Maura Derrane: Perimenopause was the trigger for my IBS – I had a sharp pain in my stomach and bloating

When the TV presenter was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it was a relief and she went about modifying her diet to manage symptoms

Maura Derrane

Liadán Hynes

When broadcaster Maura Derrane first began experiencing symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), it was not something she would typically have associated with the condition which affects the digestive system, and can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

“First of all, I didn’t know I had IBS,” she says now. “I was getting pains in my stomach, a bit of bloating, but it was actually pain. It was annoying me. I always associated irritable bowel with specific symptoms, constipation, all these different things. I certainly didn’t feel I had any of that kind of stuff. I had a sharp pain in my stomach. Sore, and very, very painful.”