For nearly 10 years, I never knew when my stomach would turn on me. After eating, I could be hit with extreme gas, abdominal pain and cramping—then unpredictable bouts of diarrhoea or constipation.

I tried to manage it every way I knew how: yoga, meditation, fasting, oatmeal with chia seeds, plain tofu and rice, capsicum, leafy greens, fruit salts, herbal pills and antacids. I watched what I ate. I sought medical help.

But the cycle kept coming back.

The discomfort was one thing. The harder part was constantly wondering:

Will this meal set me off?

Will I be okay when I’m out with people?

What if it happens at the worst possible time?

I wasn’t looking for another temporary fix. I wanted to understand what was going on inside my gut.

That question changed the course of my life.