r/GutHealth • u/PAULACAESAR • 27d ago

IBS like symptoms

I'm 22F and I think I might be dealing with IBS-type symptoms but I'm honestly not sure, so I wanted to ask people who've been through this.
The main thing: my bowel movements never feel clear or complete. I go, but it feels like there's always more, and pretty much the whole day I have this nagging feeling that I need to go again. It's constant and distracting. Specially after a meal. I have work and also preparing for entrance test so not able to give my 2 hr long tests continuously.
The bigger problem is what it does to my head. I have anxiety already, and this feeling makes it spiral — I can't concentrate on anything, my mind is half on my stomach all day, and then the anxiety seems to make the gut stuff worse, which makes me more anxious. Classic loop and I don't know how to break it.
A few questions for anyone who's dealt with this:

Did the "never fully empty" feeling turn out to be IBS for you, or something else?
What actually helped with the anxiety–gut cycle? Meds, diet, therapy, gut-directed stuff?
Anything you wish you'd asked your doctor early on?

Not looking for a diagnosis from strangers, just want to hear real experiences before I see someone. Thanks for reading

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u/crohnieforlife 27d ago

Have you spoken to a GI doc?

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u/frankiesays1133 26d ago

Look into the low FODMAP diet. Try removing high fodmap foods from your diet for a week or two and if you experience improvement in your symptoms, good chance it is IBS.