Hello Charlotte. Welcome to DS. Sorry for what brings you here but glad you are here.

I was diagnosed with, "Spastic Colitis" in the mid 70's. It runs through my large, rowdy and criminally dysfunctional family tree like a freight train. I don't care enough to be certain, but I suspect the IBS which is common among my nieces and nephews is just another name for ^it^.

Gentle empathy. By whatever name, intestinal pain hurts like a father fuck and there doesn't seem to be a one-size-fits-all cure for ^it^. Even my strictly personal bouts seem to differ allot from one round to the next.

What have you tried so far?

Listening. . . You are not alone.

Thank you, I learnt the other day that it can be passed on through generations so that makes sense. So far I've tried the low fodmap diet and im now in stage 2 the phase where I start to introduce foods back into my diet to see what the trigger foods are, my doctor has also prescribed me peppermint capsules but im yet to try these

Keep sharing, Charlotte. The relief is often in the details.

Gentle stretches, massages and heating pads help me tremendously, too.

I've noticed my anxiety causes me to clench my gut muscles. When I can get myself to relax those muscles, everything seems to flow smoother.

I used to have severe anxiety to the point I couldn’t eat or sleep. With therapy, meds, and coping skills, I have been able to lessen the anxiety to a mild level. I don’t have ibs not have I ever. I’m sorry to hear you are troubled by it. What does your dr say?

Hi Charlotte,
I do suffer from anxiety. But not IBS. I know there are certain foods that you eat that makes it worse. Talk to your doctor and see what kinda of diet they suggest. Hope you start to feel better. And welcome to the DS. Great people on here. And they give great advice. Italianmomma4ever

Ibs and nerves go hand in hand I’m afraid. I’m sorry you have this I am also a sufferer.

Thank you everyone, has anyone got any tips about relaxing stomach muscles because mine often feel tense but somehow I can't relax them,

No diagnosis of IBS , but since i was like , when i would go into a panic, when mommy and daddy were beating the brakes off of each other or breaking windows and plates, ever since then ive had that "bubbleguts" feeling whenever im nervous. Like i could go poo poo and vomit too

so sorry you deal with that, i know exactly how you feel

yup--diagnosed years ago--probably had it at 14....always had a "bad stomach"
immodium is a blessing--but to control it--like I pretty don't have too many issues now--Acupuncture and probiotics really pretty much cured me...she also gave me some "digest and detox" for the rough times. its from Yintang Therapeutics it has all kinds of helpful things in it including bentonite clay powder and calcium. I don't know how the acupuncture really works...but I won't argue with success!!

also forgot to mention a good book:

Eating for IBS by Heather Van Vorous