Wanna share my IBS / stomach issues journey. Btw, i think this thread should be pin. If you search in their section for IBS/bloat/stomach/gerd/ etc, you'll see many sufferers.

Some basic info abt myself: Female, late 30s, non smoker, almost non existent alco lifestyle and I exercise 3-4 times a week. BMI is 20-21. Since around 18 years old, i must admit that i don't always take regular meals ie rice/noodles + meat + vege. Sometimes I skip rice altogether for a meal. BUT i do my best not to ever go hungry. I have also tried intermittent fasting, where I don't eat for 15 hours. I just eat "light". As i've aged, freaking stomach issues/IBS/watever it is... has been disturbing my sleep for reals. Since the Pandemic started, it's been worse.

-Since i was a kid, i've always had constipation issues altho i took a LOT of fruit. Im talking about 1 whole papaya almost daily, with 2-3 mangoes/chinese pears or watever was in the season at that time. I use to only pass motion once in 2-3 days and even then , i would strain... i believe it was the pressure my parents gave me coz they did it on the daily.

-Diagnosed with piles/hemorrhoids when i was 16 years old. Tho i think i started earlier, coz i recall having on/off sharp pains when passing motion. Constipation and not often shittin lasted until 20s.

-Suddenly late 20s/30, i started shittin 3-5 times a day, altho not a whole lot each time. And i noticed my stools were kinda soft....not exactly watery, but on the softer side. My diet didn't change a whole lot. I mean, i ate a variety of different things everyday but of course staples like rice is pretty much everyday. Oh, n my other regular is coffee + milk + sugar or 3 in 1, everyday. Just a cup usually,

-After 1-2 yrs of being like that, i decided to go for endo and colonoscopy, but seemed like the doctors couldn't find anything amiss and they said likely to be IBS.

-As I went into mid 30s (say about 4 years ago), i started needing to fart a WHOLE lot. I was always a burper since teens, but not much of a farter. Can say morning time, i can fart loudly up to 5-8 times. Day time as i am working n stuff, i don't really notice. But hell, when night comes... that's where lots of discomfort happens. I always felt this "disturbing" sensation on my lower left waist (it's almost like a pressure of some sort), which radiates to the back. Few doctors have told me that's where the shit is stored  or that possibly my stomach has extended. When i fart, it feels better, but not completely. Sometimes to feel more comfy, i have to sleep with my fist under that part. FYI this sensation on my left has been with me on/off since i was a young adult in 20s, however, it wasn't as often as now. Back then maybe i get it once in 1-2 months, but the past couple of years, it is like every OTHER DAY!! And one more damn odd thing, when i run/jog for say 30 mins non stop, i realise i get  a kinda pain there too. Then i have to walk it off. Dunno wth is that, nobody can gimme an explanation. If someone can, please do! Hernia or wat??
Also, back to this farting/burping thing, at night when i'm trying to sleep, but i can't due to the air in my stomach which makes me have to fart another 5-8 times sigh

-Now with the pandemic, since then... i have mysteriously lao sai/cirit birit but usually it'll last a day then back to normal. Sometimes, i even wonder if i kena Covid, but without fever/breathing/flu symptoms...... instead, i got the laosai symptoms  take for example, 4 days ago i laosai 4 times, but mostly air and stools were like bubbles. Then next day ok. Suddenly on the 3rd day, laosai again few times that day. Today, no stools at all as of now.

I plan to go for another round of endo/colonoscopy maybe in a few months time. I have also decided to start lemon water every morn to see if it helps. GPs have told me to stop coffee, or to eat proper meals because when i leave my stomach hungry for too long, then there will be an acid built up etc. both my GPs and specialists seem kinda reluctant for me to go for endoscopy/colonoscopy coz they said i don't fit the criteria for someone who may have colon cancer: too young and no history in my family of colon cancer. But i think i need to go as to have some kinda peace of mind.