I'm sorry I'm posting a lot on here lately but don't know who else I can ask. I realise also how stupid this may sound to some people.
Lately I've been getting a lot of softer stools with urgency. Mostly waterish containing some softer lumps shall we say. This has sent my mind into overdrive worrying that everytime I need to use the loo that is how it will come out so I've found myself eating less than normal to try and avoid that from happening.
However now I'm eating less I'm noticing a lot more of intestinal movement (I've always been over aware of stomach movement/noises but currently noticing it even more than normal) I'm finding myself in more discomfort and more gassy.
My question being is eating less going to do me more harm then good? I'm hungry so haven't lost my appetite but not eating out of worry of needing the loo and having an accident. If I need to go back to eating the amount like I used too what foods are best etc?
I know it's a stupid question to ask and believe me I feel ridiculous writing this but literally nowhere else I can turn. I still live with my parents and both of them have 'normal' bowels and don't seem to understand the worry and upset ibs causes so I'm really at a loss.
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Rainybean
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Hi I know exactly where you are coming from on this one! I am eating less myself at the moment but that is because I don't feel hungry. But I think it is the worse thing we can do! So if you feel able to eat, do so. Just go back to the things you were eating and try to eat the amount you would have eaten then and then hopefully the consistency of your stools will go back to what you are used to. This has happened to me several times over the years when going through a particularly bad patch. I have come to understand that just because you are eating less doesn't mean you go less in fact it seems to work the other way. Well does for me anyway. I hope this may help! I am trying to keep up my intake of food but I'm finding it difficult to do as I keep feeling so sick. It's all a very vicious circle in my opinion. Good luck and I hope you start to feel better soon.
Feeling your pain Maureen1958,these last few weeks have played havoc with my Ibs. Have had to go back to eating white bread, low fodmap food etc. I think it helps not to think or worry about it too much either, don't you agree? x
Yes, I do agree but it's a bit difficult to do that at the moment isn't it? Everywhere you turn it's COVID-19. Every time something enters my head, I try to imagine I am batting it away with a table tennis bat. Not sure it's working very well though 😀.
I agree with you, I think Covid-19 is a continuing worry, and is something that we have to live with. The Ibs does seem to improve for me if I stop worrying about what to eat etc. Stay safe Maureen. x
my partner has said to me often that maybe I do not eat enough - I hardly eating or pretty restricted and find my tummy gurgles makes swishing noises or rumbles. Some times I am hungry sometimes not but scared to eat something in case I get pain. However I do wonder perhaps eating too healthy has more of a bad effect than good. I cut out bread years ago and only have Ryvita but find maybe not enough solid food is the problem - Ryvita gives you lot of wind as it is a cracker. I have wondered about going back to bread to give more fibre and firm up bowels. It is a nightmare because you get to the point scared to eat and what to eat
Janetmtt have you tried Schar products? Their gluten free bread is the best on the gf market I reckon - it actually behaves and tastes a lot like normal bread! I totally identify with the fear of eating but being locked down I’ve had the confidence to try some different foods, knowing that I’ll be safely within reach of a toilet...
I will definitely have to try Schar Gluten Free bread then because Tesco's Gluten free bread tastes OK but it is so dry an hard that it is impossible to fold.
My partner is celiac and sometimes gets the ciabatta rolls. I tend to keep away from GF products because of the additives in - not sure I have an intolerance to gluten just wheat bloats me but then I do have a better fibre content- Ryvita seem to fill me full of wind at the moment
I really do recommend you look into the low fodmap diet, its incredible for IBS-D in 70% of cases. Monash university have a great app that says which food are safe and at which serving size. A dietitian will help you with this all
It's not a matter of eating more or less its a question of what you eat. Over the past few years I've cut out everything that causes me a problem so now I have a very limited diet but my stools are regular and I don't get that bad stomach aches. One thing I have found though is that medications have a big impact on IBS. Medications for acid stomach, indigestion and reflux caused me big problems with agonising pain. Omeprazole was my biggest offender and to a lesser degree Ranitadine. Back to diet. I assume you've tried leaving put dairy, yeast or wheat. Keep to a very low Fodmaps diet, don't eat fruit for awhile instead eat lots of cooked carrots.
With IBS -d what you eat is definitely more important than how much (within reason!)
I’d strongly support using the FODMAP food lists - and for a start, avoiding onion, garlic, beans and apples (yes, apples!)
- but the lists will give you many more foods to consider as triggers.
Also, I find that ‘absorbent’ foods such as oats and rice work well to ‘mop up’ fluid in your stool and help with consistency.
I have often used Fybogel (available over the counter) as a fluid regulator too. Many people think of it as a laxative, which seems counter-intuitive, but it has definitely helped me with absorption of fluids.
Sadly, you cannot ignore trigger foods and think ‘just one onion Bhaji and a garlicky curry won’t do any harm’ - but you can plan when to eat those foods - and not go out the next day - which is easy at the moment!
If your parents are doing the cooking for you, you’re going to have to ‘come clean’ and insist that you’re not being fussy, but you just can’t eat certain foods without suffering.
I’m exactly the same as you. It doesn’t seem to matter what I eat. I become frightened of eating and have lost so much weight.
I can’t socialise at all as it always revolves around food.
I have had to cut out most vegetables and followed a fodmap diet for over a year. It didn’t really help but it did make me realise that all those healthy veggies and fruits, seeded bread etc etc aren’t helping me at all.
I had a colonoscopy last feb and have been diagnosed with Colitis.
You do need to eat more. I am now trying out a high protein diet to see if that can help.
Stick to chicken and fish plus when you know you can stay at home eat more meals during the day.
I know you feel unwell. Wish I had the answers.
There are also great F/ Book forums on this very subject. Check them out.
I take Metamucil/psyllium in capsule form to firm up the stool. Sometimes I take Imodium when peristalsis is out of control and I need a break from thinking about bowel problems. It’s a balancing act and a nuisance in good times and a scary, painful, socially difficult, frustrating problem to have in bad times. Eating the right foods is crucial. Good luck!
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