Woman shares photo of the stark reality of IBS so severe it left her severely bloated and in so much pain she couldn’t even DRESS  

WITH her sun-kissed skin, toned bikini body and glamorous Instagram account you’d be forgiven for thinking Australian model Alyce Crawford’s life was carefree.

But the 27-year-old personal trainer has shared an honest photo revealing her crippling battle with IBS and how the painful condition can affect her life.

She posted images to her 20,000 followers showing how bloated her stomach can get even while living a “balanced life”.

Alyce wrote: “For the last 3 years, I have suffered with IBS.

“The symptom I suffer with specifically is severe bloating. It began literally overnight while I was living in America. 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.”

She explained the difficulties of living with IBS, and said these can include feeling nauseous, sore, unmotivated, and very lethargic.

About 25 per cent of people in the UK have irritable bowel syndrome, which affects the digestive system to cause symptoms such as stomach cramping, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

It is usually lifelong and symptoms can last for up to months at a time.

As Alyce has dealt with the condition for the past few years, she has learnt how to control it, but says she can still experience pain for weeks if she strays from her diet plan.

Alyce shared another image of the painful consequences she suffered after craving guacamole.

She wrote: “Last night I wanted to enjoy some delicious guacamole (which I haven’t eaten in months), however avocado, garlic and onion all effect my IBS (high foods), and my stomach bloated immediately,’ she explained.

“Last Saturday night I was planning on going out to dinner with my friends and boyfriend. We must have called six restaurants prior to ensure there was something I could eat.”

In the end, she revealed how she had no choice but to stay in for the night, and her friends came round and ordered takeaway.

She reached out to fellow sufferers and confessed that condition has affected her mental as well as physical health, but that she has learned to have a positive outlook on life.

Although she finds missing out hard, she said that finding healing for her stomach is more important and the right thing to do for her health.

She wrote: “I do really want to reiterate that my struggles, my journey, finally finding a way to manage my health and my experiences are what have all lead me to where I am today so I can’t be angry about my situation because of those positive outcomes alone!!!”

IBS can lead to complications such as a lack of energy, feeling sick or nauseous, pain during sex and social anxiety and depression.

Three quarters of IBS sufferers say it’s a “debilitating” condition that affects their everyday life.

The exact cause of IBS is not known, but many experts believe it is related to an increased sensitivity of the gut.

As there is no known cause, there is no cure for IBS.

But the symptoms can be managed by changing your diet and lifestyle, and understanding the nature of the condition.

People with IBS are advised to cut down on the fibre found in wholegrain, cereals, nuts and seeds if they frequently suffer diarrhoea but keep up good levels of fruit, vegetables and oats, according to the NHS.

We previously shared how to spot the signs of IBS. 

We also revealed how a stunning model was facing the menopause at 26 after agonising endometriosis was mistaken for IBS for 10 YEARS.