I'm looking for some ideas please:

minimah7
minimah7 Posts: 26 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
Good morning, guys and dolls.

I have recently been diagnosed with IBS and Gastritis and I am trying to figure out what the best food choices are, what I should avoid and what exercises work best not to inflame my abdomen.
I have never been this sore to the touch in my abdomen before. I'm wondering what I can do and do effectively to work on my condition. It is imperative that I rise above this state. I am a firm believer that God can do anything.

Thank you for your kind words of motivation and suggestion,

Mia.

Replies

  • seantnash
    seantnash Posts: 77 Member
    If you've been diagnosed with it then surely your healthcare provider will have given you that advice?
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    seantnash wrote: »
    If you've been diagnosed with it then surely your healthcare provider will have given you that advice?

    Healthcare providers are surprisingly weak in being proactive about providing nutrition information and advice for their patients. OP should ask them for information, but I would not be surprised if they didn't give her anything right from the get go.
  • lioness803
    lioness803 Posts: 325 Member
    This will not necessarily work for everyone with IBS, but I (and many) find that eliminating (or seriously limiting) gluten does wonders for IBS. Also, try researching a low fodmap diet. Fodmaps are certain carbohydrates that can lead to digestive issues for people who are sensitive to them. It's an elimination diet, so you can see what foods you react to.
  • minimah7
    minimah7 Posts: 26 Member
    seantnash wrote: »
    If you've been diagnosed with it then surely your healthcare provider will have given you that advice?

    Hello, Sean.
    My specialists has given me minimal information concerning this. I have gone to an endocrinologist, my primary care physician and a gastroenterologist. The information is quite limited I see.

  • minimah7
    minimah7 Posts: 26 Member
    lioness803 wrote: »
    This will not necessarily work for everyone with IBS, but I (and many) find that eliminating (or seriously limiting) gluten does wonders for IBS. Also, try researching a low fodmap diet. Fodmaps are certain carbohydrates that can lead to digestive issues for people who are sensitive to them. It's an elimination diet, so you can see what foods you react to.

    Thank you very much. I just found information on low fodmap diets. I'm definitely going to try a few things of elimination from it. I printed out a chart and put it on my refrigerator.

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/treat-crohns-16/diet/diet-nutrition
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-disease/guide/diet/

    I had a friend with this but it has been a while since I saw him. I remember that he was o.k. eating chicken but was not o.k. with beef.
    I believe that the successful diets vary from individual to individual.
    So find some foods that work for you and stick with them for a while.
    He did get shots of vit Vitamin B12.

    Do not push yourself too much with exercise because you are healing. Depending on how you feel, light walking might be good.
  • theowlbox
    theowlbox Posts: 912 Member
    From what I've seen, gluten and dairy have strong links to ibs. Sorry, but an elimination diet will likely give you the best info possible for long term management of your symptoms. Then, armed with accurate info, you can live your life in as pain free a way as possible. Good luck to you! Most people dont get help for ibs.
  • ellefox70
    ellefox70 Posts: 58 Member
    Eliminating dairy (just cows milk, small amounts of goats and sheep are fine) has worked for me. I also keep an eye on my wheat/yeast intake but am fine with these in moderation. It really was trial and error, but since eliminating dairy I feel like a different person. Good luck with it.
  • kennycbaker
    kennycbaker Posts: 13 Member
    Hey, I was diagnosed with this just recently and she is correct, Doctors will not advise you on diet and exercise... I have asked 4 different doctors and all the staff through my ER and Hospital stays. They all answer with "listen to your body" and then give you a year supply of PPIs and anti-depressants...
  • kennycbaker
    kennycbaker Posts: 13 Member
    How is it going minimah7? Any luck with your symptoms?
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I agree that medical professionals are better geared to help with emergencies rather than chronic conditions. The challenge with IBS is the foods you are sensitive to will be completely different than the IBS patient sitting next to you. You will have to become your own best advocate and your body your personal experiment. Take good notes on what you eat and your reactions (MFP can help with that) and come up with your own safe food and forbidden food lists.

    I strongly recommend this book:

    https://www.bullpub.com
  • Chrisick
    Chrisick Posts: 14 Member
    I would also like to add that the Elimination Diet (or a milder version of it) can be really helpful in finding out what your digestion can and cannot handle. Since IBS tends to be a bit different for everyone, I've never really found any strict How-To diet for those dealing with it.
    The elimination diet can help you pin point exactly which foods are an absolute 'no' without causing any mix-ups due to too many ingredients. This typically means you need to eat pretty simple homemade meals, fresh ingredients, and keep good track of when and what you put into your body. Once you've started the diet, and have moved on to the reintroduction stage, you'll have to remember that IBS tends to fluctuate. I've known more than a few people who find that they can eat tomatoes just fine for a few months, but one day they simply can't anymore.

    I know this probably just sounds like more effort and pain than it's worth, but I wanted to suggest it anyway, just in case. Good luck!
  • kennycbaker
    kennycbaker Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks guys, pretty much what I have been doing. Find it very hard to even get 1000 calories in a day let alone the 3000 I'm supposed to eat.. never thought I'd have this issue..
  • SammysMommy3
    SammysMommy3 Posts: 10 Member
    I have GERD it feels like all the good foods are things i cant eat.. i dont eat
    Tomato - ketchup, bbq sauce, hot sauce
    Any kind of chile , soda any thing with caffeine. Any citrus.. omg seems like their isnt much to choose from but it gets easier with time .. just have to mix the bland food up to heal ur tummy. Nexum works amazing
  • kennycbaker
    kennycbaker Posts: 13 Member
    They have me on Protonix, I was thinking of switching to Nexium though because the protonix gets me all bloated and I lose my appetite completely.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    @kennycbaker

    Perhaps for now eat more of the foods that are safe for you.
    In other words, larger portions OR more snacks throughout the day.
    In other words, do not worry about variety until you and your body feel comfortable.

    Are you o.k. with raisins and other dried fruit? That has lots of calories.
    https://www.verywell.com/safe-foods-for-heartburn-sufferers-1741831

    Have you stopped dairy for two weeks to see if that makes any difference?
    Is rice a safe food for you? That adds calories quickly.
    Good luck.
  • Chrisick
    Chrisick Posts: 14 Member
    kennycbaker wrote: »
    Thanks guys, pretty much what I have been doing. Find it very hard to even get 1000 calories in a day let alone the 3000 I'm supposed to eat.. never thought I'd have this issue..

    I'm having the same trouble, myself. The only thing that seem to work for me so far is watering down stuff like yogurt and broths. I'm... basically living off of lightly flavored water and vitamins right now. I'm hoping it improves, though.
  • Tried30UserNames
    Tried30UserNames Posts: 561 Member
    I'd probably try some type of elimination diet with a special focus on low fodmaps. I've done Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). The intro phase is an elimination/healing diet that was very effective for identifying good and bad foods for me. I knew a lot of online people with IBS and Crohn's that used it successfully, or used the low fodmap version.

    But as stated by others, what works for someone else might not work for you. It's very individual.
  • kennycbaker
    kennycbaker Posts: 13 Member
    The doctors are thinking it's my gallbladder now, every meal feels like I have taken a sleeping pill and I have pain in my upper right stomach and lower back and shoulders. It's functioning at 37% ejection but there is nothing I can do to get food down. I am going to see a surgeon tomorrow. I stopped all PPIs as they only seem to make everything worse. They gave me 300mg of Zantac. I don't like fish much at all but seems to be the only thing my digestive system will tolerate ATM.
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