Diet

[energy1]

How are controlling your symptoms with food is there certain diet your following ?

[Hidden]

IBS being a catch phrase when there is no term for stomach problems, it very much comes down to figuring out what works for you and what doesn't work for you.

I loosely follow a kidney safe diet having multi health issues. I started by going back to basic bland foods until I got to something like tolerable and then have built up the OK list of foods from there. I try to never repeat the same food twice in a row, vary it daily to not become sick of the same old same old. Eventually I do get sick of it but know I must persevere for my health.

Sadly I have 3 major health issues that each have their own dietary requirements. Each one conflicts with the others. So that where salt or sugar is ok for one problem it is poison for the others, and this continues through out the recipe list. Manufacturers and Chefs use either or to generate taste in their food. So this rules out manufactured food or eating out.

This leaves me a choice of which food is the lesser of the evils to me. Essentially I follow the Kidney diet with my own few twists to get the best health result for me. In doing so it is helping with my IBS and generally stabilising the health issues I have. Remaining stable is the best I can hope for. It has necessitated a life style change, one that was relatively easy to make when that was the alternative to exceeding my expiry date.

I don't enjoy my diet but I survive because of it, never knowingly damaging my health and keeping me stable.

It essentially keeps me on the straight and narrow. Not wanting to take a backward step with my health is a powerful tool that keeps me moving forward. I'm having to do things I don't want to or like doing, but the will to survive is stronger than the lust for the things that will harm me. Where it not for that I may well have eaten myself into extinction.

I get bored with the ones that say they can't do whatever, of course you can, when that is the alternative, you find the ability and get it done.

Cheers

[fodder4me in reply to Hidden]

Just like to say quickly what a wonderful letter from Cheyne13. Is was positive, straight forward and well written. I also get bored with people that say it is to hard. What can be worse than pain.

As far as a diet for you. You will have to make a diary of the foods you eat, time eaten and what seems to upset you. I follow a strict FOD map diet, because I have IBS. This diet consists of foods that do not irritate your gut. Look up Monash University FOD map diet and you can also get the app. Or can see lists of the foods online that will be safe. Pinterest has lots of information and recipes. Good luck with looking at fixing your gut. It is a bit of a process and having upset insides all the time is debilitating. What works for me may not work for you. Just remember you are not alone . I have been there and I still struggle sometimes. I am able to get on with life. It is too short.

[Linley in reply to Hidden]

An aspiring story big hug🤗

[xjrs]

Here is some information about IBS that I have shared with others in this group:

IBS can be due to a number or combination of factors - these can be stress (including stress from early life experiences) which impacts the communication between the brain and the digestive system. There are lots of free webinars online at the moment regarding mindfulness meditation which might help. Plus you can ask to be referred for CBT or something similar to reduce your anxiety - I would have thought online appointments are available. Exercise can play a major role in IBS in terms of reducing stress, helping your gut microbiome and regulating bowel movements.

There is also not absorbing certain types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs very well, the residue ending up in the colon and bacteria feeding off them causing symptoms. Ordinarily feeding gut bacteria is a really good thing - when you feed good gut bacteria these produce by-products that have great health effects in the gut and throughout the body. However, in some people with IBS bad bugs might have the upper hand over good - these bad bugs may cause symptoms such as pain or disordered bowel movements. There is an interesting infographic on this here: gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/.... This is why it’s worth trying probiotics such as Alflorex (which has been scientifically studied for IBS) or Symprove to crowd out the bad bugs and make their numbers die down. If that doesn't work you can try the FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet. This is normally under the guidance of a nutritionist via GP referral - this may not be possible at the moment so you can read about it online. If you download the Monash University FODMAP app it will tell you which foods contain FODMAPs and in what quantities. You can eliminate all FODMAPs for 2 weeks and then introduce each type of FODMAP one at a time starting in small quantities, increasing over a 3 day period and wait up to 4 days for symptoms. I go much slower than this - only introducing a small amount (1/4 to 1/3 of a normal portion size) of the same food for 3 days and then increase if tolerable or no symptoms and cut back to the previous amount if symptoms for longer and then try to increment again . I've read your microbiome can adapt to handling a new food if introduced very slowly and your bad bugs are under control with a good probiotic. Ideally you want to eat as many FODMAPs as you can since they are good for your health. Many people with IBS don't have diverse gut bacteria - it has been found that people who lack a diverse microbiome are more prone to diseases in general. In the long run, if you can get your symptoms under control, the ideal situation is to have a very varied diet - lots of different coloured fruits and vegetables, a variety of protein and carbohydrate sources including cereal fibres. This may seem a long way off, but with the right treatment all of this is possible. Last year all I could consume to control my IBS was white rice, protein and limited low fodmap veg. Using the approach above (particularly introducing Alflorex) I am now able to consume far more foods - more than I've ever dreamed of including wholewheat bread which is unheard of for me.

If you are also suffering from pain, you may be suffering from visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, but this can be helpful in people who are diarrhea dominant. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide (for IBS-C only) & Alflorex have helped me with this intestinal pain.

You may also find assistance with anti-spasmodic medication such as mebeverine (Colofac) or enteric coated peppermint.

You can find some info on self management here:

theibsnetwork.org/the-self-...

[Hidden]

After reading your profile I think you need to find out exactly what causes you IBS problems, first. It is important to know what you are dealing with particularly with IBS as IBS is not a problem but a description of having nameless gut problem/s.

So it is not just take some probiotics or start the fodmap or even come up with your own diet variation. It is about understanding what is causing you the problem/s and then tackling that in whichever way you need to.

I used to walk briskly every morning and found I got the euphoric feeling that cyclists per-port to having after cycling, on a par with sex. Not that I'm suggesting sex is the quick fix! Why don't I do that anymore( no, not the sex), simple, just plain lazy.

The point is exercise is very beneficial to us physically and emotionally. I do know anxiety can tie the gut in knots and that exercise did help with the anxiety.

I really should listen to myself and act on my own advice! But as they say, it is easier said than done.

I suggest reading and understanding answers, then if need be research the subject to validate the answers you receive this is the best way forward. It does pay to be careful first not after. Scientific evidence trumps anecdotal evidence every time.

I make this suggestion as I see you have been asking for help in many ways. I'm concerned you seek an answer that doesn't satisfy you.

No disrespect intended, you seem to be stuck. If I can nudge you forward, job done.

[Ollie2]

Hi after been diagnosed with IBS, and I now take cholestagel prescribed by gastrointologist , and they help. A lot of foods disagree with me, caffeine, red meat, lots of fruit and veg etc.

Was recommended a Kinesiologist ! I thought can’t hurt to try.

This lady suggested I avoid a range of foods most of which I knew , but wheat and dairy

I always thought were ok for me. I’ve discovered wheat made me very bloated and uncomfortable, painful even, and dairy is the worst with diarrhoea and vomiting! My diet now is 90% wheat and dairy free it’s made a massive difference.

Although I’m not vegan I eat vegan products

I use Soy milk

I treat myself to a little real butter occasionally and low fat dairy milk in my tea

I mostly eat spelt breads - homemade or freshly baked in store. ( if I can’t get wheat free products I get gluten free) I eat grilled/oven baked/barbecued fish and chicken, Quran products, tofu , and some pealed vegetables and fruits. That’s some what works for me now.

Its been trial and error for last year since diagnosis, and I’m very careful what I eat but I’m getting there.

Keeping a food/symptoms diary is a really good place to start.

I wish you luck on your journey of discovering what works for you

Persevere find what works for you

You are worth it.