IBS and going wheat/gluten free?

Just a thought-refined flours, sugar are sometimes thought to cause inflammation (in the very least water retention). Maybe check out the wheat belly book/site. There is also the thought that the 'gut' is a key player in overall health. If it's unhappy, things with the body as a whole go awry. Maybe increasing your fibre intake through vegetables and reducing your consumption of refined flours and wheat for a month or so would help you get a better idea of how your body is responding. Not sure if this helps, just miscellaneous thoughts.

I eliminated eggs, dairy and gluten. No more IBS

I follow a no/low FODMAPS diet that is used for Ibs. I don't have a diagnosis but it helps a lot. I try tostayaway from gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, peas and beans many grains and some fruits and vegies. Ill send you a FR.Sometimes I wish I had more mfp friends who understand my issues.

Spent years struggling with IBS (which is really just a catchall for "we really don't know what the $#!%@ is wrong"). Everybody has different triggers, so your best bet is to start with a very limited diet (grilled meats / proteins, no sauce, veggies, fruits, rice is usually fine).

Once you've established a baseline diet that limits symptoms, you can gradually experiment to see how you react to different foods. Keep a diary of meals, and how you feel day to day. Remember that stress is an important factor that may skew your reactions, so note your stress levels.

My system functions on probabilities - I can almost always eat a bagel, but pancakes / muffins / cakes will usually make me sick. Raw tomatoes are fine, but cooked tomatoes will almost always make me sick. Sauces of any kind are out (except soy sauce for sushi). I've found what works by experimenting. You will likely have to do the same.

Exercise has helped my digestive system immensely. So has Greek yogurt (probiotics). And benefiber. But, as you pointed out, people will react differently to these items (except exercise - I truly believe this is vital for keeping ibs under control).

Best of luck!

Anyone in here, feel free to add me. Can always use the friends and support!

I heard this from someone else too. But as long as its lean or eggs, I have no problem with it. However, if things were how I would want them to be, and I didn't have to rely on it for protein, I wouldn't have animal products at all. : /

I eliminated all animal products and my IBS is 100% cured.

I have been diagnosed with IBS and still trying to find all my triggers, but definitely as soon as I cut out gluten I felt so much better, but keep a diary and cut things out and see what works for you

I have IBS, GERD, and fructose intolerance... Man oh man, have I ever wanted to go gluten free... But it'd be so hard lol...

I never considered IBS for myself, having had a gripey body for weeks someone passed the low fodmap past me, it aims to exclude poorly digested sugars the letters stand for the types of sugar. I saw oats and bananas are good for the gripyness and had bananas and porridge for my next meal. I continued with the eliminations which seemed to coincide with things I already avoided and I am comfortable. within the constraints of my chemical/salicylate sensitivity. I am so grateful for finding out about this way of eating.

All the best to everyone .

OP I have done this and highly recommend it. Heavily reducing (near elimination save trace amounts) gluten (wheat, rye, barley, etc) intake has helped tremendously. It has also helped boost the overall micro-nutrient density of my diet as well. Wheat and the like are not especially loaded with micro-nutrients when compared to alternatives.. Replacing most grain choices with vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc is a great choice. When you just crave something like pasta, there are great alternatives (like rice noodles, I get mine at an Asian grocery, they also have mung-bean noodles as well.) It could only help to try, at worst, it does nothing for you, there is no reason not to try it for a month or two!

While I don't have an official diagnosis of IBS, I suspect that I have it to a degree. What I DO have a diagnosis for is Celiac disease. If you suspect that Gluten is affecting/triggering your IBS, I would suggest getting into some Celiac groups/circles for help in eliminating gluten. Companies tend to HIDE gluten where it really shouldn't be....and if it is a trigger for you, you want to make sure you get rid of it everywhere. Gluten is not just in food but medications as well. I have to take it a step further and avoid it in all personal care items (shampoo/cond, soap, facial products, makeup...) too.

Hope eliminating it helps you and PLEASE don't get discouraged. Once you start looking for gluten so you can avoid it, you will feel like it is EVERYWHERE and could get overwhelmed. Just stick it through and you will feel tons better. If you need any further help/advice, I have just recently come back to MFP and would be glad to help any way I can. :happy:

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis 4 years ago. (aka: degenerative changes, we don't know why).

I cut out wheat/grains on a hunch. My doctor said, yup, was about to suggest that, because...well, you have the kitchen sink going on with you.

WOW, THE SYMPTOMS...THEY WENT AWAY TOO.

We added them back in to do the test. Boom, celiac disease. At age 34. What the flock, right?

the PCOS is toned down, the insulin resistance is better, the thyroid disease is improving, and the acid reflux is gone unless I eat THE STUFF I AM ALLERGIC TO. GLUTEN. SOY.

Sometimes, the obvious stares you in the face. Good luck, it changed my life:)

Thank you all so much for giving me hope! I really thought I was going crazy! 2009 I was 387lbs - today I am 242. On November 1st I had my gallbladder removed and my stomach issues have been worse since surgery than before - I have tested negative for Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns, Celiac and Ulcers - as well as stomach cancers - I had multiple polyps removed during a post surgical endoscopy. I have another appointment today to discuss possible IBS - prior to surgery I went gluten free and felt great until my gallbladder went. After surgery I went into a state of acidosis and they put on a pure CARBOHYDRATE diet for last two months - I feel bloated and crampy and horrible and can't poop (sorry if that is TMI), but I am beyond frustrated. I spent eight days in the hospital for what was supposed to be outpatient - anyone have any suggestions? I want to get below the 200 mark by fall - btw I am 5'2".