How singer Alexandra Burke won her secret battle against crippling IBS

For the past decade, singer Alexandra Burke has been known for her powerful vocals and stage presence. But in truth, she has often felt anything but powerful.
That’s because, for years, she has been locked in a private battle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which has caused excruciating abdominal pain, constipation and bloating that could be ‘crippling’ when she was performing.
‘I was trying to ooze confidence but actually just wanted to curl up in a ball,’ says Alexandra, 33.
It was only last year, when her symptoms reached a new intensity while rehearsing for a tour of the show Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, that Alexandra finally sought medical help and was diagnosed with IBS.