IBS - help needed

bbontheb

And to Shaumom. Your post rocks. Very well-put!

comeongethealthyro

probiotic every morning! helps me a ton

Michael190lbs

I had severe IBS even did studies with investigational drugs not fda approved, broke ribs the cramps were so bad but to no avail and agree stress is a huge factor. Mine started after my divorse which gave me PTSD ya it was that bad never knew another human could be so reckless and evil. Honestly I had to quit drinking alcohol, went on a high protein diet, train like an athlete and have a 5 min only rule around my X-wife. Now in my opinion I have no IBS and thank god everyday as its the worst thing a human can go through!! I so feel for all of you I wish I could help believe me I know the low selfesteam moments all to well but it keeps me on my new life style everyday!!

Jelaan

I had a diagnosis of IBS for years. Gastroenterologist was no help telling me basically that I was neurotic and to eat large doses of wheat bran. Having to hunt for a bathroom every 15mins with very little notice is, in my opinion, enough to make anyone neurotic! After suffering for years (I remember having to dash to the bathroom during meals as young as 6), I found eliminating non veggie carbs, i.e. wheat products, totally relieved my symptoms. I had a long discussion about all this with my new g.p. and she is of the opinion that I am probably celiac and wants me to be tested but to do that I need to begin eating products with gluten in again . So the upshot is, that I will stay on the gluten free diet and feeling well for the first time in years and medication free. The diagnosis doesn't matter to me now as long as I feel well. It is ridiculous to me that so many of us have to put up with little help and often hostility from the medical profession and have to figure things out for ourselves.

sunnyside1213

I struggled for 15 years with what I thought was IBS. Constant diarrhea. I had to be near a bathroom at all times. Sometimes I would just live in the bathroom. I did every elimination diet on earth. Then, I got a kidney stone. My doctor said no more calcium pills. No more cheese. (I miss the cheese.) But I kept taking the magnesium that helps calcium into your bones. One day I ran out of magnesium. Guess what happened next? I got better.

My heart breaks for people with IBS. I know that doctors have no idea what causes your problems, but hopefully you can find something that will help you.

Cladf

I'm amazed by all the replies - thank you everyone...they're all really informative.

I did have the thought that IBS was meant to be an elimination diagnosis - although I've had recent blood tests so I guess the doctor was happy enough with my general results (thyroid function etc all checked) - had my celiac blood test yesterday so just gotta wait a month or so for that and we shall see what comes up.

The food intolerances/allergy point is a good one. Wondering whether it might be pertinent just to take myself off for an allergy test - see if that comes up with some big hitters then it might hint at where to start if I was to eliminate anything from my diet.

Right now, I guess I'm just mainly going to be looking closely at what I'm eating and how it effects me... no longer in pain (thankfully), just some lower back pain because I've swung from D to C (sad face) but to be fair, as long as the horrendous cramp is gone I'm feeling kind of ok.

Really appreciate all the posts here - IBS really sucks but it's good to have so many supportive people around

Speckle38

I have 2 friends who have been on low FODMAPS diets for their IBS.The first had extensive testing to rule out Crohns, coeliac and ulcerative colitis first, and I think this is important before tackling diet. She did low FODMAPS under the guidance of a dietician, followed the diet for 8 weeks or more, then reintroduced individual foods each week as challenges (same amount, 3 days running to see if there was a reaction). She lost weight during the elimination phase, but ultimately has been able to identify that wheat is a major trigger for her (not gluten, as above poster has also indicated), and garlic and onion are also not ideal for her. The other just had the low FODMAPS suggested by her GP, but has struggled to stay on it for more than a week. I do think it's worth investigating if you have IBS, but I would also seek out a qualified dietician to assist.

sixxpoint

Does adequate daily fiber (25-30g+ per day) and protein (0.60-0.82g per 1 lb. bodyweight) help with this issue? I was told by someone that IBS is like having diarrhea and constipation at the same time. Seems like an adequate fiber/protein ratio would alleviate the symptoms.

pita7317

Cut out processed/ deep fried anything. HUGE difference for me. And lost 10 lbs in five weeks. Of course, weight loss slowed way down after those first 10 lbs. but felt so much better....
Good luck !

kmarc33

I've had IBS for about 35 years, although my Dr didn't really name it until about 20 years ago. What really helped me was eliminating trigger foods and adding *soluable* fiber and probiotics. I can't recommend the information, books and products in the store at helpforibs.com strongly enough. I've been using the Acacia fiber from the store for well over a decade now, and am down to 1-2 episodes a month (previously 1-2 a week). Heather's 10 commandments are a game changer. I actually bought a copy of the book for both my regular Dr and my GI Dr, and they both now recommend them to other patients.

Start here: helpforibs.com/diet/10_commandments.asp

Michael190lbs

sixxpoint wrote: »

Does adequate daily fiber (25-30g+ per day) and protein (0.60-0.82g per 1 lb. bodyweight) help with this issue? I was told by someone that IBS is like having diarrhea and constipation at the same time. Seems like an adequate fiber/protein ratio would alleviate the symptoms.

Trust me its so much more than fiber and protein and you are correct in the other area of your statement. Doctors don't have a clue how to fix IBS!!! Its an individual finding their way through life fix is the only way to describe it.. I'm so thankful I found my way after breaking 11 ribs over the course of two years. I'm willing to re-live the most discusting painful part of my life to try and help someone else find their way.. Everyone is different which is why I believe its psychogical no one diet fixes it but a healthier attitude and choice seem to be a prevailing factor. My 2 cents- eat better (let the haters starts there), exercise more, feel better and it gets better.. I did counceling and must admit it helped more than anything else did! I wouldn't post this part of my life online if i didn't understand how bad it can get..

BancroftLady

I just found this thread as I am trying to figure out how to deal with IBS and get out of pain I was hospitalized last week and was given morphine and anti spastic meds through an iv it did take it away in time but wow.. brutal, I had another flareup today, I keep trying to go to work and then come home in pain (yes I am getting the correlation with work / anxiety / pain ughh) I went to the doc and was given some pills to take three times a day to help with cramps.. I am going to try and exercise more and try the fodmap diet I see people are trying.. this pain is soo bad I have a really hard time getting it to go away once I get it.. any tips are welcome .. thanks

LaceyBirds

I have suffered (and I do mean suffered) with IBS for 40 years. My symptoms and triggers have changed over the years, and continue to change, so I have no advice about food, but there are a couple things I want to point out that people may not know.

Many, many foods that are "sugar-free" contain sweeteners that are known to cause diarrhea and cramping. Some of those sweeteners are: Sorbitol, Mannitol and Sucralose (Splenda). Sorbitol is found in chewing gum. I learned this the hard way when I started having terrible diarrhea and found it was coming from the Big Red gum I was chewing daily. From the point that I learned about Sorbitol, I checked all labels for its presence and eliminated them from my diet.

After I joined MFP, I started incorporating greek yogurt into my diet, and got lots of Dannon Fit and Light Greek Yogurt. Suddenly, I was having really terrible diarrhea again, and checked for Sorbitol. It didn't list it on the ingredients, but it did list Sucralose, and, lo and behold, it also causes diarrhea in a lot of people. So, several containers got thrown into the trash. It's a bummer, because Greek Yogurt has a lot of protein, and the Chobani that I was buying prior has too much sugar for my macros. You can Google these sweeteners and find the information, I'm too tired to go find links. Be sure to check your ingredients, and stop eating anything with these sweeteners for a while and see if your symptoms improve.

I also want to share that 10 to 15% of people who have their gallbladders removed suffer from Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome. Nobody told me this after my surgery, and it took some Googling to find out that my new problems were NOT from IBS. The only drug that helps it is something called Questran, and I can't take it because I have alternating IBS, and the Questran makes the constipation dangerous for me. Info: emedicine.medscape.com/article/192761-overview

Hope this helps.

kellycasey5

I understand IBS varies person to person. I have diarrhea prominent IBS. I do best eating oatmeal or rice daily, and adding some psyllium powder to my day. It really helps me bulk up, and a little goes a long way. You might ask your dr about it. I started small to avoid bloating and cramps, and now just titrate based on my tummy. The psyllium has worked better than the questran and other meds for me. Even stops the diarrhea before my period, go figure

lunamare

One of the strangest things I learned through my journey was that the multivitamin I was taking was contributing to my IBS symptoms. I was taking a women's vitamin with iron and it was tying my stomach in knots and making me constipated. I stopped that and the constipation stopped as well. From there I just had to work through what my "trigger" foods are. I agree, the processed foods are a killer. Every time I get lazy and try to have something like that I get sick again. For me too much fiber is awful. So, you can tell that following any of the latest fad diets is out of the question for me I wish you luck! Seriously, do a search on FODMAP. I know I have a huge pinterest board on it and there are tons of other boards out there as well with links to valid information.

comeongethealthyro

Best way to gauge what's causing you pain/discomfort is seeing how you feel after you eat something--consistently. Also, probiotics help me a TON! I take 1 per day, and my symptoms have decreased dramatically.

MimiMayRR

I have Crohn's disease and follow a low FODMAP diet. It has helped me tremendously. It was actually originally developed for people with IBS. Try checking that out.

My GI said it's not an elimination diet. Stuff that is high FODMAP is NOT off-limits for the rest of your life, you just want to eat them in small quantities and occasionally until you figure out which foods are your specific triggers. If you cut back on gluten (not because of the gluten, but because of the wheat), high-lactose dairy, legumes, and artificial sweeteners and honey you'll probably reduce your total FODMAP load quite a bit right off the bat. Good luck!

89Madeline

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

balboasuze

I guess everyone is different but FWIW I had moderate IBS for years, and the things which helped me were a) avoiding white/refined carbs (e.g. white pasta, rice, bread) and replacing with brown or wholewheat versions, b) getting more exercise, and c) taking a high quality daily pro-biotic. The pro-biotic was the thing which really swung it for me, but after experimenting I find that only the more expensive pro-biotics with very high levels of viable bacteria - in the billions - work. I take Biocare probiotics and I swear by them now. I get flare ups now and again if I don't watch my white carb intake or if I have to take antibiotics, but otherwise am mostly cured.

PositivelyFlawed

Cladf wrote: »

I'm amazed by all the replies - thank you everyone...they're all really informative.

I did have the thought that IBS was meant to be an elimination diagnosis - although I've had recent blood tests so I guess the doctor was happy enough with my general results (thyroid function etc all checked) - had my celiac blood test yesterday so just gotta wait a month or so for that and we shall see what comes up.

The food intolerances/allergy point is a good one. Wondering whether it might be pertinent just to take myself off for an allergy test - see if that comes up with some big hitters then it might hint at where to start if I was to eliminate anything from my diet.

Right now, I guess I'm just mainly going to be looking closely at what I'm eating and how it effects me... no longer in pain (thankfully), just some lower back pain because I've swung from D to C (sad face) but to be fair, as long as the horrendous cramp is gone I'm feeling kind of ok.

Really appreciate all the posts here - IBS really sucks but it's good to have so many supportive people around

If you decide to go the food allergy route, there is a newer large panel IgG panel, in Canada it is called the Genarrayt 200+ which tests 120-200 foods. (to clarify I have no financial interest, just a lab tech working in an allergy/imunology office ) I am almost certain such a test would exist in the US and probably the UK. In Canada it runs about $200-$250, which is a bargain because specific igE tests run $21/each. It isn't an allergy test so much as testing for intoleralnce, which generally causes gas, bloating, diarrhea and coincides with IBS often times, (as opposed to allergies which most often cause hives, rhinites and the risk of anaphylaxis). My point being this could be an option to find out which foods don't agree with your system in a more cost effective way (and quicker too).

You've received lots of info and advice here so it's just a matter of time until you figure out what works for you. Good luck!

alisonmarie85

I was diagnosed with IBS back in Elementary school. My doctor told me to eat 2 stalks of celery per day PLAIN. Nothing on it, and drink your 8 glasses of water a day. He said this will help strengthen the bowel.

MimiMayRR

89Madeline wrote: »

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

There is no wheat that doesn't contain gluten (although spelt is sometimes better tolerated by people with IBS/IBD who are sensitive to wheat). The reason the low FODMAP diet recommends gluten-free products is because, by default, they don't contain wheat (but make sure to check the ingredients for inulin and avoid those!). Wheat contains a lot of prebiotics, which are a type of carbohydrate that are not easily digested by the body and make conditions right for certain microbes to flourish in your gut. Prebiotics are good, but too many all at once can cause problems in people with IBS/IBD. So, that is why it is recommended to limit or cut out wheat, rye, and barley, at least until you are sure they aren't triggers for you. For many people who don't have celiac disease but don't tolerate wheat well (and who think they are gluten intolerant), it is actually the poorly digested sugars, not the gluten, that are causing a reaction.

NataBost

IBS is such a crazy thing, isn't it? I was diagnosed about 7 years ago. This thread is filled with a lot of good ideas, so I'll probably repeat a few things.

1) Definitely keep an eye on your food log, and note how you feel/felt that day. No issues? Tons of issues? Did you have a stressful day?
2) Fiber is your friend, but too much can be just as painful.
3) Water is also your friend
4) Try investing in a probiotic
5) Be patient, and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

urloved33

I just eat a 6oz yogart w fresh made pro biotics in it...nightly and that takes care of all IBS issues.

Indigoblu1

I have just recently begun following the low FODMAP diet and it is really, really helping. It seems that just about everything would set off a terrible flare - bread, cookies, cake, donuts, apples, nuts, beans, any vegetable in the broccoli/cabbage family, too much hot sauce and the list goes on - to the point where I was afraid to eat anything. I would get to work in a pair of pants that fit, but if I ate any of the above, the bloating and cramping started immediately and the pants became so tight that I couldn't stand it. I wish I would have taken it more seriously before, but I thought it was just a "thing." I would tell people that apples affect me in a negative way and they looked at me like I was nuts. Now I know it wasn't all in my head. I can't handle apples and many other fruits. My food choices have been drastically reduced, but I feel so much better and just steer away from what I think will cause that horrible discomfort. Last week there was a luncheon at work. The main course was called "Chicken Verde." I took a couple of bites, noticed all the grease and put it down. Sure enough, the bloating and cramping started, I guess because of the grease and cheese?

BTW, does anybody know of some good IBS groups on MFP?

Winingwoman

I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 16. I am 66 now and no one has really found a cure for me The list of foods that give me diarrhea from the FODMAP diet were numerous. I have found whole foods work best. Also I eat a high fiber , low sugar diet and restrict dairy. Eat grass fed beef. Glutens don't seem to bother me if I stay away from wheat. Every one is different. The doctors do not know how to cure you. You must cure yourself through trial and error. Study up on how the digestive system works. Good luck!

meangreen11

sunnyside1213 wrote: »

I struggled for 15 years with what I thought was IBS. Constant diarrhea. I had to be near a bathroom at all times. Sometimes I would just live in the bathroom. I did every elimination diet on earth. Then, I got a kidney stone. My doctor said no more calcium pills. No more cheese. (I miss the cheese.) But I kept taking the magnesium that helps calcium into your bones. One day I ran out of magnesium. Guess what happened next? I got better.

My heart breaks for people with IBS. I know that doctors have no idea what causes your problems, but hopefully you can find something that will help you.

So Calcium aggravates IBS-D symptoms? I was just advised to start Calcium for osteopenia, but I certainly don't need anything making my symptoms worse!

Speckle38

89Madeline wrote: »

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

My friend uses spelt flour, and our local bakery bakes spelt bread to order on certain days, so she orders it once a week. Spelt flour is a little bit more expensive where we are, but it works perfectly in everything I've used it in.

There is a low FODMAPS app that both of my friends bought. It ranks foods in a traffic light system, so it's easy to use.

Queenmunchy

My husband has IBS and has since high school - he was put on Valium for it because he was just over 100lbs from the weight loss. It seems that everything triggers it, but some things less so. Dairy, greasy foods, cruciferous vegetables, and beans seem to give him more pain. Medical marijuana has been the only workable treatment so far. If not, he is in so much pain that he doesn't eat at all.

doutri2

This has been so interesting to read all of the responses and how varied they are. How brave of all of you speak up on such a private, personal matter. But, sharing these experiences hopefully helps someone else.

Ever since my 2nd child born(2005), I never know if I'm going to have regular bowel movements or diarrhea from day to day. I also had bloating and gas pains so bad that I went to the ER just to be embarrassed to find out it was gas. I even had my appendix removed b/c they thought that was the problem. (I still think that was a mistake.)

Then, one A.M. I was so stuck in the bathroom that I had to call off of work. Since I was home, I was watching Dr. Oz who had Dr. Hyman on and he said that there are 7 main foods that many people cannot digest or have trouble digesting: wheat(gluten), eggs, milk, beans/peas/peanuts and other legumes and corn. And, of course, the day before I had been munching on peanuts as a snack. And, had realized that previous episodes also involved beans at some meals and peanuts or peanut butter at other snack/dessert times. Plus. both of my boys have nut allergies.

A few years earlier, I had also discovered that foods in the onion family (garlic, shallots, leeks) also cause GI distress for me as well. And, since then have talked to so many people, usually strangers, who also cannot handle those foods either.

This year, I had to miss Thanksgiving b/c I am starting to wonder if my love of red peppers and tomatoes are also getting the best of me. And, today, I had to skip out on a family reunion that was 90 minutes away b/c of the chili (non-bean) that was coming back to haunt me today due to the tomatoes in it.

Lastly, I have one close friend who I can commiserate with about the same problems and he figured out that it was the sorbitol in his Trident gum that was bothering him (as a poster above had mentioned as well).

Anyway, thanks for giving me a safe place to share.