Free of IBS on a keto diet

After several failed attempts at following more conventional advice, Janny decided to improve her health issues — like IBS and seizures — on her own.

She started researching and quickly found keto and intermittent fasting. And ever since, the health problems that plagued her have evaporated.

Janny’s keto story

Hello,

My name is Janny. I’m a 33-year old Bulgarian living in Sweden. I have been reading your website for a while and have secretly even dreamed of somehow becoming part of it. That is why I was delighted to find out that I can do this by sharing my story with you.

I will first start by pointing out that my journey has not been focused so much on weight loss, as I was not overweight. However, I was probably going to be, had I continued listening to my doctors and dietitian.

As a child, I suffered from a strange condition — seizures with convulsions without an apparent reason. This would happen now and then and go away spontaneously in a few seconds. I was not tested until my late 20s when I moved to Sweden, and these seizures returned (after being absent for a few years).

I was examined by Swedish doctors and stayed in the hospital for a couple of days while they examined my brain etc. Nothing was found. I was released as a healthy person.

For many years, I have had bloating and constipation issues as well, and those worsened when I moved to Sweden in 2013. Two surgeries and countless smaller procedures, intestinal checkups, were done, but a cause was not found. I was referred to a dietitian with a diagnosis of IBS.

My dietitian prescribed the low FODMAP diet, but then all my symptoms got worse. I gained 13 pounds (6 kilos) in a month, felt like an air balloon all the time, had constant constipation, pain, irritation, hunger, and in general felt like crap.

My diet was eating five times a day, only carbs and a little protein, zero fat, and because I was afraid to eat and get the symptoms, I would avoid food, so I would just eat something like 100 grams of tomatoes with white cheese and snack with a shake (high-carb).

Yet, I kept gaining weight… despite all the salads that I ate, which I thought were good for weight loss. After a couple of months of trying to adjust my diet, the dietitian said there is nothing more she can do to help, so I should go back to my doctor.

The turning point for me is where my keto journey started. I decided to try to heal myself on my own. I did my research on diets and decided to try keto.

And thank GOD I did! After I started low carb, I healed! I do not have even the slightest bloating, zero pain, and not even constipation! I am seizure-free, and I feel so much more energetic and powerful.

I have been keto for nearly a year now, and this has been by far the best decision I have ever made for my health. I feel different, and I don’t have that feeling I had when I had seizures.

As I said initially, this has not been a weight loss journey even though I have lost 22 pounds (10 kilos), and my waist has become smaller.

This has been a health journey, and I have learned so much! I have totally implemented intermittent fasting to my lifestyle as well and do that daily, which makes my gut even happier.

Keto cooking has become my hobby, and I have even started my own blog where I write in Bulgarian about keto, fasting, and I share recipes.

This is a link to my website (in Bulgarian), and my Instagram.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Best regards,
Janny

Comment

Congratulations, Janny! As you may know, there is plenty of scientific support that a keto diet can help with many kinds of seizures (epilepsy), and it’s often helpful for people with IBS:

IBS and the keto diet

Control epilepsy with fewer or no drugs

Best,
/ Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, MD

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