I'm Back

Alright, folks. I know it’s been a long time, but I’m back at it and hitting the ground running.

First of all, I owe everyone an apology for disappearing for so long with no explanation. You all deserve better than that from me. In short, I developed and still live with a severe case of IBS that fundamentally altered my life and took years to get under control. Between seeing doctors and specialists, constantly experimenting with different foods, supplements, and medications, and still forcing myself to stay fit, I had no room for anything else.

So now that I do have everything under control and am ready to get back in things here, the first thing I want to do is go over that I learned over those years that I was gone. I don’t want anyone out there to have to suffer the way that I did. To be clear: I’m not a doctor or any other sort of medical specialist. Always consult with your doctor before doing anything involving your health. With that said…

1. Don’t wait, see your doctor

You probably know the difference between just being sick or having eaten bad food. If something is wrong with your digestion for more than a day or two, see your doctor. Don’t wait and try to “tough it out”. You’ll only be prolonging your treatment. Better to make the appointment and find out it was just food poisoning than be miserable for weeks when you could have been getting the issue addressed.

2. Seek out specialists

Depending on where you are in the world, the conventional medical community may not be able to help you. If they did, great. You can skip this one. I was not so fortunate. While I did have some great doctors, all they could do in the end was rule out other causes, recommend IBS-related nutrition(more on that later), and prescribe me medications. Which got me part of the way, but not where I needed to be. I ultimately had to seek out private specialists For the specific dietary and supplemental guidance I needed to get where I am now, where I can at least live a stable life around my condition.

I recognize that this can become expensive. It was for me. But if you have gone through the entire process with the formal medical community, it is something worth considering. Just be discerning. Exercise skepticism and be careful not to act out of desperation. I know that can be challenging. Chronic pain does things to us. Unfortunately, there are people out there who will take advantage of anyone to make a profit. Exercise discernment, but be open to things outside the norm.

3. Nutrition

Even when you are a completely healthy, what you are eating and drinking is extremely important. When you start to suffer from a digestive medical condition, it becomes absolutely critical. I can only speak from my own experience developing extremely sensitive IBS and still wanting to be as healthy as possible.

Your first stop is going to be the “Low FODMAP Diet”. If you have never been on any kind of nutrition plan before, this is going to initially feel very restrictive. It might even feel that way even if you have been following a nutrition plan. That is how I felt, and I had been rigidly disciplined on my food intake for years. However, this is one of the best things you can do for yourself if you have been told that you have IBS. Do not try to compromise and only follow part of it. Your body will punish you. Follow it strictly and see if it helps.

Another thing you may want to consider is seeing a dedicated nutritionist, ideally one that specializes in digestive disorders. This was one of the things that helped me finally get stabilized.

4. Keep up with your workouts

This one was very difficult for me. There were days when it felt nearly impossible. I will, however, tell you from experience that it absolutely matters. On top of the benefits of staying fit and strong, regular exercise helps your digestion. I know it is hard and painful when you are going through something like this. But it helps. Force yourself to do it.

Conclusion

Any kind of medical issue can throw a serious wrench into your life. This has fundamentally and permanently changed the way I live. But if we are resilient and determined, we can find ways to adapt. I may not be a doctor, but I am someone that can say from experience that if you persevere, you will find a path forward.

For anyone struggling with IBS in particular, you are welcome to reach out to me directly. I am happy to share additional details with you about exactly what I did, who I worked with, and what got me back to a functional state where I could start doing this again. My highest priority is always going to be helping all of you get to a better, healthier place.