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sciguy52 t1_ja5hany wrote

Reply to comment by SlackerNinja717 in New research establishes a link between irritable bowel syndrome and mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation by thebelsnickle1991

So I suffer depression and have IBS-D. Whenever I would have the IBS-D flair up my mood hits a very, very low point. When I got control of the IBS-D it stopped me from hitting those really low lows. Didn't stop the depression though. It got to the point where I could tell an IBS-D flair was going to happen later in the day just based on my low mood waking up.

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Amphy64 t1_ja6z5k8 wrote

That's interesting, I was just saying yesterday that my mood on waking up depended on how well I was going to be before I really quite knew that. What I have is looking like gut mobility issues due to spinal injury. I'm pretty keen on the inflammation theories given how much my anxiety unexpectedly improved on anti-inflammatory medication.

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sciguy52 t1_ja71ghi wrote

Yeah for me I worked really hard to deal with the IBS-D to get it under control and I have. Really helps avoid ultra -low mood days. Wish it cured it entirely, but sadly no. But helps me avoid the very worst of it. But on IBS-D days my mood was exceptionally baaaaaad. One of the most significant things I was able to do to make the depression better although not perfect. Don't mean to hit you with TMI but I have also noted that if I had really bad gas that caused some cramping (but no D) could also hit the mood bad. So I take anti-gas enzymes each time I eat something which works to both prevent gas and help with the IBS-D as well. It is interesting to note the inflammation aspect. When I get an IBS-D episode, not only does the mood crater even before the D starts, but I would notice sore joints and muscles too so it was sending out some inflammation signal that caused joint aches (I do not have arthritis BTW) and muscle aches. I wish i cold do special blood tests to see what sort of inflammatory mediator is being produced that causes the aches. Can't afford that level of testing to find out though.

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E-GREY28 t1_ja7jlgg wrote

What enzymes do you take if you don’t mind me asking?

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sciguy52 t1_ja7mypf wrote

These are regular anti-gas enzymes you find in walmart or whatever. Beano is one brand (expensive) but much cheaper is Equate anti-gas enzymes. NOTE: this is not simethicone. One the Equate it is Gas and Bloating Prevention and below that you will see it say Food Enzyme Dietary Supplement in smaller letters. On the back you will see this is alpha galactosidase enzyme. They have a bottle that looks very similar to the enzyme but below will say simethicone, you do not want that.

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