What is it with my IBS and the Spring?

[Luisa22]

This is the 4th time my IBS has kicked off in the Spring. I still keep detailed food/stress/worry/sleep etc diary and can never find any patterns to the on-off nature of my IBS. Except that I'm seeing that for 4 years it's been worse at this time of year. Same now.

Does anyone else get worse when the seasons change? I realise this might be too weird but every Spring I get it badly. I'm fine in heatwaves, and fine in minus anything temperatures! I can't understand it at all. What on earth causes that?

[Maureen1958]

I have no idea Luisa, I am the opposite of you, summer and winter are worse for me. The hot weather in the summer makes me more runny and then during the winters it is more constipated! Spring and autumn are somewhere in the middle!It's all bloody ridiculous!

[Luisa22 in reply to Maureen1958]

Yes, it is bloody ridiculous. I wish we could be like many ordinary people who don't care what the weather or seasons are doing and just poop naturally in the dratted morning!!

[SteveKirk23]

I have not been diagnosed with IBS but have had stomach problems for years, which seem to include a lot of the symptoms. I am a very fit person who does a lot of running, but I always seem to struggle in the Spring with fatigue, and feeling generally under the weather. My stomach problems seem worse at this time of year too. Once we get to the summer months, my energy levels improve. All very strange!

I have seen mentioned somewhere that a vitamin D deficiency can exacerbate IBS, so I may look into that.

[Luisa22 in reply to SteveKirk23]

Yes, it seems I get the same thing, Steve. I am an active person also. Not an athlete -I am too old, but very physically active daily. I felt a weird exhaustion today and no energy for even a 2-3 mile walk, even though I did it anyway. I get that in the Spring, then it will go away later in the Spring (I hope anyway because that's what it did for 4 years!)

Vitamin D deficiency could have a part to play. But if so...why wasn't I worse in February or January, and why now?? When the sun shines now, it is warm and nice, and I think there will be some vit D from the sun just beginning. For a week or more I have been exposing as much skin as possible to the midday or early afternoon sun. Yet still bad belly!! lol

[winfong]

Do you have allergies? I do, and the Spring can sometimes trigger IBS when my allergies act up.

[Luisa22 in reply to winfong]

I am not aware of any allergies to anything. I don't think so.

[Pollyboo]

Hi Luisa, I am not sure but a dietitian I consulted told me that our vitD levels gradualy decline over winter so to take vit D from October through to March regardless.I take it all year round as I take cholestyramine which depleats the body of vitD,but I can not honestly say if I am any better for it,but we try anything to relieve these awfull symptoms.

I myself have started to take amatriptyline, not a drug I wanted to take as I hate taking medication. I am 6 weeks in and I must admit it has helped me. After 20 yrs of this messing up my life as a 70 year old female I thought what have I got to lose.

Stay possitive Louisa I hve seen your posts and I know you always battle through you are a strong person.

Take care Pollyboo.

[Luisa22 in reply to Pollyboo]

Thanks, Pollyboo. Hugs ❤️

[Edgar77]

It is worth looking up the symptoms of fibromyalgia. IBS is one of many and weather changes is also a trigger.

[Luisa22]

I had never thought of fybromyalgia, Edgar77. But at the moment I do ache as well and have heart palpitations and am not sleeping long enough at night. My body feels weary with lower back ache . That's my weak spot anyway so not too unusual, but I am tired out. Exhausted from having to deal with a grocery order for only about 1 hour. Left leg feels weird too.

[Dollymae06 in reply to Luisa22]

Have you had your thyroid checked underactive can cause fatigue and low energy. X

[Luisa22 in reply to Dollymae06]

The doctor said my thyroid is okay from a blood test

[Nanabud8 in reply to Luisa22]

Hi Luisa 22. I am going through the exact same since early february!! Every bone in my body aches, i did'nt put it down to the spring, as i get bad in summer, the heat does me in. Like you, my sleep is affected and dreadful tiredness every day. I went to my doc last week as i too was getting palps, i was concerned mainly as i have 5 stents since 2020. All was ok, he said it was probably stress as i lost four relatives recently and it was a tough time. Even bending down to get something out of the cupboard was a nightmare, my knees were so sore, i joked that i need a jcb truck to get me up again!! The palps are gone now n bones improving. I get vit B12 injections every three months, due to my ibs and my inability to eat so many foods. The last one was in January but they may as well have given me tap water in the injection, it did'nt really help this time. IBS is such a dreadful condition, im just so glad for all you lovely people on here, as no one else understands. Hugs x

[Luisa22 in reply to Nanabud8]

I am really sorry for your losses of family members. That is a lot for you to cope with. I hope you will feel better soon.

[Nanabud8 in reply to Luisa22]

Thanks. Hope you improve soon as well🙏

[Laxmi_kook]

I suffer from asthma as well. Sometimes when seasons change my asthma gets a little bad. I do notice tummy troubles at that time. No IBS flares though.

[diana16]

Hi Luisa, I suffer with rheumatoid arthritis as well as ibs and my arthritis is always worse in the spring and autumn - I do think sth happens to my immune system at this time of year. I have suffered with ibs most of my life and it's never been so bad, like you I feel so tired, it's depressing. Hope you feel better soon.

[Luisa22]

Sorry Diana, I know how awful RA is. My mother had that. Thanks for your well wishes. I feel a bit better energy today from a longer sleep. Tummy not too bad today....(haha watch this space!)

[binks]

my hayfever kicks off big time in March. I wonder whether it’s got anything to do with allergy/histamine? I have no idea whether ibs has a link but it does seem suspicious x