Change of diet

Some of you may know that I have IBS and have been looking at my diet for some time and have been looking at the low FODMAP diet. I haven't embarked on the diet yet as I didn't want to follow it without the advice of a Dietician and the reason for this is I didn't want to end up deficient in any nutrients.

I am pleased to report that I have now got an appointment with a Dietician on 16 January and they have said they are going to send me a diet sheet beforehand. A lot of the food I have been eating is actually high FODMAP so that's not good i.e. I really shouldn't be eating onions, beans, cauliflower, dates etc etc so it's really going to be a complete overhaul. I will definitely be buying a low FODMAP cookbook so that I know what I can make with the limited list of foods.

Here's to a future free of IBS.

[Zest]

Hi Alicia,

It's great to hear you've got an appointment with a Dietician for 16th January. Not long now! Wishing you success in tackling your IBS and here's to a Healthy 2018 ahead.

Zest

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

Hi Zest

Thank you and it'll be a fairly tough diet but it'll be worth it in the end.

Alicia

[Hidden]

Hi Alicia,

I'm sorry that you have IBS and I wish you well with this and think you're definitely doing things the right way, as its important to have a nutritious diet.

This may interest you:

gluten.org/resources/health...

And good luck and let us know how you get on on the 16th.

Jerry 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jerry

I've had it since I had food poisoning back in 1996 but it's got worse again recently hence asking to be put on the waiting list to see a Dietician as after all they are trained in nutrition and will know what I need to eat to keep a balanced diet.

Thank you for the link, I will have a look at that.

I will report back from my appointment - they are sending a diet sheet to me before the appointment so I should receive that by tomorrow as normally you need to complete a week's worth of food and drink intake before your appointment and that would have to start tomorrow.

Alicia

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Well good luck with this it sounds a really positive step 😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jerry

[Fran182716 Prediabetic]

Hi Alicia, glad you have a dietician appointment, it's a good diet to try to pinpoint trigger foods but is worrying that you might miss out on nutrients. In my area dietitians are in short supply and you only get referral if you are losing too much weight which is definitely not my problem! So I had to do it on my own. Once you have done the elimination part you slowly introduce foods back one at a time so you can test your reaction. I was lucky I am ok with wheat and dairy, but cannot tolerate brassicas, only tolerate tiny quantities of alliums the more processed the better which goes against my general philosophy of fresh is best! and can't manage beans of any kind though I can have small portions of lentils or chickpeas.

It really does work though and as long as I avoid trigger foods I don't get symptoms at all. If I accidentally eat something on my "avoid" list I soon know about it!

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Fran182716]

Hi there Fran

Sorry for taking so long to respond, I have had security issues on my PC. I have had a look on the internet at the diet and see that it's restrictive but I am definitely ready to try it as the worst part of my symptoms are nausea, I hate it as I have Emetophobia, a fear of being sick. I get tummy pain, gas and bloating as well. I agree with you re the processed foods, it goes against the grain (pardon the pun) but if it works then what can we do!

I seem to be okay with chickpeas but think that kidney beans might be a problem. I know I cannot go near raw carrots, raw onions or sweetcorn as I get a lot of pain if I eat those foods.

I am looking forward to starting the diet and getting rid of the symptoms.

All the very best and thank you so much for your response.

Alicia

[Penel]

Good luck with your appointment and the diet. It can take time to get your head around but it can make an amazing difference. There are FODMAP friendly stock cubes on-line, which I have found very useful after having to give up onions etc, and I’m not finding the whole thing too limiting.

There is an app which you may also find useful.

monashfodmap.com/i-have-ibs...

[Hidden in reply to Penel]

Hi there Penel

Thank you so much for your response and I am looking forward to feeling better, particularly the nausea part. I didn't realise you could get FODMAP friendly stock cubes, I will have a look for those, and glad that you haven't found it too limiting.

I will also have a look at the app.

Once again, thank you.

Alicia

[BadHare]

Good luck, Alicia!

I spoke to someone who follows this, who said it's been beneficial to her mother, too. Hope it works for you!

Mx

[Hidden in reply to BadHare]

Thank you Mel and really appreciate your message.

Alicia x

[benwl]

Well done getting that dietician appointment!

I had a similar trajectory to you - the gastroenterologist who diagnosed my IBS referred me to a dietician with the recommendation to do the FODMAP diet.

It did work for me although I later switched to a vegan diet which is also working.

Do you know if your IBS is C or D type? Mine is C so benefits from high fibre as well.

[Hidden in reply to benwl]

Hi there

Thank you for your very helpful reply.

I am mainly IBS C, I can switch between C and normal albeit not very often normal. Very interesting that switching to a vegan diet helped - I am, at present, pescatarian.

Alicia

[benwl in reply to Hidden]

I dont really know what was happening there Perhaps doing the FODMAP for 3 or 4 months healed some inflammation or changed my gut bacteria so the vegan diet was ok afterwards (my previous diet was vegetarian with occasional fish)

I'm very happy with the vegan diet so not tried goingj back to vegetarian to see how that works now.

The only times I now notice any IBS symptoms starting to return is if my fibre intake has dropped (usually if I'm on holiday or otherwise not doing my own cooking)

[Hidden in reply to benwl]

Possibly that's what did happen but so pleased that you are so much better. I will be so glad to get rid of this nausea that's plaguing me at the moment, that is the worst part.

If vegan helped me (I may know once I am on the diet) then I would happily move to that.

I can understand if your symptoms return with change of diet.

[ShadowDee]

I'm an IBS sufferer. I downloaded the low fodmap as well. So many gluten free recipes and special sections in grocery shops called free form. When I discovered it I said to myself 'there really is a god!' 😂

[Hidden in reply to ShadowDee]

Hi ShadowDee, sounds like you are better since following Low FODMAP.

Alicia

[ShadowDee in reply to Hidden]

I still hit the odd brick wall. But I'm getting there.

[Hidden in reply to ShadowDee]

That's good, much better than being poorly all the time.

Alicia x

[pnk1941]

What is IBS?

[Hidden in reply to pnk1941]

Hi pnk1941 , IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome and sufferers can get nausea, pain around their tummies, backs etc, lots of wind which is often painful, constipation, diarrhoea and some are physically sick.

[pnk1941]

Thank you,crazy fitness for your reply. ::pnk1941::

[Hidden in reply to pnk1941]

You are welcome