IBS Sufferers
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patsypooter
Posts: 175 Member
Hello! I wanted to make this post to hopefully be able to help other people who have been suffering from IBS.
For the past couple years I've been dealing with IBS alternating. I ate well and was so confused as to why I was constantly in pain. Some of my symptoms included nausea, a constant pain/discomfort in my left side next to my belly button, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and feeling uncomfortably full. For a long time I was sure the IBS must be something more serious as the symptoms were sometimes debilitating.
I was sick and tired of feeling sick all the time so I started doing the Specific Carb Diet. I found some of my triggers and then decided to do a "mix up" of SCD and FODMAPS diet. I took the principals from both and found what worked for me.
I don't eat dairy, limit my sugar and try my darndest to stay away from gluten. No preservatives, no packaged food. I only eat whole foods, except for rare treat days.
Some of my "healthy" trigger foods include high fructose fruit, sweet potatoes, raw garlic. I also seem to have reactions to red meat but I am still testing this.
I just want you to know that there is hope. Diet has completely fixed my IBS. This is a process and I can't say 100% what my trigger foods are yet as I still have lots of food to add back and test. I have been at this for three months. Yes, I am losing weight but my big reason for adopting this specific diet was the IBS.
If you have any questions let me know. If you have IBS and are looking for support, add me to friends.
For the past couple years I've been dealing with IBS alternating. I ate well and was so confused as to why I was constantly in pain. Some of my symptoms included nausea, a constant pain/discomfort in my left side next to my belly button, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and feeling uncomfortably full. For a long time I was sure the IBS must be something more serious as the symptoms were sometimes debilitating.
I was sick and tired of feeling sick all the time so I started doing the Specific Carb Diet. I found some of my triggers and then decided to do a "mix up" of SCD and FODMAPS diet. I took the principals from both and found what worked for me.
I don't eat dairy, limit my sugar and try my darndest to stay away from gluten. No preservatives, no packaged food. I only eat whole foods, except for rare treat days.
Some of my "healthy" trigger foods include high fructose fruit, sweet potatoes, raw garlic. I also seem to have reactions to red meat but I am still testing this.
I just want you to know that there is hope. Diet has completely fixed my IBS. This is a process and I can't say 100% what my trigger foods are yet as I still have lots of food to add back and test. I have been at this for three months. Yes, I am losing weight but my big reason for adopting this specific diet was the IBS.
If you have any questions let me know. If you have IBS and are looking for support, add me to friends.
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Replies
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Or pm me if you are not comfortable discussing IBS on an open forum.
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I noticed my IBS got a lot better when my diet improved - not as strict as yours, but my symptoms were massively alleviated when I cut out junk food and ate little and often. It can still flare up when I'm stressed, but I don't have to take medication for it anymore. And yes, I used to think there was something worse wrong with me at first, as the cramps were awful.0
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Patsy, re:meat issues - are you eating 100% grass fed/finished meats or conventionally grown feedlot animals? They are processed for slaughter and treated with a corn based acid of some kind (as I've heard in various places, but haven't proven research for myself) so this may be some of your reaction as it could really be the corn/"natural flavorings" they use and not the actual meat itself.
Just something to consider, not that I'm advocating you drop all conventional meat given the cost, but before you give up on all meat forever, look into it. Also, don't take the 100% grass fed/finished for granted. Ask the source of your meat how it is processed after slaughter so you know whether or not it's been washed with the toxic acids.
re:bloating and feeling over full - have you looked into digestive enzymes or betaine hcl? lots of info on that on the scd site. They say most people don't have enough stomach acid but doctors are treating everyone for overacid condition instead. Might help with the meat digestion too aside from what I mentioned above.0 -
I've been trying to find out what's going on with my tummy for the last month. I'm at the end of my second week of a FODMAP trial, done through a dietician. Although the symptoms have reduced, I'm still finding I'm not 100% back to normal. I know it can be a lengthy process, but geez I'm so over it.
My weight/measurements have stayed the same over the past month, which is really frustrating, but I'm glad I haven't put on either.0 -
I'm just starting FODMAPs. Would love to have some friends following it too, feel free to add me0
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I noticed my IBS got a lot better when my diet improved - not as strict as yours, but my symptoms were massively alleviated when I cut out junk food and ate little and often. It can still flare up when I'm stressed, but I don't have to take medication for it anymore. And yes, I used to think there was something worse wrong with me at first, as the cramps were awful.
I'm so glad to hear that!!
For me, I was having the worst symptoms when eating "healthy". I ate a lot of sweet potatoes and wow, came to find out that is one of my main triggers!!
I was getting to the point where I would need to get on meds because I was in agony every day. SO far I have not had a stress related flare up, knock on wood.0 -
I've been trying to find out what's going on with my tummy for the last month. I'm at the end of my second week of a FODMAP trial, done through a dietician. Although the symptoms have reduced, I'm still finding I'm not 100% back to normal. I know it can be a lengthy process, but geez I'm so over it.
My weight/measurements have stayed the same over the past month, which is really frustrating, but I'm glad I haven't put on either.
It can definitely be a lengthy process. I would recommend doing a full elimination diet where you only eat certain foods and then add more in and see how you feel. I know I can't eat a lot of the foods on the FODMAP and SCD list, so it very much will differ from person to person.
I hope you are getting more relief and I really hope the scale has started to move down for you!0 -
I have IBS and was just diagnosed with Crohn's disease after I had a colonoscopy.
Feel free to add me! Please include a message if you do so I know/remember where you found me. Thanks 0 -
Change in my diet has reduced the IBS symptoms substantially. I eat clean (not paleo - soo strict for me), and have added Metamucil to my routine every morning. The Metamucil has really helped me, but I have addiitonal gut issues.0
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I've had IBS for 10 years (well I was diagnosed 10 years ago). I cut out red meat and pork about 6 years ago and it has done WONDERS for me! That is stuff that is SO HARD on your system. Anyway, yes watching what you eat is a HUGE help. I find that when I indulge in anything that is not a "whole food" I'm fat and bloated. Coffee, OMG, so bloated after coffee :-P I was told I'm lactose intollerant as well, however, I honestly believe I just have a sensitivity to it because I'm generally fine with yogurt and some cheeses. My triggers are fried foods, packaged foods, milk (omg milk), ice cream, dark chocolate covered almonds (omg my fav too
) anything with white flour (I only eat whole wheat, rye and grains) and there are others. I remember when I worked at Hooters and I was told "Well Steph, we know you'll never get fat, anything that's bad for you makes you sick!" I said "GOOD!" haha.
Just gotta be careful. Sugar makes my stummy mental... alcohol... HAHA... oh yeah, that doesn't help either :indifferent:0 -
After many visits to different doctors IBS is what they told me.
When I'm having a flare my symptoms are:
- extreme bloating (I honestly look about 5 or so months pregnant)
- pain on the left side, just above pelvis
- very full feeling
I'd be interested to know what sites you frequent/visited for details regarding elimination, FODMAPS etc. As I am going to make another attempt at freeing myself from such discomforts.0 -
I totally agree that 'healthy eating' aggravated my symptoms. Lettuce and cabbage are big triggers for me. I did a dna test and found out that I'm super sensitive to the norovirus, which is often found on lettuce. It has to be washed very well before eating it, and even then it's iffy. I have recently started looking at my diet more in relation to my symptoms, so my journey has just started in that regard. I did however find an article stating that artificial sweeteners, even the allegedly good ones, like stevia, can be big triggers for IBS. I immediately stopped them, after 30 years of use, and my symptoms did improve dramatically within a few weeks. My bouts of diarrhea became less frequent, less painful, and I haven't had a single 'accident' since then. That was three months ago.
Ice cream and milk will sometimes make me feel better, and at other times they are triggers. I can't always be sure how they will affect me. Deep fried foods for sure (and I love them so). Certain brands of coffee... Maxwell House... will do me in. Sweets, like donuts, cake, and cookies tend to make me feel better. Wheat flour is a big trigger.
I was 17 when I was diagnosed with spastic colon. I'm 55 now, and I didn't know that diet might make a difference until recently. I found an app that might be helpful: it's called GIBodyGuard. It tracks numerous symptoms and emotions that can also act as triggers. You can also journal your food there, so you can see what might relate to your symptoms.0 -
I have heard the theory that IBS is related to gut bacteria, and that really makes sense to me. I went on a juice fast 2 years ago, just for a few days, and my IBS never came back. Dealt with it for years before that.0
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I had similar symptoms start about two years ago... I've just figured out that mine was caused from a type of filler that manufacturers are putting in just about everything we consumers buy! Its generally used in pastas, processed foods like chips-crackers-and cookies, and what I was super surprised to see was it was in my VITAMINS... I had to change brands to an "organic" to make sure its not in there... I have to say that ever since I did that my IBS symptoms have disappeared... be on the look out for it... Maltodextrin... it's also in sugar substitutes...0
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After many visits to different doctors IBS is what they told me.
When I'm having a flare my symptoms are:
- extreme bloating (I honestly look about 5 or so months pregnant)
- pain on the left side, just above pelvis
- very full feeling
I'd be interested to know what sites you frequent/visited for details regarding elimination, FODMAPS etc. As I am going to make another attempt at freeing myself from such discomforts.
Have you been tested for diverticulitis? The pain from that is usually on the left side. I have heard people describe it as "a belt tightening around my waist".0 -
My main trigger is beer. If I drank the night before, I often can't eat for a day or two because of the amount of discomfort I experience. Since Sunday, I'm experiencing nausea. I can't eat without feeling sick, but I'm so hungry. I don't know what to do.0
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>> Well this turned into a bit of a loooooong story, but here it is, hope it helps somebody! <<
>> If it's TL;DR here's a cheat sheet: Doctors/GPs don't understand IBS yet, seek out new research, take PEPPERMINT and some form of GOOD BACTERIA, take it easy, let yourself recover <<
I was diagnosed with severe IBS about 2/3 years ago - could not walk for more than 100 yds without cramping and feeling dizzy, couldn't exercise without getting cramps and diarrhoea... you get the picture.
I was told after my diagnosis, by a the most unprofessional, unkind man who was the gut specialist at the hospital I was being tested at, that "I would never get any better, would probably get worse, there is no cure get over it this is your life now"...
Now, I am healthy, losing weight, the IBS symptoms only flare up rarely, I can walk without cramping, RUN without cramping, SWIM without pain, no dizziness, no feeling weak and lethargic, my life is immeasurably different and better than it was when I was diagnosed.
The BIGGEST turning point for me was reading a study by the aptly named TUM institute in Germany, researching the successful use of peppermint to treat IBS. Since then I have been taking peppermint oil capsules every day without fail. If I miss a day I will feel crappy the next day. This really helps to even out the symptoms of IBS, and although it won't prevent flare ups it makes every day life so much more liveable.
Second biggest turning point was reading another study into the understanding of IBS at a bacterial level in the gut. There is a lot out there about this theory and it is steadily gaining credit with other studies. I take (every day, same as the peppermint) BIMMUNO IBAID chewing capsules. Just like chewy vitamins, but they are packed with what are commonly called 'good' bacteria. Within a couple of weeks of starting these I recovered from flare ups in 24 hours instead of 72, flare ups got shorter and less severe, and now they are few and far between after around 12 months of taking Bimmunos every day.
I still have a few dietary triggers that I know will get me going - heavy fats especially cream, anything very oily or greasy (e.g. greasy battered fish). The hardest struggle in some ways now is letting myself recover after a flare, taking it easy and not just 'pushing through' the pain. It really really helps recovery time and repeat flare ups if we sloooow it down
My struggle with IBS was long, upsetting and down right demoralising but if you are in the middle of IBS or just starting to get tested please PLEASE do your own research - read medical journals, look into studies being done, anything. IBS is a very poorly understood illness, and at the moment is only diagnosable through elimination of other diseases. They don't even understand it enough to be able to positively test for it, so the treatments are archaic and unhelpful, mainly related to pain management. (I was put on anti-depressants at one stage, for goodness sake)
Do not be at the mercy of your doctors! Go forth and kick IBS BUTT! Good luck everybody xx0 -
Patsy, re:meat issues - are you eating 100% grass fed/finished meats or conventionally grown feedlot animals? They are processed for slaughter and treated with a corn based acid of some kind (as I've heard in various places, but haven't proven research for myself) so this may be some of your reaction as it could really be the corn/"natural flavorings" they use and not the actual meat itself.
Just something to consider, not that I'm advocating you drop all conventional meat given the cost, but before you give up on all meat forever, look into it. Also, don't take the 100% grass fed/finished for granted. Ask the source of your meat how it is processed after slaughter so you know whether or not it's been washed with the toxic acids.
re:bloating and feeling over full - have you looked into digestive enzymes or betaine hcl? lots of info on that on the scd site. They say most people don't have enough stomach acid but doctors are treating everyone for overacid condition instead. Might help with the meat digestion too aside from what I mentioned above.
At this point we are very, very, very poor so we are buying the cheapest cuts of meat. I've tried vegetarian diet before and really did not work well for me. I pretty much only eat chicken legs, fish or chicken breast. Sometimes pork. I rarely eat red meat because I find I react to it and I do believe it is the crap they are putting in. My thoughts are that it is the fake red dye they add but really it could be anything! I do not find I react to chicken or fish. We do raise our own chickens so this summer will have lots of grain fed free ranged chickens for us to eat. Yum! Then we will split a cow with my brother this coming summer and have lots of meat in our freezer for the winter to come. Until then I am pretty much avoiding red meat entirely. They also use something called Meat Glue (youtube it, its fricking gross) and it can be used on beef or pork to put small pieces of scrap meat together to look like real meat chunks. So. Yeah. It's insane what they put in meat.
I will look into that right now about the acid... I belch a lot and do not drink anything at all carbonated. I am wondering if that might be a sign of something going wrong in my system. I typically don't get heartburn or anything like that. There is a test I keep meaning to do where you eat something (can't remember what) then wait to see how long it takes you to burp. Apparently the results will tell you if your stomach is under or overacidic. I need to google that again, I have misplaced the bookmark, woopsies.0 -
After many visits to different doctors IBS is what they told me.
When I'm having a flare my symptoms are:
- extreme bloating (I honestly look about 5 or so months pregnant)
- pain on the left side, just above pelvis
- very full feeling
I'd be interested to know what sites you frequent/visited for details regarding elimination, FODMAPS etc. As I am going to make another attempt at freeing myself from such discomforts.
Have you been tested for diverticulitis? The pain from that is usually on the left side. I have heard people describe it as "a belt tightening around my waist".
No, haven't been tested but for a long time was sure t was diverticulitis. My symptoms do seem more consistent with IBS alternating. How do they test for diverticulitis? I was going to be sent to have a CT Scan to see what was going on with my bowels, that scared me into eating right.
On my current diet I almost never get symptoms and when I do get symptoms, they are extremely mild.
The belt tightening sounds like it. I would describe it more as a terrible pressure. It helps a tiny bit to put pressure on it but not really. Honestly it was agony.0 -
My main trigger is beer. If I drank the night before, I often can't eat for a day or two because of the amount of discomfort I experience. Since Sunday, I'm experiencing nausea. I can't eat without feeling sick, but I'm so hungry. I don't know what to do.
If I drink now, I am suffering for at least a full day afterwards. I don't drink beer but I find that alcohol like vodka or rum has the same effect. I don't get full blown IBS symptoms but do get constant nausea.
For me, gluten causes me to have significant nausea. Even worse than the alcohol!!I had similar symptoms start about two years ago... I've just figured out that mine was caused from a type of filler that manufacturers are putting in just about everything we consumers buy! Its generally used in pastas, processed foods like chips-crackers-and cookies, and what I was super surprised to see was it was in my VITAMINS... I had to change brands to an "organic" to make sure its not in there... I have to say that ever since I did that my IBS symptoms have disappeared... be on the look out for it... Maltodextrin... it's also in sugar substitutes...
It's so insane! The food additives alone are causing so many people problems. For myself, I don't eat anything out of a box or processed. I can't. Gluten makes me ill and preservatives do as well. I do miss gluten, I can't eat dairy or sugar either but I don't miss that as much as I miss my toast and butter.
I bet a lot of peoples IBS can be fixed just by eating whole foods. For me, that was not the case, and a lot of those whole foods cause me absolute hell!!I have heard the theory that IBS is related to gut bacteria, and that really makes sense to me. I went on a juice fast 2 years ago, just for a few days, and my IBS never came back. Dealt with it for years before that.
I really don't know what I believe. I've heard it is inflammation related, gut bacteria related, stress related. There are so many possibilities!
I should try a juice fast again. I tried one before and didn't have any benefit. If I ever have my IBS symptoms come back I will try a juice fast. Giving the digestive system a break is always good.0
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