So, I've been informed that April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month. I guess it's so disruptive to one's quality of life that this has to be listed on the U.S. National Health Observances calendar to help others be more aware of this condition.
According to various articles found on the internet, it is estimated that 10 to 15% of the global population is affected by IBS, and up to 45 million people living in the United States are living with this gastrointestinal disorder daily. In Singapore, a community study done in 2017 found that 20.9% of the Singapore population has IBS and the statistics is on the rise. That's about 1.1 million people who suffer from this!
Wow, I feel more comforted now to know that I'm not alone in this journey.
So what exactly is IBS?
It is a chronic disorder with symptoms like abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and altered bowel habits like diarrhoea, constipation or both. The symptoms come and go, can be mild or severe, and may flare up suddenly after a meal or taking food that triggers. You can blame it on stress too. Basically, the cause is pretty unknown.
Two out of 3 IBS sufferers are females and people younger than age 50 are more likely to develop IBS.
How is IBS diagnosed and treated?
The doctor will have to rule out "red flags" for certain medical illnesses with similar symptoms based on clinical history and routine tests in order to diagnose IBS. There is NO CURE for IBS - current treatment involves managing the symptoms with medications. However, I have also read from some medical websites that a treatment is possible, but it is a long-term process.
My most embarrassing moments with IBS
I have IBS-D, that means my IBS issue comes with diarrhoea. I can't remember exactly when I started having IBS symptoms, but I highly suspected it could be linked to my ectopic pregnancy back in 2014. The fertilised egg attached itself to the wall of my intestines and caused internal bleeding.
Till now, I have yet to figure out my IBS triggers, but I notice there are some brands of coffee which gives me the runs shortly after I drink them. Sometimes it's after a spicy or heavy meal.
When I feel the urgent need to move my bowels, I HAVE TO GO. If I wait for the abdominal pains to ease a little or if I had taken a longer time to find a toilet, that would be disastrous because it would be TOO LATE. Embarrassing to say it publicly here, there were many unfortunate occasions where I soiled my undies.
At the peak of my IBS condition, it caused a lot of inconveniences to my work and social life. The worst was on "that day". I remember it was a work day and my students had a Chemistry practical exam. I was the supervisor for two labs and my role was to ensure the exam ran smoothly. Somehow, during the exam, my tummy started "churning" and cramping. I tried to bear with it as I was worried if any student needed my help while I was not around.
Within a short period, the abdominal pains escalated to a level where I knew I had to rush to a toilet. Thankfully the staff toilet was within 20m from the science lab. I dashed over, only to realise that I had started "leaking".
By the time I sat on the toilet bowl, I was in a mess.
The toilet cubicle was in a mess.
I looked at the mess I created and I almost broke down in embarrassment and anxiety. Feeling frenzied, I cleaned up the mess and threw my soiled undies and wished no one would discover this little secret. I almost "died" when I overheard a colleague exclaim in shock when she went in and saw the state of the toilet.
I never left home without spare undies after that day.
Since then, I saw a specialist who told me that I could possibly have IBS and prescribed 6 months of medications to "calm" my gut. That was 2 huge bags of pills. He also suggested a colonoscopy, but I didn't take up his suggestion back then.
Over the years, my IBS issue has reduced but I still have the symptoms. When I tell my family that I need to use the toilet, they understand the urgency and speed up in whatever they are doing or make way for me to get to the toilet in time. I no longer bring spare undies out but I'll be sure to keep a lookout for a toilet within close vicinity when I'm out in public space.
Zencoso Chewable Ball from BE International
Recently I found that after taking an enzyme supplement for a few months, it has helped with my IBS issues. My stools now have a shape and I can control my bowels better because they are not loose like before. My bloating issues have also stopped after diligently wearing the Aulora pants since May 2020.
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| Started taking Zencoso on 6 Aug 2020 |
Zencoso is a naturally fermented plant essence using 98 types of specially selected plants from Brazil and Japan. With its traditional Japanese natural fermentation technology that has been around since 1979, the Zencoso balls are power packed with co-enzymes and co-factors which effectively maintain enzyme function in our body. This helps to improve our metabolism and promotes healthy bowel movement too.
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| 5 Uniqueness of Zencoso |
I have kept my little secret for more than 10 years, only sharing with my closest circle of friends. Today, I'm sharing it with you to let you know that if you have been suffering like me, there is a possible solution out there for you. Instead of managing the symptoms with medications, why not use a product which is natural and rich in nutrients to regain your quality of life?
Of course, you might be thinking, what works for me might not work for you. Please read up on your own to make a better judgment and feel free to connect with me for more info about my IBS experience or about Zencoso Chewable Ball. This enzyme product has also helped people with IBS-C (constipation).
Ways to connect with me: Facebook Messenger | Instagram | Email me at simplylambchops@gmail(dot)com
Do share this post with anyone who also has IBS issues and is seeking a solution. Thank you for sharing!
