first steps to take if you’re noticing symptoms?

[symptomgoogler]

Hii!

I don’t recall any digestion issues growing up but in the past 4 years I feel like somethings changed. I get SO uncomfortably bloated after eating often times, swing back n forth between constipation and diharrea. 2.5 years ago I experienced trap gas for the first time- so painful!. I could barely drink water or stand up straight for the 4/5 days it lasted. Since then it happens once every 2ish months and length varies from 2-5 days. I’ve tried to find a common denominator in foods that may have been triggers but no luck. Around the same time I started having above symptoms I also got a HUGE cyst on my face (not cystic acne- just singular cyst around cheeks) and have gotten a few others/had older ones reappear throughout the years. Not sure if that’s connected in anyway though

Does this sound like IBS/SIBO/some other issue I’m not familiar with? Or maybe just a food intolerance? Should I do a food diary/elimination diet /FODMAP/food intolerance test or are there better first steps to take? I’m sure many people will say go to the doctors and I plan to, but in my experience doctors haven’t been much help for issues like these, Seems managing symptoms is usually pretty reliant on your own observations?

I was vegetarian for 6 years and started eating fish a year ago, I eat fairly clean and only eat dairy on occasion (which I definitely feel afterwards lol)

#trappedgas #IBS #SIBO #foodsensitivity

[b1b1b1]

You might want to see a gastroenterologist. It is important to rule out other issues before diagnosing IBS.

[xjrs]

The first step is to discuss your symptoms with your GP. They will need to carry out blood and stool sample tests:nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...

IBS is diagnosed when other causes of your symptoms have been ruled out. It will be unnecessary to refer you to a gastroenterlogist if these tests come back clear.

If you are diagnosed with IBS please check back in here since there is much that can be done to help your symptoms.