what I’ve learnt after 6 years

Hi zesties! Thought I’d share about my IBS + gastric journey since getting diagnosed 6 years ago. Back when I was diagnosed, I was struggling to find similar stories from SG and felt kind of lonely in my struggle so I hope this helps someone out there going through the same thing.

Symptoms:

I started having a very sensitive stomach that would bloat up incredibly without reason (I didn’t realise why back then), felt very intense, sharp pains in my tummy and also would have issues with either the runs or being backed up. I went through all these symptoms almost daily for months on end, and kept meeting doctors who only offered to do scopes without further detailing what could be the issue or how I could start resolving my pain. At times I would get panic and nausea attacks from the pain and other symptoms I was facing, especially at night when these symptoms were at their worst.

Diagnosis:

It took me a whole year to finally found a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me with gastric and IBS. She explained how the foods I ate and my stress levels had an effect on my gut, and prescribed me medications that really helped my system start to reset itself.

Weight/ body changes:

My size fluctuated so much while my body was adjusting to IBS. I lost so much weight because I had stopped eating certain foods and desserts and stopped drinking BBT. Then, I gained it back but with extreme bloating that stopped me from wearing clothes I was previously comfortable in. I couldn’t wear anything that was “too tight” or restrictive, and even jeans would make me feel uncomfortable and trigger bloating. It took me a long time (and heartache) to rebuild my wardrobe and get used to the many size changes my body was going through. It was frustrating because I could never really plan my outfits in advance anymore, unless I was defaulting to loose, babydoll dresses.

Lifestyle changes:

It was really hard to hear this, but I had become lactose intolerant because of my IBS and would get intense stomach pains from gastric if I had milk products. I LOVED BBT at that point of time (I stress drank a few cups in a week lol) and had a major sweet tooth, so I genuinely felt very down that I had to cut BBT and all milk-based sweets out of my life (for the time being). I also had to start eating more veggies and fruit (which I didn’t do often enough before - yeah I’m pretty unhealthy lol) to help food pass through my system. I also had to watch what foods I ate because they might trigger more IBS or gastric attacks.

What I learnt:

- watch out for foods high in FODMAP. You can download the FODMAP A to Z app to help check if an ingredient may trigger you. This is a general guide tho, so your tolerance may be better/ worse than the recommendation. I know it sucks, but you may need to experiment with different foods and amounts to see what triggers you. Thankfully, this will only take a few months as your body adjusts and you can slowly reintroduce foods back to your system!

- no/ less spicy or very peppery foods. Very sorry to spicy food lovers out there but spice can cause your symptoms to be worse.

- exercise helps. Being active and exercising actually helped me relieve symptoms in the long run, even if it did hurt in the short term (eg I’d get bloating or gastric after doing certain types of exercise). Do note that HIIT workouts may trigger IBS as well due to the stress it causes - I personally avoid them and go for barre, pilates and spin instead.

- eating regularly and on time. I know it’s hard, esp when life gets busy, but I try to eat at regular timings every day. I find that it helps me monitor my symptoms (if any) and also helps me avoid gastric issues.

- seeing a counsellor could possibly help. I was going through a lot of personal things at the time my IBS began and my stress levels made my symptoms worse. Speaking to a counsellor who understood my struggles and gave me great advice on how to manage them (this comes slowly and over time) led to me having a much better grip on my stress levels down the road. This in turn helped with both my IBS and gastric symptoms.

- your gut is really important. I never realised how a healthy gut can really impact your wellbeing, physically and emotionally. Probiotics can really help in this regard, and I recommend speaking to a doctor or pharmacist about the best options for you if you want to give it a try.

To my fellow IBS/ gastric sufferers, I empathise with your pain and I’m sorry that you’re going through this. I also hope that reading this makes you feel less alone, and that your symptoms will be easier to manage than mine. Take care!

#RealTalk #MyLemon8Diary #ibs #lemon8health