At 40, can probiotics and hypnotherapy manage my mixed IBS?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 40-year-old man who has been dealing with alternating constipation and diarrhea for over ten years, often worsened by stress or irregular meals. Fiber supplements sometimes make things worse, and a low-FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) diet is hard to follow consistently. Please tell me,

Are there medications tailored to mixed-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Would gut-focused hypnotherapy or probiotics be worth trying for symptom relief?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

For mixed-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), your treatment usually depends on which symptom is worse at the time. During constipation phases, gentle laxatives or stool softeners can help. During diarrhea phases, short courses of anti-diarrheal medicines may be useful. Antispasmodics can help with cramps. Your doctor can guide you on the safest options without worsening the opposite symptom.

Gut-focused hypnotherapy can help you by reducing gut sensitivity and easing stress-related flare-ups. Probiotics can also be worth a try. As different strains work differently, it is best to trial one for four to six weeks to see if it helps.

In some cases, low-dose antidepressants (like certain tricyclics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used in IBS, not just for mood, but because they can reduce gut pain and sensitivity. This would need to be discussed with your doctor to see if it is right for you. Also, you can try the following things:

Keeping regular mealtimes.
Identifying and avoiding your main food triggers.
Managing stress through relaxation or mindfulness.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.