Bizarre that no one has mentioned coffee as a trigger, every gastroenterologist or dietitian has asked me if I'm drinking coffee. You don't give any details about what treatment or dietary changes you're following to help with your symptoms so it's hard to respond but here's the standard advice:

Soluble fibre supplements like psyllium husk can help slow things down by forming a gel and keeping the stool together. Remember to drink a lot of water.
Imodium, and OTC anti diarrhea medication is often used by people with IBS D to control bowel movement when travelling.
Have you looked at the low FODMAP diet from Monash University? FODMAPs are a variety of sugars found in various foods that could irritate your small intestine, cause excess water to be produced and speed things along.
Though this is usually associated with lots of gas. Have a look at the main FODMAP culprits like garlic, onions, wheat, dairy (lactose).
But DO NOT follow a low FODMAP diet without the supervision of a dietitian or you might ruin your microbiome over the long term. So find one that knows about the FODMAP diet first.

Lastly, some probiotic supplements might help as well. Personally I've used products from the brand Intoleran, which is available in the EU and UK and I found their one a day probiotic to reduce my gas symptoms and improve stool consistency, but that's anecdotal.

 

Thank you very much for your comments and tips but to be frank, the standard advice is something anyone who has had IBS for thirty years is almost sure to know about, and I am very familiar with it.

Perhaps I was unclear about coffee. Yes, indeed many people mention coffee but nobody had ever mentioned to me that coffee has a stronger effect in the morning than in the afternoon.
That was an eye opener. That is my point. I was frequently drinking coffee in the afternoon and not suffering any after effects whatsoever and I was therefore puzzled.

I know well about all your other points -FODMAP many times-helps a bit and have tried it all in all kinds of ways also with expert advice. The only thing which you mention that I have not done is pro biotics.

I am distrustful of following any procedure in consultation with an expensive (they are never cheap) expert. Caution about diets etc can be found for free on the internet. In my experience, unfortunately, going to an expert actually makes things worse, not just ineffectual but worse. This is the experience of many many years and why I have given up on them. I believe there are good reasons for this. Here they are:
1) There is always stress involved in consulting experts, especially in the case of IBS-D- the stress and hazards of travelling (in Germany there is the added stress factor that the public transport system is extremely unreliable and using it may involve long waiting periods possibly with no toilet nearby) and waiting anywhere in another place not home for a long time. Anyone who suffers from IBS-D will know all too well what I am talking about.
2) Experts tend to raise hope with some recommendation or other. When that hope is dashed ,the disappointment triggers more negative emotions
3) The costs (they always send in their bills regardless of their inability to help) is yet another stress trigger
4) Consulting an expert necessarily greatly increases one's preoccupation with the issue, to a great degree. Now, in my experience not worrying (so far as possible) about what one suffers from is better than obsessing; making appointmemnts with doctors, gurus, dieticians, health practitioners of every kind, hugely increased my tendency to obssess about my IBS. That is incidentally the reason that I shall not be using this forum very much. IBS can easily take over too much of a person's life if they don't watch out.


All the useful information about IBS which I have garnered has come from the internet and not from discussions with health practitioners, unless one includes the coloscopies which do serve a useful role in telling an IBS sufferer what he/she does not have

What I hope to find here is not to hear again of the usual procedures FODMAP and the like but unusual or not often mentioned tips and stories-for example what I had to say about coffee in the morning versus the afternoon. To my knowledge, that is not very often mentioned and it would be great if that helped someone else to understand what is going on with them.

I can definitely say that my symptoms have significantly calmed since I stopped rushing around seeking "professional help".

 

It’s tough dealing with chronic IBS and SIBO trust your own research and experiences, and consider connecting with others who share similar struggles for practical tips and support.

 

Absolutely my view. My first tip to people is that coffee causes more motility issues in the morning
than in the afternoon, something I only recently learned about but mirrors my experience.

 

Hi!!

 

Thank you again as this is a very positive outlook on this puzzle. Today i found out that my bad back may be the culprit behind my not getting better so i guess that added stress is not helping. Yes, i agree with you that doctors are not practicing the "first do no harm" part of their education but i do not find that they are doing anything but pounding pills and tests, etc down our throats and that, I do not like.
Just wanted to thank you again as i gain knowledge and hope reading other people's trials and triumphs. I will stay positive and really appreciate your insight.

 

I like to share my success story with anyone who needs help. I suffered with IBS-D for many years--on and off. Advice from doctors was always the standard response (which didn't help at all). I turned over every stone online and asked my doctor if I could try Cholestyramine for a possible bile acid malabsorption issue. Currently, I take Cholestyramine powder mixed in juice with breakfast and dinner. I also take Align probiotic as soon as I get up in the a.m. My IBS-D is nearly controlled. I just have a few triggers that I avoid if I am going to be out--any fruit with skins (especially apples), deep fried food, and yes, coffee. Cholestyramine and Align have literally given me my life back. I hope my post can help someone else. Good luck!