Plus, simple changes I made to manage my digestive health.
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| | | | | Hitting my mid-40s brought on digestive and gut health woes that I'd never experienced — bloating, abdominal discomfort, acid reflux, and heartburn. | | This led to my first-ever colonoscopy, a second one a few months later, and so many back-and-forths with different GI professionals that it made my… stomach growl. Why were these symptoms suddenly turning their attention to me in ways they never had before? Below, I tell the story of the months-long ordeal that is slowly leading me and my care team to some answers. | | | | | | | Good gut vibes,
Mike Hoskins
Engagement Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Mike Hoskins
March 17, 2025 • 4.5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | My colonoscopy adventures and gut health sleuthing | It began with unexplained bloating in my mid-section that I couldn't tie back to anything I'd eaten. Then came the other symptoms: - excess gas
- slight burps
- discomfort on my side and around my belly button
- occasional heartburn
- periodic constipation and other BM changes, sometimes days long
| | I've experienced one-offs of these symptoms over the course of my life from time to time. But they were typically tied to a specific illness or some other identifiable factor. When they weren't, I could even blame the type 1 diabetes that I've lived with since childhood. | | These new symptoms were a mystery. Finding an answer wouldn't be easy, and it would kickstart a months-long process of colonoscopy and digestive health adventures. | | First, a combined colonoscopy and endoscopy were meant to ID the culprit in my gut. Colonoscopies are important screening tests that the CDC recommends starting at age 45. They can help find early signs of colorectal cancer, colon and related digestive health abnormalities, inflamed or swollen tissue, ulcers, and internal bleeding. They're sometimes combined with an endoscopy to examine the upper GI tract. | | Only 3 months later, I found myself prepping for a second colonoscopy. The reason? Per my GI doctor at the time, the results of my first colonoscopy weren't clear, even though I had followed instructions to the T. This meant I'd have to repeat the entire process again. | The prep itself turned out to be the worst part of it all. The clinic gave me color-coded diagrams and instructions on how to prep, from 5 and 7 days ahead of the procedure to the days and hours beforehand. They included: - Avoid nuts, red meat, raw vegetables, fresh fruit, and any foods that may be considered "rough" on your digestive system.
- Switch to soft foods 2 to 3 days prior.
- Nothing with food coloring, except yellow.
- Drink a laxative solution (aka "poop potion"): The first was a DIY mix of over-the-counter (OTC) Miralax and water, drinking an entire 8-ounce glass every 15 minutes until half of the total was taken, and then repeating for the second-half several hours later; the second was a more potent prescription version that came in its own medical jug.
| | Without diving into the toilet bowl of description, let's just say the very long process was not fun. | | People who've prepped for colonoscopies shared advice to just stay in the bathroom, rather than rush in and out repeatedly as your system clears out. 🚽 So I kept a phone charger in the bathroom and got comfortable enough to binge-watch on my smartphone for much of the night. As this was my first time going through this process, I even flexed my dark humor by crafting a "poop tracker" Google doc with fun, pop-culture-themed names for each BM. 😂 | | Online, I found little practical advice on navigating this prep with type 1 diabetes. I talked with my diabetes care team to adjust my insulin dosing and eating needs in the days before, including how to manage any low blood sugars if I wasn't supposed to eat or drink anything in the 6 hours ahead of the procedure. | Turns out, neither colonoscopy found any clear signs of what was causing my digestive health woes. Those symptoms still come and go, but these lifestyle changes have helped a bit: - Introducing more fiber into my diet: Eating more fruits and vegetables, especially raw nuts, prunes, and fermented foods each day.
- Establishing an exercise routine after too long without one: Multiple daily walks with my dog, walking on a treadmill while I work, and using a yoga ball for twice-a-day squats to help motivate my body's digestive response.
- Avoiding spicier foods: Historically, my motto was "the spicier, the better."
- Using OTC medications: I take Gas-X chewables, to help break down bubbles in the digestive tract for more intense bloating and abdominal discomfort.
- Drinking daily probiotic "poop shakes": Activia yogurt drinks by Dannon (strawberry banana, for the win). Even though they add an unexpected line item to our kitchen budget, 1 or 2 of these per day have helped me feel more regular.
| | Not all of these are exclusively helpful for digestive health, but they're generally good wellness habits — especially for those like me who live with a chronic condition. | | It's been 8 months of sleuthing, and we still haven't solved my gut health mystery. I'm hopeful we're zeroing in on some answers, beyond just "you're getting older and your body can just change like wind." | | | | | | |  | | | Diet for Gut Health. It's a Big Deal! | | In this video, a registered dietitian at Healthline, Lisa Valente, explains how diet can affect gut health and which foods to eat more often to support better well-being. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | How did you feel about this newsletter? | | | | Email wellnesswire@healthline.com with comments related to this newsletter or topics you'd like to see in future editions. The newsletter editors read every message that lands in our inbox — yes, really! We look forward to hearing from you. | | | | | | |
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