I’m suffering bouts of IBS every couple of months which is very painful & debilitating. I’m vegetarian so have a good diet so think it may be stress related.
I’ve tried various things to help (see Bio) to no avail but would welcome new suggestions.
Has anyone had a sensitivity/allergy test done in West Sussex? Don’t know if this would discover anything but worth a try.
Has your GP given you the exclusion tests to diagnose IBS?
I don’t really know….I’ve had blood tests & examination
This is a fab site and plenty of support available when we know what we are dealing with. I am not a clinician so the only suggestion I have is to go back to your GP about your pain, and as you are female are the symptoms worse at period time😁good luck
Stress!!!!! Is the biggest enemy to your Gut. We have so many brain cells in and around the gut anyway. All digestive processes are designed to shut down when stressed, fight or flight! No flight and damage is done. Hope this helps. I avoid all prescribed synthetic drugs. Plant meds/vitamins and massage. Body can heal itself given right conditions. Proper Good nutrition, rest, some support and NO STRESS.
I totally agree with the 1st part of this. Not so sure about the 2nd part. That said, I have multiple issues outside of IBS, and definitely would not be alive if it weren't for big pharma.
What kind of IBS do you have, the diarrhea type or constipation?
I'm going to say something you probably won't like. I was vegetarian too. I'd even been vegan for a time about 10 years ago. My diet was fantastic, and I'd eaten healthy for a very long time. My gut was perfect. My diet kept me well.
Then I got IBS. about 4 years ago it started, but really kicked up for sure 2 and 1/2 years ago. I hadn't a clue how to manage it until it began to dawn on me that all the "healthy" food I was eating was making me much worse. Now, it's a balancing act, and I do still manage to eat healthy meals, but often have to swap anything nice, brown, wholegrain, for the white alternative and definitely daren't go overboard on the fruit and veggies and daren't go near pulses or beans. I am lucky to eat 3 portions of veg a day now.
Doing all that has helped to calm my gut and to some extent control or stave off flare ups sometimes. It's bizarre how much healthier my gut can feel when I eat blander and even more unhealthy option foods and how horrible I can feel when I try to eat even 5 a day.
Definitely high fibre foods have turned against me so I had to adapt.
I also had to include fish, and eggs for protein as all vegan/veggie proteins didn't work any more.
A very interesting reply…….I’ve been vegetarian for 40 years. I’ll definitely try less veg & more bland food. I’m trying to follow the fodmop diet but it’s hard. Thanks for your reply & support
Try taking Alpha Galactosidase supplement to help you digest pulses, beans.
I had never heard of "Alpha Galactosidase". Wow, and it really works and you can eat lentils again? I had no idea an enzyme would help. I thought it was just the fibre in them that upset my gut. I'll check that out. Thank you
👍
What I found is we are all different and some things which are okay for one person aren't for another. So I can happily eat broccoli in moderation for example, and other things that might send other IBS-ers rushing for the loo. But some of the low Fodmap foods really don't suit me so I can't include them. Basically most of the veggies I can eat ARE low Fodmap though.
Fruit is what I struggle with, unless it's stewed apple which seems to be beneficial.
But a vegetarian diet became difficult for me. The foods were too harsh for my gut. I don't know if it will be the same for you or what but I had to make some adaptations....like peeling chickpeas. I can eat a spoonful sometimes if I peel them. Beans -no. Lentils...very very occasionally and in very small amounts, like one spoonful (only on a good day.)
And sadly, most of the time anything "brown" or wholegrain. But I found I could reintroduce a small amount of spelt bread with seeds and millet, so long as I didn't go overboard. Same with brown rice.
But mostly I eat toasted ciabatta now. And white basmati or jasmine rice, "white" cous-cous, and peeled boiled potatoes.
I also started taking a multivitamin-mineral daily when my diet had to change, just as a nutritional safety net.
I always steam vegetables now, but occasionally can eat two or three leaves of lettuce, and about 2" of peeled cucumber. That's the only raw food.
I have forgiven myself for having to eat fish. I had to. I try to always get the "kindest" eggs too. But those are my main protein sources now.
There is no scientific basis for food intolerance tests, so don't waste your money. The only way to know about food sensitivities is via an exclusion and reintroduction diet. You can ask your GP for referral to a FODMAP trained dietitian.
The probiotic that worked best for me and has been scientifically tested for IBS is Alflorex. It has made me more tolerant to foods, so I would try that ahead of any FODMAP exclusion and reintroduction diet.
In terms of the stress you can try the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app. I've found it the best audio for getting me into a more relaxed state.
I have cut down on all high fibre … dark green vegetables.. etc … stopped taking fibrogel a long time ago …that seems to trigger my IBS .. I take movicol every few days to make sure I clear as much as possible… try eating more bland foods… salads are my worst … I also cut down on lactose …but definitely high fibre is a trigger … I know the specialists always say take fibre but I have lived with this for 45 years … try it for a month …stick to easily digestible foods … look up high fibre foods … try fodmaps ….
Thanks I’ll try this
I agree. Fibre was the worst for me too, Weird because I used to live on it, and suddenly overnight couldn't eat much of it at all or my gut would be very bad.
Viomuse, these links may offer a possible cause to research. Vitamin B1 needs magnesium to become bioactive. Activated B1 is a component needed to activate B6 B vitamins work better together.
eonutrition.co.uk/post/when...
When I have a bout of ibs I just eat my safe foods which are eggs, meat, fish,yogurt,oats ,nuts and can eat some fruit like banana or grapes. All veg , wheat , most cereals except oats, pasta bread are a no no. I think most high fibre foods cause problems. When I first got diagnosed I was slowly increasing my fibre intake but was getting worse and one doctor said to go the opposite and try low fibre diet. Seems to help me. Being a vegetarian may be more difficult for you but need to find out all your trigger foods which takes a long time. A food diary if you don't already do it is helpful or I use my fitness app and you can enter in everything you eat. I had a bout of ibs a few weeks ago and thought I hadn't eaten any trigger food and when I traced back on my app I realized I had a shop salad and contained a little pasta. It was that. Hope you find out the causes. I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism last year and since taking levothyroxine my bouts are no where near as bad and now I know my trigger foods I avoid them as best I can. Sorry for going on a bit.
I’m new to this site
New Here
i'm new here... please help
New here but not new to ibs
I'm new here and need some help
