Helen B's story
1st December 2022

My IBS symptoms started when I was around 15. I am now nearly 35, so it’s been a long road. At first, my symptoms included bloating and abdominal pain and then, in my early twenties, it progressed to full IBS-D.

I have had coeliac blood tests a few times, along with faecal calprotectin tests, but I have had nothing more invasive. I paid to see a private gastroenterologist in 2020 and he formally diagnosed me with IBS-D. Over the years, I have seen multiple dietitians and tried every single possible IBS diet out there. I have also tried CBT, gut directed hypnotherapy and yoga.

I know some of my triggers but sometimes it’s a mystery why my gut is so unhappy. I am lactose intolerant. Spicy and fatty foods don’t agree with me, neither do raw foods, which is a shame because I love salad. I have to eat a relatively low fibre diet, which is low in FODMAPs and low in histamine, and I’m teetotal.

During the first lockdown, I gave up alcohol, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I used to work full time from an office, which I found really hard. I took a career break when my eldest son was born and stayed largely off work until my youngest son was three and started pre-school. I’ve been lucky to find two jobs where I can work from home. This is fantastic for my other responsibilities and also for my IBS management. I enjoy being able to work in my comfy stretchy pants, and make sure I have a small part of each day where I can stretch out and try to relax. I find it very difficult being squashed over a desk. Working from home also means I can take my dog for a walk every lunch time, which is great for my mental and physical health.

During the pandemic, I found managing IBS easier as we barely left the house. However, when life opened back up, and I had to do the school runs again, I struggled. I have since worked a lot on managing panic when I’m out of the house, which has helped massively.

The best advice I could give to someone who is struggling with IBS would be to speak to others who really understand. I set up an IBS specific Instagram account in 2019 and it’s been amazing for finding like-minded people. I would also encourage people to seek advice from reputable sources. There are so many fads out there which can send you down a dark road.

I discovered The IBS Network online a few years ago. Having access to trustworthy IBS information and support is really important, especially when you can so often feel dismissed by your primary care provider. I’m incredibly grateful to the charity for raising awareness about life with IBS too.

If you would like to connect with Helen, she’s on Instagram@chronically_helen.