Dual-pattern insights
The app maintains two trigger lists: 'foods that preceded urgency' and 'foods that preceded blockage'.
- Two ranked lists
- Overlap detection
- Phase tagging
For IBS-M (mixed type)
One week loose, the next blocked. Untangle the swing.
IBS-M is the hardest subtype to track manually because the same trigger can produce opposite symptoms a week apart. A Gut Day separates the loose-day pattern from the constipated-day pattern and shows them side by side.
The IBS-M paradox
Mixed-type IBS swings between Bristol 1-2 and Bristol 6-7 weeks - sometimes within the same day. The triggers can overlap (stress causes both), differ entirely (coffee causes urgency, low fluid causes constipation) or be context-dependent (gluten constipates one week, accelerates the next). A Gut Day handles this with two parallel pattern engines: one for diarrhoea-leaning days, one for constipation-leaning days. You see them side by side.
How A Gut Day helps
Built for this exact problem
Phase logging
Mark current phase (loose / mixed / constipated) so insights respect the context you were in.
- Manual phase tagging
- Auto-detection from Bristol
- Phase-shift triggers
Cycle-aware tracking
For people who menstruate: many find IBS-M syncs with the cycle. The app overlays both.
- Cycle phase tracking
- Hormone-symptom overlay
- Optional
Bristol weekly average
See your weekly Bristol mean and standard deviation - useful for tracking treatment response.
How it works for IBS-M
- 1
Log everything for 3-4 weeks
Mixed-type needs more data than IBS-D or IBS-C to find patterns.
- 2
Tag phase shifts
When you switch from a constipated week to a loose week, mark the day.
- 3
Read the two trigger lists
The app shows what tips you toward each direction separately.
- 4
Test ONE trigger from one list
Try eliminating it for 2 weeks. Watch both your loose AND constipated patterns.
Why IBS-M needs more data than IBS-D or IBS-C
With IBS-D, every Bristol 6-7 is a clear signal. With IBS-C, every missed day or Bristol 1-2 is a clear signal. With IBS-M, the same food can show up before urgency one week and before blockage another - the signal-to-noise ratio is much lower.
In practice this means IBS-M users need 3-4 weeks of consistent logging before patterns emerge, vs the 1-2 weeks for the single subtypes. The app's insights screen shows a confidence indicator so you know when the data is enough.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know if I have IBS-M and not IBS-D or IBS-C?
- Roughly: more than 25% of stools are Bristol 1-2 AND more than 25% are Bristol 6-7. Diagnosis belongs to your doctor.
- Will the app force me to choose IBS-D or IBS-C?
- No. IBS-M is the default subtype - the app handles both directions in parallel.
- Can I switch subtypes if I find out my IBS has shifted?
- Yes. Many people's subtype changes over years. Switch in settings; insights adapt.
- Do I need to track my menstrual cycle?
- Optional. If you do, the cycle overlay often reveals hormone-driven swings that look like food triggers.