Anyone else with IBS?

whitney_elyse

Hi all. I've been doing the MFP thing for about 2 years now. I've always been able to lose weight when I make the appropriate efforts (diet/exercise), though I haven't always been on the right track. Over the past year, I've been having what my doctor thinks are IBS symptoms. Since then, I haven't been able to lose any weight. Over the past two months especially, I've been making a really concerted effort. I work out 5 days/week with spin classes and body pump and my calories range from 1350-1500. I actually am gaining more weight than losing. I know the whole "muscle weighs more than fat" rule and I do think I've gained some muscle via body pump. However, I can tell via my clothes (and the scale!) that I haven't lost any fat. I truly feel that my stomach issues play a huge part in this but I'm not sure what else I can do. Does anyone in a similar boat have suggestions as to what they've done in the past to help?

kcoftx

I am not having any issues with losing weight BUT my scale fluctuates very widely from day to day. I weigh in more often and take the lowest of the week and chart it out to help me see it better. In fact, as I get closer to goal, it comes off a little slower (as it is supposed to) and I actually thought I wasn't losing until I caught up with my chart and saw it as plain as day. Just a thought.

Jamie_Lauren

It could be simply because your stomach issues are causing you to bloat. How much water are you drinking?

I have IBS symptoms too, and I find that lowering my dairy intake and drinking lots of water makes me feel better, otherwise I bloat like crazy!

You could try writing yourself a food diary in conjunction with how your stomach feels every day and see if you can find a pattern in what causes your issues the most and try eliminating it from your diet and see how you feel. Unfortunately it's all trial and error.

LisaMariaMuir

Hi, I've suffered with IBS for nearly 19 years and as a result my weight goes up and down like a yo-yo. About a month ago I was diagnosed as wheat intolerant and since then I feel like a new person having removed wheat from my diet. Weight is slowly coming off but even better, I feel like a new person. Have you had your Gluten Intolerance checked? I don't have the same bloating and all the other typical IBS symptoms I've dealt with over the years since I've cut out the wheat.

A good dietitian will also help to eliminate the foods causing it which helps greatly.

I know everyone has different food triggers for IBS (mine was onion, orange, garlic mainly) but the wheat has been the key in me feeling better.

Good luck - its not easy but I hope you get better soon. :flowerforyou:

dyper

Hi,

i'm suffering of IBS symptoms too and for me is the same thing, i've a diet very similar every day but every day when i get up and go on the scale my weight is always different, sometimes of 1.5 Kg less or more! I don't know if it can be related to IBS but now that i read of you i suspect of yes!!
Ciao.

hendinerik

Although I was never officially diagnosed, I am pretty sure I have had it for a long time now. My reflux and IBS are causing me a lot of problems lately with both heartburn and stomach discomfort. However, I eat a lot of fiber (fruit, nuts) which may be affecting it. I may also end up getting an endoscopy, my doctor thinks at 40 it's a bit premature for me to do so.

On the weight loss side, I have been losing, but my intake is higher than yours -- about 1800 calories net (usually more but the exercise brings it down).

I have to say now that I am in my goal range I am seeing the biggest difference on the days I both meet my calorie target and exercise -- and I do eat back my calories.

I know there are people here who make it on 1200 calories, but to me even 1500 seems a little low and I like to eat frequently. As long as the things I am eating are healthy, I find it's working out for me this way (just about 30 pounds since April)

ALSO weight loss is not a straight line - I have noticed at one point it would be extremely slow for a few weeks, then I would lose a couple of pounds in a day -- so truthfully I know that it was not in a day, it was probably my weight readjusting to a new weight range.

Kudos to you for posting... It's a "delicate" matter - particularly for me at the office when I have to "step out" so many times to the restroom.

icklekimmy

I also suffer from IBS and am finding it difficult to lose any of my stomach, I always look about six months pregnant! I have anti-spasmodic meds from gp to deal with spasms in the gut but I always have that swollen belly going on
Good luck with your weight loss!

BrokenButterfly

I definitely feel worse when I eat dairy, bread and other 'bad' foods. I try to eat as naturally as I can. I find that (when i'm doing it properly) a plant-based diet reduces my symptoms the most. Otherwise my tummy is pretty much always bloated and is often sore.

Hey - does anyone else wake up with an INCREDIBLY sore and bloated tummy when they may be either worried about something the next day or knowing you have to be up early?

I also get gastric reflux a lot if I eat the wrong foods. This usually hits me at night when i'm trying to sleep

c53204

Don't know the age of all you guys, but I'm 56 and had IBS for a couple of years. I've learnt what and what I can't eat to reduce the problem. I lost about 2 stone prior to joining MFP, but I still have a 'paunch' - not sure if it is my age or the IBS.

For those having problems with fluctuating weight measurements. How good are you scales and do you weigh yourself at the same time of day/week.

I bought a set of cheap scales from the Market leader (in UK) and I got up to a stone difference in less than 5 minutes. Moving my feet by a tiny amount was all it took. Bought a better quality set and hey presto - a lot more accurate. I still have times when weight loss is not as great, but I know I can rely on the scales.

Jeneba

I was using feverfew to help with barometric migraines. As soon as I stopped taking it, the worst symptoms of a recent bout of worse IBS stopped. I have also found certain probiotics to be a real help: Thorne brand of Bacillus Coagulans and Udo's Choice Super Bifido Plus. NOT CHEAP! You can get them on Amazon. Also - www;helpforIBS.com for some excellent fennel tea. Finally - we really need to be excruciatingly honest with ourselves. Are there foods we are eating that we suspect are causing issues but that we can't seem to give up? Well....

jenilla1

Wow! I had no idea people were having trouble losing with IBS. When I'm flaring up, my IBS includes nausea and sometimes vomiting, as well as the lovely bowel issues. I worry about losing too much weight. MFP is really important for me to make sure I'm getting enough calories and nutrients when I'm going through a cycle. When I was first diagnosed several years ago, I had lost 20 pounds and looked sickly before they figured out what was wrong. My triggers are red meat, milk (aged cheeses like cheddar are ok in small doses), and moderate to high levels of fat - all fats can do it, but especially animal fats. If I consume too much fat in one sitting, it will guarantee the next several hours in the bathroom. I have to spread it out in small amounts throughout the day to get all my healthy fats in. I must be a special case, though? :flowerforyou:

cnichol78

I was diagnosed years ago. However, i think my issues with losing weight had more to do with my lack of dedication, than IBS. At this point, if I stopped eating "trigger" foods, I'd starve to death. I find new triggers all the time. It would probably only leave water, and candy-most of which I can't eat till the braces come off. Good luck to you!

madlittleoldme

hey ibs suffer here too, i got so bad i would turn grey and couldt walk with the pain in my stomach, a better diet has def helped with it , i drink lots of water and herbal tea ( peppermint , fennel ,cardoman) these help with the bloat,have not had a bad attack in ages thankfully now its just bloat occasionally.

jenilla1

hey ibs suffer here too, i got so bad i would turn grey and couldt walk with the pain in my stomach, a better diet has def helped with it , i drink lots of water and herbal tea ( peppermint , fennel ,cardoman) these help with the bloat,have not had a bad attack in ages thankfully now its just bloat occasionally.

I love peppermint tea. It really does seem to soothe my symptoms. I had not heard of fennel and cardamom teas. I'm gonna try that. Thanks! :drinker:

madlittleoldme

its made my pukka its fennal cardomen and aniseed i think , i love it have it most days x

uglydeuce

I'm seconding the peppermint tea. Also making sure that if you're taking a fiber supplement that its one that won't irritate the IBS.

I was diagnosed this past summer with IBS and I'm really happy to see so many people with it because I was starting to feel like the only one.

faithorfood

I have had IBS which occasionally leads me to have a colitis attack as well. I love salads but I wear dentures and foods that I can't chew up effectively cause problems also. Greasy foods send me straight to the bathroom. However, stress is a huge factor in IBS per my physician. Exercise is a wonderful way to release stress (even if it is light exercise) and lose weight. I'm beginning to wonder if IBS has some genetic connection as I have it as well as my daughter and her teenage son. For the nausea I have discovered that ginger is very soothing to the stomach. I purchase ginger candies from the health food store and when the nausea first begins I suck on one of the candies and it stops it very quickly. I think I will start purchasing the gluten free products to see if that will help.

whitney_elyse

Thanks guys for responding! I try to keep track of what I'm eating that makes it better/worse but thus far I haven't noticed a pattern. I have the version of IBS where you don't go to the bathroom enough so on some level, I know my weight fluctuations are unavoidably part of that retention cycle. But I just never dip below a certain number, ever. I'm sorry to hear all of you are having similar struggles but it does make me feel a little less alone. It's so frustrating.
Maybe cutting bread/wheat is something I should consider. Those of you who have, have you gone totally gluten free or just cut out starchy carbs?

whitney_elyse

I drink at minimum a gallon of water a day, usually a little more.

jayhawkfan51

I too struggle with IBS. However I havent had any problems losing weight until now. Seems as though I find new triggers all the time and the good for me are bad for my IBS. If I stick to the same foods over and over, problems go away and I lose. I get bored fast and deviate and then wish I hadnt. Also found everyone has different triggers. I have no problem with gluten but dairy and raw veggie are horrible for me. Good luck!!!

JewelleryByMandy

Yeah me too! Thats why i went for the food test. Just want to look normal instead of pregnant!

Tara1B

Thanks guys for responding! I try to keep track of what I'm eating that makes it better/worse but thus far I haven't noticed a pattern. I have the version of IBS where you don't go to the bathroom enough so on some level, I know my weight fluctuations are unavoidably part of that retention cycle. But I just never dip below a certain number, ever. I'm sorry to hear all of you are having similar struggles but it does make me feel a little less alone. It's so frustrating.
Maybe cutting bread/wheat is something I should consider. Those of you who have, have you gone totally gluten free or just cut out starchy carbs?

I also have the same problem, I've been suffering from IBS for 7 years. I'm only 5ft tall and sometimes my weight can fluctuate by 3-4lbs even though I've been eating healthy foods. I cut wheat and dairy out for 9 months (on the advice of a dietician) and it did make a massive difference with the bloating. I also lost half a stone fairly quickly. I now limit these foods in my diet but I still suffer.

JewelleryByMandy

Thanks guys for responding! I try to keep track of what I'm eating that makes it better/worse but thus far I haven't noticed a pattern. I have the version of IBS where you don't go to the bathroom enough so on some level, I know my weight fluctuations are unavoidably part of that retention cycle. But I just never dip below a certain number, ever. I'm sorry to hear all of you are having similar struggles but it does make me feel a little less alone. It's so frustrating.
Maybe cutting bread/wheat is something I should consider. Those of you who have, have you gone totally gluten free or just cut out starchy carbs?

Ive cut the wheat out of everything, i can actually have potatoes and rice tho, might be good to get a test done!

animatorswearbras

I have and the same version as you by the sounds of it (IBS -C) diagnosed 10 years ago but probably started in my mid teens but it's not really bothering me at the moment, I take colofac (anti spasmodic) and anti depressants (IBS can be depression/stress related) the exercising should help, plus you should try to take some time out to relax. My main trigger foods when I'm going through an IBS period are gassy bloating vegetables (ie cabbage, brocolli, onions) which is annoying because they're great for diets and diet coke,thai sticky rice, pizza and other things have also set me off in the past before too. Also all bran breakfast cereal I find is counterproductive for me and makes me feel worse as do probiotic drinks which is very strange so I wouldn't recommend them from my experience.

As for weight gain you should still be burning fat so when you go back to normal you should see a significant loss, but with your IBS most of that weight will be water weight in the gut and your extra exercising will mean you have water weight in your muscles helping them repair, your right that the gaining pounds of muscle thing straight away after exercising and that's why you're heavier is a myth it takes a long time to gain pounds of muscle especially if you're female, but people do gain pounds in water weight when they start exercising as part of the muscle healing process, this should also regulate when you get into a routine.

Just a disclaimer that this is just my uneducated opinion (especially regarding the weight retention this is just info I've gleaned from various fitness sites), the best thing would definatley be to speak to your doctor and see if you can be prescribed something and see if he could give you any dietary advice. But the gluton free thing doesn't sound like a bad idea, I've heard people find some relief going glutton free or cutting out other triggers.

Take care xxx

whitney_elyse

I've gone to several doctors and as of now, they seem to cast away the problems onto stress. Which, I agree could be part of it (how stressful is it to be told that all of your problems are due to stress--an ENDLESS cycle!) but I don't feel like I have any more stress in my life than a.) average people my age and b.) than I have in the past. But, I'm awaiting a GI specialist appointment in a few weeks that I hope will help me. As sad as it would be to cut out wheat and dairy from my diet, I'm willing to try anything. In the meantime, I'm going to an acupuncturist in the hopes that if stress is playing a part, that this will help in some way. I do think it's helped with the pain that comes along with my symptoms but hasn't helped with my actual bowel issues, if that makes sense?

animatorswearbras

I've gone to several doctors and as of now, they seem to cast away the problems onto stress. Which, I agree could be part of it (how stressful is it to be told that all of your problems are due to stress--an ENDLESS cycle!) but I don't feel like I have any more stress in my life than a.) average people my age and b.) than I have in the past

I do feel there's a strong relation between IBS and stress, however what are your doctors doing about it, is all very good being told it's stress but that doesn't help, I would ask to be prescribed an antispasmotic like colofac (mebeverine hydrochloride) for the pain. If they have confirmed an IBS diagnosis.

As for your level of stress a) your body has no idea what other peoples tolerance of stress is so you can't judge it by that, I get very stressed mines mostly related to my high pressure job, however I would consider myself a hell of alot luckier than most in that I am in work doing my hobby for a living, in love and most external things are going my way, but my body still feels stressed by the pressures of my own little world, and b) I've been more stressed in the past too and been without symtoms eg (when I was made redundant, and many other worse examples)

If gluton or dairy are known triggers then go for it, but I'd try one at a time for a week or so and see if there's improvement otherwise you might avoid both and only have an intolerance for one

Oh also try this masage with circular movements

"Self-massage of the colon has long been found helpful for constipation - in anyone, whether they have MS or not. To do this, massage along the length of the large intestine (colon) in the direction of 'flow' towards the rectum.

Begin at the lower right-hand side of your abdomen, just above the pelvis, then slowly move up towards the right-hand side of the rib cage, then across, just below the ribs, to the left side, and down the left side back towards the pelvis before finally moving across towards the middle."

BubblySharon

Kudos to you for posting... It's a "delicate" matter - particularly for me at the office when I have to "step out" so many times to the restroom.

I'm with you there! Unfortunately I don't always have access to a restroom when working. I'm a Home Health Aide and I don't feel comfortable using my clients' restrooms. Sometimes there not the cleanest, and sometimes they have illnesses/diseases that are quite contagious so using their restroom is not an option. I have to go to gas stations(yech!) or wait until I get home. So I end up missing work due to my IBS on occasion. I have found in the last 6 months since I have been using the new "holy crap" cereal line and "nutracleanse" it is adding a fair amount of fibre to my diet and seems to be helping. For me, my IBS fluctuates from C to D all the time. I have had it all my life but only diagnosed finally about 6 yrs ago. When it is in the C phase, I do notice I am more bloated and weigh a bit more. I have figured out a few triggers, but they are different for everyone.

BubblySharon

Oh also try this masage with circular movements

"Self-massage of the colon has long been found helpful for constipation - in anyone, whether they have MS or not. To do this, massage along the length of the large intestine (colon) in the direction of 'flow' towards the rectum.

Begin at the lower right-hand side of your abdomen, just above the pelvis, then slowly move up towards the right-hand side of the rib cage, then across, just below the ribs, to the left side, and down the left side back towards the pelvis before finally moving across towards the middle."

This is something I have been doing for years.. it does help. Started doing this when I was 12 yrs old and was constantly having problems going.

deb3129

I struggled with IBS since my teens. However, since I switched to a plant based diet in March, I am completely asymptomatic. I have no idea what change caused it to go away, because I overhauled my entire diet at once. I gave up all animal products, sodas, processed stuff, etc. So I cannot narrow down exactly what caused the difference, but I love the heck out of it!

svetadoll

This may sounds crazy..... but i've had major IBS symptoms for a bout 5 years... i even went to the extent of having tubes and video probed in areas no tube should go..... and nothing really came up. Went to naturalpaths, general GPs... no one really had a solution. I was even taking probiotics and it wouldn't help....
Then amongst this, my biggest problem was i developed a extremely bad neck/back from a number of minor accidents. Mainly not lifting at the knees and falling down some stairs...
SO, how are my back problems and IBS related?? WEEELLLL, i ended up going to a chiropractor after my neck just got toooo much to handle (mind you i had just spent 500+ on physical therapy to no avail)... he concentrates on aligning the spine... no wacky crazy scary cracking stuff that i've been lead to believe!! Its been three months... i started with 3 sessions a week and now down to 2... by next month it'll be once a week and so forth.... My neck is sooooo much better... so is my lower back....

My vertebre around the shoulder blades were out too.... and this is the area were the nerves to the stomach/intestines are... i swear to you.... i have no IBS problems as long as my back is aligned in this area..... if i have a bad stomach day, i immediately know i have to be aligned in that part of my back!!!

And if you knew how bad it was for me before.... i'd be in the bathroom BEFORE i had finished my meal.... honestly. I was a mess.

So try a chiropractor.... one that uses those adjusting tables and doesn't do any weird twisting cracking nonsense.

sarahkayhoffman

If you have food intolerance or allergy and do not know it, you could likely be hanging on to a lot of weight. Sometimes, for instance people with undiagnosed Celiac, have trouble gaining weight. It all depends on what the culprit is. I just wrote: Getting Glutenized & Dr. Oz’s Food Sensitivity Scale. You can see more symptoms: http://bit.ly/agugggoz