Anyone else with IBS managing it with diet?

I have modified my diet for several reasons - acne, IBS, migraines and overall weight loss. I have got all under much better control since changing my diet. No acne, IBS almost non-existent (stress does induce it still), less migraines.

I have cut back on wheat and dairy and increased fibre and take a daily probiotic pill. I have been amazed by the results!

High carb, low fat, "low protein", high raw, mostly fruit. Took the plunge after researching on how to recover from it. Found a vegan youtube video, took the plunge, never looked back,
I had IBS to the point where I started sh*tting blood.

I've been tracking everything that my body goes through on a daily basis so I can see quite clearly now that my IBS gets MUCH worse around my period and then there is also some relief from the constipation around the same time as well. Any woman I talk to who has IBS symptoms seems to agree that it's very much related to hormones! I hope one day they figure out what's going on because it is truly hell to live with. I'm glad I can manage it with diet but even then, during that TOM, it can get quite bad.

Gluten doesn't seem to cause me any IBS symptoms besides nausea but the nausea was constant. My doctor wanted me to go back on gluten for awhile to check for Crohns and Celiac but I didn't make it more then a few days before the nausea was too much. In the end I don't think I care about a diagnosis, I know I can't eat it so why bother.

I can't handle dairy, well, I can't handle dairy besides butter. Milk causes me so many problems. Diarrhea, strep throat, eczema. Took me years to find out what was behind my constant strep! So no more milk for me, ever again.

You don't need to be on gluten to test for Crohns, completely separate disease from celiac.

Yes I think I have IBS/diarrhea. I have to steer clear of fiber as much as possible. I make certain I consume mostly refined starch, and plenty of oil, and acidic food such as lemon juice, vinegar and tomato juice. The foods that could cause diarrhea and cramping and gas are nuts, seeds, beans, corn, peas, whole grains, vegetable skins, and fruit. I eat those foods in small quantities always with refined starch and oil to buffer them.

The two things that have worked really well for me are interval training to reduce fat and build muscle (can't do steady-state cardio as it makes me nauseous/vomit) and Raw Meal Garden of Life meal replacement. I went from going back and forth between diarrhea and constipation to no longer worrying about it at all! It is fantastic! I get all of my protein (34 grams in the vanilla) after my workout (T25).

Now, the stuff isn't made to taste good...but it does its job! And it is pretty cheap too, about $2.50 a meal. I get it on Amazon.

I also have IBS--rather, IBSD. I manage mine with diet. I did an IBSD research study two years ago with medication (which really helped at the time), but once I went off the medication, it came back--though not as severe. Because I really enjoyed having a regular bowel system on the medication, I decided that I needed to figure out how to control it on my own (especially since the meds are not available on the market yet).

I started keeping track of what I ate as well. When I ate a meal, regardless of what it was, I had to be near a bathroom within an hour, without fail. My body did not deviate from that pattern. Since I started changing my diet, I judged my progress on how long I could go before I had to have a bathroom break.

I eliminated everything I didn't cook myself. Though I didn't limit my own cooking--I cooked with oil still (I've always used sunflower oil), and still ate whatever I wanted (within reason) as long as it was homemade. It really helped. Fast food and eating out, ALWAYS trigger me without fail.

Then, last year I ended up in the hospital with a gallbladder attack. Turns out I had two stones in there. I did not have my gallbladder taken out...I just changed my diet even more. There was no feasible way to afford both time and money to have surgery.

I eliminated dairy completely and stopped drinking soda (which didn't last long. I am weak. And addicted), and started drinking a gallon of water a day. I started eating more whole grains and fruits and eliminated everything spicy. I actually lost 20 lbs when I was actively following the GB diet. I've gone off it since then--and still get attacks here and there...but nothing that requires hospitalization.

My plan is to go back to those diets that helped for both issues. I didn't hate them--except losing the soda...lol.

I do find that the more water I consume, the less my IBSD acts up...regardless of what I eat....

I was told that I had IBS too. I had a severe gall bladder attack a couple of years ago and ended up having it removed. That made things worse so I had a colonoscopy and it was clear but the Doctor said it was IBS and to add fibre to my diet. I did that but it made little difference and there were days I couldn't leave the house. I hated that I was told I had something and to basically live with it. Something had to be causing the problem

I went back to my GP and she said often times IBS is a food sensitivity, the two most common being dairy and gluten, and to try elimination before doing any testing. I did 30 days gluten free which made it just a little better. It ended up after another elimination and testing, that I am lactose intolerant. My Doctor said she developed the same problem after age 50 and to try experimenting with dairy foods to see what was ok to eat and what wasn't.

It was so hit or miss that I have stopped all dairy now except for lactaid milk. When I started MFP about 2 months ago I was still having issues and began looking at the ingredients on the packaged foods I was eating and found a lot contained milk solids so I have now stopped eating prepared and packaged foods and cook from scratch. My diet is fresh fruit and veg, lean meats/chicken/fish, whole grain bread occasionally, grains like quinoa or couscous.

Lactose free products, except for milk, are really hard to find here and when you do find them they tend not to be the fat free/low fat variety (ie 14% lactose free sour cream and 2% lactose free cottage cheese). I have only used the lactaid pills twice and find I am ok without the dairy. The only thing I really miss is cheese.

For anybody with IBS I would suggest try elimination of one thing first, don't just assume gluten or dairy is the problem. When you are on elimination, read ingredient labels carefully. If elimination of one thing makes a significant difference, go to your Doctor for definitive testing.

I developed IBS after my son was born and it got worse after I had my gall bladder removed. By removing dairy from my diet I have relief for the first time in over 15 years.
Good luck to everybody, anybody who wants to is welcome to add me.

I've been tracking everything that my body goes through on a daily basis so I can see quite clearly now that my IBS gets MUCH worse around my period and then there is also some relief from the constipation around the same time as well. Any woman I talk to who has IBS symptoms seems to agree that it's very much related to hormones! I hope one day they figure out what's going on because it is truly hell to live with. I'm glad I can manage it with diet but even then, during that TOM, it can get quite bad.

Gluten doesn't seem to cause me any IBS symptoms besides nausea but the nausea was constant. My doctor wanted me to go back on gluten for awhile to check for Crohns and Celiac but I didn't make it more then a few days before the nausea was too much. In the end I don't think I care about a diagnosis, I know I can't eat it so why bother.

I can't handle dairy, well, I can't handle dairy besides butter. Milk causes me so many problems. Diarrhea, strep throat, eczema. Took me years to find out what was behind my constant strep! So no more milk for me, ever again.

Yes to the hormones. My period will cause diarrhea and nausea but at least it relieves the constipation!