Hi people!
My name is Diego and I am 22 years old. In fact, I turned today 22 and I can assure you that this is the worst birthday of my entire life. Five months ago I was diagnosed with IBS but I have experiencing symptoms for 8 months. I am writing this to you because today, after 8 months of fighting all the symptoms and the stress, I am feeling I just want to give up. I hope writing this to you will make me feel better in a way.
The symptoms I am experiencing include bloating, difficult to empty my bowel (i go like 7-8 times a day to the bathroom), reflux, persistent belching after larger meals like lunch, dry mouth and skin. I am experiencing from time to time no GI related symptoms like fatigue and headaches.
I have consulted 4 gastrenterologists, one surgeon and one nutritionist and I am still suffering. Right now I am following the therapy of the last gastrenterologist I consulted, who was the only one that did not doubted that my symptoms are real and even showed some empathy. With the nutritionist I tried the FODMAP diet but it did not worked so much for me.
Right now I am on psyllium, PPIs for the reflux and antispasmodics. I am considering on my own to start waking up every day at the same time, having breakfast, lunch etc. about the same time to figure out if a more scheduled eating program helps me feel better. My onle question is, could this work?
To be honest I do not know if i have any courage and strength reserves to fulfill this program on my own but I am gonna try it. Be strong people but if one day you start feeling too alone, helpless and depressed SEEK HELP. It’s not a shame. It’s not being weak. It’s being a human.
