When You’re Just Diagnosed With IBS and Don’t Know Where to Start?
- Orisha Boychuk
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
If you’ve been dealing with constant bloat, uncomfortable fullness, constipation, and unpredictable bowels, finally getting a diagnosis can feel like it should bring relief.
Instead, many women tell me it feels like this:
“I waited months (or years) for answers… and all I got was ‘You have IBS.’”
No real explanation. No clear plan. Just a handout, a quick recommendation, and a sense that you’re now on your own.
Sadly, this was EXACTLY what happened to me when I was in my early 20’s.
If this is where you are right now, I want you to know something important:
Your pain isn’t all in your head. It is not “just stress.” You deserve relief and someone who listens.
When the Diagnosis Doesn’t Come With Direction
For many people, an IBS diagnosis comes after a long road of medical testing. Blood work. Imaging. Scopes. Rule-outs. Appointments that leave you exhausted.
That was my story too.
After a series of medical tests, I was eventually told I had IBS. The advice I was given was simple:
Follow a low-FODMAP diet
Take a fibre supplement
That was it.
I followed the plan perfectly. I avoided foods. I tracked ingredients. I took the fibre.
And yet… nothing improved.
The bloating stayed. The constipation didn’t budge. My body still felt reactive and unpredictable.
What did change was this:
👉 That moment is what kickstarted my journey into holistic health and nutrition.
Because I knew there had to be more to the story than just avoiding foods.
Why Low-FODMAP Is So Commonly Recommended for IBS
Let’s talk about low-FODMAP for a moment — because it does have a place.
Low-FODMAP is often recommended for IBS because:
FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates
They can increase gas production
They can worsen bloating, distension, and pain in some people
SOOOO, for certain individuals, reducing high-FODMAP foods temporarily can calm symptoms and reduce irritation.
But here’s what often gets missed:
It’s not meant to be a forever diet
It doesn’t address why your gut is reacting
It doesn’t support motility, nervous system regulation, or root causes of constipation
For many women (myself included), simply removing foods doesn’t lead to healing — it leads to more restriction, more confusion, and more fear around eating.
Eventually, you’re not left with much to eat. Talk about depressing.
IBS is rarely just about the food itself.
If You Don’t Know What to Eat Anymore, Start Here
When everything feels triggering, the most powerful first step is not cutting more foods.
It’s gathering information from your own body.
Your Starter Step: Track Without Judgment
Before changing everything, I recommend doing this for at least 2 weeks (longer if you can):
Track:
What you eat
When you eat
How your digestion feels after (bloat, pain, pressure)
Your bowel movements (frequency, ease, consistency)
Energy levels
Stress, sleep, and menstrual cycle phase (if applicable)
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about becoming curious instead of frustrated.
Over time, patterns often emerge:
Certain foods that worsen bloat only when you’re stressed
Constipation that flares during specific cycle phases
Meals that feel fine one day and awful the next depending on nervous system load
This awareness becomes the foundation for real, sustainable change.
IBS Is Not Just a Gut Issue
One of the biggest shifts in my own healing — and in how I now support clients — was understanding that IBS is multi-layered.
It can involve:
Gut motility and stool movement
Nervous system dysregulation
Inflammation
Hormones
Stress and emotional load
Past restrictive dieting
This is why a one-size-fits-all plan rarely works.
And it’s why so many people feel stuck after doing everything they were told.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you’re newly diagnosed and feeling overwhelmed, there are two ways I can support you:
Free Chronic Pain Clarity Call
If you want to understand why your symptoms might be happening and learn more about my holistic approach to IBS, I offer a no-pressure Chronic Pain Clarity Call.
This is a space to:
Ask questions
Share your story
Get clarity on next steps
👉 No sales pressure. Just support and direction.
1:1 Coaching Support
If you’re ready for a clear blueprint — knowing:
What to eat
How to support digestion
How to finally get your bowels moving consistently
How to reduce bloat without restriction
Then 1:1 coaching gives you personalized guidance, structure, and ongoing support.
You don’t need more guesswork. You need a plan that works with your body.
Final Thoughts
An IBS diagnosis doesn’t mean this is your forever.
It doesn’t mean you’re sensitive, dramatic, or difficult to help.
It simply means your body is asking for deeper support.
And there is a way forward — one rooted in understanding, not restriction.
You deserve to feel comfortable in your body again.
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