Sophie's story
1st June 2023

Sophie Taylor, 23, started experiencing severe IBS symptoms the night before a business opportunity where she was showcasing her work on television. She is devastated about her IBS diagnosis, but is determined to take control of her condition, raise awareness, and is encouraging others like her who are struggling to seek support.

Having begun my business career at 17 I struggled to be taken seriously. So, when my hard work paid off at 23 and I received an offer to film a television programme where I could show my business skills and represent young females in business, I was absolutely delighted.

Until the night before filming, I was unaware I had IBS as I’d never had any symptoms. I was in a hotel room and suddenly my stomach started turning. I ran to the toilet and was sitting there for hours with diarrhoea. I couldn’t stop it, so I just had to wait it out. I did, however, take some Buscopan, but it did little to relieve my symptoms.

There is no easy way to describe what came next. During filming, the next day, gas leaked out of me; the flatulence was so bad you could hear it being amplified by the microphone I was wearing. I realised that my dream opportunity might be affected by whatever was going on with my body (which I now know is IBS). I started to panic and cry.

I couldn’t concentrate on what was going on or on what I was saying. All I could focus on was how to stand to try to stop the flatulence. The pain while this was happening was shocking. All I wanted to do was cry because my stomach pain was so bad. I just couldn’t believe that after all my hard work, this was happening to me now! I asked to speak to the medic as I was worried about my symptoms.

The television production team was absolutely fantastic and very supportive. I returned to filming, but my symptoms had not lessened. I remember crying in the bath that night after going through all the toilet rolls in the hotel room and just trying to tell myself to push on, that I could get through this.

Since this experience, I have done nothing but try to figure out how to reduce my symptoms. I have been diagnosed with severe IBS and I am still looking for answers.

At the time, I was so scared, not just because of the pain, but because I didn’t know what was happening to my body. It is hard enough for young women to be taken seriously in business, not to mention now having to cope with IBS as well.

I think I would say to any girls suffering, please go to your GP and seek support from The IBS Network. You are not alone in suffering with this debilitating condition.