I'm starving myself...

You should consult with a dietitian who can work with you to find what foods you can tolerate.

You say you eat nuts - have you tried adding nut butters to your protein shakes to boost calories? Also avocados can add a decent amount of calories without too much volume. The healthy fats may also help if you have constipation. Coconut oil is another good way to boost fats/calories.

At one point, I was using MFP to make sure I didn't starve to death. My coworkers asked me if I had cancer. Potatoes, bananas, rice...those helped me get through some bad times.

My doctor said that IBS is something that is often diagnosed when they can't figure out what's really wrong. It's a set of symptoms that shows that your digestive tract is pissed off about something. The causes can be different from person to person, and often are related to food sensitivities or intolerance. You just have to figure out which food(s) are triggering it and then eliminate them from your diet.

I used to become extremely nauseous and often puked out both ends after eating until my new doctor had me try gluten and dairy free. Within a few weeks my inflammation markers had gone down and I was feeling better. You might have to give it some time to heal before you feel better.

I no longer have IBS. It's been a few years now, and I can eat small amounts of cheese again, but gluten is totally out for me. I will not go back to feeling sick every day. Not saying that that's your problem, but I, too, was diagnosed with IBS and suffered for a over a decade until a doctor finally had me try an elimination diet. Google FODMAPS and see if any of those foods could be triggering your IBS.

Good luck!

Hi, I completely understand. I have IBS and suffer horrendous cramps. Lost of the things you list as "staple" foods are bad for IBS... Garlic,soy, dairy and gluten can be triggers. Even some fruit and veg for others. Whey protein powder could be a culprit, too.I used FODMAP diet too, to find my triggers, and its amazing. It's an elimination diet that gradually brings back food groups. Painstaking to cut so much out, but so worth it. I found some bizarre triggers, including red pepper, milk and yogurt but I'm fine with Greek yoghurt, I can't have onion and can only have garlic occasionally. I don't have certain veg very often, some not at all. I have bread as a treat. I was fine with cheese pain wise but I've found too much dairy just causes acne and bloating so I minimise it. Worth a look into! Good luck and feel free to add me x

Maleficent0241 wrote: »

Have you read the book Eating For IBS by Heather Van Vorous?

Also look at "Eating Right for a Bad Gut". The MD who wrote it isn't trying to sell you anything and has a lot of great information.

I would definitely talk with a dietitian.

I have IBS, so I know how you feel. I tolerate avocados, Greek yogurt, homemade rye bread, sweet potato, nut butters and chicken well; soy, cows milk and wheat not so well. I drink unsweetened almond milk instead. And 100ml of prune juice when I'm having a flare up I can reach a decent calorie goal now without eating things that cause me pain - but it took a little while.

missrudolf wrote: »

The foods & drinks I mentioned are, out of all the foods & drinks I've tried in my almost 19 years of living, are the only ones that I can eat & drink. They still mess me up a bit but that's probably due to me eating & drinking fast. When I say fast I mean I don't take breaks to even breathe in between bites & sips.
I had to be put on soy formula when I was a baby.. I drank dairy milk growing up, but these past few years soy has been best for me. If I don't drink it too fast, I'm at ease.
I've eliminated every trigger & don't miss them AT ALL.. okay maybe a few! I might have to try Greek yogurt again. I forgot how it makes me feel.
I use whey protein in large amounts because I'm on a high protein diet. I consume about 130 grams a day.
Again, every food & drink I've mentioned are my friends, if consumed not too fast.
FODMAP, from what I glanced at earlier, seems amazing! I'm going to try it. The thing is I don't want certain foods back into my diet. Junk is a no no for the rest of my life. But I am eager to see if I can eventually add back certain fruits & veggies that I love.

Thanks for yalls help!

Curious...what does eating quickly do to you?

My ex has IBS, and what really worked for her was the soluble fiber powder from Heather. Just add that to certain foods, and it will help you digest some of the foods you're having trouble with

Quinoa is actually a seed, it is a grain when grown, but it is the seeds that are harvested and eaten, very tasty and good for you.

Oats are seeds and so is rye, wheat, etc. They are the plants' seeds. How is quinoa different than that?

When you see your doctor, please let him or her know about the structure of your diet as it is right now, especially the laxative tea. Has your doc ever recommended Miralax? It's gentle enough to use daily, while laxatives can be really harsh and even mess with your electrolytes. Your doctor or a dietitian should be able to help you figure out a diet plan, even with IBS, that lets you eat every day. I'm wondering if the way you eat currently could be messing with your IBS even more. (PS: Are you an athlete? I apologize if I missed that. You may be able to cut back on protein, which might help with your constipation.)