intermittent problem with ibs-type symptoms

[Brumus]

I had a bad attack of food poisoning before Christmas which cleared up, but since Christmas I have had intermittent problems with excreting more than usual and feeling nauseous afterwards and sometimes diarrhoea. I have also had Covid. Is this something that will clear up eventually or do I need to get some treatment.

[Luisa22]

At this stage it might not be IBS, but might be the after effects of two pretty rotten infections in a short space of time; the food poisoning and Covid. It could be some post-infectious inflammation going on. Maybe you should speak to your doctor if you can get an appointment soon?

Inflammation can naturally linger for a while after an infection. For example, sometimes after a cold or flu, a cough can carry on for a few weeks even after the flu has gone before gradually going away.

So maybe your gut upset has a good chance of going away as you fully recover from what happened in December?

Definitely it might help if you keep your diet plain but nutritious, and go easy on the roughage for a while and see if symptoms ease up at all doing that. If they do, then go back to your previous diet very gradually and carefully. Try small amounts of foods you ate before and see how they go.

Also a gut infection or food poiusoning in your case, can sensitize the gut and make certain foods or substances less tolerated.

But there is such a thing as "post infectious IBS" but it might be too early to diagnose that yet.

[xjrs]

If you've not had all the necessary tests run and been diagnosed with IBS, please book an appointment to get checked out by your GP. They will need to run these tests:

nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...