Real
IBS can be incredibly draining, both physically and mentally. The fatigue that often accompanies IBS can be overwhelming. It’s not a matter of disinterest or neglect; it’s about conserving energy to cope with the physical and emotional challenges of the condition.
8. Cancellations Aren’t Personal
Last-minute cancellations due to IBS flare-ups are never easy. Please know I wouldn’t ditch plans unless I absolutely had to.
9. Eating Out is a Challenge
Restaurant menus can be a minefield for IBS sufferers. Limited control over ingredients and portion sizes can make dining out stressful.
10. Just Because I Had a Good Day that Doesn’t Mean I’m Better
Even on days when symptoms seem under control, it doesn’t mean that the struggle with IBS is over. The nature of this condition means that symptoms can fluctuate, and what may seem like a good day can quickly change. It’s a constant balancing act of managing symptoms and hoping for periods of relief, but the underlying condition remains a significant part of daily life.
IBS Awareness Month is a chance to break the stigma and promote understanding. By sharing this article, you can help create a more supportive environment for those of us living with IBS. After all, a little understanding can go a long way.
Great article thank you that’s exactly what my life is like!
Hi Jennifer,
You are welcome. We hope it helps you on your journey.
Thank you for this reassurance and reminder that it’s not all in my head. I’ve been traveling for over a week and I’ve experienced many issues. I’ll be glad to get home!
Holly, you are so welcome. You are not alone in your feelings and your symptoms are very real.
I love that you are doing this! It will help people around me understand what I am feeling. I had been diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago. However, recently my colonoscopy revealed my colon to be tortious which mimics the same symptoms as IBS. As a result I have never achieved being symptom free but the diet does help decrease symptoms and you have some of the yummiest recipients!
Hi Gail,
It’s lovely to hear you enjoyed the article and are loving our recipes. We hope our resources continue to provide you with comfort.
You know what – I really feel like passing these out to servers in cafes and restaurants. I hate being THAT person who has to have deep and meaningful discussions whenever I eat out. Some establishments are getting better educated and empathetic to our needs, but some are stuck in the “sausage roll and lamington” era. When a server asks if I am allergic or celiac, my usual reply is, “I won’t die, I’ll just wish I could.”
Jan our thoughts are with you. We know how hard it is to eat out when you have gut issues and we hope that over the coming years it will get easier as cafes and restaurants become more educated.
Thanku Alana for this article IBS is complex. The flare-up can make it confusing. You can think you have solved it, but then, there it is again. Had it all my life. Finding probiotics and digestive enzymes help as well.
Thank you. You have accurately described the situation in which I have now found myself, in the space of a very short time. I am about to face my first away from home challenge and reading this article has clarified just how I am feeling.
Hi Jean,
You are welcome. We know how difficult travelling away from home can be and our thoughts are with you.
I feel like those could be my words. Great article, thank you