Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, IBS... what's going on?

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin 🙄
Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve been dealing with these horrific digestive issues that make life feel almost impossible... at times. My gut health is intensely tied to my mental state, plus my digestion is incredibly fast. I've been struggling with this misery for about 15 years now. Every single morning, if I don't properly clear out on the toilet, I am simply incapable of leaving the house. Some mornings I have to go five times just to get settled, and other days I'm just completely blocked—feeling all this pressure and cramping in my stomach, and even though nothing is hard, nothing will actually come out.
Whenever I have to travel or head out somewhere, especially early in the morning or late at night—even if things had been calm up until that point—everything flips in a matter of seconds. I get hit with cramps, gas, bloating... I immediately feel that pressure in my gut and have to rush to the bathroom, followed by instant diarrhea every two minutes. More than ten years ago, I went to see a doctor because of this; they checked everything out and said it was fine. Then, the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, whom I saw for a few months, and of course, she didn't help one bit.
On top of all that, my digestion is so rapid that I have to use the restroom every day. Sometimes I barely eat anything, yet the next day, three times more comes out of me than what I actually consumed. When my mental health is already hitting a low, this holds me back from leaving the house or even managing basic daily tasks. Over all these long years, I think I learned how to manage my digestion somehow, but despite that (especially lately), things have taken a turn for the worse. That reflex where my body just forces itself to go happens even when it shouldn't... and then I find myself having to rush back home even when there's nothing left to do.
I don't know if there's a cure for this or if I should just lock myself indoors and despair! 🤷
Maybe I've learned to live with it, but as the years pass, it's becoming exhausting. It's just draining. And when I finally venture out and that urge hits me... I turn green. I start sweating, I feel cold, I get these chills running through my entire body... and I honestly just get tired of living like this and enduring it.
Does anyone have any advice that might help me even a little bit?

Matthew Wood2 said:Honestly, I don't even know where to begin 🙄
Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve been dealing with these horrific digestive issues that make life feel almost impossible... at times. My gut health is intensely tied to my mental state, plus my digestion is incredibly fast. I've been struggling with this misery for about 15 years now. Every single morning, if I don't properly clear out on the toilet, I am simply incapable of leaving the house. Some mornings I have to go five times just to get settled, and other days I'm just completely blocked—feeling all this pressure and cramping in my stomach, and even though nothing is hard, nothing will actually come out.
Whenever I have to travel or head out somewhere, especially early in the morning or late at night—even if things had been calm up until that point—everything flips in a matter of seconds. I get hit with cramps, gas, bloating... I immediately feel that pressure in my gut and have to rush to the bathroom, followed by instant diarrhea every two minutes. More than ten years ago, I went to see a doctor because of this; they checked everything out and said it was fine. Then, the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, whom I saw for a few months, and of course, she didn't help one bit.
On top of all that, my digestion is so rapid that I have to use the restroom every day. Sometimes I barely eat anything, yet the next day, three times more comes out of me than what I actually consumed. When my mental health is already hitting a low, this holds me back from leaving the house or even managing basic daily tasks. Over all these long years, I think I learned how to manage my digestion somehow, but despite that (especially lately), things have taken a turn for the worse. That reflex where my body just forces itself to go happens even when it shouldn't... and then I find myself having to rush back home even when there's nothing left to do.
I don't know if there's a cure for this or if I should just lock myself indoors and despair! 🤷
Maybe I've learned to live with it, but as the years pass, it's becoming exhausting. It's just draining. And when I finally venture out and that urge hits me... I turn green. I start sweating, I feel cold, I get these chills running through my entire body... and I honestly just get tired of living like this and enduring it.
Does anyone have any advice that might help me even a little bit?

Does your digestion react to everything you eat?
Maybe you need to track which foods trigger you and which ones don't...

Sounds like you might need to stick to bland, dry foods to slow things down...🤷
Don't overdo it on beans, grains, or veggies... though it's stupid of me to suggest that since those are essential for healthy digestion...

Maybe it's parasites... you probably need a full checkup to see if there's some kind of micro-organism issue.🤷

I think the real issue lies within my own head. It’s hard to even put into words, but sometimes I’ll deal with a mix of solid stool and diarrhea all at once. Just a total disaster. There are days when I eat more than usual, though I try to keep things varied—meat, fruit, veggies, you name it. Sometimes I’ll grab a soda or a beer if the food feels too dry, just to make sure things keep moving... because honestly, I'd much rather deal with an upset stomach in the morning to clear everything out than face the alternative of being backed up.
But really, I don't think it's just about the diet. It’s more about that intense connection between the brain and the gut. As soon as I realize I'm heading somewhere without a restroom nearby, the panic sets in and everything goes sideways. And heaven help me if I have to go on a long road trip...

Matthew Wood2 said:I think the real issue lies within my own head. It’s hard to even put into words, but sometimes I’ll deal with a mix of solid stool and diarrhea all at once. Just a total disaster. There are days when I eat more than usual, though I try to keep things varied—meat, fruit, veggies, you name it. Sometimes I’ll grab a soda or a beer if the food feels too dry, just to make sure things keep moving... because honestly, I'd much rather deal with an upset stomach in the morning to clear everything out than face the alternative of being backed up.
But really, I don't think it's just about the diet. It’s more about that intense connection between the brain and the gut. As soon as I realize I'm heading somewhere without a restroom nearby, the panic sets in and everything goes sideways. And heaven help me if I have to go on a long road trip...

How old are you?
Did you go through some kind of trauma growing up? 🤷

Just relax. Stop stressing over every little thing. Get a book on relaxation... or better yet, buy a yoga DVD. I'm telling you, it'll help. 👍
It'll help you find some balance, settle your gut down, and all that...
Give it a shot.

Brenda Price56 said:How old are you?
Did you go through some kind of trauma growing up? 🤷

Just relax. Stop stressing over every little thing. Get a book on relaxation... or better yet, buy a yoga DVD. I'm telling you, it'll help. 👍
It'll help you find some balance, settle your gut down, and all that...
Give it a shot.

My birth year is right there in my handle... if you care. Look, I’ve definitely dealt with my fair share of trauma over the years, but nothing quite massive enough to actually break me like this. It all kind of started hitting me during puberty... though back then, I had absolutely no clue how to manage any of it. I suppose things are a little more under control now than they used to be... maybe...

Matthew Wood2 said:My birth year is right there in my handle... if you care. Look, I’ve definitely dealt with my fair share of trauma over the years, but nothing quite massive enough to actually break me like this. It all kind of started hitting me during puberty... though back then, I had absolutely no clue how to manage any of it. I suppose things are a little more under control now than they used to be... maybe...

Nobody's on this forum. Everyone’s clearly passed out after a wild Saturday night. Not that I'm an expert; my schedule is basically the opposite. 😁
I don't think it's all bad. You clear your system fast, so toxins aren't sitting around (lowers colon cancer risk, supposedly). As long as your stool doesn't have an unbearable stench, you shouldn't worry too much...
Stay positive. At least you won't have weight issues and can eat like a maniac...

Not sure what else to tell you. Just look on the bright side. 😉

Actually, I take back everything I said if this issue is tanking your immune system or causing you to lose too many vitamins and minerals. If that's happening, it's serious...
But if you're healthy otherwise, no big deal. 👍

It’s true, though... no matter how much I shovel into my face, the scale just won't budge. Gaining weight is an absolute slog for me. I'm about 5'10" and stuck at 155 pounds, which has basically been my ceiling forever. Other than that, I'd say I'm pretty healthy overall—no major issues to speak of, except for my absolutely terrible digestion...

Well, I figured I’d chime in and let you know you aren't alone in this.
I’ve actually posted about my own struggles under various threads before. Most of what you're going through? Yeah, I can definitely relate...
I've been through a mountain of tests. To name a few: colonoscopies (all clear), abdominal ultrasounds (fine), endoscopies (just some mild chronic gastritis, tested negative for H. pylori), and even those amoeba provocations—which were easily the worst part—but all came back normal. Then there were the urine tests; nothing at first, then just a negligible amount of bacteria that didn't even require treatment. I've cycled through two different gastroenterologists and a couple of GPs, too. They all basically told me it wasn't a real issue since there’s no blood in my stool or debilitating pain, so I should just "wait until life settles down" or whatever...
Right now, I'm taking Microsoft, though it doesn't feel much better. Two tablets, three times a day, for three months now. I've probably tried ten different types of meds by this point... nothing works.
It isn't even that it hurts... it's just embarrassing. When my stomach starts cramping and twisting during a lecture or an exam... it's uncomfortable. It happens constantly. I can't focus on my work or studying because I'm just sitting there waiting for the next wave to hit. In the mornings, it's a rush to the restroom like I'm about to burst, but then it's quiet at night. We could talk about my issues until tomorrow...
So, you aren't the only one. There are plenty of us dealing with this. I completely get it. The problem is real, yet we can't find a way to fix it.
If I ever figure out a solution, I'll let you know.

Best,

I actually find myself facing the exact opposite struggle—dealing with agonizingly slow digestion and days spent without any relief (which, I should mention, feels more like a grueling endurance test than a natural process!)
A few months back, I decided to try an enema, and honestly, it was a total game-changer! I still can't quite believe how much better things have been since then. While I can't say for certain if it would work for your specific situation... I truly believe it’s a healthy option worth exploring to see if it provides you with that same sense of relief.

Oof, I totally get where you're coming from. I went through something pretty similar back in my high school days, though thankfully it wasn't quite as intense as what you're describing right now.
Honestly, this is 99% a mental game. The real question is how long you've been living with this feeling, whether your body has already adapted to it, and how much effort it’ll take to reset those habits.
You need to do something radical for yourself—something that pulls you out of the funk and gives you a massive boost in confidence. Go join a kickboxing gym, try skydiving, or head down to a local shooting range to practice target practice. Heck, go out there and show those middle school kids who's boss! 😁
(Okay, maybe skip the last part, but you get the vibe...)

Ugh, honestly, I completely understand where you're coming from. But if I may be so bold as to suggest, it seems to me that this might all be purely psychological in nature. For my part, this whole ordeal began a few months back; initially, it was this intense cramping in my stomach—as if someone were quite literally squeezing it in their fist—followed by these rather unpleasant digestive issues. It is truly a miserable experience, mostly because there is absolutely no way to predict when it will strike. I attempted to manage it through deep breathing exercises, and I suppose I should mention that it did offer some relief. Essentially, once you sense those spasms beginning to take hold, you simply start breathing deeply and try to focus entirely on that sensation. I realize, of course, that it isn't a permanent fix, but 🤷

I get it... I’ve been dealing with this crap for years, and I’m only 17. 😢 Back in elementary school, I didn't even know what diarrhea was, then suddenly my stomach started hurting like crazy, and then the pain spread everywhere. Meds barely did anything, and while the stomach ache isn't as bad now, the runs are still there. All this basically turned me into a hermit—staying inside and dreading having to go anywhere. It’s still an issue, but I just try to ignore it. About a year ago, I finally started seeing a therapist. At first, it was every two weeks, but now it's just once a month because I'm doing better. 🙂 Psychotherapy actually worked for me, and reading "Who Moved My Cheese?" was a total eye-opener. There are four characters in it, and my therapist helped me realize I’m basically the "mouse" type—just sitting around while life passes me by. Long story short. Honestly, whenever I have to travel, I start panicking. When I feel the anxiety kicking in and know a stomach bug is coming (yeah, yeah, I know my job sucks, whatever), I just take some activated charcoal as a precaution and deal with it. :P

Look, everyone, I know firsthand just how miserable digestive issues can be—believe me, I’ve been right there in the trenches myself. Back when I was in high school, dealing with an insane amount of mental stress, my stomach would go into these brutal cramps that had me doubled over, feeling incredibly bloated. On top of that, everything would get so hard that I ended up with an anal fissure and some bleeding. Honestly, having a rectoscopy done was one of the most uncomfortable medical procedures I’ve ever endured, but I had to bite the bullet just so my gastroenterologist would finally prescribe Robert and some Microsoft lubricating gel. Eventually, things settled down. But then, late last summer, a new wave of health issues hit—likely a combination of mental strain and my own bad habits (I have a massive sweet tooth, let's be real)—and I was right back to square one with constipation and bleeding. I still go pretty regularly, usually once a day, but man, the pain is absolutely maddening. It's like... excuse my language here, but it's a total nightmare. 😢
I really need to find a way to fix this soon. If I can't solve it physically, I probably need to see a therapist, because my head is clearly driving my gut crazy. Good luck to everyone else fighting this—don't give up until you find some relief! Catch ya later 😉

Hey guys... I totally get where you're coming from ://... I've been dealing with this exact same mess for over a year now, and I'm only 17 😢. Honestly, I have zero clue how it even started—it’s just a total blur..
It's honestly wrecking me. When I'm just chilling at home, everything is fine—my stomach stays quiet and life is good. But the second my mom mentions we're heading out somewhere? Game over. Everything inside me just goes haywire and my gut starts acting crazy... First, I get these cramps—they don't exactly "hurt," but they are seriously uncomfortable—and then I definitely need to find a restroom immediately. The stomach growling gets so loud that I literally have to scout out places where I know there's loud music playing 😢
So, yeah, obviously I've told my friends and my family about it, and they get why I can't always hang out... But man, I feel terrible. It feels like my whole life is passing me by while I'm stuck dealing with this
Any tips on how to actually relax? Any suggestions?

Matthew Wood2 said:Honestly, I don't even know where to begin 🙄
Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve been dealing with these horrific digestive issues that make life feel almost impossible... at times. My gut health is intensely tied to my mental state, plus my digestion is incredibly fast. I've been struggling with this misery for about 15 years now. Every single morning, if I don't properly clear out on the toilet, I am simply incapable of leaving the house. Some mornings I have to go five times just to get settled, and other days I'm just completely blocked—feeling all this pressure and cramping in my stomach, and even though nothing is hard, nothing will actually come out.
Whenever I have to travel or head out somewhere, especially early in the morning or late at night—even if things had been calm up until that point—everything flips in a matter of seconds. I get hit with cramps, gas, bloating... I immediately feel that pressure in my gut and have to rush to the bathroom, followed by instant diarrhea every two minutes. More than ten years ago, I went to see a doctor because of this; they checked everything out and said it was fine. Then, the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, whom I saw for a few months, and of course, she didn't help one bit.
On top of all that, my digestion is so rapid that I have to use the restroom every day. Sometimes I barely eat anything, yet the next day, three times more comes out of me than what I actually consumed. When my mental health is already hitting a low, this holds me back from leaving the house or even managing basic daily tasks. Over all these long years, I think I learned how to manage my digestion somehow, but despite that (especially lately), things have taken a turn for the worse. That reflex where my body just forces itself to go happens even when it shouldn't... and then I find myself having to rush back home even when there's nothing left to do.
I don't know if there's a cure for this or if I should just lock myself indoors and despair! 🤷
Maybe I've learned to live with it, but as the years pass, it's becoming exhausting. It's just draining. And when I finally venture out and that urge hits me... I turn green. I start sweating, I feel cold, I get these chills running through my entire body... and I honestly just get tired of living like this and enduring it.
Does anyone have any advice that might help me even a little bit?

Get a colonoscopy. I deal with the exact same thing... it's like I wrote your post myself. Unfortunately, they diagnosed me with diverticulosis. 😢 My tests always came back "normal," though they'd constantly note excessive gas in my system. They kept pushing me toward an internist/proctologist, someone I really wanted to avoid. Eventually, I had to bite the bullet and schedule a colonoscopy under anesthesia... They took a biopsy to see what was actually happening. They confirmed what they suspected, and now I just live with it. It isn't easy, obviously, but that's a different conversation entirely...

I see exactly where this is going, and frankly, I can relate... I’ve been dealing with similar digestive issues for about two years now, and if I’m being honest, it’s 98% psychological in nature.
My metabolism has always been naturally fast, but when you factor in the sheer amount of stress he's under, his digestion just goes completely out the window, leading to exactly what you all described.
The real issue, though, is that whenever I start feeling those cramps in my stomach, I don't even dare leave the house... because what if it hits me while I'm out somewhere without a restroom in sight? It's paralyzing...
I suppose I could try adjusting my diet, but trying to escape from stress is a much more difficult task, and we can't exactly lock ourselves inside our homes forever to stay safe...

Hi John,
you aren't the only one dealing with this stuff—trust me. I wouldn't go as far as calling it "psychological," though. I don't think your mental state is bad enough for these issues to be constant. Here's my take: I’m 45 now, and I've been battling stomach and digestion issues since my early 20s. If I eat something and then have to rush somewhere—or if I'm stressed about being late—my digestive system just goes into overdrive, and I'm stuck hunting for the nearest restroom. It was absolute hell back in high school and during college finals; I spent half my exams sprinting to the bathroom. As the years passed, I stopped worrying about it until one day I noticed traces of blood in my stool. At the time, I just blamed it on dry food and stress. Not long after that, I started getting these brutal pains in my tailbone, which is when I realized I had hemorrhoids. Then came the period of intermittent stomach pain, bloating, and mild heartburn. Again, I pinned everything on stress and my nerves—until a red spot appeared on my head, which spread quite a bit over the course of a year. That's when I finally decided to see a dermatologist (thank God for Dr. Sandy) and after a bunch of tests, it turned out I had a stomach bacteria. Of course, that was the root cause of every single thing I mentioned. After a round of antibiotics, things were fine for a while, but unfortunately, the bacteria came back, so I had to go through the whole treatment again.
Everything is okay today, partly because I found a supplement that really helped manage all of it. If you're interested, shoot me a DM—I don't want it to look like I'm just pushing some product.

I'm 15, and up until now, my digestion has been totally fine, but lately, things have gotten incredibly hard. If I remember correctly, people dealing with constipation shouldn't be slamming milk, because dairy just makes everything worse. I’ve actually been drinking about a quart of milk every single day for the last few days, so I’m pretty sure that’s why this is happening. Does anyone know how I can get things back to normal? Thanks in advance 😁 😕😕

Matthew Wood2 said:Honestly, I don't even know where to begin 🙄
Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve been dealing with these horrific digestive issues that make life feel almost impossible... at times. My gut health is intensely tied to my mental state, plus my digestion is incredibly fast. I've been struggling with this misery for about 15 years now. Every single morning, if I don't properly clear out on the toilet, I am simply incapable of leaving the house. Some mornings I have to go five times just to get settled, and other days I'm just completely blocked—feeling all this pressure and cramping in my stomach, and even though nothing is hard, nothing will actually come out.
Whenever I have to travel or head out somewhere, especially early in the morning or late at night—even if things had been calm up until that point—everything flips in a matter of seconds. I get hit with cramps, gas, bloating... I immediately feel that pressure in my gut and have to rush to the bathroom, followed by instant diarrhea every two minutes. More than ten years ago, I went to see a doctor because of this; they checked everything out and said it was fine. Then, the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, whom I saw for a few months, and of course, she didn't help one bit.
On top of all that, my digestion is so rapid that I have to use the restroom every day. Sometimes I barely eat anything, yet the next day, three times more comes out of me than what I actually consumed. When my mental health is already hitting a low, this holds me back from leaving the house or even managing basic daily tasks. Over all these long years, I think I learned how to manage my digestion somehow, but despite that (especially lately), things have taken a turn for the worse. That reflex where my body just forces itself to go happens even when it shouldn't... and then I find myself having to rush back home even when there's nothing left to do.
I don't know if there's a cure for this or if I should just lock myself indoors and despair! 🤷
Maybe I've learned to live with it, but as the years pass, it's becoming exhausting. It's just draining. And when I finally venture out and that urge hits me... I turn green. I start sweating, I feel cold, I get these chills running through my entire body... and I honestly just get tired of living like this and enduring it.
Does anyone have any advice that might help me even a little bit?

I’d suggest doing a quick search for "Irritable Bowel Syndrome," or IBS.

You should also pay close attention to how your body reacts to dairy products.

What’s actually the best way to go about cleaning out my gut? I’ve been reading a bunch of stuff about Epsom salts lately, and I also heard some chatter that those magnesium citrate supplements from CVS can really do the trick 😁