Free of IBS on a keto diet

After several failed attempts at following more conventional advice, Janny decided to try improving her health issues with IBS and seizures on her own.

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

Hello,

My name is Janny, 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 really happy to find out that I can do this by sharing my story with you.

I will first start with pointing out that my journey has not been so much weight-loss focused 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 every now and then, and go away spontaneously in a few seconds. I was not tested until my late 20’s 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 examine 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, intestine checkups, were done but a cause was not found. I was referred to a dietitian with a diagnose of IBS.

My dietitian prescribed me the low FODMAP diet, but then all my symptoms got worse. I gained 6 kg (13 lbs) 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 g of tomatoes with white cheese and snack with a shake (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 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 in the beginning, this has not been a weight-loss journey even though I have lost 10 kg (22 lbs) 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 on a daily basis 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 hear 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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