Good Morning Lovelies, 

IBS is a bitch. There is literally no other way to put it. As soon as something touches my stomach, whether it be a drink or some food, I instantly bloat and have to assess what may or may not cause a flare up. At its worst, my stomach can make me look like I have suddenly become pregnant, as it hardens and swells, whilst at other times, it can look okay but on the inside be burning me alive. 

It has been this way for a long time but it was only at the start of this year that the doctors finally were able to get a solid answer that it was extreme IBS-M. A result that came from a number of appointments, ultrasounds, blood, stool and allergy testing. Hearing the diagnosis, I was oddly relieved. Finally, I had an answer to a lot of what I was suffering from, which meant I could get to work on finding a treatment that would help it. 

My IBS can become so severe that it has left me bed-ridden, stuck on the toilet and even in hospital. The following methods have helped to transform this a little bit, due to the calming effects they have on my stomach and I wanted to share them with you lovelies in case you are going through the same thing…

Trying The Low FODMAP Diet: As soon as I was diagnosed with IBS, I was told to take a look at the FODMAP listings to help change the foods I eat. Having looked at what is on there, I found that many foods could be contributing to my bloating, pain and nausea, so I have been testing each one to see what causes a flare up. Some of the list I can still eat perfectly fine but other things I have found I can’t touch at all (goodbye cauliflower!). Finding out what to and not to eat has been hard due to my eating disorder, but it has allowed me to see what irritates my stomach, leading to less pain. 

Finding The Right Medication: It may seem stubborn but I really struggle to take medication. I have been on so many different forms of it since I was small that now I try to avoid it, unless I am really ill. Yet, when I spoke to my doctor, he advised me to buy some over the counter items to help, telling me that I wouldn’t suffer from a broken leg being left in pain, so I shouldn’t be bed bound from my stomach. Some of the medications that I have found that helps are peppermint oil capsules, Wind-eze and the king of them all Colofac IBS capsules. I took one of these a few weeks ago during a month long flare up and magically woke up in less pain with no nausea! If you are suffering, don’t be afraid to get medical help if you need it. 

Keeping As Calm As Can Be: As someone with anxiety disorder, my stomach is often left in knots. The constant worrying leads to me feeling overwhelmed and sick, which my IBS clings onto. Therefore, I have been trying to do things that distract me from panicking, such as puzzles, therapy and doing breath work to stop thinking about the pain in my tummy. Often when I do worry about it, I get so stressed that I make myself feel worse, so staying calm is key lovelies. 

Resting More: Since I was born, I have struggled to sleep. At night time, I get a second wind and find myself actually able to work, talk and live better during the dark hours. Though, my body is not thankful about this. Stressing it out by not resting makes my stomach feel so much worse, so I have been working on eating earlier and getting to bed at a more respectable time. I won’t lie, it has been really hard to do and it is still a work in progress, but slow and steady wins the race.

Drinking More Water: I have been working really hard on doing this! I don’t like plain water too much, so I do add squash, but getting more fluids has really helped my stomach. I can easily forget to drink and was always bad for this but seeing how much of a difference it has made has made me remember to stay refreshed better. My skin is very thankful for it too!

IBS really can be a big bitch and I am not in anyway saying that the above is a one size fits all fix, however, I wanted to share these little tricks lovelies in case one of them can make a difference. I know how horrible and painful it can be, so any help is a plus! I hope that they can bring a little calm in a flare up storm! 

Joey X