IBS Sufferer? Let's help each other.

magglett

Good Morning my friends ... It's the last work day of this week!!!! Woo Hoo ... I have a 4 day weekend coming on!!! Does anyone have plans for the weekend? I'm having dinner with the in-laws tomorrow for my mother-in-law's birthday (I'll have to be careful with my eating choices), then Saturday I'll be attending a community Zumba class to drums (never did that before), then Sunday is of course my mommy/daughter spa day (I'm just plain giddy about that), and then Monday I may have to take a down day ... unless of course it's sunny out then I'll be Geocaching and hiking. Can you tell I've been taking my supplements and vitamins? I feel good ... na na na na na ... I knew that I would ... na na na na na ... Now I'm being just plain silly. Hope you all have a terrific day and an awesome weekend.

magglett

Hi everyone. A brand new week begins. I have today off too, hoping to get out and get active. I hope everyone's tummy isn't feeling too rebellious against the holiday weekend's food fest. Mine is a little iffy but not too bad. I ate pretty well but things were cooked a little differently, with new spices and such. New food seems to make my gut rumble some. Hope you all have a great week.

whiskey9890

hi magglett, hope you feel better soon, mine has been out of sorts today but its my TOM and i was getting myself wound up about cycling to work for the first time this year (i get stressed about the traffic and not making up the hill lol) but now i'm at work all has settled down again now thankfully, think i might go see if i get myself a bargain easter egg tomorrow in the sales lol, i've not had any this year i'm starting to feel like i'm missing out lol

magglett

These cute little foxy guys were so cute playing in my back yard this morning ....

HMHUBBS

I have been an IBS sufferer for almost 10 years. Probiotics (specifially acidopholis) CHANGED MY LIFE! I used to not be able to go out to dinner with friends because I'd be in the bathroom 10 minutes after eating. Now I no longer look for a bathroom the second I walk into a place. I've also cut dairy out of my diet, I avoid fried foods, anything too spice, and go for white bread over wheat.

magglett

I have been an IBS sufferer for almost 10 years. Probiotics (specifially acidopholis) CHANGED MY LIFE! I used to not be able to go out to dinner with friends because I'd be in the bathroom 10 minutes after eating. Now I no longer look for a bathroom the second I walk into a place. I've also cut dairy out of my diet, I avoid fried foods, anything too spice, and go for white bread over wheat.

White bread is better ??????

jlbay

Hi all!

Faye - I hope you are feeling better.

Easter was a little rough on me - yesterday was a recovery day!

I've been on probiotics for the last month - think there have been some positive changes, but no end yet to this -going on 8 months- IBS "round." This is the longest I've had daily issues - but it has been a rough year, emotionally. Stress and grieving - so I'm sure that is contributing.

Another person saying white bread instead of wheat - someone just posted a link to an article that said stay away from whole wheat. Hmmm...

Also interesting about the fructose. oh man, how much will I have to give up? I guess I shouldn't complain, my mother has diabetes and celiac's... she has a strict diet plan (that she never follows).

Well, we're on holiday in May, so perhaps I can get myself to do the elimination diet after that. I think it is more mental for me - that strict a diet (even if I know it is short term, for experiment) is a big challenge to get the head around. Reminds me too much of my eating disorder days and it is stressful for me. Plus, I'm training for my first Half Marathon and I'm worried about the lack of nutrition to fuel my runs. I guess I could also just cut out wheat and dairy until after the HM. I don't really eat a lot of either of those anyway.

How did everyone come through the holidays?

HMHUBBS

While whole grain bread is generally better for most people, it's not for IBS sufferers. It has to do with soluble and insoluble fiber. Our stomachs just can't digets the whole grains properly. This website helped me when I was first trying to figure it all out and I have noticed a difference.
http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/fiber1.asp

HMHUBBS

While whole grain bread is generally better for most people, it's not for IBS sufferers. It has to do with soluble and insoluble fiber. Our stomachs just can't digets the whole grains properly. This website helped me when I was first trying to figure it all out and I have noticed a difference.
http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/fiber1.asp

dreamwellali

Hi gang,

I'm not IBS, but Crohn's - very similar symptoms. I've had it since I was 11, I'm now almost 35. The biggest thing to remember with any digestive disorder is that everyone is different - what works for you may not work for someone else, etc. That being said, however, I've noticed a lot of commonalities in reading this thread so far, that are similar to my own:

1. Caffeine doesn't help - some of us it makes our symptoms worse, but it doesn't make anyone better. I'm currently trying to cut it out of my life entirely, down to one diet soda a day.
2. Spicy foods - I think this is one that most of us can eat when we're "normal" but not when we're flared.
3. Greasy foods - this often causes the runs for even healthy people without IBS or IBD. and we really should avoid them anyway (not that I do)
4. Dairy - I think I'm one of the lucky ones because dairy has never been a problem for me. In fact, I will often up my cheese intake in the hopes that it will help solidify things.
5. Stress/anxiety - again, this will often cause non-normal bowel problems in normally healthy people, worse for us. anything we can do to reduce stress is a good idea. I try to exercise to keep my stress level down, but those anxious moments still get me every time.

The area where I see a lot of differences is fiber intake. Personally, anything high fiber (whole grains, raw vegs, etc) will put me running to the bathroom the whole next day. Other people can't seem to get enough fiber. I think what the previous poster said has something to do with it - the difference between soluble and non-soluble fibers.

Interesting thread, glad I found it. It's always nice to know I'm not alone in my embarrassing digestive issues!

amysambora

Guys, I seriously think this diet is changing my life! I looked further into the fructose thing and found some information from a great nutritionist here in Australia, Sue Shepherd. She pioneered the 'Low FODMAP Diet': http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-information/low-fodmap-diet

When i looked at that list it was like a light bulb appeared above my head! I really think this is where my problems lie. I've always known I've been sensitive to lactose and sweeteners, but that list helped put everything together. I've been eating 'low FODMAP' for the past few days and have noticed a HUGE decrease in my symptoms, especially the bloating and cramps. I feel lighter, not so weighed down, and I'm not having to suck my stomach in as much. I had a bit of a flare up yesterday, but I did eat a lot of wheat and some avocado, both of which are on the no-no list. Here's a little more info about what you can and can't eat: http://ibs.about.com/od/ibsfood/a/The-FODMAP-Diet.htm.

There is a book and shopping guide available at Sue's website, currently out of stock until June. I'll just keep doing the best I can until then - I'm so happy I might finally have found my IBS cure!

magglett

Guys, I seriously think this diet is changing my life! I looked further into the fructose thing and found some information from a great nutritionist here in Australia, Sue Shepherd. She pioneered the 'Low FODMAP Diet': http://shepherdworks.com.au/disease-information/low-fodmap-diet

When i looked at that list it was like a light bulb appeared above my head! I really think this is where my problems lie. I've always known I've been sensitive to lactose and sweeteners, but that list helped put everything together. I've been eating 'low FODMAP' for the past few days and have noticed a HUGE decrease in my symptoms, especially the bloating and cramps. I feel lighter, not so weighed down, and I'm not having to suck my stomach in as much. I had a bit of a flare up yesterday, but I did eat a lot of wheat and some avocado, both of which are on the no-no list. Here's a little more info about what you can and can't eat: http://ibs.about.com/od/ibsfood/a/The-FODMAP-Diet.htm.

There is a book and shopping guide available at Sue's website, currently out of stock until June. I'll just keep doing the best I can until then - I'm so happy I might finally have found my IBS cure!

Hmmm ... I've never heard of this before. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for sharing :flowerforyou:

magglett

Hi all. It was such a beautiful day today, warm and sunny. That was all day while I was at work. I was so looking forward to a nice hike ... but alas ... now it's raining, windy, and there's a storm watch. Hmmm ... I guess I'll do my taxes instead for fun. Ugh!!! Well, they are due this weekend after all. I've been struggling this week ... until today ... today was a good eating day. But I haven't been eating right for my IBS and I've been suffering for it. I'm so big in the belly right now ... YIKES!!! Oh well, live and learn I guess. It's hard when everything is going so well and you think ... oh I'm sure I can eat milk products and white flour stuff ... I'm feeling so good ... what can it hurt? Well let me tell you ... PASTA IS EVIL AND SO IS CHEESE!!! LOL

whiskey9890

oh i hope you feel better soon and that the weather clears up for you, heard there is some really bad stuff in the states at the moment, stay safe x

magglett

Yes I heard about the States with their Tornados and stuff ... terrible terrible ... I'm in Canada ... we are just experiencing some pretty tough winds right now ... some trees and poles being tipped over and occasional loss of some hydro ... but nothing compared to the States.

magglett

Hi all ... just popping in to see how we're all holding up. Went to Kensington Market in Toronto on Sunday with my daughter for mother's day, had a lovely time and bought some yummy fresh Brie. Big mistake ... I've been loving it since ... and now it's hating me. My tummy sounds like there's a volcano in there just waiting to errupt. Seriously, why is something I love so much so evil. CHEESE IS EVIL!!!! Hope you're all feeling better then I ... Have a great Tuesday my friends.