[mwpmaybe]

Anecdotally I went through a severe bout of IBS-C in my early 20s and the "cure" was to cut out wheat and dairy for an extended period of time (about a year and a half), at which point I was able to reintroduce them into my diet and I've been ~fine for about 20 years now. I've hypothesized that the lining of my intestine(s) had been damaged by the proteins and/or starches/sugars in those foods and needed a break and time to heal. I'm not a medical professional and my hypothesis has never been confirmed by one.

[rafram]

I had a similar experience with dairy. (Wheat is still out.) It used to give me severe digestive symptoms and inflammation, but after cutting it out for a year or so, I've been able to reintroduce it without any noticeable symptoms. No GI I've seen has really had answers for me, and I'm not really interested in seeing an "alternative medicine" doctor, although I'm sure they would claim to know what's going on. But I'd recommend trying an elimination diet to anyone who has unexplainable symptoms in that vein. The limitations are annoying at first, but you get used to it.

[Projectiboga]

It's pathogenic yeasts that really drive the whole thing, and milk inflames the immune response. The trick with COVID is to take melatonin during and after it. Gut health is a longer journey as leaky gut takes awhile to heal.