As someone with IBS who has only been told to avoid trigger foods and “relax”, thank you so much for this video. I didn’t know there are some medications that may help.
Limits you, takes up time, interrupts you, makes you late. Unpredictable. Hard to outsmart. You can do everything right, and one time it works, and the next time it doesn’t.
Exactly! Worst thing is the timing. You can be all ready to go somewhere or do something and symptoms hit and you can’t do anything once they have started. It’s a huge interruption and something people without it take for granted- they can go anywhere and eat anything and it won’t affect them
Psych NP here! Tons of crossover between GI and Psych. Obviously “stomach problems” are a common somatic symptom of depression and/or anxiety, but this video really helped me understand the physiology behind the “somatic” symptoms that I chart. Thanks! Keep doing good tube! Get it? Because UA-cam but also, you’re GI. Ah, you get it.
As a patient who was repeatedly told that their “somatic symptoms were due to anxiety” please ensure that patients are getting checked out for medical conditions. I had undiagnosed ulcerative colitis for a number of years because my symptoms weren’t taken seriously due to being deemed medically unexplained and dismissed as somatization and anxiety, when I couldn’t actually access the medical are because I was labeled as anxious. It becomes a vicious circle that undermines trust in both medical and mental health providers.
@@carlyar5281 I definitely try to always consider what physically could be going on with a patient, even when the symptoms aren’t physical. This is a good reminder for sure.
Thanks so much for this video, it felt really validating. It sucks being in pain and not being able to control it but feel like everyone thinks you're just not trying hard enough to relax.
He did say that you may not realize you’re stressed. And I’d like to add, as an IBS sufferer, that stress isn’t always bad. One could be stressed by an upcoming vacation, the birth of a child, retirement - all good stressors, but stressors none the less. I do feel your pain about people being dismissive about it. Walk a mile in my shoes and say it’s all in my head! Good luck, I hope you find something that gives you relief. 🙂
I have IBS-D. Some days have 1 BM and others up to 15. It is horrible when I want to go some place but depends on my IBS at the moment. The good thing is I can tell you were all the bathrooms are in stores
My IBS C is so severe that I am on 2 prescriptions and 3+OTCs daily. I have other gastro issues on top of it, but when I go to the doctor, they just shrug at me. I have gone to major hospital systems that literally rolled their eyes when I said IBS. It is literally killing me, and it is so frustrating how some of these doctors are so hard set in their ways and not open to anything. They just put me on pills and called it a day 😢 I wish there were more accessible providers like you who truly care and understand…
Have you seen a gastroenterologist? My regular doctor wasn’t much help, mainly because he doesn’t specialize in it. Seeing a gastroenterologist is where everything changed for me. I was placed on just one medication (but I have IBS-D) and given suggestions on supplements and probiotics, suggestions on my diet (I am also lactose intolerant) and most important, treated as a person with a real diagnosis! He knew it was serious, not in my head and something that could be managed and treated. It’s sometimes finding a specialist and one who is good and caring to make all the difference
This was one of the most best descriptions of IBS I’ve ever witnessed. Let alone in a little over 2.5 mins. You looking around at the end like you had just run a race.
My doctor diagnosed me with IBS. Since I already have an autoimmune disorder, I was so relieved to find out it wasn't Crohn's or ulcerative colitis that I never even thought about trying to make it better. 😂
It's been mentally exhausting trying to manage IBS in hand with other dietary restrictions. Thank you for this informative video! 🥺💕 I truly feel less alone.
If you are diagnosed with IBS and you develop red flag signs PLEASE report them to your doctor! Just because you have a diagnosis of IBS doesn’t mean you can’t develop other GI conditions. I was diagnosed with IBS 9 years ago and repeatedly told that my symptoms were due to “anxiety”. My when my symptoms were really bad I would have blood in my stool. It turned out that I had a large polyp (adenoma) discovered 6 years ago, and last year we discovered I have ulcerative colitis. The latter might explain the unintentional loss of 40lbs over 4 years. So don’t hesitate to go back to your doctor if you have red flags signs.
@@drnateswyou can’t cure IBS. Yes a dietitian can help and I’ve seen one and it helped me avoid triggers. But I’ll never cure my IBS- listen to him in the video, there is no cure
It runs (pun not intended 😄) in my family. About 75% of my maternal side has it. I have alternating ibs and have had it since I was about 6 years old. It got more intense at puberty, especially when stressed or period time. It tapered off in severity in my 20's (typically period time or a mega stress day). Got worse in my 30's (diarrhea 1-2 times a week, constipation the rest) Now I'm in my early 40's and it's the worse I've ever had it. I'm flaring up about 2-3 times a week, for 4-6 hours at a time (diarrhea). Mine is so incredibly painful that I throw up from the pain. I've nearly passed out a few times as well. As soon as I'm done with the diarrhea, it reverts right back to constipation until the next diarrhea flare. I've gone through all the tests and most of the meds you can do. I know my triggers, so that helps some. (Stress, hormones, carbonation, excessive amounts of sugar, and fake sugars). And sometimes I swear it flares just to flare. I've missed dr appts, family things, friend things, so much work over the years, fun things (because fun stress is still stress), and nearly missed my bff's wedding. It's such an aggravating disorder. Most people don't understand unless they have it themselves or a loved one has it and they witness it first hand of how miserable it can be.
Stay strong! You got this 🤗 Have you ever thought about sibo might be triggering your symptoms? I thought I had ibs as well. But lately I was thinking this mystery ibs should have a cause. Stress, food and other triggers in my opinion are caused by ibs. I mean ibs originated in our gust first triggering the other factors. So I wonder what causes the ibs? There should be something physical in the gut? And I think it might be sibo. I have read sibo produces hydrogen or methane or both. Hydrogen gas causes diarrhea and methane causes constipation. This makes so much sense to me.
@@SM-le4vx And that's a perfectly logical thought. Like I've been looking into every possibility and discussing them with my doctors. However, all my tests come back negative for stuff. My colonoscopies are clear, endoscopies are clear, stomach tests are clear, and other tests come back clear. I have been checked for bacterias in my stomach and intestines, all negative for bad bacteria. So the 'what we are left with' is ibs. And I hit all the criteria for ibs as well. I've done different food changes to see if that helps. Especially since I alternate between constipation and diarrhea. I am also allergic to many things that you aren't supposed to eat on the food map diet. Following it hasn't helped me at all ibs wise. Allergic to wheat and had to stop eating that about 7 years ago. I've tried doing a low carb low sugar diet, but that didn't help either. I'm fairly certain my increase in frequency is both stress and hormones. My mom got worse right before and during menopause. I'm getting fairly close to her age when it all started for her, so I'm thinking that is a big part of the increase in intensity. Thank you for the suggestion of what it might be, I am always open to new ideas of how to fix it or be more comfortable overall. 🙂
@@Allducksgotobed Sorry to hear that! I myself am in the middle of an elimination diet, trying to figure if anything will work. I know very well the pain of not being able to eat the food as normal. All I want is to sit with my family cook and enjoy the food! Stay strong! It will be just wonderful if our body can figure things and miraculously heal. My prayers and wishes to you ❤️
Oh my gosh I feel attacked. Kidding, but this hits home for me. I tried changing my diet, exercising more, eating more frequent small meals instead of "breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacking". Nothing helped. I've gone back to my eating habits (not completely though. I still moderate my food intake, don't eat before laying down to sleep (which usually means 2 hours minimum before falling asleep lol), drink water more when I've had pop, etc. But idk. I was suffering even after changing everything, so I figured "why am I making my life sucky, when letting go of everything 'bad for me' didn't make a single difference??" I'm hoping a new GI will find a better medication for me, because I really can't suffer through another colonoscopy/endoscopy just to be told I still have IBS, here's the same medication that isn't really working :D
SIBO in simple terms is bacterial overgrowth inside the small intestine. Some of its symptoms are loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, etc. Antibiotics can help in treatment, but it's always best to visit your family doc. Hope this helps :)
IBS was diagnosed for me at 16. All they did was give meds that made me sleep. Useless. Took me 2 more years to get a full allergy testing panel. Turns out it was food allergies that were becoming more intense as the years progressed. 10 years and a full diet reset, and I know what my triggers are and I can eat at restaurants without fear of being trapped in a restroom for hours in public. ( I dislike the idea that meds are the only answer). Give me a clear cause and effect and I'll listen. Tell me it's because I'm a DR...and you are on my shit list.
Some days I wish I would just pass on. IBS-D is a sentence. Thanks for speaking on it. I’ve not found a treatment, yet, that works. I’m not giving up, yet.
I was sort of diagnosed with IBS, and I probably do have it, but as it turns out, I'm also egg intolerant, and that was causing most of my symptoms, but because I was a psychiatric patient, it was easier to say IBS than actually test for something. I should probably have pushed further for tests at the time, but you tend to trust your doctors, even if it's not their speciality. Though, is there a test to determine intolerance to eggs? A food diary seems like the only real option if I understand things correctly.
Your stuff is funny. It's given you a platform. It's wonderful you have put it to such good use. (I am not a sufferer, but I have many friends who are. I will share it with them)
The antispasmodics were helpful years ago until GI said not necessary, stopped them, and recommended increasing fiber to all of us in the "class". That was not a great move for my lifelong IBS, fiber sure pulled water into the gut, but meant incontinence.stopped that. So I dropped to OMAD. It makes life easier and less waste to deal with.
Was diagnosed with IBS without any tests ordered or any options of management even discussed by three doctors. Had to be coached by a pre-med family member on what to say before my GI Specialist would do anything more than a balloon test. Turned out my gallbladder was full of enough stones that there was a concern that I might end up running to the ER for surgery in a few months time for removal had they not finally ordered the ultrasound. I can understand age not ligning up with expectations for certain health problems but I hated having to lie to a provider just to get a 5 min ultrasound done. Worked with the GI doctor for over two years complaining about the issues prior to the coaching and reported to the doctors 5 years before that.
Hey doc I wanted to thank you for putting these type of videos out there + your comedy skits. I am 31 years old and getting my first colonoscopy next month and I’m pretty afraid. I really hope my doctor is a compassionate and professional as you.
I've been living with this for over 30 years. So much of my childhood was ruined because of it, but Linzess has made it so I can poop, but still have to be near a bathroom. I used to have to dedicate every weekend to "clear out my system" with laxitives. I have tried every single treatment you could think of in the 30 years. More fiber? Didn't work. More greens? Didn't work. Fiber supliments? Didn't work. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. It sucks, but thankful for them making Linzess. Helps me for the most part keep me from being backed up constantly (Getting bowel blockages more than 2-3 times a week) I know when i get them because for me, they give me fever like symptoms and make me very sluggish and you can also feel how hard the lower stomach area is.
Man these diagnosis criteria sure makes it easy Ive always been like 'I am not sure but i think i might have ibs' But now i know i can probably go 'i probably have ibs' Cause everything ive checked with doctors seemed normal, And the criteria apply to me All I'd need for the proper diagnosis is testing for all the possible confounding diagnoses
I like this video as much as anyone can like anything to do with IBS 😅. Having my first kid and nursing, then another kid kept all IBS symptoms away for 7 years. Then when I resumed birth control with estrogen, I had IBS symptoms within hours. Symptoms stopped a few weeks after switching to a progestin only pill and stayed away for one year. I’ve restarted the testing/treatment journey and go to GI in a few weeks.
My boyfriend finally killed himself over this disease, now I feel bad for all time times I told him he was making it up since I couldn't find a diagnoses anywhere.
Depending on how we understand pain, it could either all be in your gut or all be in your 'head'... both could even describe the same pain. I know I know, not what the video is about. Thank you, Doc, for your great videos, wonderful humor and humoring me.
No, that's a old paradigm that shouldn't be used anymore - and isn't being used by people who research pain. The new model is that pain is biopsychosocial! This means all three components plays in. Pain is the output of signals that reach the brain where it is then interpreted and used to tell you something is wrong. In some cases it can be screwed up, so the signals the brain receive get interpreted as something that should cause pain, even if it shouldn't!
@@gorillaguerillaDK I am not talking about pain from a medical treatment standpoint. I am literally referring to the nerve signals being sent to the brain. Of course the treatment modality is going to not simply going to be guided by a simple nerve impulse. We don't treat arm pain by cutting off an arm or angina by removing the heart. Obviously medical research is going to follow models that support effective treatment modalities. I work primarily inn mental health where a biopsychosocial model is needed.
I think I have mild IBS. My abdominal discomfort and the other symptoms go away in response to nicotine. That probably isn't the best treatment for my long-term health, but it works well and is available OTC, so I'm mostly satisfied with it for now.
Doctors are totally aware that opioids also help with the pain and diarrhea but are to afraid to use them because of the stigma attached. Paragoric was a great one for me this but most have never heard of it. I was given it for food poisoning forty years ago and it worked great. It had 1 refill. Tasted and smelled like Jagemiester.
Loperamide is an opioid that doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier (so it acts on the intestines but not on the brain). It's available OTC in many countries.
hemorrhoids are mainly caused due to swollen veins around/inside the rectum area. High-fiber food and pain relievers can help, but its best to visit a doc. Hope this helps :)
I was diagnosed with IBS several years ago and cutting FODMAPs was huge for me. But I really, really missing gluten. 😂😭 Is there any research/potential medications that could help bodies with IBS process FODMAPs?
10 plus year IBS patient here. Please mention 2 types of fiber to your patients, made a huge difference in symptoms. I was just diagnosed with over active bladder & surprise no more IBS. ( I know it's like which came first IBS or oa).
"your pain is not all in your head" Yes it is, pain is the output signal! This doesn't mean it's not real - signals from the inflamed tissue, or the surrounding tissue, are send via nerves to the brain that uses pain to tell you something is wrong! Saying "pain is all in the head", is factual, but the way some people frame it, and others misunderstand it, is wrong! Yes, the sensation of pain can also be worse due to other factors - and to some extent various methods can be used to cope with pain, but this doesn't mean that "pain isn't real" or "just in your imagination". Issues such as increased sensitivity can cause sensations that wouldn't normally feel painful to become intolerable. So we always have to take pain serious - and we need to drop the old paradigm of pain and see it within a biopsychosocial model where it's not either or, but at any time, all three components!
Thank you. I have always had all of these issues throughout my life long before I got symptoms of UC. Even without my colon I get these issues, with a lot less pain and gas buildup, which mostly means I have to pay more attention to hydration.
I have ibs (mimicking ibd, I was incorrectly diagnosed at first due to ulcerations and inflammation ) secondary to eds. Stress is a major trigger, but not the cause. The cause is rooted in my delicate soft tissue, and slow motility. I have to be very careful about what I eat and I take dicyclomine daily to help cut down on symptoms.
i’ve been having a horrible past few days with my IBS. i haven’t been able to stop pooping for 4 days and i know i’m dehydrated, but i feel so nauseous that if i drink water i feel like i’m going to vomit. i’ve been going to my GI but i’ve had no luck with medications and the psychotherapist isn’t going to be able to see me for at least 5 months. i’m at a loss for what to do. anyone have any advice?
Please talk to your doctor right away. You could have an infection or something else that isn't just IBS, and it sounds like dehydration is a real risk with those symptoms. Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional.
I can barely eat or drink during flare ups. Water makes my stomach absolutely cramp during those times, and I'm so nauseated that things don't want to stay down. I have found that Pedialyte helps me most of the time. I prefer the powder packs (think crystal light to go packs) because I don't always drink the full pedialyte container before it goes bad. Some people have had luck with sports drinks, but I don't like them. Fun fact: if you drink pedialyte when you are dehydrated, it tastes super sweet. If you are hydrated enough, it tastes salty.
I would love to hear about congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID) at some point as a GI disease of the week. I hear that CSID is hard to diagnose and that even though its congenital, symptoms sometimes don't show up until a patient is an adult, and I have no idea how that works.
CSID can be detected by a bowel biopsy, some of its symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea etc. CSID is a chronic disease that can never be outgrown, but once diagnosed, taking help from a dietician can be beneficial. Hope this helps :)
Great video! Doc, may you cover microscopic colitis (like what I have- lymphocytic colitis)? I had never even heard of it when my GI doctor diagnosed me with it. I'm really glad he had the idea to take biopsies when I had my colonoscopy so that the pathologist would find it, but I'm sure there are lots of folks out there who would benefit from knowing that this disease exists.
Oh, I see that you did just last week! 😅I will say though that I benefited quite a lot from doing a FODMAP trial and avoiding the foods I ended up being most sensitive to (fructans and lactose), so even though symptoms can't be completely eliminated through diet with microscopic colitis, it's anecdotally helped me and several other people I've connected with who have it. The doctor didn't want to put me on steroids because I'm so young (24).
Oof, finally a video I disagree with. Let's not buy in to the extremely harmful assumption that "all in your head" is the sane thing as meaningless, or not real. And let's especially not fall into the trap of saying psychological treatment (e.g. for anxiety) isn't real or sufficient treatment. ALL pain is "all in your head" and it frequently has psychological causes or treatments. Chronic pain medicine has a huge problem where patients think they're being dismissed when their pain is probably psychological, or are unwilling to try psychological treatments. This is because of harmful attitudes like the one in this video. Psychological symptoms and treatments are real and often the best treatment available.
As someone with MCAS, I’m curious if mast cell issues are linked with IBS. I certainly get IBS-like symptoms and most doctors still haven’t heard of MCAS, only mastocytosis. Considering how histamines and antihistamines can affect the gut, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find some linkage. Are there studies?
Is there any link between Coeliac Disease and IBS? I get IBS symptoms and an ultrasound showed my gallbladder etc was clear and frustratingly the first question I'm always asked is "Are you sure it's not your Coeliac Disease?" Trust me...I'd be redecorating the bathroom if it was my Coeliac Disease -.- The lack of help with it is annoying.
Oooh, great video! I had such severe symptoms (pain and constipation) for about a solid year of my life that I was run through all kinds of tests at 26. Youngest person waiting for a colonoscopy the day I went in by decades! The doctor told me everything was clean and essentially told me that if laxatives were all that helped, go for it 🫠 I’ve made a few dietary changes and coincidentally discovered that a little caffeine every day keeps things in order enough that I don’t have to take a more dedicated laxative. Still haven’t solved the opposite end of things (occasional stints of painful nights in and out of the bathroom), I will ask about an as-needed medicine for that!
I have dysautonomia and I genuinely wonder if my stomach issues are due to my ANS not working right. I basically get diarrhea/bloating/cramps an hour and a half to two hours within eating fatty foods. I know it's not lactose intolerance because it can be olive oil that does it. I keep telling myself it's not so bad, I don't need to see a gi doc, it's just a waste of time but at the same time, it sucks to have to avoid a lot of foods. Maybe this year is the year I finally address it.
I got it after food poisoning and control it with a combination of hflc and lowFODMAP and take a medical food (Holigos). I do see a GI Doc. Could you explain how food poisoning can cause IBS;
Thank you so so much. I have a question. Mine is severe. On the toilet, it can kick in. A lot of pain. Like labor. I get flushed or hot. I have to strip and usually I just go straight to the floor and lay in front of a fan. This is the constipated part of the attack. After resting, I don't faint, I may or may not be able to go. If I do, then the pain subsides. There is often some mucous in my stool. Is this just a bad case of IBS. I was dx with it many many years ago.
Hey Doc!! Love your videos. Suffering from IBS...loose stools, sorry everyone lol. Are there certain foods that I should omit or add to my diet? Thanks!!!!
TCAs might benefit you in the short run provided they're prescribed by your family doc, but they have harmful side effects in the long run. Hope this answers your ques :)
@@fatemaha7453 TCAs are for lowering visceral hypersensitivity. They didn't work for me as my IBS manifests more like chronic pain syndrome where the muscles of my pain response are so sore that it triggers itself
@@fatemaha7453 paroxetine is safe to use, no harmful side effects have been associated with it so far, but it's best to consult your doc before taking any of these pills :)
I’m currently in the “trying to figure it out” stage. I do have a question for you. If you already have one autoimmune disorder, does this make you more prone to another, whether it’s IBS or something else? Thanks Doc Schmidt!! You’re the best!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I've heard correlation theories as well. I know for me personally, I have endometriosis and boatloads of food/environmental/medication allergies. And most things I read say there is a link.
As someone with IBS who has only been told to avoid trigger foods and “relax”, thank you so much for this video. I didn’t know there are some medications that may help.
I take dicyclomine an anispasmatic and it’s a life changer
hey, mild symptoms can often be controlled by managing stress and by making changes in your diet and lifestyle, small changes go a long way :)
Limits you, takes up time, interrupts you, makes you late. Unpredictable. Hard to outsmart. You can do everything right, and one time it works, and the next time it doesn’t.
This is spot on! It’s such a frustrating disorder to try to manage 🙄
Exactly! Worst thing is the timing. You can be all ready to go somewhere or do something and symptoms hit and you can’t do anything once they have started. It’s a huge interruption and something people without it take for granted- they can go anywhere and eat anything and it won’t affect them
Psych NP here! Tons of crossover between GI and Psych. Obviously “stomach problems” are a common somatic symptom of depression and/or anxiety, but this video really helped me understand the physiology behind the “somatic” symptoms that I chart. Thanks! Keep doing good tube! Get it? Because UA-cam but also, you’re GI. Ah, you get it.
As a patient who was repeatedly told that their “somatic symptoms were due to anxiety” please ensure that patients are getting checked out for medical conditions. I had undiagnosed ulcerative colitis for a number of years because my symptoms weren’t taken seriously due to being deemed medically unexplained and dismissed as somatization and anxiety, when I couldn’t actually access the medical are because I was labeled as anxious. It becomes a vicious circle that undermines trust in both medical and mental health providers.
@@carlyar5281 I definitely try to always consider what physically could be going on with a patient, even when the symptoms aren’t physical. This is a good reminder for sure.
Thanks for this! I had went the doctors so many times being dismissed. Glad that the medical community in some part is trying to help 🥰
Good luck! Hope you get the care you need
Thanks so much for this video, it felt really validating. It sucks being in pain and not being able to control it but feel like everyone thinks you're just not trying hard enough to relax.
He did say that you may not realize you’re stressed. And I’d like to add, as an IBS sufferer, that stress isn’t always bad. One could be stressed by an upcoming vacation, the birth of a child, retirement - all good stressors, but stressors none the less. I do feel your pain about people being dismissive about it. Walk a mile in my shoes and say it’s all in my head! Good luck, I hope you find something that gives you relief. 🙂
Good luck to you!
Relax harder!!!!!! /s
I have IBS-D. Some days have 1 BM and others up to 15. It is horrible when I want to go some place but depends on my IBS at the moment. The good thing is I can tell you were all the bathrooms are in stores
This video was like a message directly to me.
Same.
Me too
My IBS C is so severe that I am on 2 prescriptions and 3+OTCs daily. I have other gastro issues on top of it, but when I go to the doctor, they just shrug at me. I have gone to major hospital systems that literally rolled their eyes when I said IBS. It is literally killing me, and it is so frustrating how some of these doctors are so hard set in their ways and not open to anything. They just put me on pills and called it a day 😢 I wish there were more accessible providers like you who truly care and understand…
Have you seen a gastroenterologist? My regular doctor wasn’t much help, mainly because he doesn’t specialize in it. Seeing a gastroenterologist is where everything changed for me. I was placed on just one medication (but I have IBS-D) and given suggestions on supplements and probiotics, suggestions on my diet (I am also lactose intolerant) and most important, treated as a person with a real diagnosis! He knew it was serious, not in my head and something that could be managed and treated. It’s sometimes finding a specialist and one who is good and caring to make all the difference
This was one of the most best descriptions of IBS I’ve ever witnessed. Let alone in a little over 2.5 mins.
You looking around at the end like you had just run a race.
I was honestly a bit out of breath 😅 Thanks for watching!
I just reread what I wrote. “Most best” lol.
My doctor diagnosed me with IBS. Since I already have an autoimmune disorder, I was so relieved to find out it wasn't Crohn's or ulcerative colitis that I never even thought about trying to make it better. 😂
hey, jokes apart 😅, hope you're taking the necessary precautions :)
It's been mentally exhausting trying to manage IBS in hand with other dietary restrictions. Thank you for this informative video! 🥺💕 I truly feel less alone.
dw, just trust the process, you'll be fine 😊
Thank you for making content like this! It means so much to people who struggle with "invisible" disorders
If you are diagnosed with IBS and you develop red flag signs PLEASE report them to your doctor!
Just because you have a diagnosis of IBS doesn’t mean you can’t develop other GI conditions.
I was diagnosed with IBS 9 years ago and repeatedly told that my symptoms were due to “anxiety”. My when my symptoms were really bad I would have blood in my stool. It turned out that I had a large polyp (adenoma) discovered 6 years ago, and last year we discovered I have ulcerative colitis. The latter might explain the unintentional loss of 40lbs over 4 years. So don’t hesitate to go back to your doctor if you have red flags signs.
Seeing a dietitian made a huge amount of difference for me, learning what food triggers the symptoms.
that's a great step towards getting cured, may you stay healthy 😊
@@drnateswyou can’t cure IBS. Yes a dietitian can help and I’ve seen one and it helped me avoid triggers. But I’ll never cure my IBS- listen to him in the video, there is no cure
It runs (pun not intended 😄) in my family. About 75% of my maternal side has it. I have alternating ibs and have had it since I was about 6 years old.
It got more intense at puberty, especially when stressed or period time. It tapered off in severity in my 20's (typically period time or a mega stress day). Got worse in my 30's (diarrhea 1-2 times a week, constipation the rest) Now I'm in my early 40's and it's the worse I've ever had it. I'm flaring up about 2-3 times a week, for 4-6 hours at a time (diarrhea). Mine is so incredibly painful that I throw up from the pain. I've nearly passed out a few times as well. As soon as I'm done with the diarrhea, it reverts right back to constipation until the next diarrhea flare. I've gone through all the tests and most of the meds you can do.
I know my triggers, so that helps some. (Stress, hormones, carbonation, excessive amounts of sugar, and fake sugars). And sometimes I swear it flares just to flare. I've missed dr appts, family things, friend things, so much work over the years, fun things (because fun stress is still stress), and nearly missed my bff's wedding.
It's such an aggravating disorder. Most people don't understand unless they have it themselves or a loved one has it and they witness it first hand of how miserable it can be.
Stay strong! You got this 🤗
Have you ever thought about sibo might be triggering your symptoms? I thought I had ibs as well. But lately I was thinking this mystery ibs should have a cause. Stress, food and other triggers in my opinion are caused by ibs. I mean ibs originated in our gust first triggering the other factors. So I wonder what causes the ibs? There should be something physical in the gut? And I think it might be sibo. I have read sibo produces hydrogen or methane or both. Hydrogen gas causes diarrhea and methane causes constipation. This makes so much sense to me.
@@SM-le4vx And that's a perfectly logical thought. Like I've been looking into every possibility and discussing them with my doctors. However, all my tests come back negative for stuff. My colonoscopies are clear, endoscopies are clear, stomach tests are clear, and other tests come back clear. I have been checked for bacterias in my stomach and intestines, all negative for bad bacteria. So the 'what we are left with' is ibs. And I hit all the criteria for ibs as well. I've done different food changes to see if that helps. Especially since I alternate between constipation and diarrhea. I am also allergic to many things that you aren't supposed to eat on the food map diet. Following it hasn't helped me at all ibs wise. Allergic to wheat and had to stop eating that about 7 years ago. I've tried doing a low carb low sugar diet, but that didn't help either. I'm fairly certain my increase in frequency is both stress and hormones. My mom got worse right before and during menopause. I'm getting fairly close to her age when it all started for her, so I'm thinking that is a big part of the increase in intensity.
Thank you for the suggestion of what it might be, I am always open to new ideas of how to fix it or be more comfortable overall. 🙂
@@Allducksgotobed Sorry to hear that! I myself am in the middle of an elimination diet, trying to figure if anything will work. I know very well the pain of not being able to eat the food as normal. All I want is to sit with my family cook and enjoy the food! Stay strong! It will be just wonderful if our body can figure things and miraculously heal. My prayers and wishes to you ❤️
Oh my gosh I feel attacked. Kidding, but this hits home for me. I tried changing my diet, exercising more, eating more frequent small meals instead of "breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacking". Nothing helped.
I've gone back to my eating habits (not completely though. I still moderate my food intake, don't eat before laying down to sleep (which usually means 2 hours minimum before falling asleep lol), drink water more when I've had pop, etc.
But idk. I was suffering even after changing everything, so I figured "why am I making my life sucky, when letting go of everything 'bad for me' didn't make a single difference??"
I'm hoping a new GI will find a better medication for me, because I really can't suffer through another colonoscopy/endoscopy just to be told I still have IBS, here's the same medication that isn't really working :D
IBS sufferer here. It's very important that we all talk about this! 11 percent of the pop is a lot of people for us to pretend we don't exist!
Thanks for covering this! IBS definitely runs in my family, and lucky me I got it. Along similar symptoms I think, could you talk about SIBO?
SIBO in simple terms is bacterial overgrowth inside the small intestine. Some of its symptoms are loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, etc. Antibiotics can help in treatment, but it's always best to visit your family doc. Hope this helps :)
I have not even watched the video as yet and I just want to say thank youuuu so much Doc Schmidt!! Love you for putting this up on my request ❤️😌
Happy to help!
@@Doc_Schmidt thank you so much 😌
IBS was diagnosed for me at 16. All they did was give meds that made me sleep. Useless. Took me 2 more years to get a full allergy testing panel. Turns out it was food allergies that were becoming more intense as the years progressed. 10 years and a full diet reset, and I know what my triggers are and I can eat at restaurants without fear of being trapped in a restroom for hours in public. ( I dislike the idea that meds are the only answer). Give me a clear cause and effect and I'll listen. Tell me it's because I'm a DR...and you are on my shit list.
Loving your disease series doc!❤
Thank you!
Thanks for letting us know about IBS Doc Schmidt 💐
I’ve been trying a low FODMAP diet and it’s helped a lot!
Some days I wish I would just pass on. IBS-D is a sentence. Thanks for speaking on it. I’ve not found a treatment, yet, that works. I’m not giving up, yet.
I was sort of diagnosed with IBS, and I probably do have it, but as it turns out, I'm also egg intolerant, and that was causing most of my symptoms, but because I was a psychiatric patient, it was easier to say IBS than actually test for something. I should probably have pushed further for tests at the time, but you tend to trust your doctors, even if it's not their speciality. Though, is there a test to determine intolerance to eggs? A food diary seems like the only real option if I understand things correctly.
Your stuff is funny. It's given you a platform. It's wonderful you have put it to such good use.
(I am not a sufferer, but I have many friends who are. I will share it with them)
I appreciate that! Hopefully it can provide some beneficial information
The antispasmodics were helpful years ago until GI said not necessary, stopped them, and recommended increasing fiber to all of us in the "class". That was not a great move for my lifelong IBS, fiber sure pulled water into the gut, but meant incontinence.stopped that. So I dropped to OMAD. It makes life easier and less waste to deal with.
Was diagnosed with IBS without any tests ordered or any options of management even discussed by three doctors. Had to be coached by a pre-med family member on what to say before my GI Specialist would do anything more than a balloon test. Turned out my gallbladder was full of enough stones that there was a concern that I might end up running to the ER for surgery in a few months time for removal had they not finally ordered the ultrasound. I can understand age not ligning up with expectations for certain health problems but I hated having to lie to a provider just to get a 5 min ultrasound done. Worked with the GI doctor for over two years complaining about the issues prior to the coaching and reported to the doctors 5 years before that.
Hey doc I wanted to thank you for putting these type of videos out there + your comedy skits. I am 31 years old and getting my first colonoscopy next month and I’m pretty afraid. I really hope my doctor is a compassionate and professional as you.
I've been living with this for over 30 years. So much of my childhood was ruined because of it, but Linzess has made it so I can poop, but still have to be near a bathroom. I used to have to dedicate every weekend to "clear out my system" with laxitives. I have tried every single treatment you could think of in the 30 years. More fiber? Didn't work. More greens? Didn't work. Fiber supliments? Didn't work. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. It sucks, but thankful for them making Linzess. Helps me for the most part keep me from being backed up constantly (Getting bowel blockages more than 2-3 times a week) I know when i get them because for me, they give me fever like symptoms and make me very sluggish and you can also feel how hard the lower stomach area is.
CBD oil was the game changer for me. Debilitating symptoms for more than 26 years, too many specialists to count. CBD oil gave me my life back.
hey, happy to know that :) CBD oil has great anti-inflammatory properties, but it might not work in all cases.
Man these diagnosis criteria sure makes it easy
Ive always been like
'I am not sure but i think i might have ibs'
But now i know i can probably go
'i probably have ibs'
Cause everything ive checked with doctors seemed normal,
And the criteria apply to me
All I'd need for the proper diagnosis is testing for all the possible confounding diagnoses
Please do a video about C. Diff. Most people have never heard of it.
I like this video as much as anyone can like anything to do with IBS 😅. Having my first kid and nursing, then another kid kept all IBS symptoms away for 7 years. Then when I resumed birth control with estrogen, I had IBS symptoms within hours. Symptoms stopped a few weeks after switching to a progestin only pill and stayed away for one year. I’ve restarted the testing/treatment journey and go to GI in a few weeks.
I'm loving these videos 😻
My boyfriend finally killed himself over this disease, now I feel bad for all time times I told him he was making it up since I couldn't find a diagnoses anywhere.
Depending on how we understand pain, it could either all be in your gut or all be in your 'head'... both could even describe the same pain.
I know I know, not what the video is about.
Thank you, Doc, for your great videos, wonderful humor and humoring me.
No, that's a old paradigm that shouldn't be used anymore - and isn't being used by people who research pain.
The new model is that pain is biopsychosocial!
This means all three components plays in.
Pain is the output of signals that reach the brain where it is then interpreted and used to tell you something is wrong.
In some cases it can be screwed up, so the signals the brain receive get interpreted as something that should cause pain, even if it shouldn't!
@@gorillaguerillaDK I am not talking about pain from a medical treatment standpoint. I am literally referring to the nerve signals being sent to the brain.
Of course the treatment modality is going to not simply going to be guided by a simple nerve impulse. We don't treat arm pain by cutting off an arm or angina by removing the heart.
Obviously medical research is going to follow models that support effective treatment modalities. I work primarily inn mental health where a biopsychosocial model is needed.
I want more info on the ibs/autism link. Soooooooooo many we have interacted with in that community struggle with GI issues.
Heightened sensory feedback seems like it could be the common link. Your brain doesn't know to ignore all that gut feedback/dull it down.
The Bloated Belly Whisperer by Tamara Duker Freuman helped me figure out my stomach after my gallbladder removal didn’t get rid of all my pain.
I think I have mild IBS. My abdominal discomfort and the other symptoms go away in response to nicotine. That probably isn't the best treatment for my long-term health, but it works well and is available OTC, so I'm mostly satisfied with it for now.
I was thankfully diagnosed with IBS fairly quickly due to my mom also having it
Doctors are totally aware that opioids also help with the pain and diarrhea but are to afraid to use them because of the stigma attached. Paragoric was a great one for me this but most have never heard of it. I was given it for food poisoning forty years ago and it worked great. It had 1 refill. Tasted and smelled like Jagemiester.
Loperamide is an opioid that doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier (so it acts on the intestines but not on the brain). It's available OTC in many countries.
Thank you Dr.
I have both IBS and lactose intolerance. -3/10 do not recommend.
Love the education you provide. Can you cover hemorrhoids!
hemorrhoids are mainly caused due to swollen veins around/inside the rectum area. High-fiber food and pain relievers can help, but its best to visit a doc. Hope this helps :)
I was diagnosed with IBS several years ago and cutting FODMAPs was huge for me. But I really, really missing gluten. 😂😭 Is there any research/potential medications that could help bodies with IBS process FODMAPs?
hey, FODMAP is actually a great way to reduce the symptoms by 85%, it really benefits people having IBS and SIBO
10 plus year IBS patient here. Please mention 2 types of fiber to your patients, made a huge difference in symptoms. I was just diagnosed with over active bladder & surprise no more IBS. ( I know it's like which came first IBS or oa).
Most of it can be improved with a changed diet
"your pain is not all in your head"
Yes it is, pain is the output signal!
This doesn't mean it's not real - signals from the inflamed tissue, or the surrounding tissue, are send via nerves to the brain that uses pain to tell you something is wrong!
Saying "pain is all in the head", is factual, but the way some people frame it, and others misunderstand it, is wrong!
Yes, the sensation of pain can also be worse due to other factors - and to some extent various methods can be used to cope with pain, but this doesn't mean that "pain isn't real" or "just in your imagination".
Issues such as increased sensitivity can cause sensations that wouldn't normally feel painful to become intolerable.
So we always have to take pain serious - and we need to drop the old paradigm of pain and see it within a biopsychosocial model where it's not either or, but at any time, all three components!
Thank you. I have always had all of these issues throughout my life long before I got symptoms of UC. Even without my colon I get these issues, with a lot less pain and gas buildup, which mostly means I have to pay more attention to hydration.
always when I'm upset or nervous and with bad pelvic pain.
I have ibs (mimicking ibd, I was incorrectly diagnosed at first due to ulcerations and inflammation ) secondary to eds. Stress is a major trigger, but not the cause. The cause is rooted in my delicate soft tissue, and slow motility. I have to be very careful about what I eat and I take dicyclomine daily to help cut down on symptoms.
i’ve been having a horrible past few days with my IBS. i haven’t been able to stop pooping for 4 days and i know i’m dehydrated, but i feel so nauseous that if i drink water i feel like i’m going to vomit. i’ve been going to my GI but i’ve had no luck with medications and the psychotherapist isn’t going to be able to see me for at least 5 months. i’m at a loss for what to do. anyone have any advice?
Please talk to your doctor right away. You could have an infection or something else that isn't just IBS, and it sounds like dehydration is a real risk with those symptoms. Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional.
I can barely eat or drink during flare ups. Water makes my stomach absolutely cramp during those times, and I'm so nauseated that things don't want to stay down. I have found that Pedialyte helps me most of the time. I prefer the powder packs (think crystal light to go packs) because I don't always drink the full pedialyte container before it goes bad. Some people have had luck with sports drinks, but I don't like them. Fun fact: if you drink pedialyte when you are dehydrated, it tastes super sweet. If you are hydrated enough, it tastes salty.
I would love to hear about congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID) at some point as a GI disease of the week. I hear that CSID is hard to diagnose and that even though its congenital, symptoms sometimes don't show up until a patient is an adult, and I have no idea how that works.
CSID can be detected by a bowel biopsy, some of its symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea etc. CSID is a chronic disease that can never be outgrown, but once diagnosed, taking help from a dietician can be beneficial. Hope this helps :)
@@drnatesw That is helpful, thanks! Sounds like bowel biopsy is the way to go, I am surprised its not diagnosed by some kind of genetic test though!
Great video! Doc, may you cover microscopic colitis (like what I have- lymphocytic colitis)? I had never even heard of it when my GI doctor diagnosed me with it. I'm really glad he had the idea to take biopsies when I had my colonoscopy so that the pathologist would find it, but I'm sure there are lots of folks out there who would benefit from knowing that this disease exists.
Oh, I see that you did just last week! 😅I will say though that I benefited quite a lot from doing a FODMAP trial and avoiding the foods I ended up being most sensitive to (fructans and lactose), so even though symptoms can't be completely eliminated through diet with microscopic colitis, it's anecdotally helped me and several other people I've connected with who have it. The doctor didn't want to put me on steroids because I'm so young (24).
SIBO. Please do SIBO it's so new and treatment is so poor.
Please look for a connection between IBS and functional auxiliary bile ducts.
Cover EDS!
Hey have you looked at using Osteopathic manipulative treatment for ibs?
Interesting!
Can you do the topic portal vein thrombosis?
Oof, finally a video I disagree with. Let's not buy in to the extremely harmful assumption that "all in your head" is the sane thing as meaningless, or not real. And let's especially not fall into the trap of saying psychological treatment (e.g. for anxiety) isn't real or sufficient treatment. ALL pain is "all in your head" and it frequently has psychological causes or treatments. Chronic pain medicine has a huge problem where patients think they're being dismissed when their pain is probably psychological, or are unwilling to try psychological treatments. This is because of harmful attitudes like the one in this video. Psychological symptoms and treatments are real and often the best treatment available.
I was told I have ibs... ihave incisions ventral hernia... oh my god the pain is intense
As someone with MCAS, I’m curious if mast cell issues are linked with IBS. I certainly get IBS-like symptoms and most doctors still haven’t heard of MCAS, only mastocytosis. Considering how histamines and antihistamines can affect the gut, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find some linkage. Are there studies?
Is there any link between Coeliac Disease and IBS? I get IBS symptoms and an ultrasound showed my gallbladder etc was clear and frustratingly the first question I'm always asked is "Are you sure it's not your Coeliac Disease?" Trust me...I'd be redecorating the bathroom if it was my Coeliac Disease -.- The lack of help with it is annoying.
Can you make a video about Bile acid diarrhea? How common is if for people who have removed the gallbladder?
How can a mental health professional learn more about the therapy you speak of?
Oooh, great video! I had such severe symptoms (pain and constipation) for about a solid year of my life that I was run through all kinds of tests at 26. Youngest person waiting for a colonoscopy the day I went in by decades! The doctor told me everything was clean and essentially told me that if laxatives were all that helped, go for it 🫠
I’ve made a few dietary changes and coincidentally discovered that a little caffeine every day keeps things in order enough that I don’t have to take a more dedicated laxative. Still haven’t solved the opposite end of things (occasional stints of painful nights in and out of the bathroom), I will ask about an as-needed medicine for that!
0.25mg of alprazolam controls mine, and has for decades.
I have dysautonomia and I genuinely wonder if my stomach issues are due to my ANS not working right. I basically get diarrhea/bloating/cramps an hour and a half to two hours within eating fatty foods. I know it's not lactose intolerance because it can be olive oil that does it. I keep telling myself it's not so bad, I don't need to see a gi doc, it's just a waste of time but at the same time, it sucks to have to avoid a lot of foods. Maybe this year is the year I finally address it.
I got it after food poisoning and control it with a combination of hflc and lowFODMAP and take a medical food (Holigos). I do see a GI Doc.
Could you explain how food poisoning can cause IBS;
Thanks. This was great. But what’s FODMAPS? (Did I get that right)?
so would nerve inhibitors like gaba help? relax the hypersensitive axis?
My doctor just told me to relax. Ugh
Can ssri help? And what possible duration we look at in regards tricyclic use?
Thank you so so much. I have a question. Mine is severe. On the toilet, it can kick in. A lot of pain. Like labor. I get flushed or hot. I have to strip and usually I just go straight to the floor and lay in front of a fan. This is the constipated part of the attack. After resting, I don't faint, I may or may not be able to go. If I do, then the pain subsides. There is often some mucous in my stool. Is this just a bad case of IBS. I was dx with it many many years ago.
What are your thoughts on leaky gut syndrome?
Just wondering if IBS is ever undiagnosed IBD.
Could chronic IBS trigger lactose intolerance?
FODMAPs?
All pain is in your head 🤔
Can you have ibs without pain
Does this apply for post infectious IBS
Hey Doc!! Love your videos. Suffering from IBS...loose stools, sorry everyone lol. Are there certain foods that I should omit or add to my diet? Thanks!!!!
Let me tell you what I do. Buffalo Wing Sauce. I love the stuff. I could eat it on anything. It does not work.
@@starfoozer Hahaha!! Thanks for the tip!!😄
hey, jokes apart 😅, you can try BRAT - bananas, rice, apple, toast in your diet to firm up stool.
@@drnatesw good advice for sure.
@@drnatesw Thanks Doc!!
Diet containing FODMAPS? What is that?
Types of carbohydrates. You can learn more if you search “FODMAP monash university”
Are tricyclic antidepressants a save option to help manage IBS symptoms? I heard that they have a lot of side effects.
TCAs might benefit you in the short run provided they're prescribed by your family doc, but they have harmful side effects in the long run. Hope this answers your ques :)
@@drnatesw Thank you for the response. What would you suggest as an alternative to these medications for managing IBS symptoms?
@@fatemaha7453 TCAs are for lowering visceral hypersensitivity. They didn't work for me as my IBS manifests more like chronic pain syndrome where the muscles of my pain response are so sore that it triggers itself
@@drnatesw What about paroxetine?
@@fatemaha7453 paroxetine is safe to use, no harmful side effects have been associated with it so far, but it's best to consult your doc before taking any of these pills :)
I’m currently in the “trying to figure it out” stage. I do have a question for you. If you already have one autoimmune disorder, does this make you more prone to another, whether it’s IBS or something else? Thanks Doc Schmidt!! You’re the best!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I've heard correlation theories as well. I know for me personally, I have endometriosis and boatloads of food/environmental/medication allergies. And most things I read say there is a link.
@@Allducksgotobed I also have endometriosis. I finally have a GI and an GYN who actually care. I hope to figure something out soon!!
Is that an urine sample on the table?
Maybe
Lets talk about your vaccine propaganda
GI diseases only please
QUESTION DOCTOR. SHOULD I STILL GET THE COVID VACCINATION???