Understanding IBS (Part 8): Art & Science of Gut‑Brain Connection

Doctors often view irritable bowel syndrome through three different lenses. The first perspective sees IBS as a colon motility disorder, where the large intestine (my Goliath) contracts too quickly or too slowly, creating diarrhea or constipation.

The second perspective frames IBS as a small intestine microbial imbalance, focusing on conditions such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO), and Intestinal Sulfide Overgrowth (ISO).

The third perspective emphasizes diet and food sensitivities, where IBS is triggered by reactions to certain foods and imbalances in the gut ecosystem.

Among these three, I find myself most aligned with the approach of the IBS Treatment Center because its explanations resonate with my lived experience. The way this perspective highlights food sensitivities and lifestyle balance makes me feel understood on a personal level, even more than traditional medical consultations.

Fun Guessing Game

IBS is not the final diagnosis. It is just the starting point.

For this reason, I played a fun guessing game to predict my possible diagnosis after colonoscopy. This was purely for enjoyment and reflection, based on statistics released by health care institutions (NIDDKD, 2024) and my own ten‑year journey with IBS.

The most likely core diagnosis is IBS‑D (diarrhea‑predominant IBS). This diagnosis fits my history of urgency, hypersensitive motility, and episodes of diarrhea. It is important to note that this prediction is not a medical conclusion, but a personal reflection supported by available data and my experience.

If not IBS-D, it might be colitis.

Mastering the Gut‑Brain Connection

As I continue to understand IBS, I realize that mastering the gut‑brain connection serves as the true art and science of fixing IBS permanently.

Calming hypersensitive motility requires both physical strategies and mental resilience. I have outlined six stages that guide this process:

Stage 1 – Stabilization: Build a calm baseline with small, frequent meals to avoid overwhelming the gut.

Stage 2 – Hydration Rhythm: Train fluid tolerance by pacing water intake throughout the day instead of drinking large amounts at once.

Stage 3 – Trigger Mapping: Keep a food journal to identify safe versus risky foods, creating a personalized map of tolerance.

Stage 4 – Gradual Reintroduction: Test indulgences in small doses, paired with safe foods, to reduce flare‑ups.

Stage 5 – Confidence Building: Slowly expand portions and reduce food anxiety by proving to yourself that the gut can adapt.

Stage 6 – Long‑Term Balance: Maintain resilience with routine, occasional indulgence, and stress management practices.

Reflection

IBS may be seen differently depending on the lens of the doctor, but for me, the journey is about integrating these perspectives and mastering the way I communicate with my gut.

By stabilizing, mapping, reintroducing, and building confidence, I can move toward long‑term balance. This is not just about food or microbes; it is about cultivating resilience in both body and mind.

Understanding IBS‑D (Part 7): My Large Intestine Holds the Key

For several weeks, I have been experimenting with my diet. Each week, I rotate food categories that include proteins, vegetables, carbohydrates, fruits, and fluids. I prepare meals once every Sunday and eat in small but frequent portions throughout the day.

Most days, I have felt stable: no pain, no heaviness, and no bloating. My stool has been solid, brown, and manageable, even if I do not pass stool daily.

There are moments, however, when my gut reminds me of its sensitivity. Drinking too much water at once, or overeating late at night, brings back heaviness and discomfort. Sometimes the sensation is urgent, sometimes it is controlled, but the pattern is clear: my large intestine reacts strongly to timing, volume, and rhythm.

IBS‑D: A Disorder of Patterns

Irritable Bowel Syndrome with diarrhea (IBS‑D) is considered a functional disorder. The colon appears normal during medical imaging, but its motility, timing and rhythm of bowel movements are hypersensitive.

According to Harvard Health, IBS is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits without structural abnormalities in the colon.

Triggers play a significant role. Overeating, excess fluid intake, or late meals irritate the bowel’s rhythm, leading to urgency or heaviness.

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that IBS symptoms are often worsened by dietary triggers and stress, even though the colon itself remains structurally intact.

Consistency, however, helps. Small, frequent meals and dietary variety stabilize motility, reducing irritation and urgency. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that dietary management, including portion control and meal timing, is central to reducing IBS symptoms.

IBS‑D Makes Me Skinnier

In my recent reflection, I realized that my malnourishment is not due to malabsorption. My latest blood work confirmed that my small intestine is capable of absorbing nutrients normally. The issue lies instead in transit time.

In IBS‑D, food sometimes moves too quickly through the small intestine and colon. This rapid transit reduces the time available for nutrient absorption, even though the absorption mechanisms themselves are intact.

Harvard Health explains that IBS is a functional disorder, meaning the digestive tract appears normal but its motility and sensitivity are altered.

Johns Hopkins Medicine further notes that hypersensitivity in IBS can cause exaggerated responses to food and fluid intake, leading to urgency and discomfort.

This faster transit results in lower energy availability and gradual weight loss. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that patients with IBS‑D often experience changes in bowel habits that affect nutrient uptake indirectly, through speed rather than structural damage.

The Mayo Clinic distinguishes this from colitis, where malnutrition is linked to visible inflammation and damage to the colon lining.

Therefore, my “skinnier” appearance is explained by the fact that food passes through my system too quickly for full absorption, not because my intestine is incapable of absorbing nutrients. This distinction is important: IBS‑D is about pattern disruption and speed.

Reflection

I now understand that my large intestine holds the key not only to my symptoms but also to my nutritional state. IBS‑D does not destroy the colon, but it irritates its rhythm.

When transit time accelerates, my body loses the opportunity to absorb all the nutrients it needs. With discipline plus proper diet, small frequent meals, and mindful hydration, I can slow this rhythm and give my gut more time to do its work.

Alex Eala Wins Her First

Today feels unique. Watching Alex Eala lift her first professional title in Mubadala DC Open is not just about tennis. It is about the story of a Gen Z Filipina who worked persistently to make her dreams come true.

I have followed Alex’s journey since her junior years, and what strikes me most is her composure. She is young, yet she carries herself with the maturity of someone who knows exactly what she wants. Her game is not limited to technique. It is also about the heart. Every rally, every serve, every sprint across the court feels like a declaration: “I belong here.”

My expectations for Alex Eala became high after she won Gold in the SEA Games in 2025. Her draw was not as tough as the WTA Tour, but it was the beginning of her rise to the top. The first six months of 2026 felt like a continuation of 2025. Her ascension in the rankings remained slow and steady. She could even not get over a semifinal curse in Auckland. She stayed title less except for her top seed appearance in a WTA 125 grass tournament in Birmingham.

The narrative shifted after her wildcard entry in the Berlin Open. She made a string of wins against popular names on tour such as Donna Vekic and Elena Rybakina, both in identical scorelines of 7‑5, 6‑4. She then defeated former Olympic Bronze Medalist Elina Svitolina 6‑3, 6‑4. Alex reached the Last 4 but lost in straight sets to eventual champion (and free-flowing aggressor) Linda Noskova. This was a satisfying grass season, but I never expected her Wimbledon campaign to top it all.

Just her second appearance in the main draw, she began strong by defeating Renata Zarazua in straight sets and ending Maya Joint’s campaign with a 6‑0 third set. Played on Centre Court in front of an esteemed crowd, the world witnessed how Alex’s serve variations dismantled defending champion Iga Swiatek 7‑6, 6‑2. Just a set away from the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, she lost to Jasmine Paolini.

Tennis is a sport that never sleeps, and it makes me happy that Alex never rested on her laurels. She prepared for the US Open swing. Unseeded in Washington, she was tested by the Olympic Gold Medalist Zheng Qinwen. Just two games for an early exit, Alex stopped the inevitable and outbaselined Zheng to win the second and third sets.

The next round proved to be one of the historic comebacks in tennis history. Down 1‑5 in the second, Alex played with purpose and confidence to close it out against defending champion Leylah Fernandez. After outplaying Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, she destroyed her semifinal curse and outlasted four‑time hardcourt Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

I was satisfied that she made the podium, but she exceeded my expectations. Against Jessica Pegula, who had defeated her during her breakthrough in Miami, Alex stayed strategic. After a rain‑delayed final, she used the disruption to refocus and outplayed Pegula with shot variation as her strongest weapon, closing the match with a 6‑0 third set. History was made.

What makes this win special to me is that it is not just a trophy. It is a symbol of possibility. For Filipino athletes, victories like this are a reminder that the world stage is for everyone who is willing to put in the work. Alex embodies that truth.

I also noticed how she interacts with the crowd. She smiles, she acknowledges, she celebrates with humility. That is rare in sports, and it makes her win even more inspiring.

This first title is the beginning of something bigger. It is proof that perseverance pays off, that setbacks are not the end, and that dreams can be built one match at a time.

Yet, Alex’s story does not end with her first WTA 500 title. There is no time to celebrate with parties. Tennis moves quickly, and as of this writing, Alex will travel to Canada and compete like a warrior again.

***

Eala’s unexpected win over Elena Rybakina is my favorite match to date.

The overall quality of this match was not as high as her fluctuating final against Jessica Pegula, but there was a clear and well-executed strategy in every quick point.

Rybakina serves like Goliath, while Alex returns every serve like David.

Photo Courtesy of: Inquirer Sports

Understanding IBS (Part 6): Do I Have Colitis?

Living with IBS‑D often feels like walking through a maze of symptoms. Diarrhea, bloating, burping, heaviness, and malnutrition have been part of my journey.

Recently, I read a testimonial from a client diagnosed with colitis due to chronic diarrhea, and I saw myself in her story. It made me wonder: Do I have colitis?

What’s the Difference?

IBS is a functional disorder. It causes diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain, but the colon looks normal on tests. There is no visible inflammation (Harvard Health, 2004).

Colitis, on the other hand, is an inflammatory condition. The colon lining is visibly inflamed, often with ulcers, bleeding, or mucus. It can be caused by infection, autoimmune disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s or ischemia (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Both IBS and colitis share diarrhea, urgency, and abdominal pain. Key difference is, colitis shows inflammation on colonoscopy and biopsy; IBS does not (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021).

Guessing Game Arises

Observation: I experience chronic diarrhea and malnutrition. I always feel tired when that happens. I also feel anxious when I have gas buildup and relief through flatulence.

I find it hard to concentrate when I have delayed emptying and burping with food taste.

These symptoms overlap with colitis. Blood in stool, fever, or unexplained weight loss are red‑flag signs of colitis (Cleveland Clinic, 2020).

Colonoscopy & Biopsy

My gastro doctor recommended a colonoscopy. This does not automatically mean a biopsy, but if inflammation is seen, a biopsy will likely be taken.

• Colonoscopy = camera view (macro picture of the colon).
• Biopsy = microscope view (cellular confirmation of inflammation).

Together, they distinguish IBS from colitis.

Reflection

IBS is often called an “umbrella term” because it describes functional gut symptoms without inflammation. Colitis, on the other hand, is a specific diagnosis with visible colon inflammation.

My guess is natural. The overlap is real. It is about time to have colonoscopy and biopsy to confirm whether I have colitis or whether my symptoms remain within IBS‑D.

Let’s see what will happen once I can afford it. I wish I am wrong.

Understanding IBS‑D (Part 5): Timing & My Midnight Gut Episode

Last night around midnight, it was raining and cold, but I was busy in front of the computer. I ate bread and drank almost a liter of ice‑cold water from my Aqua Flask because I was thirsty.

Soon after, I felt the urge to poop. It was not urgent, but my stool was a combination of a long solid piece and floating watery fragments. I felt relief because I had been dissatisfied with the amount of stool I passed that morning.

However, I began burping repeatedly, and the burps tasted like the boneless fish I had eaten earlier in the day. That taste lingered even after I went to sleep.

When I woke up, my gut felt heavy and painful. I burped again, still tasting fish, and I passed gas several times. Each fart gave me relief, but I had no urge to poop.

What This Episode Shows

Rapid transit (Watery stool):

IBS‑D involves altered gut motility, where food passes too quickly through the intestines, reducing absorption efficiency (Harvard Health, 2004).

Delayed emptying (Fish‑taste burps):

Burping undigested food hours after eating suggests delayed gastric emptying, also called gastroparesis. Food lingers in the stomach, causing reflux and bloating (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Gas buildup and relief (Farting):

IBS patients often experience bloating and excess gas due to fermentation of undigested food. Passing gas relieves pressure, but sensitivity to normal amounts of gas is higher in IBS (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021).

IBS sensitivity:

People with IBS are more sensitive to normal amounts of gas. What might feel minor to others can cause bloating, heaviness, and pain in IBS‑D (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021).

Restricted diet: Avoiding multiple food groups out of fear reduces nutrient diversity. Dietary management in IBS emphasizes balanced intake, regular meals, and identifying personal triggers rather than extreme restriction (Cleveland Clinic, 2020).

Lessons Learned

1. Right timing matters: Eating late at night increases the chance of delayed emptying and reflux.
2. Portion control is key: Large amounts of food or water overwhelm digestion.
3. Temperature plays a role: Ice‑cold water can shock the gut and trigger diarrhea.
4. Diet variety is important: Restricting too much leads to malnutrition, even if symptoms feel safer short‑term.

Reflection

This episode reminded me that IBS‑D is not only about food choice but also about timing, temperature, and portion size. My gut can absorb nutrients, but when food does not stay long enough or when I restrict my diet too much, malnutrition follows. Relief comes from listening to my gut’s rhythm, eating moderate portions, and respecting timing.