Case Study: Improving Mixed-Type IBS, Bloating, Urgency, and Digestive Symptoms
The Starting Point
A 42-year-old female came to Executive Functional Healing after dealing with persistent digestive symptoms for approximately one year.
She had been diagnosed with mixed-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-M) and was experiencing alternating constipation and diarrhea, frequent urgency, significant bloating, and abdominal discomfort.
Eating had become frustrating because she often wasn’t sure which foods were going to trigger symptoms or how her digestive system would respond.
She was also experiencing lower energy, brain fog, changes in mood, and anxiety alongside the digestive issues.
What We Looked At
Because her symptoms involved several different digestive patterns rather than one isolated complaint, we took a broader look at her gut health.
A comprehensive GI stool test was used to evaluate her digestive and microbiome picture and provide additional context for what may have been contributing to her symptoms.
Rather than treating constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and urgency as completely separate problems, the goal was to look at how the overall digestive environment, diet, and lifestyle patterns might be connected.
The Approach
One of the biggest changes involved her diet.
We worked on moving away from a diet high in added sugar, processed carbohydrates, and highly processed foods and toward a more nutrient-dense, whole-food approach.
The goal was not to create an unnecessarily restrictive diet, but to reduce foods that were not supporting her digestive health while building a more consistent foundation around whole foods.
We also focused on creating changes that were realistic enough to maintain over time rather than relying on short-term perfection.
What Changed
Over approximately six months, she reported substantial improvement across her digestive symptoms.
The alternating constipation and diarrhea improved. Urgency decreased. Bloating became much less of a problem, and abdominal discomfort improved significantly.
She also noticed improvements outside of digestion.
Her energy increased, brain fog improved, her mood became more stable, and she reported less anxiety overall.
By the end of the six months, she felt noticeably better both physically and mentally compared with when we began working together.
What This Case Shows
This case highlights why mixed-type IBS can require looking at the bigger picture rather than addressing constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or urgency individually.
IBS-M symptoms can overlap with multiple digestive and lifestyle factors. In this case, GI testing, dietary patterns, and the client’s overall symptom history helped guide a more individualized approach.
It also shows why digestive health can sometimes overlap with how someone feels outside the gut, including energy, concentration, mood, and overall well-being.
Important Context
This case represents one individual experience and does not guarantee similar results for others.
IBS symptoms and other digestive complaints can have many possible contributors. Testing and recommendations should be individualized based on a person’s symptoms, diagnosis, history, and overall health picture.
This case is shared anonymously with the client’s permission.
Work With Executive Functional Healing
At Executive Functional Healing, LLC, I work with clients dealing with persistent digestive symptoms who want to better understand what may be contributing to them.
The goal is to look at patterns, health history, lifestyle factors, and appropriate testing when needed so we can better understand the bigger picture.
Educational purposes only. Not medical advice.