A Day in the Life of Someone with IBS

IBS month: Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Spotlight
April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, which means that this month brings extra attention to irritable bowel syndrome and the impact this condition can have. This blog takes you through a day in the life of someone with irritable bowel syndrome.

A Day in the Life
She starts her day. The curtains open and the sun gently streams into the room. Spring is in the air and becoming more and more noticeable. She feels relieved, because despite that knot of stress in her stomach, she feels rested today. In the bathroom, she runs a comb through her hair and indulges in a full morning ritual. Once she arrives in the kitchen, a colorful breakfast is already waiting for her in the refrigerator. It is carefully planned and prepared each evening for the next morning. Next to the breakfast, consisting of a bowl of yogurt, a handful of nuts, and a variety of seeds and fruits, are two large glasses of tea and water. For her, this is the recipe for a happy gut throughout the day ahead.

After the last bite, she glances in the mirror. It’s time to head out. Before rushing to the bus, however, she always has to take a moment to use the restroom. Finally, she locks the front door, and the scents of spring and the song of morning birds greet her.

She arrives just in time at the bus stop where the bus is already waiting for her. She doesn’t like bus rides, especially when she has a stomachache. And as it happens, an important presentation is on the agenda today. At the thought of it, she feels the stress rising more and more in her stomach. She knows this feeling all too well and knows she needs to find a distraction. The bus pulls away from the curb, and meanwhile, an audiobook plays through her headphones, which she tries hard to listen to attentively.

Once she arrives at the office, she rushes straight to the restroom. On the way, her colleagues greet her warmly. She responds with a quick nod; she’ll say hello to them in a moment.

When it’s time for the first coffee break, she finally finds some peace. The presentation is over, and after several compliments from her colleagues, a sense of pride and satisfaction has taken over from the stress. “I brought cake!” exclaims one of her colleagues. The cafeteria is filled with the aroma of coffee, while sunlight streams in through the large windows, creating a festive atmosphere. As the cupcakes are passed around, a dilemma takes hold of her mind. She knows that a piece of cake will cause her problems, but maybe it won’t hurt today? Around her, the cheerful voices of her colleagues mingle with bursts of laughter here and there. “I’ll pass,” she hears herself say when offered a cupcake with whipped cream and red cherries. Two wide eyes look at her indignantly: “Oh, what a killjoy!” someone exclaims jokingly.

“I brought my own snack,” she replies, holding up a small bowl filled with nuts and raisins. She takes a sip of tea and joins in the various conversations filling the cafeteria.

At the end of a productive workday, she walks into the gym humming. The sunny weather motivates her to get some exercise.

Even though she made the right choices today, she still feels a certain underlying tension in her stomach. So she opts for a soothing yoga class, which releases all the day’s tension.

Once home, she gets to work in the kitchen. On the menu today: a vegetable-rich meal and gluten-free pasta. With a meal like this, she knows she won’t have any cramps or stomachaches during the night. The door slams shut; her partner says good evening and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. It’s sometimes difficult to cook for the two of them; because of her complex dietary preferences, the choice of a tasty meal is sometimes limited. So today, she prepares two different dishes, so that she and her partner can enjoy a delicious meal, but above all without suffering from discomfort. Dinner is served at the table, where a candle is already burning, creating a warm atmosphere. Outside, the sun has already set and twilight is settling in. At the table, they talk at length about their day. Little by little, the sun gives way to the moon, and the end of the day has arrived.

This blog is inspired by the experiences of a person living with irritable bowel syndrome.