Ok, I don't even know if this is the right forum to post this in, because I don't know if I have IBS or not. I guess that's what I'm trying to find out.

Warning.. this post contains descriptions of not so pretty things!

So.. here goes. For a long time now (a couple years, I don't even remember), I never had what one would call "normal" bowel movements. I never was a 'once a day' type of person. It was more like, 2 or 3 times a week. I did not really have any annoying symptoms in relation to that, so I did not worry.

Now... what's happening is that for the past couple of months, things are pretty much always changing. For example: For 3 weeks straight, I'll go every day and pass a stool that's pretty much normal, albeit a bit on the diarrhea side in terms of uh.. appearance. Then I won't go for 2 days or 3 days and feel bloated. Then I go, but it's very soft and not well shaped, with undigested food still visible. This goes on a few days, then back to constipation. When I'm constipated the "urge" is still there I guess, but it's about impossible to pass anything. What comes out is on the smallish side and hard. Edited to add: in between these phases I sometimes have a lot of gas too...

This is very annoying, I seldom have a normal BM. Thankfully it does happen but.. yeah.. a rare occurrence. Now, the thing is I've read everywhere that people with IBS get lots of cramping, and I never have cramps. Also, even when I have a diarrhea-like BM, it's not really diarrhea because it's only once a day.

I'm at loss here! I don't seem to see any connection between my diet and the symptoms. I eat pretty much the same foods consistently. I eat about 30 to 40 grams of fiber a day, and drink my water. One thing I've noticed is that sometimes some psychological reasons seem to play a role in my constipation, because if I am not home or for whatever reason I'm somewhere I don't "want" to use the bathroom, then it's like my body can sense it and I won't go. Later even if I try I still physically can't. But anyway.. that's just a minor aspect, cause most of the time this problem doesn't come up and still I have.. well.. all the problems listed above! Help please!

Hi there,

Id always say to be checked by a Dr but this could be IBS. You say you dont have cramps but that could be normal for you as IBS is Irritable Bowel SYNDROME which means it consists of lots of different symptoms and so everyone varies in their bowel habits and problems that they may or may not have. I very very rarely have loose BM but suffer badly with constipation. I also have bad gas and extreme bloating but all depends what I eat. I have B12 anaemia too and anxiety plus Im in a very active job which all affect my IBS. Your diet sounds ok but if youre like me eating fibre WONT help your IBS it will worsen it. I also cant eat white bread and suffer with orange juice, yet spice and hot food doesnt affect me as much as salad or veg. Each person is different but check with GP and keep notes on everything you eat and your feelings etc.

Hope this helps a little

If you haven't already you need to be checked by a gastroenterologist to make sure nothing else is going on. That is the place you really need to start. He/she can help you out with medications and tips that may help you become more 'regular'. It's REAL important to rule out more serious problems first, and then they come up with the diagnosis of IBS....after everything else is ruled out. At least this is the general rule, IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion.

That said, it could be IBS because IBS isn't one set of symptoms all the time. It can be a variety of symptoms that come and go or just come and stay.

I hope you get things straightened out soon....and see that doctor!!