An IBS tracker that remembers so you don't have to

It's 3pm, the cramps arrive, and your brain immediately blames lunch. Maybe it was lunch. Maybe it was last night's dinner. Without notes, you're guessing, and guesses tend to land on the nearest meal.

Why do people with IBS keep a diary?

Because IBS is personal. What sets off one person barely bothers the next. The NHS IBS advice includes keeping a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get, so you can try to avoid your triggers. A few weeks of notes turns "I think it's bread" into something you and your GP or dietitian can actually look at.

What should an IBS diary include?

• Each poop and its Bristol type, so a drift towards hard (types 1 and 2) or loose (types 6 and 7) shows up
• Meals and snacks, with rough times
• Possible triggers you suspect, as tags
• Notes on bloating, pain, sleep, stress or periods

08:00  Breakfast: porridge, coffee  tags: caffeine
13:10  Lunch: cheese sandwich  tags: dairy, gluten
18:45  Poop: type 6

How does PoopAI help?

• Quick poop logging: pick a Bristol type 1 to 7, or add an optional photo and let AI photo analysis speed things up. You can always change it.
• Meals by photo or text.
• Trigger tags: dairy, gluten, FODMAPs, caffeine and more.
• Weekly reports and trend charts: your pattern, not just your worst day.
• Stealth "HealthAI" mode: for when your phone gets passed around.

What an IBS log can look like, by type

Doctors describe IBS by which kind of poop dominates on the days that are not normal. The NIDDK puts it like this: IBS-C if more than a quarter of those stools are hard or lumpy, IBS-D if more than a quarter are loose or watery, IBS-M if more than a quarter are each. A Bristol log shows that split without you having to remember it.

IBS type (diagnosed by a doctor)	What tends to show in a Bristol log	Read more
IBS-C	More types 1 and 2	IBS-C vs IBS-D vs IBS-M
IBS-D	More types 6 and 7	Diarrhea after eating
IBS-M	Both, sometimes in the same week	IBS flare-ups

PoopAI records the Bristol type and the meals with tags. Pain, mood and sleep are not part of the app, so keep those on paper or in a notes app if your doctor asks.

What tends to be in an IBS flare log

The NHS lists alcohol, caffeine, spicy or fatty food, stress and anxiety, and regular antibiotics as possible triggers, and says flare-ups can also happen for no obvious reason. A week of logs around a flare often looks messy, which is normal. See IBS flare-ups for how to read one.

Should I do this with a professional?

Yes, ideally. If you try the low FODMAP diet, Monash University says it should be followed with a dietitian who specialises in IBS. Your log gives them real data to work with. More on our low FODMAP tracker page.

What if I haven't been diagnosed?

IBS symptoms overlap with other conditions, so see a GP first. Don't wait if you notice blood in your poop, black poop, unexplained weight loss, or a change in your poop that lasts 3 weeks or more (NHS).

More on this

• IBS-C vs IBS-D vs IBS-M: What the Types Mean
• IBS Flare-Up: Common Triggers and What Can Help
• Lactose Intolerance or IBS? How to Tell the Difference
• Coeliac Disease or IBS? Why Testing Comes First
• IBS or IBD? The Difference, Explained Simply
• Gut-brain interaction

Quick answers

What's the best app to track IBS? +

The one you'll actually use every day. PoopAI is built for quick poop, meal and trigger logging. See our poop tracker app roundup.

Can an app diagnose IBS? +

No. Only a doctor can. A tracker helps you describe what's happening.

How long should I track? +

A few weeks usually shows a pattern. Ask your GP or dietitian what's useful for you.

Is PoopAI free? +

Free to try. Check the app for current subscription prices.

How do I know which IBS type I have? +

A doctor decides that, using your stool pattern on symptom days. A Bristol log gives them better information than memory.

Does the app track IBS pain? +

No. PoopAI logs meals, trigger tags and Bristol types. Note pain separately on paper or in a notes app.

How long should I log before seeing a doctor? +

Don't wait for a log. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if you think you have IBS and have had symptoms for over 4 weeks. Bring whatever you have.

Sources

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (NHS)
2. Diet, lifestyle and medicines for IBS (NHS)
3. Symptoms of IBS (NHS)
4. Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: managing IBS (information for the public) (NICE)
5. FODMAPs and IBS (Monash University)
6. Definition & Facts for IBS (NIDDK)
7. Diagnosis of IBS (NIDDK)

Last reviewed 2026-11-04

FixMyGut is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHS, NIH, NICE, Mayo Clinic or Monash University.