Hey 👋 Welcome to the community! I’m David, an IBS Specialist, and I created this group because I know how frustrating it is to deal with IBS alone. You’ve probably tried everything - diets, probiotics, medications and yet you’re still struggling to get real relief. If this sounds like you… 💡 This is your space to: ✅ Get expert guidance and ask me anything about IBS. ✅ Join weekly Q&As where I answer your biggest IBS questions. ✅ Access free IBS guides & resources to help you finally take control of your gut health. ✅ Connect with people who actually understand what you’re going through, because IBS can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Get the most out of the group by following these simple steps: ✅ Step 1: Introduce Yourself! 💬 Drop a comment below and tell us: - How long have you had IBS? - What’s your biggest struggle right now? ✅ Step 2: Check Out the Free IBS Resources! 📌 We’ve got expert resources on the Low FODMAP Diet, Food Diaries, Symptom Trackers, Fact Sheets and more. You can find them in the 'Classroom' tab above in the community section - We’ll be adding more as the community grows. These will usually be worth hundreds, but you get them for free! ✅ Step 3: Ask a Question for the Weekly Q&A! 📆 Every Monday, I’ll answer your biggest IBS questions in a live Q&A. Look out for the Q&A posts on Sunday of each week to ask your questions and come along! 💡 I’ll be here daily, answering your questions, sharing expert tips, and helping you get real IBS relief - so stay involved! -- 💰 Will This Always Be Free? Yes! This group will always be free for community support, Q&As, and expert insights. 💡 But I’ll also be adding exclusive VIP content, deeper workshops, and premium coaching options for those who want more personal guidance. No pressure, just extra help if you need it! 🔥 Let’s Get Started! You’re in the right place, and I can’t wait to support you. 🎉 💬 Drop a comment below & introduce yourself - let’s get to know each other! 👇👇

For years, managing IBS has been a game of trial and error. You cut out foods, try supplements, and maybe see progress—only for symptoms to return unexpectedly. But what if IBS treatment was as individual as your fingerprint? 🧬 AI-Powered Diets – The End of Food Guesswork? We all know about the Low FODMAP Diet, but it has its flaws - it’s restrictive, hard to follow, and doesn’t work for everyone. Scientists recently tested an AI-powered diet that analyses gut bacteria and creates a meal plan based on what your digestive system actually needs. The study found: ✅ Reduced bloating, diarrhoea, and gut pain ✅ Improved gut bacteria diversity (a sign of better gut health) ✅ Sustained symptom relief - without excessive food restrictions While AI can help personalise food choices, gut health is far more complex than an algorithm alone can solve. IBS often requires a mix of dietary, lifestyle, and gut-brain interventions for lasting change. 🔬 Gut Testing – A Step Towards Personalised Treatment? One of the biggest frustrations with IBS is that treatments feel random—what works for one person might not work for another. Researchers are now using breath and stool tests to uncover specific imbalances in IBS patients. These tests can measure: 🦠 Gut bacteria balance – IBS-D sufferers may have too much hydrogen sulphide gas, driving diarrhoea. Others might have bile acid malabsorption, which needs a totally different treatment approach. 🟢 Bile acid absorption – Around 30% of IBS-D cases are misdiagnosed and are actually bile acid diarrhoea. These cases need bile acid binders, not probiotics or restrictive diets. ⚠️ Post-infectious markers – If IBS started after food poisoning, lingering nerve damage might be the issue, meaning gut repair should be the focus, rather than just symptom relief. 💭 What This Means for You While these tests are promising, they are not yet mainstream and can be costly. However, many IBS triggers can already be identified through structured symptom tracking and dietary analysis. Whether using advanced gut testing or a systematic approach to food and lifestyle changes, the key to long-term relief is understanding what’s driving your symptoms.

"Don't worry, It’s Only IBS!” Sound familiar? That’s what my doctor told me all those years ago; dismissing my symptoms like they were no big deal. But if you’re here, you already know that IBS is more than “just” IBS. 🚀 The Beginning of My IBS Journey I was around 15-16 when I first noticed something was wrong. It started with small stomach cramps, urgent trips to the toilet and feeling bloated after meals. I chalked it up to too much sugar and cut back on snacks. But the symptoms didn’t stop. They got worse. Suddenly, I wasn’t just avoiding junk food, I was afraid of eating anything**.** Foods that seemed harmless one day would cause agony the next. My life became a constant guessing game of "Will this meal ruin my day?" Then came my mock exams. Sitting in a silent room, stomach churning, praying I wouldn’t need to make a mad dash to the bathroom. The fear of that moment became bigger than the fear of failing my exams. That’s when I knew something was really wrong. 🔎 Searching for Answers (And Hitting a Dead End) I went to the doctor, hoping for clarity. After a quick stomach exam and some blood tests, they ruled out anything "serious" and shrugged it off as exam stress. Fine. Maybe they were right. Maybe once my exams were over, this would all disappear. But it didn’t. It only got worse. I started avoiding social events, football with my friends, even family gatherings, anything that involved being away from a toilet for too long. My life shrank. So I went back to the GP, determined to get real answers. Their response? "You're probably stressed about your results now." At this point, I was furious. How could this still be about stress? I’d been dealing with this for over a year. My frustration must have been clear because, finally, they mentioned IBS. “If it’s not Crohn’s or Colitis,” they told me, “it’s nothing to worry about. It’s only IBS.” Only IBS? Really? A condition that’s forced me inside and to hide away from the world, is reduced to sounding like a mere inconvenience? That one sentence shaped my entire experience with this condition (and would later form the title of this community and my site: ItsOnlyIBS.com!)

Hey everyone! Just a reminder that I'll be hosting my first Live Q&A tomorrow (Monday 3rd March @ 8PM GMT) to answer your IBS-related questions and help you navigate your symptoms with confidence. 📌 How to Join: - The live session will take place inside our Skool community - Simply click the event in the calendar at 8PM GMT to join Or for ease click this link: https://meet.google.com/sfi-cfrr-rpj 💬 Drop Your Questions Below! If you have any IBS-related questions, comment them below and I’ll make sure to cover them in the session. Whether it’s about diet, gut health, supplements, stress management, or anything else IBS-related - this is your chance to get answers!

🌱 Have you heard of Glutamine? Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid naturally present in the body. It plays a key role in supporting gut health and has gained attention for its potential benefits in managing IBS symptoms. 🧪 How Glutamine Works Glutamine supports the body in several ways: ✅ Promotes New Cell Growth – Encourages the regeneration of healthy cells ✅ Decreases Intestinal Permeability – Helps prevent “leaky gut” ✅ Suppresses Inflammation – Exhibits antioxidant properties that reduce inflammation 💡 Glutamine and IBS For individuals with IBS-D, low levels of glutamine synthetase (an enzyme that helps break down glutamine) may contribute to increased intestinal permeability, leading to more frequent diarrhoea. Glutamine also influences gut microbiota by altering the gut environment. 📊 Research Findings A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that 15g of glutamine powder daily for 6 weeks, alongside a low FODMAP diet, significantly reduced IBS symptoms. Participants reported: ✔️ Improved quality of life ✔️ Better stool consistency ✔️ More regular bowel movements 📝 Additional Studies 🔬 In 2018, a study published in Gut found that 5g of glutamine twice daily for 8 weeks significantly reduced symptoms in post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) patients. 🤔 Should You Consider Glutamine for IBS? If you’re thinking about trying glutamine for IBS relief, it’s best to consult with a nutritionist first. Individuals with kidney disease, liver disease, or Reye’s syndrome should exercise caution. If you're wondering if it can work for you, then book a call with me here, and let's chat about it!