As I am going through diagnostics atm (from positive FIT and high Calprotectin), I thought I'd change my diet to low FODMAP but together with loss of appetite, my BM has gone from 3-4 diarrhea a day to 1-2 alternating soft ragged to slight constipation.
Is this normal? Just worried that it might go the other way and will become constipated with impacted stool.
The fodmap diet can help in some instances with firming up number twos. For me it's been a combination of things to get things to slow down in that area. It's still very much trial and error.
It sadly hasn't helped other things but it's a case of just getting on with it.
I have similar but I have started trying probiotics I am waiting a further ct scan but my consultant has states in current climate could be waiting some time .I have been uncomfortable for some time now he suggested a drug used to treat colitis which has not been confirmed .I have had diverticulitis but holding off on more drugs till I get my scan probiotics and water and I've done this food intolerance test to to see
Likewise I have done an intolerance test which shows I am milk intolerant so have been diary free for a couple of weeks which might be another contributing factor for reduced episodes of D.
I’ve heard mixed views on probiotics so holding off taking anything until seeing consultant again next week. Did you have any reaction to the probiotics?
What or who did you use for intolerance test pls be interested to know where to go
I got it through Wowcher following recommendation from a friend. Company is called TMI testing who are currently offering 35% off with code SAVE35. I must admit I didn't do much research and went in blindly based on recommendation but seemed easy (need hair samples only) and received a very comprehensive report and company responded to some queries I had from the report.
Not saying this will solve all of our problems but tailoring our diet based on knowledge of our intolerance can't do any harm, especially when there is currently a long wait for investigations to be performed.
Thanks will look into it
Low Fodmap can involve a reduction in fibrous by products from food such as vegetables reaching the gut, this in turn means there is less food for gut bacteria to feed off and the bulk of stools is made from gut bacteria plus there is less bulk in the stool.
Please note that food intolerance tests do not work and you could be eliminating foods unnecessarily or have hit upon intolerances by chance. Please see the official guidance here:
bda.uk.com/resource/food-al...
Here is some background information about IBS that I have shared with others in this group in case any of these tips are of interest to you:
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 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 excess gas, 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 and Kings College fodmap apps, they 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-...
If all of the usual IBS remedies fail and you are experiencing diarrhea, it is worth getting tested for BAM (Bile Acid Malabsorption), which can cause constant diarrhea - there is a separate test and treatment for that. Good luck.
Big diet changes 
Query about my IBS changing
Any one with constant pain, not really related to BM, or food?
Change in IBS symptoms 
FODMAP diet not working
