IBS & Autism

[Loulabelle1709]

So this may just be me but I wondered if anyone else here has IBS and Autism? I am finding it / have found it hard to change my diet at present and in the past and I believe this is due to struggling with changes and my go to foods. Does anyone else find this?

[b1b1b1]

It is objectively hard to change one's diet. Have you taken a look at the FODMAP diet? Another thing you can do is to get some of the worst offenders out of your diet one by one. The worst foods for IBS are onions and garlic, as well as certain vegetables and stone fruits. Make sure you are not lactose intolerant or switch to lactose free dairy products. Generally all meat and fish (not sausages) are OK. It really depends on how bad your symptoms are. At certain times mine were pretty bad and I would have done anything to stop the pain, bloating, gas and BM problems. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to b1b1b1]

I find onions and garlic really upset me as well!

[Meleber]

No autism but have several neurological symptoms like generalised anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and panic attacks. Luckily all under control now. I remember that when I took antibiotics in the past, more than 30 years ago, it also proved to be effective for my neurological symptoms, didn't have any. So for me definitely gut-brain related issues and it all started in the stomach / gut.

[mrplatypus_]

Loulabelle, I have IBS and Autism too... I think that it's all trial by error.

[xjrs]

Interesting comment. I don't have autism, but some of the research around autism is related to the gut microbiome. IBS is also implicated with those with a disrupted microbiome. I've just done a bit of googling and there does seem to be a link between those with ASD and IBS:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

healthline.com/health-news/...?

[auntyjean]

My son was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 30. Now called ASD. He has had gut problems since birth. Not IBS diagnosed but he now has hiatus hernia and acid reflux. My research showed there is a definite link between autism and the gut. I don't know what the answer is though. I hope you find some relief.

[Andann]

Yes, this is reasonably common ( have done research as my son has Aspergers and also a psychologist friend who specialises in Aspergers.) But as everyone is different I wouldn't want to generalise too much and as I have IBS it may only be that my son is inheriting some of my problems. He is nowhere near as bad as me and can eat various gas inducing pulses and onion and garlic, but does have some anxiety symptoms. Mainly autism does seem to go along with a fixation on certain foods for a few weeks which then changes to the next fixation/ preference , so this could cause IBS type symptoms too due to lack of variety.

[Babaaa]

I am Autistic and have IBS. I found it very difficult to adapt to the fodmap diet as well. Luckily, onions were an unpleasant texture, so that made things easier for me. I would suggest trying to find same-foods/go-to foods that are low-fodmap, and build your diet around them. For example, I have always liked peanut butter on rice cakes, but this made me feel bloated; now, peanut butter on a corn cake is a key part of my daily eating routine. I have also found baked potatoes to be really good, replacing something like fish and chips, which used to be my favourite takeaway.

Identifying these new same-foods foods is hard and stressful, and requires lots of trial and error. It has taken me several years to get to this point, from IBS diagnosis, to having several low-fodmap foods that I actively enjoy eating. However, the resulting decrease in physical discomfort has made it totally worth it. Keep persevering if you feel able, keep asking autistic people for advice or tips! Try Reddit for larger autistic specific communities. Good luck to you. Don't forget that non-autistic people will not understand the sensory sensitivities we have, so advice from them may underestimate the difficulty we face adapting to new foods and diets. It's totally fine to struggle with this.

To the other commenters who post about the link between IBS and autism; this link is generally well known about within the autistic community, but it doesn't really help OP with practical advice.

[sickandsore]

Hi,My daughter has autism and IBS, it’s extremely common amongst the autism community, possibly due to the relationship between anxiety and IBS.

My daughter has struggled since a baby with her bowels and it causes her great distress.

My advice is seek some support through your GP as there are medications that you can get prescribed to help with this. My daughter has macragol sachets daily on prescription to help her release her bowels, and also she takes a peppermint based supplement ( also prescribed) to ease the cramps in her intestines. Propranolol is also helpful as it eases stomach migraines as well as head ones! And works to ease anxiety.

Now from a diet perspective it’s really important to increase your fluid intake ideally NOT fizzy or caffeinated drinks. Lots of water, squash or fruit juices are ideal.

Try if you can to incorporate some fibre into your diet, is there a fruit that you enjoy eating? Some cereal that has fibre added to it or multi grain bread? Try to avoid too much bread though or breast/stodgy foods donuts, burger buns, white breads if possible.

Exercise is also very beneficial, just going for a walk each day, swimming if you can is brilliant for helping the bowels too.

Hope that helps. I know how frustrating and painful this condition is through personal experience and seeing how my daughter struggles each day.

[sickandsore]

That was meant to say bready not breast foods 😂

[IBSgraduate]

My nephew has autism and I know his parents have been giving him Zenflore for c.8 months now with good effects on his behavioural issues