IBS Nutrition Podcast by The IBS Dietitian · Jessie Wong, Registered Dietitian and Gut Expert

27. IBS Success Story: Healing IBS When Progress Is Slow and Non Linear

·33 min·3 clips

Sarah's GI doctor told her severe IBS symptoms were 'all in your head' after her gallbladder removal failed to help.

The episode begins with host Jessie Wong introducing the podcast and her co-host Brooke Keenan, followed by guest Sarah sharing her background as a career advisor in Chicago. Sarah explains that her IBS symptoms started severely about a year before joining the program, leading to weight loss and a limited diet of foods like jello and turkey. She describes how doctors recommended removing her gallbladder, but symptoms worsened, and a GI doctor dismissed her as 'all in your head.' Sarah then details her extreme symptoms, including diarrhea eight to ten times daily and abdominal cramping, despite restrictive eating. She recounts seeking help from a dietitian who admitted lacking experience with cases like hers, prompting Sarah to search online for IBS specialists. Sarah found the IBS Dietitian program through a webinar and enrolled, noting the importance of specialized GI training over general dietetics. The hosts discuss common issues in IBS care, such as providers handing out FODMAP sheets without guidance and the need for proper testing. Sarah reveals that critical tests for SIBO and nutrient deficiencies were overlooked before her surgery, and the program helped her advocate for these with a letter to Mayo Clinic. She emphasizes the value of being heard and having a customized plan, including educational materials on IBS types and FODMAPs. Weekly group sessions provided community and feedback, while food journaling helped identify correlations between stress and symptoms. Brooke adds that Sarah's weight loss was a red flag ignored by doctors, and they worked on reducing her anxiety and expanding her diet, starting with eliminating jello. Sarah shares her progress in adding back foods like eggs, vegetables, and gluten-free bread, though she avoids dairy, gluten, caffeine, and carbonation. She regained weight and confidence, allowing her to eat out at restaurants and use apps like Find Me Gluten Free. Sarah has resumed traveling, taking plane trips, and looks forward to more adventures, though she remains cautious about overseas travel. The episode concludes with Sarah recommending the program to others, and the hosts mention enrollment for their spring 2026 group program and a free masterclass.

As heard by us

Sarah's IBS recovery is framed as a slower, step-by-step process.

Sarah's IBS recovery is framed as a slow process, and the piece treats that pace as part of the point rather than a setback. Jessie Wong and Brooke Keenan keep the focus on practical steps as Sarah talks through symptoms, the testing that had not been done, and the questions…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For the long, uneven stretch between symptoms and answers.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from IBS Nutrition Podcast by The IBS Dietitian