Jacqui Felgate: Why we need to talk about IBS
The House of Wellness co-host Jacqui Felgate reveals how she copes with irritable bowel syndrome – and why it shouldn’t be a taboo subject.
Bloating. Cramps. Abdominal pain … and worse.
Like almost one in five Australians, I suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In my 20s, I would have debilitating pain after eating – that feeling where your stomach is so sore and bloated you can’t even do up your jeans.
It hurt just to touch it and my stomach would puff out like a balloon.
Put simply, you feel like you might just burst.
IBS is hard to diagnose and hard to treat.
At the time, I was so embarrassed and honestly felt like I was the only young woman I knew who suffered from IBS.
I’d sit at uni, then later in the office, having these spasms for hours — sometimes they’d be so strong they’d take your breath away.
Now a mum in my 40s, I tend to talk about everything!
Once you’ve had a couple of kids I found you really don’t care what people know or think about your body.
And by talking about it, I realised that so many people I know — family, friends and colleagues — suffer from IBS or similar conditions.
My IBS triggers
I know exactly what my triggers are: deep-fried food, stress and alcohol.
And I know exactly when I’ve overdone it.
IBS is more prevalent in women and can have a really profound effect on your life.
A review in the Australian Journal of General Practice notes because it is so complex it usually responds poorly to treatment, but there is “encouraging evidence” diet can help manage it, both short-term and long-term.
I loosely follow the FODMAP diet and find that cutting out a few things (the aforementioned fried food and things like onion and cabbage) really helps.
I love pasta and white bread and I’m sure if I cut those out as well, I’d feel even better.
And don’t even get me started on wine.
It’s definitely a juggling act.
How social media is normalising IBS conversations
More people are talking about gut health than ever before (would you believe it?), thanks to TikTok.
The hashtag #IBStiktok has received more than 263 million views and #hotgirlswithIBS has clocked up 45 million-plus views.
In January, body positivity advocate Mik Zazon, who has close to one million followers on Instagram, posted a photo of her bloated tummy, a thumbs up and the caption, “Just an IBS travel constipated baddie”.
The whole point is normalising something that so many of us live with every day.
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The pros and cons of the social media conversation
One of the amazing things about social media, I think, is realising you’re not the only one that suffers from an at times, embarrassing condition.
Research presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 2022 scientific meeting found TikTok played an important role in normalising IBS.
But one of the researchers, Faraz Jafri, of the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, said those who suffer from IBS should exercise caution.
“Although TikTok may have valuable information regarding IBS and its treatment, it is important to be aware of misinformation and consult your physician when deciding to start a new diet or medicine,” he said.
With a family history of bowel cancer, I’ve lost count of the number of colonoscopies I’ve had over the journey.
I’ve had operations to remove polyps, which all thankfully turned out to be absolutely fine.
These can be uncomfortable conversations to have.
But talking about gut health is so important.
The more we talk about it, the more we reduce the stigma.
#hotgirlswithIBS? I’m on board with that.
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Written by The House of Wellness TV co-host Jacqui Felgate.
