Testing for IBS

[linc2u]

Had IBS for years and completely confused by it all.

Just wondered if anyone has used the York Tests for food intolerances,please?

Reviews on their internet pages are very mixed.

Thanks a lot .

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

The role of York test in the management of IBS is at best unclear. Whilst the test is useful for detecting the presence of IGG antibodies to specific food components it typically yields multiple positive results and may represent a normal immune response to food. Food-specific IgG4 does not predict true food hypersensitivity. Indeed the presence of this type of antibody has been associated with the development of tolerance to foods that are eaten often ..... read more here theibsnetwork.org/diet/have...

[Hidden]

Hi linc2u

Studies have shown that food intolerance testing using blood IgG is not reliable. Here's one study picked at random, you will find many more via Google eaaci.org/attachments/877_E...

Testing for IgE antigen response is thought to be more reliable (again studies available on Google). These are carried out by hospitals and reputable clinics but tend to be far more expensive and are limited to major known reactionary foods like wheat, other grains, nuts and fish. The Nuffield Health hospital group does these for instance.

A much cheaper alternative is restricting foods from your diet and seeing if there is any improvement. Start with Gluten. Even those who have had negative biopsy outcomes for celiacs disease can have non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Then try a low FODMAP diet and reintroduction of each group. Many people are intolerant of Fructans in wheat, garlic and onions etc. Again there is good [and bad!] info online. Message me if you want more info on FODMAP's...I've cured SIBO and IBS including this approach in my treatment.

Good luck!

[wahidwebdesign in reply to Hidden]

Help me please.

[Hidden in reply to wahidwebdesign]

I will try wahidwebdesign , though of course I am not an expert or qualified...just a sufferer!

That said I, and other on this site, probably know more about IBS and SIBO than the majority of GP's and NHS based dieticians and gastroenterologists!!

Start a private chat if you prefer. I'll send you a message. Otherwise we can stay open forum...its up to you

[Nuttycatlady in reply to Hidden]

I would very much like some information on FODMOP, please. I have unsuccessfully been trying to be referred to a dietician as still having various tests and scans with no definite diagnosis

Many thanks from Anne

[Hidden in reply to Nuttycatlady]

Hi Anne

I am sorry to hear of your suffering. I have been very ill since 2013 and lost my job last year because of the effects of my IBS. I principally have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) which has spilled over into my large bowel causing IBS too.

I have had many diagnosis' along the way, some from charlatan functional health dieticians wanting to sell me £1000/month supplements, mainstream clinicians who do not understand or even accept SIBO and IBS exist in the first place as many NHS clinicians claim!

Diet, as I have learnt, plays a big part in the control, and eradication, of IBS and SIBO. Thankfully I am 90% cured now and understand what triggers to avoid.

My best advice to begin with, just gain through experience and reading much scientific literature, is to start with the Monash University advice on FODMAP's. Their website is very good monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/ ...start there and follow the various links for explanation and advice. If you have a smart phone I highly recommend their app (links on the website). It costs a one-off £7.99 for iPhone (android version available). I have no affiliation! 💰

More recently I was directed towards the Kings College website (in association with Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital). My Dietician is on their panel and recommends their resources but also supports Monash for reference kcl.ac.uk/lsm/schools/life-... . Again many links and much information here too. Their app is also good and a little cheaper at £3.99, once only fee.

I have found to my cost that there is a lot of mis-information on line. Many 'experts' claiming results which boils down to buy my course, my preparation X pill or my wacky diet. Monash and Kings however are science based and backed. It is there to read. It is not paid for by an industry trying to sell you something either.

It is time consuming and can be difficult to follow a FODMAP diet but it's worth it in the end. You will likely have to ditch some of the foods you love but unless you follow the protocol correctly you will not gain the full benefits.

Finally...you have not mentioned your history (and I suggest you do not share too much personal data on line) but have you been tested for Celiacs, IBD etc. and are these recognised diagnosis', meaning, not alternative medicine guesstimates or unsupported testing procedures? Feel free to private message me if you prefer. Click on the chat link and search for @David_Atlarge .

Again I must stress I am not an expert, just a sufferer! Good Luck!!

[Jem7]

Hi there. I used it about 10 years ago. It cost a lot of money about £200 to £300 and came back saying I was intolerant to milk and to watch egg white I think that was it. I had already tried cutting milk out few years before on expensive advice from another alternative health practitioner and I tried cutting it out again and cheese completely for about 3 months but virtually didnt Make much difference. Have you tried cutting out certain foods 1 at a time like milk and cheese, wheat, eggs, certain fruits, certain veg etc yourself. If not u should do so before spending the money. It could well be others have had more success with it than me so see what replies you get b4 deciding and perhaps it's findings are more advanced now than it was about 10 years ago. Good luck Jem

[Suecoo66]

I have and to be honest not sure it's that accurate and I've had it twice with different results

[Philbs1980]

I did this test recently and it came up with wheat, eggs, dairy, ginger and lentils. I have cut out all of these things apart from wheat (as I am finding it hard to give this up). My IBS has not really improved significantly. I think giving up dairy has had the biggest impact but I really need to try and cut out wheat also. It's just that bread is so good and wheat free bread is full of chemicals or eggs unfortunately. If anyone can recommend a good wheat free bread I would be most grateful.

[auntyjean]

I looked into it but decided against it. I had a comprehensive stool test which doesn't test for food intolerances but shows the gut biome. In my case I found I had large infestationsof 2 parasites and virtually no good gut bacteria. The Fodmap diet made me worse as that's not my problem.

[ANB80]

I had the York Test done a few years back. It came back saying I was intolerant to lactose and yeast. So, I swapped normal cows milk for Lactofree Milk (still cows milk but with the lactose removed) but I find it extremely hard to keep away from yeast as it appears to be in quite a lot of food.

I'm not sure it has made much of a difference to my IBS but I have changed other things in my diet which may have negated it.

[Lin1944]

Hi, I did the York Test about 10 years ago, cost £250 and like everyone else told me different foods to avoid. Waste of money,don’t do it. I have found cutting out certain foods by trial and error better. When I go out for a Restaurant meal I take 2 Imodium tablets 3 hours before I eat to stop any accidents. Good luck x

[ANB80 in reply to Lin1944]

Hi. Did you find taking the tablets 3 hours beforehand was the optimum time? I sometimes take a Loperamide tablet 30 mins before leaving the house.

[Lin1944 in reply to ANB80]

Hi, I used to take Imodium just before I left the house but a friend was told by a Hospital Bowel Specialist to take 3 hours before the meal.

Good luck xx

[linc2u]

Thanks a lot for your replies! So kind of you all! Such a lot of ideas going through my head now- and a bit of confusion. Problem to begin with is knowing what exactly is happening and why? Will be back.

Thanks once again.