IBS

LegacyUser

Hi!

Does anybody here suffer from IBS?
I think I do but Im not sure and am currently working up the nerve to go to the doctor. I dont want to seem like im overreacting.
Sorry if this is gross but I alternate between constipation and diarrhea and its really beginning to affect my personal life. I moved in with my boyfriend about two months and im constantly thinking about whether i need to go or not. I havent told him because i dont want him to think im disgusting but its really stressful hiding it.

Id love to hear from anyone who is going through this too.

Thanks

star-pants

Heya,

I have a touch of IBS / intestinal/stomach issues related to my illness so I understand how uncomfortable it can be. The only person who can really tell you what's what is your doctor - I wouldn't worry about being embarrassed as doctors hear all this sort of stuff every day. I am on and off tablets to help me. But other things that are a major factor is your diet, what you may or may not be intolerant to. Wheat/gluten/yeast type things tend to affect me so I learn to stay away. If my stomach is acting up I have to stay away from things like spices or fruit and so forth.

I would suggest you go to your doctor, he/she'll check you over, and they'll be able to see what's what. And they can do allergy tests or blood tests if needs be. Either way, they'll help you sort it out

GER12

stressedout123 wrote: »

Hi!

Does anybody here suffer from IBS?
I think I do but Im not sure and am currently working up the nerve to go to the doctor. I dont want to seem like im overreacting.
Sorry if this is gross but I alternate between constipation and diarrhea and its really beginning to affect my personal life. I moved in with my boyfriend about two months and im constantly thinking about whether i need to go or not. I havent told him because i dont want him to think im disgusting but its really stressful hiding it.

Id love to hear from anyone who is going through this too.

Thanks

Hi I got diagnoses over 6 years ago. I found that sometimes I cooked foof at home and next my GI system went into spasm.... cramps you cant describe and then diarrhoea.... you would be totally knackered all you wanted to do is go asleep. I found that things like cheese, gravies, hydrogonated fats, certain nuts, certain branded yoghurts that went completely through my system. I got a referral to a GI specialist - fortunately he knew what he was doing - and he done a colonoscopy for diagnosis. Diagnosis did come back IBS - he was going to put me on tabs and get - but kinda figured another approach - of identifying the good and bad foods that dont exacerbate and to date its worked. So no more chineses and healthy living from here on in.

LegacyUser

Thanks for your replies. Im going to book an appointment next week. Iv done so much googling that i think I have half convinced myself I have lots of things wrong.

I have adjusted my diet a bit already, i dont drink coffee or fizzy drinks anymore and tend to eat only bland food now which makes things easier. and i only drink alcohol once every 2weeks or so. Its hard though, im 23 and in college so its not very easy watching what i eat all the time.

I find its worse after eating though which makes me not want to eat but think i feel sick from hunger. Tea is my saviour!

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies

Ive read a lot about the kinds of foods to avoid but it doesnt really leave me with a lot of things i can eat. So could someone tell me what they eat normally? i just want to be as normal as possible.

lorebringer

star-pants wrote: »

Heya,

I have a touch of IBS / intestinal/stomach issues related to my illness so I understand how uncomfortable it can be. The only person who can really tell you what's what is your doctor - I wouldn't worry about being embarrassed as doctors hear all this sort of stuff every day. I am on and off tablets to help me. But other things that are a major factor is your diet, what you may or may not be intolerant to. Wheat/gluten/yeast type things tend to affect me so I learn to stay away. If my stomach is acting up I have to stay away from things like spices or fruit and so forth.

I would suggest you go to your doctor, he/she'll check you over, and they'll be able to see what's what. And they can do allergy tests or blood tests if needs be. Either way, they'll help you sort it out

This!!!

OP - I was diagnosed with IBS years ago, must be 10 years at this point, was treated and nothing seems to work. I am coeliac but also can't go near any wheat or yeast. Ages later, I had a colonoscopy (tubes in places that shouldn't be mentioned infront of ladies!) and turned out I have Ulcerative Colitis (very different from IBS) I was pumped with drugs for a while, which helped and am now on one drug a day. Currently, it has been acting up so the loo is my best friend. Definately go to see your doctor, they have seen it all (if not much worse) before and if they can help don't let embarrassment hold you back.

As regards to moving in with the bf and not telling him - when I moved in with my OH, he knew the score. I had told him years before we took the cohabiting plunge (couldn't not tell him, all the legging it to the toilet for very random reasons...) and he was cool about it. When you move in with someone, the reaslisation that they are human hits pretty soon afterwards - we are all gross in our own way! It's better he knows that not, the stress on you is probably making it worse for you and as far as blokes are concerned women spend ages in the bathroom anyway, doesn't matter what you are doing!

Let us know how you get on

kangaroo

I have IBS as part of my M.E. I got diagnosed with IBS before I got diagnosed with the ME (but had ME for years but it was undiagnosed) - I was and am disappointed with the gastroenterologist that they weren't on the look out for conditions such as ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia which often go with IBS.

Also there can be other conditions that one needs to look out for like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. A colonoscopy can help with such questions. I had one and I was glad I did. It's not that bad really.

I have found avoiding wheat and/or gluten (not exactly sure which of the two specifically) has helped.

Also I take a low dose tricyclic antidepressant to help with pain and sleep and I think it has helped with the IBS.

There are drugs e.g. Imodium that can be useful occasionally particularly if it would be very awkward to go to the toilet. But a doctor can tell you all this.

One thing to keep in mind is that advice for IBS-constipation is very different from IBS-diarrhoea or IBS-alternating e.g. advice to take lots of bran may cause more problems.

Also I think men aren't as affected by bad smells as women so your partner might have a higher threshold than you might think.

taram

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with IBS two years ago, atop of a number of other problems but I find I go in cycles, depending on things like hormones and stress. Like at the moment I'm in a pretty bad way, but I had last week off and it was like being on a cloud I find milk just wrecks my belly all the time, as does anything very fatty- except chips weirdly, or too much sugar. Occasionally citrus fruits and eggs too. I know you'll not be able to eliminate your problems completely, but writing a food diary down and trying to get a handle on things that make your IBS worse will give you some control over it, and will help a lot.

Also try calm the rest of your body and it might help your IBS, stressing and constantly thinking about it won't help, maybe yoga or exercise? Or even listening to loud music and lying down and trying to concentrate totally on the music. I also find sipping a cup of tea helps calm my nerves when I know I'm going to be locked in the bathroom for ages soon, or after when I'm a little bit shaken Or a cold cloth on my forehead or belly helps too.

My bf was very sympathetic when I told him, more than likely he'll see 'Oh no, she's ill, poor thing' rather than 'oh...bowels? Yuck.'

IBS is quite common and well know, if it's affecting you this much your GP is bound to have plenty of solutions to try, and can refer you and test you to eliminate other problems. Good luck.

LegacyUser

HI!

Im the OP, ive been replying with my original username but my posts arent coming up.

So, thank you so much everybody!
Just hearing your stories has calmed me down a lot. Even though i cried reading them I think it was out of relief.

The first appointment I could get with the doctor is thursday. And i dont really know what to say. Ive googled my symptoms and i think its the worst thing iv done. Im now paranoid i have a whole range of things wrong with me.

So how do i start telling the doc? Its not my usual GP as iv moved away from home. I just dont want him to tell me i have a tummy bug and that ill be fine.

Im always worst just after eating so over the weekend iv stopped eating anything but tea and toast and not a lot of either and while this has stopped the 'D' , now i have begun throwing up.

I told my boyfriend that i feel sick and my stomach hurts but I couldnt bring myself to tell everything, il just wait to see what the doctor says.

Thanks again for all your help!

star-pants

Googling your symptoms *can* be the worst thing to do, because a whole host of things pop up and you wonder 'gosh could it be that?'.

The ONLY concrete answer will be from doctors/tests, not google Whilst it is helpful to bring up articles once you have a definition of what you have.

Tell your doctor everything! small or insignificant it doesn't matter, the more information you give him/her the better they can help you. Best of luck

And don't worry about your bf, as others have said, your OH will understand. My previous bf understood when I was ill most of the time, or I'd have awful noises from my stomach, or being sick etc. They care about you and if you're ill they'll just want to be there for you.

Daisy03

I was diagnosed with IBS almost a hear and a half ago but I suffered from stomach pains sporadically for years. One thing that I found very helpful was to keep a diary of the foods that i ate and to write down when it became more painful. It's then easier to see what foods may be making it worse.

watna

I have IBS too. I was diagnosed in January. Luckily I don't have it all the time. I get bad flare ups every 6 weeks or so but otherwise I'm fine.

Definitely go to the doctor. IBS is normally diagnosed after everything else has been ruled out. Although the periods of diarrhoea and constipation to sound like it. I get that too - some IBS sufferers get only constipation or only diarrhoea but a lot get both. Surprisingly I found the constipation much harder to deal with - it makes me feel so bloated and crap and just blech.

I've found a few things have helped me that I can share, but everyone is different so if you are diagnosed with IBS you'll need to try out things yourself.

As for your bf, he'll understand. I just tell mine I'm feeling "IBS-ey" and he knows to get the hot water bottle out for my cramps! It isn't the most pleasant of illnesses to talk about - your bowels is not the nicest thing to discuss, I know but you get used to it and so will he.

I did have an awkward conversation at work when one of the manager's was asking what my psyllium husks were - it had bowel biotics written all over the bottle and he got all embarassed. I just told him it was fibre to keep my cholesterol down!

Good luck!

LegacyUser

HI everyone!

Op here,

So I went to the doctor and told her everything. She is an older lady which made it much easier to talk to her about it for some reason. She was very understanding and we discussed my diet and all sorts of things. I got a bit upset during the app but she was lovely and reassured me.

So she gave me a prescription and so far so good! I was even able to do lots of travelling at the weekend worry free. The relief I feel is so great.

I have to thank ye so much, it was lovely knowing that it wasnt just me and ye made me feel much more normal than i thought i was.

nahboisk

after 21 years of problems and pain i was finally disagnosed as coeliac 18 months ago. but in the last 18 months i have been referred to the hospital to 2 different surgeins about the pain that never went away even do i was on a very strict diet! last week im told i have ibs as well. I dont know what to change or do i was just given the idea that it was ibs and told to see them in 6 months.

has anyone found any major food triggers? i dont drink alcohol, have a strict gluten free diet, and now have a very good veg/meat/potatoes diet.

thanks!

Daisy03

nahboisk wrote: »

after 21 years of problems and pain i was finally disagnosed as coeliac 18 months ago. but in the last 18 months i have been referred to the hospital to 2 different surgeins about the pain that never went away even do i was on a very strict diet! last week im told i have ibs as well. I dont know what to change or do i was just given the idea that it was ibs and told to see them in 6 months.

has anyone found any major food triggers? i dont drink alcohol, have a strict gluten free diet, and now have a very good veg/meat/potatoes diet.

thanks!

I remember a friend saying once that certain vegetables triggered it for them. I can't remeber all the details but they did say they avoided broccoli and other green vegetables. Everyone is different but just be wary that vegetables can also affect people.

kangaroo

Daisy03 wrote: »

I can't remeber all the details but they did say they avoided broccoli and other green vegetables.

We'd better be careful or lots of people will be claiming they have IBS and hence should avoid broccoli and other green vegetables.

Papa_Lazarou

Theres a new drug out in the US at the moment that was actualy produced in UCC. Its supposed to in some cases help to decrease the symtoms by up to 70%. From what our lecturer told us the drug should be coming out here within the year i think.

Linguo

Hey,

I really think I have IBS, I went to my doc during the week and she has me on peppermint tea for two weeks to see if that makes a difference and mentioned other tablets if the tea didnt work. Will she recommend a dietician or someone to speak to or just put me on tablets? I'd love to know what foods are triggering it if I have it. I've put off going out sometimes just because i dont know if my stomach will just start acting up, feel stupid!

POWER111

Hi

I have got IBS had colonoscaphy nothing wrong, went for a colonic woman said that i got rid of a lot of yeast taking threelac very expensive u can get it on line with out perscription also taking udos choice probiotics id say i went from been 30% to about 75% think people need to look at the link with candida look up the simple spit test on the internet to see if you have a yeast problem.
hope this might help someone

The_Conductor

Linguo wrote: »

Hey,

I really think I have IBS, I went to my doc during the week and she has me on peppermint tea for two weeks to see if that makes a difference and mentioned other tablets if the tea didnt work. Will she recommend a dietician or someone to speak to or just put me on tablets? I'd love to know what foods are triggering it if I have it. I've put off going out sometimes just because i dont know if my stomach will just start acting up, feel stupid!

Peppermint tea and ginger (even the seasonal crystalised ginger) are very easy on your stomach and digestive system- and its a very good idea to make a conscious effort to include them in your diet (if you are able to tolerate them). A dietician could give you some helpful dietary tips that might be relevant to you- but unfortunately there isn't a definitive list of 'trigger foods'- in most cases triggers may be unique to the individual (though there are trends- such as spicy foods, MSG, alcohol and benign things such as some otherwise innocuous fruit and veg).

If you feel it would be helpful to talk to a qualified dietician- mention this to your consultant and request he/she organise a referral for you. There are excellent dieticians who work with most gastrointestinal consultants- who will be only too glad to assist.

You will probably have to request a referral though- consultants will not automatically refer you to a dietician as a matter of course.

Linguo

smccarrick wrote: »

Peppermint tea and ginger (even the seasonal crystalised ginger) are very easy on your stomach and digestive system- and its a very good idea to make a conscious effort to include them in your diet (if you are able to tolerate them). A dietician could give you some helpful dietary tips that might be relevant to you- but unfortunately there isn't a definitive list of 'trigger foods'- in most cases triggers may be unique to the individual (though there are trends- such as spicy foods, MSG, alcohol and benign things such as some otherwise innocuous fruit and veg).

If you feel it would be helpful to talk to a qualified dietician- mention this to your consultant and request he/she organise a referral for you. There are excellent dieticians who work with most gastrointestinal consultants- who will be only too glad to assist.

You will probably have to request a referral though- consultants will not automatically refer you to a dietician as a matter of course.

Thanks so much I'll definetly ask about it, ill be up at the doc in a week or so. I do think the peppermint tea has helped, must get some ginger as well, would help with my travel sickness as well!

orlanemo

Okay let me start this with - I am not an expert on anything, just putting my pennies worth in to see if it is helpful to anyone.

I have IBD (in the middle of a flare-up at the mo ). Actually quite a lot of my extended family have some form of IBD. My mother went through 10 years of being told she had IBS – “drink some peppermint tea”. Well as one doctor told me – “you don’t have IBS until they have ruled out everything else.” There are still GPs out there who see these type of complaints (Diarrhoea, bloating, constipation) as being some form of female hysteria. They are in the minority but if a Doctor diagnoses you with IBS without a colonoscopy they are lying.

Sometimes there are simple modifications to diet that can sort out digestinal discomfort. This is why a food diary is good. This could also be really useful if you get referred to a nutritionist. Try things gradually though. Cutting out something suddenly or adding something can have really painful effects.

Candida
Candida can be a cause of problems for many. I suffered very badly for years. It is also really hard to tackle cause all the things that taste really good seem to aggravate it. I tackled it through diet change. Here’s the low down – Candida(thrush) is alive! You feed it by giving it sugars. You give it more friends by adding yeast foods. So cut them out and put in other good bacteria.

List of No Nos ; Sugars, processed food, wheat-based products, most cakes and biscuits, beer, yeast bread(any yeast food).

I also added probiotic yoghurts and then I went the whole hog and bought a yoghurt maker from Lakeland Limited. You see commercially produced yoghurt has added lactose (a sugar) to speed up the production process, so no good for your poor tummy. However Onken are now on the market with their Naturally Set Yoghurt (blue tub) so it’s a pretty good alternative to homemade. Others swear by Bromelein but I’ve never tried it so can’t comment.

Allergy Tests
My sister went to Dr. China and had what I think was a York Allergy test. Well when she stayed away from the foods on her list - onions, wheat, yeast, Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), she did fine (she doesn’t have IBD). Hey this isn’t conclusive proof but it helped her. But again this is her sensitivities, yours might be really different.

Access your Diet
Are you really getting enough fibre? Be honest. The RDA is 18gms but above this is even better. Sometimes if we analyse our diet (Try the Diary) we discover that we really need to make adjustments. Be really careful here though - going from next to no fibre a day to three bowls of Al-Bran per day - will bloody hurt!

Hope that might be of help to people – good luck

The_Conductor

I would emphasise that you need to be very careful about possible dietary changes, as the terms IBS and IBD cover several entirely different diseases and syndromes, which may present in entirely different ways in different people. While a healthy diet is obviously to be encouraged- what constitutes a healthy diet will vary greatly depending on how you are affected. If your IBD or IBS is a manifestation of Crohn's or Colitis- increasing your fibre intake could be extremely dangerous.

You really need to get past the GPs who dismiss the various cramps, pains, bloating and bleeding- and have them checked out. Once you have been diagnosed with a particular condition or illness- you should seek a referral to a professional dietician familiar with your condition, and receive proper care, attention and advice.

S.

Sapsorrow

Got diagnosed with IBS nearly four years ago, my predominant problem is cramping and loose bowels.

Just thought I should mention that peppermint and ginger aren't really all that gentle on the stomch if taken in any form other than a mild tea (like oil capsules, aromatherapy oils etc..) and I've found peppermint actually does me no favours at all. Tea wise I think chai spice alone without the black tea is fantastic as the spices are natural digestive aids as well as being warming to the stomach which I find provides relief in itself. Other good ones are fennel (aids digestion) and chamomile (general relaxant) and feverfew (natural source of aspirin and also a relaxant).

My hot water bottle is my best friend and when having that strapped to my tummy isn't an option I use heat patchs they''re total life savers. I keep a hot water bottle in the car and one at my mums house for visits just in case! Such a simple theraputic aid but provides incredible relief and comfort from the cramps.

My worst food enemies are: coffee and tea
caffeine tablets (use them for studying )
Salads and anything raw
Cold foods esp ice-cream or things straight from de fridge
Spicey foods esp chile
Fruits n smoothies (do loose bowels no favours)
Bananas and avocados
Quinoa
Alcohol but in particular beer

Best foods for me: Soups, stews and other long slow cooked foods.
I was actually pretty much a raw foodie until I saw an acupuncturist a few years ago and he reccomended I try giving up de raw stuff. I was horrified as I thought this was the answer to all the worlds health problems at the time and grudgingly I gave it a go and lo and behold it cut my tummy cramps down by at least half! To this day anytime I even look at a salad I get cramps, I had no idea how much harm I had been doing to myself with the raw foodism. I'm not saying it's a bad diet but if your digestive system is weak in the first place it's a good idea to predigest your foods through cooking and hot food is much less of a shock to the stomach muscles than cold food.

I find the gently warming spices (cinnamon, cumin, corriander, turmeric) basically any of them apart from chile are great for my IBS.

Iron supplements (I'm as veggie and predominantly vegan so take em for that) really sort out the loose bowels problem as Iron is naturally constipating so it really balances out loose bowels rather than going so far as making you constipated like it would for other people.

I would really reccoment acupuncture for IBS, I ended up going to one pretty much accidentaly with no previous intentions or interest/regard in it as a therpay and it worked wonders for me and I got great dietary advice too. Not all acupuncturists are great therapists though so maybe try and find one reccomended by some one else.

The other big one is getting your emotional stuff sorted out (not just the stress) I've heard of IBS referred to as the sister syndrome to depression. My IBS started after having a bit of a nervous breakdown at the end of my first year in college, I was also suffering badly from depression and panic attacks and I had had some traumatic experiences in the few years building up to this stage.
The first thing my acupuncturist pointed out after questioning me for an hour and a half on every aspect of my lifestyle, emotional state etc.. was that I was pushing all my stress and emotional problems that I didn't want to deal with into my stomach and that if I wanted to sort the IBS out I would have to sort out all the other stuff. so maybe this is something for sufferers to look out for in general I know there was a definate link in my case.

Yoga works wonders for IBS, I use certain positions when I have a cramp attack and after a few minutes practicing the poses I'm back to normal again. You can also select poses which will specifically target different internal organs and allow you to tone and strengthen them. Yoga's one of those things you need a teacher for to get it right though can't really teach yourself it at home because the odds are you won't be getting the poses just right and so won't reap the proper benifits.

I'd definately reccomend the allergy testing, York test in Wicklow are good because its a blood test and can tell you the degree of intolerance/allergy with specific foods, I think they test for 300 foods in total. Beware of Kinesiologist or muscle response allergy tests, there's absolutely no scientific basis for this method and allergies and intolerances are a very scientific phenomenon. There's a hell of a lot of quacks in the yellow pages offering these types of allergy tests with no real training, no credibility and no regulation.
Heres a link from the website regarding an IBS clinical trial
http://www.yorktest.ie/html/about-the-group/clinical-trials/

Another thing to consider is the Tyramine content of foods, I suffer from chronic headaches as well as the IBS and find the too are inter-related in terms of symptom onset. Whilst studying toxicology in college a few years ago I came across Tyramine (it's a neurotransmitter mimic as far as I remember) and noticed two foods very high in it are avocados and bananas the two foods absaloutely gauranteed to trigger my cramps. This chemical is a vasodialator and so is prone to trigger intoerance like reactions such headaches in sensitive individuals. Headaches and IBS are commonly found together in sufferers so there might well be a link for some of us.

Hope some of this helps

sinlaw

I have ulcerative colitis but I used to have IBS so I can fully sympathise. I'd echo a lot of what already has been written above like ..

1. Acupuncture seems to really help
2. Sugar is an absolute no go. It gives you wind which causes cramps. What used to crack me up was when I had to start reading the labels on everything and found that most supermarket foods and sauces have sugar in. Some just seem ridiculous. I must admit though that I was able to get away with a lot of fruit sugars. Grapes seemed to really help and I've heard that they somehow reduce inflammation. If buying sugar-free stuff, I would steer well clear of the sweetener maltitol and go with zylitol or fructose sweeteners. Plamil is a nice chocolate (esp the mint one) and they're selling a Holex chocolate in Tesco now (usually in the gluten-free section?) which is sweetened with fructose.
3. Tomatoes, tomato puree/sauces always set me off for some reason?
4. Drinking pure aloe vera (although admittedly doesn't taste so good) really seems to reduce the overall number of bathroom trips.
5. Don't underestimate the power of pro-biotics. I'm not a doctor but I've heard that they've now put the positive effect of pro-biotics on the treatment of IBS and IBD in the Lancet and a surgeon recently told me that they have indeed found a correlation. I have to say I didn't believe it in the early days and was taking all sorts of pro-biotics from health stores to no effect but then my fab nutritionist pointed me in the direction of vsl#3 which is one you can order from the UK. It's especially potent and my bowel motions went from 16 (I was in a bad way) to 5 in the space of a couple of days of using it. As with all probiotics it needs to be refridgerated and also .. not the best taste! Be warned
6. No caffeine or alcohol (also bear in mind the amount of sugar in some alcoholic drinks)
7. Nettle tea really helps with pain. The yogi brand 'Women's Fitness' (has nettle in) for all you lady sufferers out there, I can highly recommend.
8. I also found the homeopathic remedy 'arnica' helped with the pain.
9. Invest in a trusty hot water bottle. It's my must have!
10. Find ways to reduce your stress: yoga, meditation, hobbies, swimming, massage ...

Whatever works for you!


If you believe you have IBS, definitely go to the doctor but something that I can't emphasise enough is, if you are not happy with the diagnosis, go to another doctor ... and so on. Insist on a colonoscopy! I can't begin to tell you how many doctors I had to go to to get the right diagnosis. I honestly thought I was going crazy and it wasn't until I was hospitalised with UC four years ago that they sat up and paid attention. Sometimes we get so used to living with these conditions we play it down a little bit when we go to the doctor and that is misinterpreted. Also the body is amazing and can adjust to so much. Sometimes regular blood tests etc. don't show up anything because the body is compensating. I really do know from experience.

Kevster

I've had ulcerative colities diagnosed since 2003 but never really notticed tomatoes adversely affecting me. Still, we're all different, aren't we!? I think that probiotics and even just regular yoghurts are fantastic though, especially after a bad flare-up.

Kevin

witchgirl26

I was diagnosed with IBS 3 years ago but have had problems for 8 years. When it first flared up, my doctor gave me dietry advice to try and avoid full blown IBS. I followed it for a while & things got ok & then I went back to eating the way I used to. Que horrible flare up after horrible flair up!

Thankfully I now have it mostly under control with tablets etc. It goes mad when I'm stressed or have anything else wrong with me though. My main food enemies are white bread, onions (incl garlic sometimes) & too much fruit & veg. Also dairy products - can only have milk on my cereal really, anything more than that leads to suffering for me!

I'm just so glad that the stigma attached to having it has gone as it's talked about more and more.

Sapsorrow

Hiya witchgirl have you noticed whether its all veg or raws ones, starchy ones, fobrous root veg etc? I'd be concerned if your IBS was preventing you from eating lots of veggies!

Something Ive discovered recently and have been finding extremely helpful with my IBS is cutting out fructose as much as possible. I notice on this thread that lots of people list the allium family (onions, leeks, garlic etc.) and tomatos are foods that aggravate them as well as fruit. Well guess what these are exactly the ones to be avoided if you are a fructose malabsorber. Fructose malabsorption results in exactly the same symptoms typical of IBS

What's important is the glucose to fructose ratio as glucose helps transport the fructsoe across the gut barrier so it doesn't hang around being fermented by your colonic bacteria (which causes the gas, cramping, runs etc..) so stone fruit and berries are ok.

I've stopped eating apples and pears (usually the only fruit I eat much of) and dried fruits (I normally use dates, dried apricots, raisins etc for sweetening desserts) which I normally eat a lot of (these are the worst two offenders in terms of fructose in fruits) and I have only had 1 IBS flare up since after 4 consequtive days of having it very badly. The 1 flare up I did have was after eating a dessert I made based on dessicated coconut and xylitol so it was no suprise it flared up tbh.

I really reccomend you guys look into this so far I'm having more success than any other dietary modifications in nearly 4 years! Whats more reseach in the area has found between 30 and 70% of IBS sufferers have it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose_malabsorption

http://www.foodintol.com/bowel.asp

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17000196

http://www.healthhype.com/fructose-malabsorption-cause-symptoms-and-diagnosis.html

Any one having problems with digesting grains or dairy really should get a proper allergy test done (ie a blood test) as leaky gut (which is very common in IBS sufferers) is very often coincided with coeliacs disease and can be a serious health problem if not addressed. If dairys the problem and you have IBS there's a very strong chance of genuine lactose intolerance.
IBS is very often misdiagnosed food allergies so a colonoscopy or an allergy test is vital.

In case you guys haven't see this thread there some relevant posts on it:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=64019804#post64019804

witchgirl26

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Hiya witchgirl have you noticed whether its all veg or raws ones, starchy ones, fobrous root veg etc? I'd be concerned if your IBS was preventing you from eating lots of veggies!

Sorry might have misunderstood me there but think I phrased it wrong. I can eat pretty much any veg and fruit but alot of fruit & veg in one day can cause problems. I love veg so would be straight down the doc if I couldn't eat my 5 a day!

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Any one having problems with digesting grains or dairy really should get a proper allergy test done (ie a blood test) as leaky gut (which is very common in IBS sufferers) is very often coincided with coeliacs disease and can be a serious health problem if not addressed. If dairys the problem and you have IBS there's a very strong chance of genuine lactose intolerance.
IBS is very often misdiagnosed food allergies so a colonoscopy or an allergy test is vital.

In case you guys haven't see this thread there some relevant posts on it:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=64019804#post64019804

I've had the allergy test for lactose intolerance & I am officialy mildy lactose intolerant. Was told that my body can handle a certain amount but not over that. It's the only thing I've officially got an allergy of - everything else is ok.

Stomach problems are hugely common in my family - my mam has had digestive issues since she was my age (I'm 24), my sister is being tested for IBS at the moment & my dad had stomach cancer.

I've had this so long that I've become quite used to it & eating out is fine for me but I can see friends of mine who are just diagnosed struggling in restaurants. Advice to anyone who is in that situation is if there's something in a dish that you want that you know will cause a flair up, ask for it without it. Generally they'll be nice about it.

Hypnose

Hi

I'm ment to have a endoscopy, a stomach ultra sound and a colonoscopy. Went to a Gastro consultant and was to told i need these tests to confirm whither I have ibs or a stomach ulcer.
Its just i'm really young and i don't think i need a colonoscopy if i just had the endoscopy then proceed on after wards if nothing is found in my stomach .

I'm just freaked off my head about he colonoscopy and the stuff you drink before hand .
Or would i be better getting it all done at the same time rather than going back for colonoscopy .
Is it scary, manky ,horrible do you know whats going on do the drugs make you unaware.
And if i do have a colonoscopy would there be a massive difference in the treatment with or without the colonoscopy.

Sorry for going on don't really no how to explain what i want to say .
Anyway i'll go
Hopefully someone can understand what i've said. :):):):):):):):):):P:P:P:P:P
Thanks

The_Conductor

Hi Hypnose-

To be perfectly honest- the colonoscopy is a lot easier (in my opinion) than the endoscopy. Neither involve you drinking vast amounts of fluid (I think you have a barium follow-through in mind- a totally different, but related, procedure- where you have to drink radioactive barium and a marker dye which is then followed through your gastrointestinal tract).

Normally you'd be lightly sedated for either procedure (you're not fully asleap- but you don't remember afterwards what happened- and you're not allowed to drive for 24 hours). The endoscopy may involve drinking a small amount of fluid which numbs your throat and makes swallowing the tube easier.

I've had both procedures done numerous times- I don't like them, but I don't fear them either. Look at it this way- they may not be pleasant- but they are stepping stones on your road to getting a diagnosis, and when you have a diagnosis and proper treatment underway- you'll feel a hell of a lot better than you do now.

Best wishes,

Shane

Bugnug

stressedout123 wrote: »

Hi!

Does anybody here suffer from IBS?
I think I do but Im not sure and am currently working up the nerve to go to the doctor. I dont want to seem like im overreacting.
Sorry if this is gross but I alternate between constipation and diarrhea and its really beginning to affect my personal life. I moved in with my boyfriend about two months and im constantly thinking about whether i need to go or not. I havent told him because i dont want him to think im disgusting but its really stressful hiding it.

Id love to hear from anyone who is going through this too.

Thanks

A lot of the time issues like this can be psychological as well as physical. If you talk to a good GP they should explore both areas and advise on a sensible route.

pinkyc

hey guys, i'm sorry to hear all about ye'r ibs and i hope that ye are all keeping well lately. I'm not an IBS suffer (i have crohns disease, so in away i know what its like i guess) but my boyfriend is. He was only diagnosed in the past few months it was October i think, he was having the usual pains and staying on the loo problems, went to the doctor and boom it was IBS, he is an emotionaly strong guy and i love him, but lately its been getting him down, like really down. I'm not sure if theres much i can or could do for him but be there, but i was thinking maybe someone here may have tips i could tell him about or maybe definate foods to keep clear of.

I would really appreciate if ye would pass on anything ye can to me.
thanks guys it means alot

The_Conductor

Hi pinkyc- just like to reiterate that the diet for IBS can be totally different than it is for Crohn's Disease- even if there can be commonalities (depending on how active your Crohn's is).

AVOID IN IBS

1. Even if the person with IBS is not lactose intolerant, dairy products (all of them) can be a trigger.
2. Red Meat (not just beef- but also pork, mutton, goat, deer etc) all to be avoided.
3. High fat foods to be avoided (use your intuition- but its a long and meandering list)
4. Alcohol is a definite trigger
5. Caffeine is a GI stimulant and should be avoided
6. Products sweetened with artificial sweeteners, particularly sorbitol, are big trouble.

AIM FOR IN IBS

1. Soluble fibre supplements- your pharmacy will have a selection
2. Food should be eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly
3. Eat small portions frequently
4. Check the temperature of your food- and avoid icecream and icecold things- particularly on a empty stomach
5. Drink water on an ongoing basis during the day- but not at meal times.
6. Peel and then cook the living hell out of potatoes, veg, fruit etc- and mash them as fine as possible before serving.
7. Foods that have high soluble fibre content and help relieve IBS symptoms- tend to be the starches (kill two birds with the one stone!) E.g. Pasta, Rice, Porridge, Barley soups, White breads (such as baguette- not el crappo sliced loaf) etc.
8. There are few magic tricks- such as bananas- higher in fibre than some alternates, very good energy food, and the potassium tends to slow your digestive tract.

Akin to Crohn's, Colitis- and many other illnesses- IBS can be stress related, and actively going out of your way to avoid confrontation or high stress situations, can pay vast dividends.

Your boyfriend really needs to talk to a good dietician- they will be able to give many and varied suggestions to him. In the interim- don't try to compare your Crohn's to his IBS- they are two totally seperate things- and he won't understand the differences anyhow. Do a little research on things that may help him (such as soluble fibre)- but make sure that he takes the next step himself and goes to a dietician. Some little changes can make the world of a difference in his case- often though the small steps- like cutting down or avoiding alcohol or coffee- can seem like insurmountable changes to people who have never had to change their habits before in their lives. You may not understand why he has these troubles- as you doubtlessly modify your diet depending on how your Crohn's is- it may seem to be a seismic step for him.

There are lots of resources out there of help to IBS sufferers- have a look and print him off some stuff- but don't over do it. A simple appointment with a dietician may be a revelation for him.

pinkyc

thank you for your great advice smccarick, it means alot, i'll be sure to pass it on.

kangaroo

smccarrick wrote: »

Hi pinkyc- just like to reiterate that the diet for IBS can be totally different than it is for Crohn's Disease- even if there can be commonalities (depending on how active your Crohn's is).

AVOID IN IBS

1. Even if the person with IBS is not lactose intolerant, dairy products (all of them) can be a trigger.
2. Red Meat (not just beef- but also pork, mutton, goat, deer etc) all to be avoided.
3. High fat foods to be avoided (use your intuition- but its a long and meandering list)
4. Alcohol is a definite trigger
5. Caffeine is a GI stimulant and should be avoided
6. Products sweetened with artificial sweeteners, particularly sorbitol, are big trouble.

AIM FOR IN IBS

1. Soluble fibre supplements- your pharmacy will have a selection
2. Food should be eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly
3. Eat small portions frequently
4. Check the temperature of your food- and avoid icecream and icecold things- particularly on a empty stomach
5. Drink water on an ongoing basis during the day- but not at meal times.
6. Peel and then cook the living hell out of potatoes, veg, fruit etc- and mash them as fine as possible before serving.
7. Foods that have high soluble fibre content and help relieve IBS symptoms- tend to be the starches (kill two birds with the one stone!) E.g. Pasta, Rice, Porridge, Barley soups, White breads (such as baguette- not el crappo sliced loaf) etc.
8. There are few magic tricks- such as bananas- higher in fibre than some alternates, very good energy food, and the potassium tends to slow your digestive tract.

Akin to Crohn's, Colitis- and many other illnesses- IBS can be stress related, and actively going out of your way to avoid confrontation or high stress situations, can pay vast dividends.

Your boyfriend really needs to talk to a good dietician- they will be able to give many and varied suggestions to him. In the interim- don't try to compare your Crohn's to his IBS- they are two totally seperate things- and he won't understand the differences anyhow. Do a little research on things that may help him (such as soluble fibre)- but make sure that he takes the next step himself and goes to a dietician. Some little changes can make the world of a difference in his case- often though the small steps- like cutting down or avoiding alcohol or coffee- can seem like insurmountable changes to people who have never had to change their habits before in their lives. You may not understand why he has these troubles- as you doubtlessly modify your diet depending on how your Crohn's is- it may seem to be a seismic step for him.

There are lots of resources out there of help to IBS sufferers- have a look and print him off some stuff- but don't over do it. A simple appointment with a dietician may be a revelation for him.

Although I have IBS as part of my ME, I'm not really an expert on the IBS part - looks like a reasonable list but I wonder about the need to add extra fibre such as fibre supplements if it's IBS-D.

watna

pinkyc wrote: »

thank you for your great advice smccarick, it means alot, i'll be sure to pass it on.

I swear by the fibre supplements. I use fibre powder in juice. It makes a huge difference, especially if I've been bad recently and am suffering for it. The fibre help loads.

I use one called metamucil and another called bowel biotics- not sure if that is what it is called in Ireland. I get them from health food shops. Ones with psyllium husks are supposed to be extra good.

BrianD3

A friend of mine was told he had IBS. I showed him some good exercises to strengthen the abdominal, ass and lower back muscles. Apparently this has made a big difference to his IBS.

I don't know what doctors have to say on exercise and IBS, if they do recommend exercise it is possibly going to be rubbish like high rep situps.

LegacyUser

I was raised with a mother who always made me freak out over the stupidous pains. About six months ago I had a... bad stomach day, and after that I have been afraid of the simplest trips. When I'm neevous about having an ancident my stomach seem's to make me have to go. Resently I have been getting uncomfortable gas and cramps but I cant bring myself to go to the doctor. I am so afraid of turning into my mother. I have found an all natural ibs med. that seems great. I was wondering if i should try it first before going to the doc. What do you all think.

p.s. the all natural pills=Bavolex.

Merch

where do you get Bavolex?

The_Conductor

Lyric 13 wrote: »

p.s. the all natural pills=Bavolex.

Bavolex has a good reputation mostly in the States- but a few places have started to carry it here now. Its a little disingenuous calling it 'all natural'- it contains extracts of a load of dietary supplements- most of which most of us take as a matter of course- such as ginger, peppermint, carraway etc. The reason in my opinion that its quite a stretch to call it 'all natural' is the capsules are also packed with a veritable medley of artificially produced enzymes to help you digest your food- such as trypsin, bromelain, amylase, lipase (and others). Obviously some of these might be naturally produced (off the top of my head I know pineapple juice is loaded with bromelain for example).

They're not cheap- and they're not covered under any of the medical schemes, as they are classified as a dietary supplement, not medication. I most certainly would under no circumstances rely on a dietary supplement instead of going to the doctor- by all means let the doc know you're taking them- but dietary supplements should be used in conjunction with conventional medication- not instead of it.

redbug

I too suffered from IBS for years, one minute I had a flat stomach the next minute I looked like I was 9 months pregnant!! I agree with previous posts, getting the emotional cause dealt with can help dramatically as well as dietary changes. What really helped me was the combination of Acupuncture which helped me with my anxiety and the physical issues and Naturopathy which helped with the dietary changes. If you want information on these treatments check out http://solacetcm.wordpress.com/

LegacyUser

Just wondering, can anyone describe to me the location and type of pain associated in general with IBS? Also, can very, very bad period pains be linked to it?