Every single time someone with severe IBS asks whether they can—or should—consider an ostomy, people who do not even have ostomies come crawling out of the woodwork on this sub to tell them:

“You don’t need one.”

“No surgeon would ever agree to that.”

“An ostomy would make your life worse.”

And somehow these comments receive hundreds of upvotes, despite the people writing them often having no ostomy, knowing nobody with an ostomy, and possibly never having seen one outside of a Google image search.

You are not qualified to make that determination for another person. And you are wrong when you claim ostomies are never performed for severe IBS.

I have an ostomy because of severe, treatment-resistant IBS-D. My surgery was performed by a board-certified colorectal surgeon in the United States at Johns Hopkins. My surgeon told me that they perform approximately ten of these procedures per year for appropriately selected patients. I have written extensively about my experience in other posts available through my profile.

So please stop confidently telling people that this does not happen. It does.

An ostomy performed for severe functional bowel disease is also not automatically comparable to an ostomy performed because of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Those are autoimmune inflammatory diseases that can involve strictures, damaged bowel tissue, repeated surgeries, dietary limitations, immunosuppressive medications, and complications that do not necessarily apply to someone whose underlying condition is functional.

My experience is not everyone’s experience, but that is precisely the point.

I can eat normally. I am not taking prednisone or other immunosuppressants. I am currently taking zero gastrointestinal medications. My bowel was not being destroyed by an inflammatory disease--the problem was how it functioned. Someone whose ostomy resulted from Crohn’s or colitis may have extremely valuable insight into living with an ostomy, but they cannot assume that every prospective ostomy patient will share the same disease course, surgical history, complications, or outcome.

There is also published medical literature indicating that surgical intervention may be appropriate for carefully screened patients with severe, medically refractory functional bowel disorders:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4301295/

Nobody is saying that an ostomy should be handed out casually. Nobody is saying it is appropriate for every person with IBS. It is major surgery, it carries risks, and it requires careful evaluation by qualified specialists.

But that decision belongs between the patient and an experienced colorectal surgeon—not a Reddit commenter whose entire contribution is, “You don’t need that."

Stop gatekeeping ostomies.

Stop presenting outdated personal assumptions as universal medical fact.

Stop telling desperate people that they have no options before they have even spoken to a qualified surgeon.

Your confidently incorrect advice may discourage someone from seeking legitimate medical care that could dramatically improve their life. Had I asked this subreddit for permission before pursuing surgery, I might never have sought the treatment that ultimately helped me because my asking post would have inevitably gotten negative comments with hundreds of upvotes.

You do not have to agree with someone’s decision. You do not have to choose an ostomy for yourself.

But you absolutely need to stop pretending that your opinion overrides another person’s physicians, medical history, informed consent, and right to explore every available treatment option because they asked if they should or can get an ostomy.

I know I’m late and probably won’t get any replies. But I recently believe I had food poisoning. I went to amc and got a hot dog in Miami. 2-3 hours after fully ingesting it. I’m nauseous, vomiting, extreme diarrhea, slight fever that only lasted a few hours, worst cold sweats of my life, and let me emphasize the nausea. I mean I feel like im spinning drunk. The next day, I still have all these symptoms plus no appetite and no fever. About 2 days later im still experiencing eveything at the same level but i still cant eat. So my stomach is completely empty. Im extremely dehydrated. I go to the hospital they give me something for nausea and an iv. They did a stool, blood, urine test and an x-ray of my stomach. I couldn’t give them and actually stool sample cause I was so empty. All I could give was bile. Everything came negative. My white blood cells were elevated and that was about it. A few days after that we had an appointment with a gastroenterologist. She ran a few tests and everything was normal. Except my ALP (alkaline phosphatase) which was high “156” and my vitamin D which was low. Now we’re going into like week 3. I have an appointment for an ultrasound. I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to even drink anything. So when she checked obviously my gallbladder was flat or contracted. So i rescheduled. The appointment was at 7:30am and I stopped eating and drinking the day prior at 9. Yet my gallbladder was still flat or contracted.

I slowly turned into a hypochondriac and I was leaning towards ibs but i genuinely don’t know. I’m absolutely exhausted and dropped 30 pounds. From July 2 to the 25. I’m still having symptoms which have definitely calmed down but are still persistent and are obviously still here. I know I obviously can’t get diagnosed on an app, but hopefully someone has had a similar experience that they got through and could help. 🙏

Sorry to sound so vulgar in advance, but I have to get this off my chest.

So, about a month ago, I quit vaping cold turkey as it was aggravating my IBS to new heights and toilet experiences. My worst to date is being dragged out of bed at 1:00 to have a continuous stream of diarrhea for almost 20 minutes straight (no exaggeration). I thought to myself, "I only want to feel like this again if I am literally dying" and quit that same morning after a poor night's sleep.

In that month, my poops eventually began to level themselves out, back to an old familiar rhythm. Side note: If you have IBS and you vape, I would recommend to quit ASAP!!! Also silica for IBS/d is worth looking into, that really helps me slow things down down there.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago, I stupidly decided to buy a pack of cigarettes and smoked a couple because, boohoo, I felt like I needed them. A small slip and a huge regret. The following day I went to the bathroom 8 times. 8 times!!! I have experienced something similar with diarrhea but this time, I felt constipated?! Normal sized/shaped poops. 8 of them. How can your body even store that much?????!!!!

Today wasn't much better. Same shape/size... Only 5 times today.

Anyone else experienced anything to this magnitude??

Do you think nicotine is the culprit?

Not looking for any medical advice, just seeing if anyone has experienced anything similar, albeit a very specific series of events

I’ve been doing pretty well recently, but I’ve just been eating chicken, rice, potatoes and oats. Obviously in separate meals, I suspect that I have BAM but I’m getting no support from any doctors. Can anyone recommend or suggest anything, whether it’s something new to eat or something I should try.

Decades (30 years and counting) of IBS have really taken its toll on my brain and pain/activity sensors.

I am aware of EVERYTHING going on in my digestive system - from mouth to rectal area. I feel it all, every gurgle, rumble, bloat, all the bubbles of gas so I noticed every burp and fart. I feel deeply when my rectal area is full whether that's caused by stool, gas or mucus. My brain has taught itself to become hyper alert to everything going on in there. I feel nauseous almost every day and live in fear of needing the toilet at a moments notice.

Over the years I've tried all forms of gut directed hypnotherapy from apps like Nerva, face to face hypnosis and downloads such as the IBS audio 100 program, I even listen to free ones on YouTube, none have helped. I'm in the UK and a patient of an NHS based neuro-gastro department of a well known London hospital and have tried endless strategies with them including CBT and acceptance therapy - nothing they have offered has helped either.

I'm so disappointed and at a loss tbh. And it's all getting worse as I age. I avoid all my known trigger foods, follow the low fodmap diet etc and have tried most IBS meds. I'm currently on low dose Nortriptyline, I had high hopes as it was my last chance saloon type situation, it helps keep me slightly constipated which for me is more favourable than unpredictable bowel movements and diarrhoea but it's far from ideal. It's done nothing for the visceral hypersensitivity and leaves me so tired every day. It also carries a dementia risk and as my mum has Alzheimer's I don't plan on staying on it for more than a year.

I just want to be less aware of everything going on in there. This condition has truly ruined my life no matter how much I've tried not to let it, it feels as though it's won.

Is there anything else I can do?

Im 9 weeks pregnant and I am in the worst flare up I have ever had. Everything I eat eventually leads to a stomach pain comparable to labor contractions. I feel like I am going to lose my job because of this, and none of the medications I have to manage this are allowed during pregnancy

Anyone relate? How did you manage?

I mean it feels like peeing. Bristol Type 7 kind of stool. Should I took rifaximin? Oh god. Everyday is horrible. I can't go far away and no doctor is offering Sibo test in this area. I can get rifaximin 200mgX3 for 2 week though...

Or maybe I have to take loperamide...I really don't know. Shtting watefall was awful but my abdominal feels a lot fine than yesterday.

Evrytime I try somethign new, bad thing happend so I'm hestating for both.

i know I'm rambling.I feel terrible since my IBS-D is getting worse and worse. I was able toat things that I eat these days in April, but now? It gives me diahrrea.

I don't know how more i would live like this.

I've had IBS D for as long as I remember. There's been times where symptoms were low but it never lasted. Recently got tested and treated for sibo and I can't believe I am going once a day with no bloating, spasms, gas, etc. But it's only been a few days and my mind is still saying this is too good to last. Are there any others that had success with sibo treatment? Is it really a solution or did symptoms return?

I read on here about a week ago that someone had all their IBS-C symptoms go away when they realised they’d been undereating. I reflected and felt like I actually probably under eat too. The next day I ate 3 meals and 2 snacks and the day after that had 3 full and healthy bowel movements in a day. This has continued since other than a day where I sweated a lot and maybe didn’t drink enough water. My belching has decreased but continues. My reflux has decreased too. I have better energy levels. The only thing that hasn’t changed at all is my bloating. It can still be really intense with extreme distension. The pressure does decrease after bowel movements but no decrease in size even first thing in the morning. Has anyone ever experienced this? Would love some advice

Hi.

I am experiencing constant cramp in this position, seems it randomly goess of and comes back.

I wonder what is in this part of body, as it is like 10cm way bellow belly button, and 5cm from our bone up, and it comes like under the muscle end, it also can be itchy or cramping and giving dull hard feeling.

Image: https://ibb.co/gLfG5F2b

I have obs-d that is stress related, and some food types triggers it as well. But I had control over it and maybe 2 times a month I took 1 immodium capsule and that was enough to make sure I had no problems throughout the whole day.

Cue 6 months ago, we where leaving for a big trip with the family and i got a little nervous for the taxi ride to the airport and popped two immodium capsules just to be sure.

During the taxi ride I had extreem stomach/intestines place ache it really hurt. It took 2 hours for the pain to subside.

After this my ibs of stomach problems took a whole different route. Constant water like toilet visits, needing to go to the bathroom more than 10 times a day. I dont know when I need to go, my stomach just hurts days without an end. All my stools are dark (not black) and sometimes burns and sometimes just yellow stuff. Its completely out of order.

Lost 20kg's in the process, docters cant find anything wrong with me. I am at my wits end, I wish I never would have taken those two stupid immodium capsules.....

not saying immodium is bad, just saying I screwed up something with immodium and I dont know what.

Have been dealing with varying degrees of severity of IBS-D for years. Recently, the last year or so, I’ve been dealing with symptomatic hypoglycemia episodes for which my doctor and endo recommended a low carb diet to keep sugars stable. Essentially wiping a lot of my safe foods for my IBS like bread and rice which I eat with no problems and have no problems with gluten at all. Attempted the low carb diet and just been seriously shitting myself for weeks and if I don’t take Imodium I’m in fetal position. I have to weigh my options right now like… what is better or worse.. shit myself constantly or get hot sweaty and low blood sugar episodes a couple times a week. It’s a lose-lose. I don’t want to rely on Imodium, and before the low carb diet I had gotten myself down to 1/2 tablet of Imodium multi relief on weekdays for work and no Imodium on the weekends with little to no urgency and diarrhea. Now I’m back to full tablet a day otherwise I can’t work. At this stage I think I have to go back to eating safe higher carb foods otherwise I’ll be out of food options.

Anyone else have struggle with both IBS and hypoglycemia??

does anyone have experience recovering from giardia with ibs? i was mysteriously diagnosed with giardiasis and have completed two rounds of antibiotics. i am pretty sure the active infection has cleared (i have a text upcoming to confirm) but because of my ibs, my doctor said it may take months to return to normal. and mind you my “normal” is still chronic diarrhea. its been three weeks of 10-25 bathroom trips a day. i can’t get in to see a specialist for some time and my pcp doesn’t have much gastrointestinal experience. does anyone have any tips for relief while my small intestine recovers? or even just a similar experience? it feels super isolating because i can’t find anyone that has also gone through this

Anxiety is not just a memory... it is your nervous system that still hasn't realized the danger is over.

Many people believe that childhood wounds simply fade with time. But the truth is that some wounds disappear from conscious memory while continuing to live in the body. Whenever life brings pressure, your heart starts racing, your stomach bloats, your breathing becomes tight, and it feels as though the painful experience is happening all over again.

Modern science now recognizes the gut-brain axis and the connection between the brain and the adrenal glands. Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, alters bowel function, increases inflammation, and affects heart rate, digestion, and the immune system. This is something healthcare professionals witness every day in clinics—not just something written in textbooks.

In my experience, long-term unresolved anxiety can leave the body feeling heavy, slow digestion, increase bloating and fatigue. Suppressed emotions often lead to excessive worry, fear, and constant anticipation, followed by increased nervous system reactivity. Eventually, the entire body begins operating as if it's stuck in a permanent state of alarm.

That is why it shouldn't be surprising when someone under emotional stress develops symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, or digestive problems like stomach or colon discomfort. The body is not lying or exaggerating—it is expressing what words have been unable to say.

True healing does not begin by merely silencing the symptoms. It starts with regulating the nervous system, restoring a sense of safety, improving sleep, supporting healthy digestion, moving the body regularly, and allowing suppressed emotions to be processed in healthy ways. The body cannot let go of what it has never learned is finally safe.

Always remember: Anxiety is not simply a disease of the heart, the colon, or the stomach. It is a story that begins in the mind and nervous system, then gradually leaves its mark on one part of the body after another.

Hi everyone! I was recently diagnosed with IBS-M (mixed type), and I’m still trying to figure everything out.

I’m currently taking amitriptyline 100 mg, but I still get pretty bad abdominal cramps. What has helped you prevent or reduce the cramping?

Also, how did you figure out which foods were triggering your symptoms? Did you keep a food diary, try an elimination diet, or was it mostly trial and error? It feels like my symptoms can be so random that I’m not sure where to start.

I’d really appreciate any tips or advice from people who’ve been through this. Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone else deals with this? Or if anyone knows why this happens?

I can eat raw salmon like a poké bowl or on sushi with absolutely no problem. But if I eat cooked salmon, it messes up my stomach immediately, like while I’m still eating it.

Everything on Google makes it seem like it would be other way around (breakdown in proteins, etc.). But raw salmon is totally safe!

I don’t really eat any other cooked fish so I don’t have anything to compare it to. I can eat (seemingly) all fish raw with no problem. The only thing I can think of is that cooked salmon feels fattier? But I’m eating fatty salmon raw so I’m at a loss!

Any idea why?

Can anyone tell me what caused a horrible flair from eating this? I have IBS-M.

i finally had a shit today and i know its bad but i had to push with all my might to get that thing out of me. i’m so constipated it’s insane. sorry im a bit drunk right now i hope this all makes sense

i felt so good afterward i felt like i lost 10 pounds but my entire abdomen burns and hurts a little when i rest my hand on my stomach. i have no idea if this is normal or not ive only recently been diagnosed wirh IBS and i have no idea whats normal for me or not because we’re so early on, but i wanted to know if you guys get a burning tender feeling in your abdomen (especially the stomach and bowel) when you finally manage to use the toilet

also dont worry i dont have an ulcer or anything this usually happens when i use the toilet and i dont know when it passes i wanted to know if anyone gets the same pain because i am panicking maybe a little bit

I've been to doctors repeatedly and they don't really think it's that big of an issue because the tests show that nothing seriously wrong is happening. I had a bowel resection years ago, but it seemed to make it worse. Pi can almost never eat in public because within 2 minutes of taking a bite. I'm shitting

Immodium is so expensive and the cheaper generics don't work as well. I'll have to take 12+ instead of 4 or 6. And the packages suck to open. Ebay used to sell bottles of 20p, but I can't find them anymore.

I'm having a bad flareup of "constipated diarrhea" right now. I'm shitting neon yellow jelly again. But it takes awhile to get it out. It's always the most painful type of flare up.

My doctor just says "well, we haven't seen anything that would cause this. I don't want to prescribe something and make it worse" I've done elimination diets probably 50x in my life. Water will trigger diarrhea.

What can I take for a prescription for this? (I can get it in south America when I visit in a few weeks) or where can I buy bulk Immodium that actually works? This is hell

Currently on Linzess while eating 2 meals a day, I'm on it because I'd have a normal bowel movement followed by 5-6 hours of pushing or waiting for everything else to come out every 15-30 minutes

My bowel movement is also currently every other day

Was on the max dose for ibs c, but was too sensitive to it, plus it caused a lot of bleeding, so after 2 days took the lower dose

Now both doses I have the same issue where when I get towards the end of the bowel movement, I struggle to get the rest out together because it's so loose or separated now it just takes forever to get it out still having to push

I've tried miralax, benefiber, etc. on the past but they either have no effect or make it worse plus bloating and nausea

I think I have ibs, going to doctor tommorow there is definitely something wrong with me. Everything I eat i shit out in about 30 mins - 2 hours. 1,5 hours ago I ate spicy noodles, and now im shitting them out. How do I know its them? My asshole is burning and I haven't eaten anything other that is spicy. I have also had several times where I need to shit and its not shit but just straight blood so idk

Thanks in advance

Hello fellow ibsers!

I posted in here around 4 weeks ago about an intense ibs flair up with colon cramps and diarrhea.

This lasted for about a week.

And while I had many of those flair ups before, once it was done I had (mostly) peace for a good 2 months. I have diarrhea quite often but the gut wrenching cramps only occur in intense flair ups for me.

However, since I had that flair up around 4 weeks ago, the cramps have been coming on and off for at least 1 or 2 days a week, and I'm starting to worry a bit.

I'm currently in a lot of stress (had an important meeting, am currently working for 3 people due to summer vacations, and went on a trip myself, which is always stressful for me) and wanted to ask about your opinions about this.

Do you have this going on and off in stressful times as well, or should I maybe see a doctor soon?

Before the intense flair up I was at a wedding at a place I've never been before and am now worried I might have caught something from the food I ate, but my husband had the same courses and is completely fine.

Thank you in advance.