Woman’s side-by-side photo shows the distressing impact of IBS

If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome or know someone who does, you'll know what a severe effect it can have on one's day to day life.

IBS is a disorder that affects the large intestine and can manifest in a number of ways including bloating, stomach cramps, gas and diarrhoea/ constipation. It is often mistaken for other conditions and so, it can be difficult to get an official diagnosis which of course proves problematic for anyone suffering from the above symptoms. Alyce Crawford is an Australian model who recently opened up about her struggles with IBS and how it impacts on her daily life. Alyce said IBS came on quite suddenly for her and she woke up one morning with severe bloating and sharp, stabbing pains. In an Instagram post, which shows the extreme bloating she suffers, Alyce wrote:

"I woke up one morning, my stomach was extremely bloated & I was experiencing sharp stabbing pains. From that day on, my life was never the same. This illness is often very misunderstood & overlooked a lot by medical professionals & the general public alike. No, it is not life threating, but it is a condition that has caused & had a severe negative impact on my mental & physical health".

Alyce said that it has been a long road struggling to find out what works for her and after an eating plan recommended by a dietitian, she found relief and the bloating reduced. In another post, she details how certain foods (avocado, garlic and onion to name but a few) trigger her IBS but she's learned to try and overcome this by changing her lifestyle which hasn't always been easy. Although it has been an uphill battle with IBS affecting both her physical and mental health, Alice says that she's learned to tackle it head-on.

"The way I often view unfortunate situations are you have 2 options: 1. Either feel upset, feel sorry for yourself and let that negativity ruin your day/night/month Or 2. pick yourself up, find a way to turn the situation around as best you can and keep going!!!!!!"

You can read her post in full below. If you notice a change in your digestion habits or experience any of the above symptoms for an ongoing period, it's always worth chatting with your GP.