I can't find my trigger food!

[Kezrey]

I have had ibs on and off for 3 years now. In the beginning it would just be the odd flare up but for the past 9 months I have had a continuous burning pain in my stomach with horrible cramps and bloating at times. It seems to have switched; before I generally felt good but had the odd flare up and now I generally feel bloated and burny with the odd day of feeling ok. My main problem is I can't seem to find my trigger food, I did an elimination diet where I cut everything out for a few weeks , I have cut dairy out as I thought that was the culprit, I don't have caffeine anymore but nothing seems to work. I have also tried an array of medication. Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions of other stuff I could try?

[Aimez_1]

Feel your pain I am the same but think in part is psychological and stress and anxiety related and then being stuck in vicious circle. I do think pre packaged food have alot to do with it. I try to make as much as I can myself.

[Kezrey in reply to Aimez_1]

Yeah I can see how it could be triggered by anxiety and stuff, I definitely feel in a vicious cycle with it!

[Jane2510 in reply to Kezrey]

Have a go at removing gluten- and I mean including all the hidden gluten too! Not just the obvious stuff like bread etc- it's in tons of food!! You need to get reading labels - whey powder gluten comes in all guises!! That's the only way you can get them out of your diet!! Good luck x

[Hidden in reply to Jane2510]

There are a number of tests for celiacs? The doc will help with that. Can that cause a flare up in IBS??

[A_IBS]

I have the same. Tests haven't shown anything. The healthier I eat the worse I feel including heart palpitations & fatigue so currently looking st salicylates intolerance. Will start FODMAP diet in a few weeks with a dietitian, have you tried that? If all else fails I'll try antibiotics to kill bad bacteria. I hope this helps.

[Kezrey in reply to A_IBS]

That's really helpful, thanks! I haven't tried fodmap but noticed a lot of people talking about it on here so may start looking into it, I hope it works for you!

[WoolPippi]

it can be something as stupid as too much fibre. It is for me. I'm on a low residue diet now plus no gas-producing foods and I'm so much better. No bloating and lots of energy.

It can be something as stupid as the volume you eat and the time of day you eat. It is for me. I eat my dinner/proteins at noon and from 2 o'clock in the afternoon only liquids and some sweets (chocolate, white bread, cookies). I also take horizontal rests during the day and massage my stomach. Now, when I go to sleep, I have a bowel movement and there's nothing left in my small intestines and I sleep through the night.

It can be something as stupid as not sufficient stomach acid. It is for me. Keeping stuff longer in your stomach, making you nauseous and tasking your intestines with breaking down the stuff your stomach doesn't. Taking HCL with food or sparcely diluted lemon juice or vinegar acidifies the stomach.

Don't give up, keep searching for culprits left and right. Look in stupid places, roll your eyes and keep on trying.