IBS what on earth am I to do, gluten free or dairy free? I had a colonoscopy, and was told it's IBS but got no follow up on what to do, help

[Linedanceing]

I got IBS and I'm so fed up of it I have it 16 years now over the years I tried different things I'm on Alflorex 4 years it helped but now I don't know if it works anymore, if I have to go out anywhere it's a nightmare I have to wear pads in case I have I don't make it to a bathroom in time and I need to exercise so when I go for a walk because I live in a village there are no toilets until I get home I have had a few accidents, I don't get much warning before I need to go and sometimes it's loose and sometimes constipated I can sometimes go about 6 times a day because I only doing a small bit and never really finished on the day after them days I might only go once or twice, I sometimes use Imodium my Dr retired and the new Dr is indian and he don't really know me and I can't understand him anyway so what am I to do???

[Pte82]

Searching on "SIBO thiamine" Linedancing results in links like the two below. It will introduce you to the vagus nerve's function in your digestive system and the importance of thiamine for it's proper function. Become familiar with the pros and cons of forms of thiamine called sulbutiamine, TTFD, benfotiamine and thiamine hydrochloride and the need of magnesium to convert thiamine to it's bioactive form. Check as well into probiotics. S. boulardii is a good one for diarrhea and supplements including b. lactis HN019 for constipation. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.

eonutrition.co.uk/post/when...

eonutrition.co.uk/post/thia....

[Meleber]

If you can't understand your GP try to get yourself another GP in your neighbourhood if possible.

[Linedanceing in reply to Meleber]

I have tryed getting a different Dr but no other doctors want to take on more patients they are all overworked and with covid-19 it's even more impossible and even hard to get an appointment with my own gp unless it's life treating

[xjrs]

Have you tried the FODMAP elimination & reintroduction diet? If not ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian to take you through this. They will give you hand outs and tell you exactly what to do.

You could also ask for a test for BAM (Bile acid malabsorption). There is a separate test and treatment for that.

[Boxroad]

I have IBS and not been able to have dairy for years, and gluten causes me lots of pain so I avoid it where possible, there are lots of gluten free items in the shops nowadays and I use soya milk but most of the time I just avoid all milks, another trigger for me is tap water due to the amount of fluoride the water companies add to kill off all the bugs. My best advice is keep a daily diary of what you have eaten or had to drink and if things go bad look back over the past three days, I find if I have a flare up it’s normally something from three days before. Once you get used to it you will be fine most of the time, try not to worry as stress is a big factor, there is only so much a doctor can do most of it you have to find out for your self as the doctor does not know how you will feel on a daily basis only you know that, and only you know when it starts.

[Linedanceing in reply to Boxroad]

Thanks I do keep a diary I still find it hard to see which food is the culprit although I have a sweet tooth and like a biscuit or bar or cake with a cup of tea so I should probably elemanate them

[Ollie2 in reply to Linedanceing]

Hi Linedanceing, apologies for popping in the middle of your post.

I also have a sweet tooth, and have serious problems with dairy! My daughter follows a Vegan diet so we are constantly looking for dairy alternatives there are some really smazing chocolate bars, cakes, ice cream, cheeses and so much more all dairy free ( there’s some awful stuff also) health shops are your best bet- but keep an eye out in the supermarket!

I have an issue with wheat also - I e switched to Spelt & Honey bread lovely and light no bloating. Most supermarkets with a bakery have their own along with branded breads

I tend to eat a vegan diet but with fish and chicken 😄 I stay away from all the problem making veg

I was taking Alflorex and was advised to try Zenflore, might be the same company

I don’t know if this is of any help - I hope it is

Stay safe and well x

[Linedanceing in reply to Ollie2]

Thank you why did you stop the alflorex and what is the difference between that and the zenflore I have been taking the alflorex now a few years it's stored the runny poos but still to soft at times

[Boxroad]

Have you also looked at the fibre your eating? There are two types soluble and insoluble one absorbs the water so firms up your stools the other does not absorb any water so gives you very watery stools, at my worst I was on the toilet up to a15 times a day, always feeling week, I have had IBS for over 30 years you will bet it sorted once you start looking at it in a different way, just remember what you put in your mouth will affect your toilet habits, on my daily diary I put what time I got up how I was feeling what the toilet was like using the Bristol chart and after a while you will learn what you can and can’t eat. If I start to have trouble going to the toilet I use lactulose it’s very mild and does not cause me to get diarrhoea.

[Linedanceing in reply to Boxroad]

Thank you I will try some of your suggestions,

[Mush83]

Aw darling, I can really relate to your post. It can be hard to find a supportive GP - I ended up changing surgeries as the male GP’s I’d seen for very similar problems were no help at all. Last year my new GP referred me to a nutritionist for help with FODMAP but I’d researched it and started it before my first (telephone) appointment so you could probably do it on your own. I found lactose, onions, garlic, mushrooms and green veg (particularly leeks and broccoli) were massive triggers. I hadn’t realised that something I’ve eaten can taken 3 days to get through my system so keep a good diary so you can try and work out which foods, if any cause problems. Stress also cause my flare ups, my emotions go straight to my stomach so my GP prescribed a low dose of Amitriptyline which seems to help a bit. I also started taking silicol gel once daily at the same time and tbh I’m not willing to stop either to work out which one it is that’s helping 🙂

I also take generic loperamide (the same as Imodium) as a precaution if I’m going on a long journey or have an important meeting and wear a pull up on school runs, mainly because of the anxiety from the unpredictability of it and because it’s an hour round trip on foot as I don’t drive. Despite everything I still have the odd flare up where I’m not stressed and can’t track it back to something I’ve eaten either but the above seems to have reduced my attacks from pretty much every day to random attacks that, 8 times out of 10 I can put down to something I’ve eaten or stress.

[Hidden in reply to Mush83]

What a very informative answer, thank you, it's certainly helped me to understand things a little better, I'm waiting for a Dietitian phone appointment (next month) but have been trying to eliminate some foods myself. Never sure if it's all in my mind, as IBS mixed complicates things, so glad of your answer! X

[Mush83 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I am so glad you found it useful 😊 I found a while back and still use on occasion, a free app ‘FODMAP A-Z’ on the App Store. It’s a bit basic but it was a really good starting point for me before my first appointment.

The nutritionist told me about the 3 day thing and they will really help when it comes to identifying any trigger foods when you start re introducing foods.

I hope you get some answers and relief from symptoms - all the best x

[Hidden in reply to Mush83]

Thank you Mush83, x

[Linedanceing in reply to Mush83]

I was grand there for a few days I tryed gluten free which works for a while, then I had a really bad flare up due to having to go for the vaccine, I had to drive an hour journey and then there were the queues I knew would be there went to the loo about 3times before I left the house so took Imodium then when I got there I managed to go to a garage beside the center 2 more times took 2more Imodium thank God for that it worked that was a build up of stress because I wasn't sure if there would be toilets

[Linedanceing in reply to Mush83]

The Imodium is my life saver, I wouldn't be able to leave the house at all only for that, I do know that stress triggers it especially if I have to go to an unknown place where I don't know if there are toilets Ireland is very bad for public toilets

[Linedanceing in reply to Mush83]

Lots of good information there thank you at this stage I will try anything 👍

[Fade2Grey]

Can I add some foods are natural laxatives : spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, chocolate😩 prunes, prune juice, figs, molasses and liquorice. Also artificial sweeteners are known to soften stools.

[3443Ness]

I have had the same problem for years aswell having a bad flare up at the minute. Have u had any stool sample done with ur doctor if not ask for them as I have just had some done and have abnormal faecal calprotectin so u may want to get yes checked hope everything goes ok for you.