Please talk to me about IBS. I have lost nearly a stone in weight over the last 10 months. For someone whose weight is usually steady this is drastic. I'm also pretty skinny to start off with, so it's unwelcome. I've also noticed that my gut really isn't happy these days. I've always had to manage constipation as I've been prone to piles, but recently I've gone the other way. Whilst I'm regular, each morning I have horrible diarrhoea. Then I'm ok for the rest of the day.
The Dr has run blood tests and nothing flagged for concern. Next stage assumes there's a good intolerance.
So, how quickly do IBS symptoms kick in? Would it be fair to assume that because the diarrhoea kicks in after breakfast then it's something I have just eaten, or is it more likely to be something from a later meal the previous day? I ask because the only caffeine I drink is coffee at breakfast (it's not that - have tried elimination) and pretty much the only dairy is with breakfast too.
Surely it takes longer for food to reach the bowel & therefore I should be thinking about what I had for supper or even lunch the previous day? Or doesn't it work like that?
I'm loathe to go on a full restricted diet right now. I'm a fussy enough eater as it is! I'd rather try to look at individual food types first.