IBS - FODMAP list doesn't make sense for me

lucygoesrawr
lucygoesrawr Posts: 184 Member
edited November 27 in Food and Nutrition
A while ago I went to have a test for Coeliac disease as I noticed I mainly get bloated and constipated after eating wheat. The blood test indicated I didn't, and after talking with the doctor they decided I most likely have IBS. They gave me some medication but it just made things worse, so I stopped taking that and decided to just try not to eat trigger foods.

Anyway, it's been getting worse lately, and it's kind of annoying that even though I've lost weight and several clothes sizes, half way through the day I look heavily pregnant. And it hurts. Sometimes the bloating doesn't actually go away for weeks. So I was looking into the FODMAP foods, thinking about trying to eliminate high-FODMAP foods and re-introduce them gradually.

However, I've been looking through this list: http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/ - which has low-FODMAP foods which shouldn't cause any problems. I'm worried that many of these foods are definitely triggers for me: rice (all of it), lentils, broccoli, lemonade (all fizzy drinks cause bloating for me), and I can only have small quantities of potatoes and oats.

I'm wondering if there's anyone who also has IBS who has found these low FODMAP foods also cause symptoms for them too?

Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    You should let the doctor know that you stopped taking the medicine.
    Usually these diets are a bit of trial and error.
    For two weeks, eat the same five or six foods that are safe. For example, potatoes, oats, soft chicken or other meat cooked with water, grapes or melon
    Then add one food for the next week to see how you feel.
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    I think you're confusing things just a bit.

    Just because carbonation (fizzy drinks) causes bloating in you doesn't mean that high FODMAP foods aren't also a problem.

    Just because high FODMAP foods are very common triggers of IBS doesn't mean that some individuals won't have issues with foods (or drinks) that aren't high in FODMAPS.

    Unless you've been eating the trigger foods you listed in isolation, or have done an elimination diet and then eaten those foods only with other foods you know aren't a problem, then you don't know for sure that those are triggers.
  • suzan06
    suzan06 Posts: 218 Member
    My mom did the FODMAP diet with great success. She also avoided other foods that she knew bothered her, at the same time. She identified triggers that she had NO idea about- like she can't ever have apples, at all. She used to eat several a day, so she was getting stomach aches, and thinking it was whatever else she ate with the apple, because really, an apple couldn't possibly be causing a stomach ache! Yah, nope.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited December 2015
    You can do fodmops and cut out your triggers. I haven't done fodmops for my IBS but I also have IBD (Crohn's) and I am very aware of everything I can't eat so no need to do it.

    Edit: actually looking at the high fodmops list I don't think there is anything except chocolate chip cookies I can eat comfortably so I guess by default I am following it plus other stuff. I can't eat any raw fruit or vegetable, most cooked veggies and fruit except squash and carrots pureed to death, red meat, pork, processed meat, garlic, spices, nuts, seeds, legumes, alcohol, caffeine, large amounts of sugar, anything that is not low fiber so any bread that isn't white, etc., high fat foods, anything with lactose, probably forgetting a few things.
  • lucygoesrawr
    lucygoesrawr Posts: 184 Member
    RodaRose, the medication was purely given to me just in case it helped, it wasn't important in any way. They do know I stopped taking it.

    The thing is, apparently lots of the 'safe' foods on that list cause symptoms for me, and 'unsafe' foods such as dairy, garlic and onion I'm actually (as far as I know) absolutely fine with. Just a little bit worried something else might be wrong with me... but, it seems other people are the same, so it's probably really nothing to worry about. That's good to know.

  • Speckle38
    Speckle38 Posts: 53 Member
    One of my friends did the FODMAPs elimination and challenges and successfully identified 3 main triggers for her IBS symptoms. When she started, it took over a month of following the diet before she was symptom free, and the dietician had her wait until she'd had at least 2 weeks with no symptoms before starting the food challenges, which were quite specific, and one challenge per week for 3 days in a row, so that took months to complete. She was actually miserable until she started feeling better because she was convinced it wasn't working, but she is so glad she stuck it out.

    It's not expected to help everyone, but if you decide to do it, see a dietician who knows about it and discuss your concerns with them.
  • aimeerhiannon
    aimeerhiannon Posts: 21 Member
    Everyone's different - the FODMAP list is definitely not be all, end all. Like, some people have issues digesting nightshade vegetables, so tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant etc. Also, with IBS there are other factors to take into consideration like stress and fatigue which can make you more sensitive. Best thing to do is a complete elimination diet with the help of a specialist.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    I was incorrectly prescribed a med and it injured me and caused food intolerance (histamine reactions). I'm still figuring this out now. But, I think it's better to follow your own body's symptoms rather than a list. By doing your own elimination diet to figure out what foods you tolerate and which ones trigger your symptoms. And expand your diet from there. Lists can be a guideline starting point.
  • OyGeeBiv
    OyGeeBiv Posts: 733 Member
    I have IBS. My gastroenterologist prescribed a med but told me if it wasn't effective to let him know and we'd try another one. There are many many medications for IBS, so why not try another if the first didn't help? Since the one you tried made things worse, you may be sensitive to the medication or one of its ingredients.

    As @aimeerhiannon pointed out, there's more to IBS than just food.
  • V_Keto_V
    V_Keto_V Posts: 342 Member
    Important things to clarify with your physician if you choose to use meds: IBS-D or IBS-C (diarrhea predominant vs. constipation predominant), #BMs/day, (+) or (-) for pain, (+) or (-) for fever, Heart Rate (important if tachycardia), symptoms of dysphagia (not being able to handle solid foods mostly). Some of these can help distinguish Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Irritable Bowel Syndrome before forking over hefty medical bills for sometimes unnecessary (but objective) diagnostic tests.

    Yeah, FODMAP looks rather chaotic with little pattern or rhyme & can take lots of time finding triggers, but is the way to go if you want to avoid meds.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    edited December 2015
    lucygoesrawr wrote: »
    A while ago I went to have a test for Coeliac disease as I noticed I mainly get bloated and constipated after eating wheat. The blood test indicated I didn't, and after talking with the doctor they decided I most likely have IBS. They gave me some medication but it just made things worse, so I stopped taking that and decided to just try not to eat trigger foods.

    Anyway, it's been getting worse lately, and it's kind of annoying that even though I've lost weight and several clothes sizes, half way through the day I look heavily pregnant. And it hurts. Sometimes the bloating doesn't actually go away for weeks. So I was looking into the FODMAP foods, thinking about trying to eliminate high-FODMAP foods and re-introduce them gradually.

    However, I've been looking through this list: http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/ - which has low-FODMAP foods which shouldn't cause any problems. I'm worried that many of these foods are definitely triggers for me: rice (all of it), lentils, broccoli, lemonade (all fizzy drinks cause bloating for me), and I can only have small quantities of potatoes and oats.

    I'm wondering if there's anyone who also has IBS who has found these low FODMAP foods also cause symptoms for them too?
    Mostly following the conversation to learn more, but I would like to point out a few things. 1. depending on your genetics, the bold can be appear true based on where you lose first. This is why taking measurements is ideal so you can confirm with numbers... even pictures would be beneficial and 2. we are our worst critics and sometimes we see stuff based on our perceptions.

    Something to think about.
  • lucygoesrawr
    lucygoesrawr Posts: 184 Member
    psulemon wrote: »
    Mostly following the conversation to learn more, but I would like to point out a few things. 1. depending on your genetics, the bold can be appear true based on where you lose first. This is why taking measurements is ideal so you can confirm with numbers... even pictures would be beneficial and 2. we are our worst critics and sometimes we see stuff based on our perceptions.

    Something to think about.

    Thanks, but i think you may have misunderstood. It's bloating that causes me to look that way - i don't start out that way first thing in the morning, my stomach significantly increases in size during the day.

    Thank you everyone for all the helpful replies, i will respond more later
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