My Mum has IBS, I have symptoms, I have been offered refferal, I am nervous about testing, I am vegan.

[MumandIibs]

Hello,

my Mum has IBS, I want to help my Mum.

I also have symptoms, have been offered refferal, but not done it yet.

I am vegan, long term and eating non vegan food is not a option for me. would cause me to much mental angst.

My Mum isn't vegan.

I don't want to preach veganism, I just want help and advice that does not conflict with my personal beliefs

I just want to know what I could do to help myself, apps, websites, diets et c

[Ishallwearmidnight]

The tests for IBS are not really for IBS directly, they are tests to rule out other things that could cause the same or similar symptoms but would need different management, like inflamatory bowel disease, cancer and coeliac disease.

The only diagnostic tests that impact what you eat are the bowel prep for a colonoscopy, and the requirement to eat gluten containing foods every day (gluten challenge) for 6 to 8 weeks before a coeliac test (the test is antibody-based, so could be false negative if you are not sufficiently exposed to gluten before-hand).

Of those two, eating gluten should not be a problem for a vegan diet, but the diet sheets for what you can eat in the few days before a colonoscopy often don't cater to vegans (it is a low fibre diet so a lot of vegetables and beans are off the menu). However I did find this helpful article:forksoverknives.com/wellnes...

As to changing diet to help with IBS symptoms; these are often diets where foods commonly known to irritate the gut are excluded and then gradually added back in one at a time so that you can identify what is specifically causing problems for you. This process would usually be done in consultation with a dietician, so you can explain that you are vegan on the first appointment and they should be able to make appropriate recommendations. I'm not sure if ok to mention products here, but there is a company called Field Doctor that makes ready-made meals for different dietary requirements, they have quite a few options that are low FODMAP and several of them are vegan (I am trying them at the moment, I am not vegan but am lactose intolerant and wasn't sure if the non-vegan options would contain dairy).

Another thing I've been exploring is Jain food, because they have no onion or garlic in them (which are often problematic for IBS) and the recipes are also often vegetarian or vegan as this is associated with their beliefs around not killing animals nor eating the roots of plants etc.

Hope this helps, you should be able to manage the pre-test and post diagnosis diets while sticking to vegan options.

[MumandIibs in reply to Ishallwearmidnight]

Thank you, so kind and helpful

[Luisa22]

I was vegan too for years, for compassionate reasons. When IBS hit me I struggled trying to keep eating a good vegan diet. The food was going straight through me. It took me a long time to realise I couldn't live on boiled tofu (daren't fry it any more!) and white rice and a few veggies...not that many. Then tofu started going straight through me.

I took multivitamins etc but was losing weight. I was always skinny, but started to look anorexic and felt weak and awful.

I one day understoood that this situation was cruel to myself; that compassion included me.

I had to start eating free range eggs again, and hated doing that, but my body could handle that protein. Then I ate fish and butter. Any margarine upset my gut but butter didn't.

Those suited my digestion, and slowly I gained back a bit of weight and strength.

Pulses, nuts, seeds...all upset me. I had to eat steamed vegetables, carbs, fish and eggs, or I wasn't going to make it.

I live in hope that one day I may be able to return to vegan food. I am now improving generally, though no way out of the woods yet.

Check out the low FODMAP diet because there may be many vegan options for a balanced diet on the low list. Unfortunately many of those didn't suit me, but they might be fine for you. Don't be afraid to experiment when your 8 week Low Fodmap trial stops, but do it slowly and keep a strict food diary so you will know what upset you.

Ideally, get a referral to a dietician if you can. It's very hard to do on your own without professional guidance.

[MumandIibs in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you. Glad you are on the mend.

[Blearyeyed]

You will know as a vegan there are so many more food options now than ever before.The only time that it may effect your diet during testing is before a colonoscopy but eating soluble fibre foods should be ok. Things like dairy free cheese and yoghurt etc. should be alright too.

Many people have a vegan diet with the different types of IBS , and although you might need to reduce the use of certain fruit or veg and pulses or change the texture of nuts you should be able to find a diet that suits your body needs and beliefs if IBS is your only gastro problem.

You may need to take some vegan supplements or vegan probiotics , but having a daily vitamin and mineral supplement after your fattiest meal of the day and drinking the recommended amount of fluids is good for all IBS sufferers whether they eat meat or not.

Things that often need to be more limited or removed from a diet to help IBS are often in line with veganism. Less or no red meat , little processed sugar , reduced gluten or the use of ancient grains, no processed or ready made foods and meals , soluble instead of insoluble fibre , using ground or smooth pulsed nuts and seeds instead of eating whole or chopped ones. Some people need to exclude spices like chilli and garlic , some can't have coffee.

Everyone is different as everyone can have different health issues or body needs , either known or unknown , that can be the cause of their IBS symptoms. IBS is a syndrome , basically a set of common symptoms that occur together because of a particular cause , rather than a disease in itself.

For some people , it is all related to food , but for many others it is related to nerve issues , hormones , thyroid, autoimmune or autoinflammatory problems , vitamin or mineral deficiencies , problems with gut flora or acid, allergies and intolerances, muscle strength , collagen or hypermobility.

Some are constipated, some always needing to go , others fluctuate between the two.

One big help for IBS is reducing Stress. Stress isn't just negative things , it can be positive activity too. Stress is just any activity , either sad and bad or fun and good that is more than your brain and body can cope with at its current health level. Balancing your life , getting enough sleep , and pacing yourself and doing gentle exercise including ones that help strengthen your internal stomach muscles can be some of the best ways to help reduce IBS symptoms alongside a good diet.

[MumandIibs in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you.

[Flyonawall]

Hope you can find suitable food.Sometimes physical health has to come ahead of other beliefs... Many of your protein sources may be high fodmap and thus contributing to IBS.

All the best