IBS - help needed

probiotic every morning! helps me a ton

I had a diagnosis of IBS for years. Gastroenterologist was no help telling me basically that I was neurotic and to eat large doses of wheat bran. Having to hunt for a bathroom every 15mins with very little notice is, in my opinion, enough to make anyone neurotic! After suffering for years (I remember having to dash to the bathroom during meals as young as 6), I found eliminating non veggie carbs, i.e. wheat products, totally relieved my symptoms. I had a long discussion about all this with my new g.p. and she is of the opinion that I am probably celiac and wants me to be tested but to do that I need to begin eating products with gluten in again . So the upshot is, that I will stay on the gluten free diet and feeling well for the first time in years and medication free. The diagnosis doesn't matter to me now as long as I feel well. It is ridiculous to me that so many of us have to put up with little help and often hostility from the medical profession and have to figure things out for ourselves.

Does adequate daily fiber (25-30g+ per day) and protein (0.60-0.82g per 1 lb. bodyweight) help with this issue? I was told by someone that IBS is like having diarrhea and constipation at the same time. Seems like an adequate fiber/protein ratio would alleviate the symptoms.

I've had IBS for about 35 years, although my Dr didn't really name it until about 20 years ago. What really helped me was eliminating trigger foods and adding *soluable* fiber and probiotics. I can't recommend the information, books and products in the store at helpforibs.com strongly enough. I've been using the Acacia fiber from the store for well over a decade now, and am down to 1-2 episodes a month (previously 1-2 a week). Heather's 10 commandments are a game changer. I actually bought a copy of the book for both my regular Dr and my GI Dr, and they both now recommend them to other patients.

Start here: helpforibs.com/diet/10_commandments.asp

I just found this thread as I am trying to figure out how to deal with IBS and get out of pain I was hospitalized last week and was given morphine and anti spastic meds through an iv it did take it away in time but wow.. brutal, I had another flareup today, I keep trying to go to work and then come home in pain (yes I am getting the correlation with work / anxiety / pain ughh) I went to the doc and was given some pills to take three times a day to help with cramps.. I am going to try and exercise more and try the fodmap diet I see people are trying.. this pain is soo bad I have a really hard time getting it to go away once I get it.. any tips are welcome .. thanks

I understand IBS varies person to person. I have diarrhea prominent IBS. I do best eating oatmeal or rice daily, and adding some psyllium powder to my day. It really helps me bulk up, and a little goes a long way. You might ask your dr about it. I started small to avoid bloating and cramps, and now just titrate based on my tummy. The psyllium has worked better than the questran and other meds for me. Even stops the diarrhea before my period, go figure

Best way to gauge what's causing you pain/discomfort is seeing how you feel after you eat something--consistently. Also, probiotics help me a TON! I take 1 per day, and my symptoms have decreased dramatically.

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

Cladf wrote: »

I'm amazed by all the replies - thank you everyone...they're all really informative.

I did have the thought that IBS was meant to be an elimination diagnosis - although I've had recent blood tests so I guess the doctor was happy enough with my general results (thyroid function etc all checked) - had my celiac blood test yesterday so just gotta wait a month or so for that and we shall see what comes up.

The food intolerances/allergy point is a good one. Wondering whether it might be pertinent just to take myself off for an allergy test - see if that comes up with some big hitters then it might hint at where to start if I was to eliminate anything from my diet.

Right now, I guess I'm just mainly going to be looking closely at what I'm eating and how it effects me... no longer in pain (thankfully), just some lower back pain because I've swung from D to C (sad face) but to be fair, as long as the horrendous cramp is gone I'm feeling kind of ok.

Really appreciate all the posts here - IBS really sucks but it's good to have so many supportive people around

If you decide to go the food allergy route, there is a newer large panel IgG panel, in Canada it is called the Genarrayt 200+ which tests 120-200 foods. (to clarify I have no financial interest, just a lab tech working in an allergy/imunology office ) I am almost certain such a test would exist in the US and probably the UK. In Canada it runs about $200-$250, which is a bargain because specific igE tests run $21/each. It isn't an allergy test so much as testing for intoleralnce, which generally causes gas, bloating, diarrhea and coincides with IBS often times, (as opposed to allergies which most often cause hives, rhinites and the risk of anaphylaxis). My point being this could be an option to find out which foods don't agree with your system in a more cost effective way (and quicker too).

You've received lots of info and advice here so it's just a matter of time until you figure out what works for you. Good luck!

89Madeline wrote: »

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

There is no wheat that doesn't contain gluten (although spelt is sometimes better tolerated by people with IBS/IBD who are sensitive to wheat). The reason the low FODMAP diet recommends gluten-free products is because, by default, they don't contain wheat (but make sure to check the ingredients for inulin and avoid those!). Wheat contains a lot of prebiotics, which are a type of carbohydrate that are not easily digested by the body and make conditions right for certain microbes to flourish in your gut. Prebiotics are good, but too many all at once can cause problems in people with IBS/IBD. So, that is why it is recommended to limit or cut out wheat, rye, and barley, at least until you are sure they aren't triggers for you. For many people who don't have celiac disease but don't tolerate wheat well (and who think they are gluten intolerant), it is actually the poorly digested sugars, not the gluten, that are causing a reaction.

I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 16. I am 66 now and no one has really found a cure for me The list of foods that give me diarrhea from the FODMAP diet were numerous. I have found whole foods work best. Also I eat a high fiber , low sugar diet and restrict dairy. Eat grass fed beef. Glutens don't seem to bother me if I stay away from wheat. Every one is different. The doctors do not know how to cure you. You must cure yourself through trial and error. Study up on how the digestive system works. Good luck!

89Madeline wrote: »

I'm in my 4th week of FODMAP and seeing improvement. Interesting to follow this thread I tried googling about this, but I'm still unsure about the following: if you can't tolerate wheat, but gluten isn't the problem, what does that mean in terms of what you can and can not eat? Is there wheat that does not contain gluten? Bit confused about this still

My friend uses spelt flour, and our local bakery bakes spelt bread to order on certain days, so she orders it once a week. Spelt flour is a little bit more expensive where we are, but it works perfectly in everything I've used it in.

There is a low FODMAPS app that both of my friends bought. It ranks foods in a traffic light system, so it's easy to use.

This has been so interesting to read all of the responses and how varied they are. How brave of all of you speak up on such a private, personal matter. But, sharing these experiences hopefully helps someone else.

Ever since my 2nd child born(2005), I never know if I'm going to have regular bowel movements or diarrhea from day to day. I also had bloating and gas pains so bad that I went to the ER just to be embarrassed to find out it was gas. I even had my appendix removed b/c they thought that was the problem. (I still think that was a mistake.)

Then, one A.M. I was so stuck in the bathroom that I had to call off of work. Since I was home, I was watching Dr. Oz who had Dr. Hyman on and he said that there are 7 main foods that many people cannot digest or have trouble digesting: wheat(gluten), eggs, milk, beans/peas/peanuts and other legumes and corn. And, of course, the day before I had been munching on peanuts as a snack. And, had realized that previous episodes also involved beans at some meals and peanuts or peanut butter at other snack/dessert times. Plus. both of my boys have nut allergies.

A few years earlier, I had also discovered that foods in the onion family (garlic, shallots, leeks) also cause GI distress for me as well. And, since then have talked to so many people, usually strangers, who also cannot handle those foods either.

This year, I had to miss Thanksgiving b/c I am starting to wonder if my love of red peppers and tomatoes are also getting the best of me. And, today, I had to skip out on a family reunion that was 90 minutes away b/c of the chili (non-bean) that was coming back to haunt me today due to the tomatoes in it.

Lastly, I have one close friend who I can commiserate with about the same problems and he figured out that it was the sorbitol in his Trident gum that was bothering him (as a poster above had mentioned as well).

Anyway, thanks for giving me a safe place to share.