I was diagnosed with IBS when young, am now middle aged. Never had it too badly, but got worse over time. It seems to run in my family. My main symptoms are gas, some spasm pain and discomfort. With my Dr we have gone through possibilities of certain food triggers over the years and after investigating couldn't find any, apart from very slight bloating after garlic and chickpeas, which wasn't an issue.
So we have settled on stress. I have certainly suffered my fair share of that! It doesn't seem to take a definite pattern with the stress - so it can flare up after the stress has passed, etc, so difficult to predict.
But recently I have definitely noticed something odd when I look back over my life.
I have always hovered around the lower healthy weight range, though not intentionally.
I eat a good balanced diet of healthy foods with occasional treats. Nothing outstanding either way. I drink red wine moderately, don't smoke, and enjoy yoga, hiking and cycling.
Like many people I will gain or lose a few lbs then my body just somehow goes back to its 'normal'.
I have noticed that my IBS flares up solely when I put a few pounds on, and I mean A FEW - like as much as just 4lbs. I rarely go over that regardless my lifestyle, so appreciate that I am probably just lucky there (for now, lol).
But how on earth could such a small variation trigger IBS flares? It definitely seems to be the case.
Many of us vary around 2-4lbs just going through a menstrual period or eating something salty. It also does not seem to have altered either during or after meno, just the same old weird thing since my 30's.
If anyone has experienced anything like this I would love to know, as it seems unusual.