Help me decode my symptoms??

Hello everyone

I'm trying to decide if what I am experiencing is IBS. IBS exists in my extended family, and we have recently discovered coeliac genetics there as well. I have hypothyroidism. About ten years ago I was treated for confirmed h. pylori. I have gained much weight since then. My resting metabolic rate was measured and is very slow. I had coeliac serology about ten years ago that showed a reaction, but was below the coeliac limit, and another one about three years ago that was clear (though I was probably eating less gluten then, so not sure we can take much from that!). Likely some absorption issues with regard to nutrition, iron especially but my folate was low at one point and nobody could really explain why.

I don't experience much pain, but I do get more nausea than I think is normal. I have, err, sticky stools, almost all of the time - I use a lot of toilet paper and need to use the brush usually - TMI, sorry. The only time my bowels were reasonably normal is when I was low-carb/keto (ie, no or very little gluten, few other grains, quite a bit of fibre because of the reduction in grains and consequent increase in veg and a decent amount of fat). In fact, it is really only that which lets me know what "normal" is! I go 1-3 times daily, and it is generally looser, never constipated.

I have been trying various dietary strategies. Some people find an improvement with less fibre, but that didn't help noticeably, so I'm now going back to "normal" and trying a higher fibre amount and upping my fat intake again. I am intending to do the coeliac genetic test shortly.

Is it IBS?

[Lantyrn]

Hi! More than likely IBS as you seem to be jumping around trying this and that. Your body must be wondering what on earth is going on. You felt somewhat normal following Keto so stick with that, and make sure you're following it correctly. That means zero grains (not even a little bread here and there) and increase your salt intake (rock, Himalayan) and water. If you're looking to lose weight and it's not coming off then reduce your fat intake so your body uses your fat stores.

You don't need a lot of fibre when you're consuming a lot of fat. Large amounts of fibre can be damaging to the intestines.

What veg are you eating?

Keto will also help with Hypothyroidism as it has the effect of slowing the thyroid slightly and reducing T3 levels a little. Just like insulin, the body becomes more sensitive to T3 and can function fine with less of it.

Keto. Get to it!

[Hidden in reply to Lantyrn]

I wrote a post and it vanished.

I eat lots of veg. I like veg, though I'll have to eat more leafy greens and fewer root vegetables if going keto again. Yesterday I ate kale, salad, courgette, potato (oh well), an apple - it would have easily my five veg and two fruit - I'm calling a courgette a fruit, which it is, botanically. I try to get a bit of variety and tonight will have home made pumpkin soup as an entree and more veg with the main. Keto is hard in having to restrict the veg as I find even courgette adds up really fast.

Thyroid. After some intermittent fasting earlier this year I was very unwell and it needed some more T3 to be added to my regimen to recover. I had to halve my workload at the time - not a great long term strategy but somethings these things happen. I am very worried about doing anything that will mess with those hormones as the memory of being so unwell is so fresh in my mind!

Fibre - yes I agree. Fat also helps me a lot with mood. I drink litres of water per day (hot climate, drinking to thirst) and add salt to taste, and more generously these days.

I find bubbly water helps with the nausea, which I believe points to maybe low stomach acid (apparently common with hypothryoidism) but my dentist says is destroying her patients' teeth so I'm trying not to do that too often.

The jumping around was a summary of several years - it's probably not as bad as I was making it sound!

[Hidden]

Hi there,

I thought you might be interested in this article: sickofibs.com/ibs-triggers/...

Alison

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

An interesting article but I don’t think it applies in my case. It doesn’t cause me any distress - until recently it was only a matter of curiosity until I realised that it might be more serious. I don’t have pain.