Anyone else with IBS?

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Replies

  • flatbellybella
    flatbellybella Posts: 303 Member
    the only time I think I have iBS is when I'm doing a night shift lol
  • walkwithme1
    walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
    I've had this problem for a couple of years. Have had two ER visits, ultrasounds, colonoscopy the works. My GI doc diagnose me, istructions were, citrucel or equivalent daily (I don't do this) I was put on amitriptyline, 25mg very low dose, yes it is an anti depressant and no I'm not depressed, it's drastically helped my symptoms but caused weight gain so I only take 2-3 x week. I also take Levsin .125mg (dissolves under tongue) I use this when I have pain up to 4 times a day.

    As for triggers: to much fiber thus the no citrucel and popcorn and raw edamame.
    I hope you can get this figured out. I can definitely sympathize and a lot of people just don't understand how painful and uncomfortable it can be as well as frustrating. I gained back 15 of what I lost because of medical reasons. Hang in there and don't give up. Add me if I can help any of y'all. (I used to work for my GI doc)
  • rmkramer003
    rmkramer003 Posts: 115 Member
    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?

    I haven't read through this yet, but is it possible you aren't eating enough? Some people here say they plateaued, then started losing again when they upped their calories. Especially since you are working out so much. I hit a plateau myself eating at 1300 calories, and started losing weight again when I upped it to 1700 calories. I'm not losing a pound a week, but I am losing.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Research suggests a combination of supplementing DHA/ EPA (long chain omega-3s/ fish body oils) and freeze dried probiotic capsules (the bacteria that naturally populate the gut) can improve symptoms in many people and I have had some good results with a few clients. I thought I had developed a wheat intolerance a few years ago, pain after eating and my stomach would swell up so badly I would look six plus pregnant and others would notice. Not IBS in my case, was massively improved in a week with the aforementioned supplements.
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    I suffer regularly with IBS symptoms. What is your current diet? I keep it really plain and 90% of the time have no problems.
  • AnahitaCanDoIt
    AnahitaCanDoIt Posts: 448
    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!

    This sounds like me. I've cut out all gluten/grains/wheat, potatoes, rice, pasta dairy and am basically eating paleo more or less... it has improved and doing 5/6 days of training but the scale is refusing to budge. Yes, the centimetres have gone down, but not in my stomach. It's like someone is in there puffing out my stomach and I want to evict them!
  • kim_nawrocki
    kim_nawrocki Posts: 1 Member
    I have also been diagnosed to IBS! After 4 years of suffering with bloating, constipation/diarrhea, distention, gas, etc. - you name it, I've experienced it... I decided to seek out the advice of my PCP who without testing, told me to eliminate gluten from my diet. I tried the gluten free diet for 1 month and every symptom came back full force. Then, 2 years later, when I just couldn't take the cramping and all other symptoms that go along with it, I scheduled myself to see a GI specialist. Diagnosis: IBS and lactose intolerance... oh yeah, and too much stress. I have been prescribed an anti-spasmodic and anti-depressant and still have symptoms. I did notice a little bit of a difference with drinking fiber supplements (3 times daily) but other than that, no such luck to eliminate the discomfort on a whole. If anything, my weight fluctuates throughout the week, but I continuously have dropped pounds, not from pure diet or exercise, just because I can't eat large meals or very frequent meals either. I know that this doesn't seem too healthy, but I too am looking for some advice on how to manage this constant issue we all are seemingly suffering with.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    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.

    "Limit" but not eliminate? That could be why you are still suffering. For me, I'm finding my incredible health improvements well worth the "restrictions". Living now seems so much better than sickening and dying prematurely. But that's just me.
  • greenmeena
    greenmeena Posts: 118 Member
    I FIXED MY IBS!!! You can too!

    I too have suffered for a long time with IBS. I was checked out for gluten allergy etc, and was just told it was stress, and to take Metamucil. WELL!! That stuff made me bloat worse and I was incredibly painful.

    Like a lot of folks have said, I kicked grains and was immediately better. Not pain free, however; I went Paleo for two years but still had some troubles.

    Then I was turned on to eating naturally probiotic foods by a friend. I had an especially horrific bout of pain that she was witness to, and she told me she'd used probiotic foods to help her condition- and now she can eat things that were normally out of the question with no trouble.

    You see, commercial probiotics are not the same as foods with naturally occurring probiotic cultures! They're so much more alive and better for your belly. I can fully 100% attest to that.

    I always hated sauerkraut, but decided to give it a go- I got this amazing garlic kraut which I LOVE. I began to eat probiotic foods two to three times per day. I eat kraut, fermented carrots with ginger, kefir and yogurt, and home made pickles. All of this I make myself at home.
    Check out these books:
    Sandor Katz "Wild Fermentation"
    Sally Fallon "Nourishing Traditions"

    These books, along with kicking grains, have saved my life. I no longer bloat, no longer have belly pain, I am regular and healed. wheeeee!!!

    (I even cheat every now and then and have toast, twice a year, and don't suffer nearly as long).
  • greenmeena
    greenmeena Posts: 118 Member
    By the way- if you have a gluten intolerance- it is not dose dependent, meaning, even the smallest amount can be an irritant. If you decide to go gluten free for 30 days as a test, something I think is well worth it, you want to be aware of where wheat or gluten hides; soy sauce, for example, and even oats have gluten. Just sayin'.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    I had IBS for several years and all the symptoms disappeared when i changed to a whole foods, plant based diet. I'm not sure if it is related to fiber or if it is bacteriological or what part of the diet change actually helped, but it worked.
  • NoJustTheDude
    NoJustTheDude Posts: 16
    Ever since I started eating cereal with tons of fiber, my problems have vanished! Try eating 1 cup of General Mills - Fiber One Original every morning. By the way, you got to get the "Original" because it is much lower in calories (120 cal for 1 cup) than the other varieties of Fiber One and has 0 gm of added sugar.
  • MeeshyBW
    MeeshyBW Posts: 382 Member
    I have IBS and GERD for 10 years. I am also Gluten intolerant.

    I would suggest an elimination diet to find out what your triggers are.
  • danni_l
    danni_l Posts: 144 Member
    Im starting to think this might be my issue, constantly ill - bloated stomach, cramps and all the general toilet issues people seem to have :( - especially after eating. I think I have gluten issues as well. Need to go to docs, but so expensive over here I just cant afford it at the moment.
    Ive been doing low carb for a while and noticed my symptoms improve a lot when I did that. Think I will have to try elimination diet, although I have had any gluten today and still feel crook. Possibly the coffee I had this morning? *BIG SIGH* so annoying :(

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