Has anyone read Fibre Fuelled? Does it help IBS?

[Avahw]

I have also downloaded the FODMAP app by the M university, but seems like it’s only for US? Has that been of help to anyone? Anyone in the UK too? Thanks

[SueCats]

I'm in the UK. I was advised to try the FODMAP diet. I saw a dietitian and she gave me brochures all about it which guided you through the elimination and challenges phases. I did subsequently download the App and used that as a reference to check up on foods to see if they were high, medium or low FODMAP. I can pretty much remember what's what now (6 years on), but still occasionally check.

[Avahw in reply to SueCats]

Thank you. How are you symptoms now 6 years later? How was the experience of the diet?

[SueCats in reply to Avahw]

I had been suffering for about a year with frequent attacks of diarrhoea, to the point where leaving home was a worry. I had all sorts of investigative tests; colonoscopy, hysteroscopy, endoscopy. I was 64., non smoker, slim (8 stone), relatively fit (I cycled 30 - 40 miles regularly). The tests all showed nothing.

It was tough following the diet, as so many foods contain some FODMAP or other. You have to read all the labels well. For instance I found that Carrot Juice contained more apple (high) than carrot (low). I was longer on the challenge phase as I just couldn't really work out what was causing the problems. I lost about half a stone. It does become boring. I had worked out years previously that apples and pears (both high FODMAP, although I was unaware of this at the time) gave me flatulence.

The end result seemed to be I was fine with gluten and lactose, but wheat and foods in the onion family were the key triggers. I try to avoid these, but not exclusively. If someone has a nice looking cake I will eat a bite. Trying to avoid onion and garlic when eating out is more difficult so I just try to not eat too much. With other foods that are medium FODMAP I might eat small quantities. Another key trigger for me now is anxiety.

I would say I am "managing" the symptoms well now. I'm careful with what I eat, but we were in France recently and ate out every night with no issues. I always carry immodium, just in case. While on the diet it's easy to not eat well. When I started out, the dietitian went through some foods and meals with me. I was making my own muesli, and she said that's really good, just add some linseed to the mix also.

Any questions please ask away.

[Luisa22]

The Fodmap diet was SOME help to me I think but wasn't my answer at all. So many of the low Fodmap foods didn't suit me, so the 8 week elimination was tough and only got through it by taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Re introduction phase showed me what I initially thought: that a number of high Fodmaps had never been any problem for me and still weren't. I am not gluten sensitive either. Neither am I sensitive to sugar. Lactose....not certain. Butter is perfect and no problem, and I'm fine with any lactose in milk chocolate etc, but cheese can upset me at times, and I haven't used milk for about 40 years anyway just because I am not and never have been, since I was in early teens, interested in milk!

My main problem seems to be I can now only tolerate about half the fibre I used to eat pre-IBS, and on some days maybe a quarter. Fibre has more of a dramatic effect on me that it used to. I still eat it but have to be careful. My issue is with fibre more than Fodmaps, I believe.

But I have had instances when I ate larger portions of something which pushed it into the High Fodmap bracket, and paid the price. When I ate low Fodmap amounts of the same food I was okay. So to SOME extent the low Fodmap thing does appear to apply to me

But why I can eat asparagus, broccoli, chocolate, sugar snap peas, honey etc and always could with no ill effects...I have no idea.

If I don't obey all the doctrine about "eat more fibre to be healthy", I feel much happier and healthier and my gut is calmer which helps my quality of life tremendously.