Could it be possible to heal IBS?

I’ve been dealing with IBS-D for almost 10 years now. All I’ve ever heard is that it can be managed, but not cured. I’ve tried the Low FODMAP diet, various medications that didn’t work and lifestyle changes that helped a lot. From cutting out dairy, gluten and almost every other food to managing symptoms with hypnotherapy: I’ve done it all.

IBS as a symptom

For years, my IBS has been pretty manageable, except when exacerbated by hormones. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’d never be able to live a completely normal life. Until I had my second baby.

My second son was suffering from reflux, oral dysfunction, and food sensitivities. None of which exist according to doctors. While trying to help him (and also us who weren’t sleeping for months), I stumbled across an entire community talking about alternative medicine. Thanks to the Instagram algorithm, I quickly discovered the holistic health community. And one thing that stood out to me right away was how they seemed to be treating IBS as a symptom, not as a valid diagnosis.

Finding the root cause of IBS

For years, I had secretly felt that IBS was just a euphemism for “we don’t know what’s wrong with you”. After all, there are so many people suffering from IBS. Some, like me, whose symptoms are strongly related to stress and anxiety. Others, whose symptoms were brought on by other conditions. It never felt right to me to throw it all together and tell us that it’s “just IBS”.

This new community I found on Instagram talked about identifying the root cause of health issues like this. Based on the assumption that the body operates as a whole, digestive issues can be brought on by so many things, including hormone imbalances, mineral deficiencies, toxins and so much more. I’m certainly not an expert, but the idea is something like this. So, in order to heal IBS, one would need to find the root cause of IBS.

New hope for healing my IBS

Now, I don’t want to jump the gun here. I have barely begun my healing journey, and I’m still working on the basics. I haven’t done any tests nor have I worked with a professional (which would be a naturopath or functional doctor I believe) so far. And yet, with the few changes I have made to my diet and lifestyle, I have regained so much energy! Also, I’m now able to eat basically anything except gluten, which is such a relief after years on a very restrictive diet.

Do I still experience IBS flares? Yes, those haven’t really gone anywhere. But my anxiety levels are much lower and I also feel better on a daily basis.

So, is it possible to heal IBS after all?

I can’t tell you yet. But I have gained new hope! For now, I’ll continue implementing the basics such as a metabolically supportive diet, focus on maintaining my blood sugar throughout the day, making time for rest and fun and time outside. Then, I’ll try to find a good naturopath to work with on further testing and protocols. If you’re interested, I’ll let you know how that goes!