IBS or Stomach Virus?

My husband has awful bowel issues. I'm almost certain he has IBS.. and I'm trying to get him to go to the dr for it.. but that is almost impossible. But every morning for years he will have diarrhea.. just once then he'll be fine. He's tried eliminating certain foods.. and the only thing that helped some was coffee.. but it doesn't get rid of it entirely.

Well every once in awhile he will have a really bad bout where he will have bad watery diarrhea for a day...but he'll still be hungry and he'll eat.. even though it comes right out. Food will still sound and taste good. So it doesn't sound likely to be a virus. But it sure puts him down and out.

Yesterday he had one of these. He had watery diarrhea before he left for work around 7am.. but felt fine.. thought it was his usual. He ate an apple and granola bar for breakfast. Had another bout of diarrhea around 10:30... came home for lunch.. said he was hungry but not feeling good in his bowels. He ate a sandwich.. felt kinda bad like maybe he should stay home.. but he tried to go back again. He had d* again when he got there. He took one imodium.. and drank a bunch of water and gatorade.. and said he felt much better. He ate some crackers throughout the rest of the day. He was able to function and get through work. When he got home he said he was exhausted and sleepy but very hungry. And I asked him what he wanted... and he wanted something home cooked... I thought that doesn't sound very good after having diarrhea. But he said it sounded good. So he had some roast beef, mashed potatoes and corn. Ate it all.. said it tasted great. He never had anymore diarrhea and he only took the ammonium once around 12:30 in the afternoon. After dinner he went to bed.. said he felt nauseous.. probably from eating that heavy food... But he woke up this morning feeling decent. He ate yogurt and a n english muffin for breakfast and had a sandwich for lunch and it settled fine.

It just doesn't seem in line with a stomach virus... cause I know from my own experience.. when it's a true stomach virus.. I don't want to even look at food... let alone eat it.. trying to choke down crackers is hard enough.. and I would have diarrhea several times regardless of eating.. and this seemed to happen only when he ate. But food sounded and tasted great to him.

Now Wednesday and yesterday morning he did a bunch of very hard work.. they were moving from the 7th floor to the 2nd floor of the building he works in.. and they moved stuff all over the campus he works at...heavy lifting.. something he never does... and also it's been blazing hot outside.. AND on Wednesday he insisted that I get him some veggies at the grocery store because he wants to eat better. Well he ate a ton of raw baby carrots right before bed and I was looking and saw that can be a natural laxative.. and we had broccoli with dinner.. plus then he had the apple for breakfast.. lots of fiber.. he's not use to. So maybe these could have factored into his attack? I don't know.

Just looking for some other thoughts on the matter.... while I try to convince him to go to the doctor.

Thanks! I'm trying to get him to go to the doctor. We have found that coffee can do it..so when he backs off of it he does better.. but he won't listen and he drinks it again and again. But I'm wondering if the fiber thing probably gave him an attack this time. He's only had this happen maybe 5 times in the 3 years I've been with him.. other than his daily ritual. I'm sure there's some other foods that do it to him.. we just haven't figured it out.

I was just hoping it's not caused by a virus.. I don't think it sounds like it. But that would be my only other concern. And since it has happened before.. I doubt it. I have been telling him he needs to go. I may have to make an appointment for him!