IBS, Irritable Bowl Syndrome, is a condition involving disordered bowel habits. Flares are usually triggered by food and/or stress, which disturbs the interaction between the gut, brain, and nervous system. Causes and cures are still unknown; one must learn to manage the condition with different remedies or by experimentation with lifestyles and diets.
2/3 of IBS sufferers are women, 1/3 are men
IBS comes in three main forms: IBS-C (constipation), IBS-D (diarrhea), or IBS-M (mixed)
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, some of which are: Abdominal pain, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting
IBS disrupts lifestyle, mood, mental-health, and can induce other physical health complications
Only 50% of patients seek medical care
There is no standard treatment for IBS; patients must learn to cope with their personal symptoms
My Inspiration
A few years ago, the ghostly demon that is IBS entered my life. Over the past year or so, this demon has taken control of me in unprecedented ways that I would have never imagined. Through my blog posts about mental-health, anxiety, and student wellness, it is evident how stress has taken a toll on my being as one of the predominant causes of by IBS. Today, although I don’t feel as anxious as I did at the onset of my IBS, the condition impacts me on a daily basis.
My experiences have inspired me to raise awareness about the pain that IBS causes me both physically and emotionally. Although this illness is truly invisible to those around us, we often have no choice but to reveal it at some point— at least I have, and it hurts. Most importantly, I have learned that we should never hide behind our pain: we must embrace it and know that we aren’t fighting it alone. There’s nothing to hide, only something to gain— like me, by sharing your story, you can find an unconditionally supportive circle whose knowledge-base, resources, and care are a step toward balancing your inner-harmony.
BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR
My blog posts will take you through my journey with IBS, ranging from my interactions with doctors to the raw expression of how this condition impacts me. Through sharing my stories, I hope to empower those battling personal challenges (medical or not) to be their own doctor, advocate, and ultimately, their own healer.
Along my journey, I sought an OB/GYN specialist’s guidance to understand the link between female hormones and IBS among other complications. I waited six months for a visit with the “best OB/GYN” [...]
* This story is continued chronologically from my previous article, Be Your Own Doctor. After four tortuous months of waiting for a gastroenterology appointment, I was relieved to finally find [...]
At a family dinner with some close friends, I was introduced to a father and son who both, like me, suffered from GI conditions. Although not IBS specifically, those with gut disorders can all [...]
Since the age of five, my mother has raised me under the belief that authorities aren’t always right. A close friend and I laugh over the “so-called experts” who staunchly demand that we follow [...]
It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my blog, but I’ve been working on a long project (a book I’m trying to get published!) and dealing with tremendous pain over the [...]
A few weeks ago, my IBS and acid reflux emerged stronger than ever before. Unabated episodes of belching, extreme bloating, and burning in my stomach exacerbated daily. Lying on the couch curled [...]
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