Ibs managing it

[Bruce33]

Hi is there a allergy food test you can have done too try and pin point what certain foods drink trigger ibs ?

[lizziep]

Hi. I did a York test quite expensive though. Cheaper to do your own elimination diet. It all takes time to make difference and it is trial and error mostly . For me the main culprit was gluten which makes sense as my son has coeliac and although I haven't got that I am gluten sensitive. Good luck

[Bruce33 in reply to lizziep]

I’m just like haven’t a clue where too even start what to try ruling out what do you take for the pain on the stomach cramps

[Bruce33 in reply to lizziep]

Hi hun how do you help the bloating x

[lizziep in reply to Bruce33]

I take Colofac prescribed by the doctor for cramping. Haven't found an answer that works for bloating although it is better with the gluten free diet. Did the doctor help you at all ?

[Bruce33 in reply to lizziep]

Doctor just said sounds like stress for has trigger mine to keep diary of foods got too take mebevrin before meals cannot take buscopan x

[xjrs]

There is a difference between food allergy and food intolerance. If you have a food allergy this could result in hospitalisation due to anaphylactic shock. Most people with IBS will have a food intolerance rather than an allergy.

There are NO tests that test for food intolerance. Please see the official guidance here:

bda.uk.com/resource/food-al...

Anyone who has these tests may come across food intolerances by chance or may eliminate foods unnecessarily that they are fine with.

The only way to find out is to conduct a FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet. This ideally should be performed under the guidance of a dietitian. You can ask to be referred to a dietitian via your GP.

Good luck.

[Bruce33 in reply to xjrs]

Yes I think I’ll have too see what the doctor suggests tomorrow cos I dunno where to even start abs what to rule out with food I’m not sure what you can take for the abdominal pain x

[xjrs in reply to Bruce33]

Here is some information about IBS (and IBS pain) 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.

[Bruce33 in reply to xjrs]

Thank you so much I’ll look into it all I already take amarytine have done for years due too me having herniated disc and for anxiety problem I have been under a lot of stress this year and my grandma just passed away which is maybe why it has flared up so much but I do think certain foods do make it worse I can eat then literally straight after be in awfull stomach pain and need the toilet I can be constipated but then next day can have dihorrea it’s really hard thank you I will look at the links x

[xjrs in reply to Bruce33]

Sorry to hear about your grandma. Good luck with your doctor.

[Bruce33 in reply to xjrs]

Hi hun how do you help the bloating x

[xjrs in reply to Bruce33]

The FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet should help with that. When you start to reintroduce foods, you will introduce them one by one and you will keep a daily diary of what you have eaten and of your symptoms including bloating, which means that you will uncover the foods that bloat you.

If I could do it all again, I would probably have tried the Alflorex first, since if you have a gut bacterial imbalance, it may make you more tolerant to foods that you aren't currently. This means that you may not need to do the elimination and reintroduction diet or if you try it, there may be fewer foods that upset you.

[Bruce33 in reply to xjrs]

Wfat is the alforax hun ?

[xjrs in reply to Bruce33]

If you read my original post, it is a probiotic that has been scientifically studied for IBS:precisionbiotics.com/uk/alf...

It's expensive, but for me it has been worth it.

[Bruce33 in reply to xjrs]

Ok hun I’ll look into it as if something like that may help first as well as looking at my diet is it like a vitamin that puts good bacteria back in your gut cos a friend I know highly recommended advanced philosophy’s plus x

[Hidden]

Hi Bruce

I was under a Dietician earlier this year after being referred by my doctor. I went in the low fodmap diet and it's changed my life. I feel so much better and hardly have any nausea now. I make just about all my own food, rarely buy any pre prepared.

I can highly recommend the diet. Elimination is the way to go.

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there don’t even have a clue where too start with afar too rule out and what too not eat my doc ringing me back Tomorrow see what he says but he cramps are awfull. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

It really is hard as there's so much on the internet it's confusing. For low fodmap diet I have to say the Monash app is far superior to the Kings College one. I was clueless until I was under a Dietician, this was all through the NHS.

I'm so sorry for your cramps, I know people take mebervene and it does seem to help.

Thinking of you and best of luck with your doctor. I know if I hadn't had followed the low fodmap diet I'd still be suffering with nausea and diarrhoea.

Alicia🙏

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that thank you for your help advice much appreciated x

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

You are welcome. The low fodmap diet works for around 75% of people,I hope you are also one of them.

Take care and very best of luck.

Alicia xx🙏

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Can I just ask what does the fodmap do or mean sorry as I’m not sure xx

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

Of course. The low fodmap diet is an elimination diet, it removes what are called high fodmap foods such as onions, garlic, beetroot, wheat, dates, cauliflower etc etc. I have a horrible reaction to bran, it react as if I have a tummy bug and have acute nausea and diarrhoea. You take out all high fodmap foods for around 4 to 6 weeks and then introduce one by one back into the diet.

Here's a link which might help.

bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide...

I can't recommend this elimination diet highly enough as it's been a life saver for me.

Best of luck Bruce.

Alicia xx

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Aw thank you so much hopefully it will help me too it’s so much too take in abs understand it all 🙈thank you x

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

You are so welcome Bruce, the diet has been a life changer for me.

Please keep us updated on how things are.

Alicia xx

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

I sure will hun thanks xx

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

Thank you xx

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Hi hun how do you help the bloating x

[Hidden]

Hi Bruce

Bloating isn't something I get but friends of mine have taking Mebeverine, here's a link below:

theindependentpharmacy.co.u....

Hope this helps.

Alicia x

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you hun it hard to know which is the best to take buscopan or mebevrin as it fir the cramp but terrible bloating x thank you

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

Ah, cramp. Well Buscupan never worked for me so I stopped wasting my money. Actually I take plain old paracetamols for the cramp and have a hot water bottle. Mebervene seems to work for a few people.

I joined the IBS Network last year and don't regret it, it's good for information, advice etc and you can ask questions. It's £24.99 for a yearly membership which is worth it.

[Bruce33 in reply to Hidden]

Ok hun thank you xx

[Hidden in reply to Bruce33]

You're welcome xx