I have probably written about this before, but I am really unsure where to go. So it appears that lots of things play up with my stomach particularly fibre. I tried porridge (smooth quick cook) this within half an hour will give me stomach ache and many trips to the toilet tmi. I then tried peanut butter on toast, the same happened. I have tried yogurt, the same happens. The only thing that sits well with me is white toast, or bacon something like that. The secondary problem is that I am trying to lose weight, I will go on to weight loss plans and immediately they say you can't eat white bread, up your brown bread, porridge, yogurt, fruit, veg etc. This will all set me off. I tried recently on holiday to have a lovely balanced breakfast with tinned toms, mushrooms, watermelon and bacon and toast....big mistake.
I feel like I have just thrown a lot of words on the page, and they may not make sense, but is anyone else like this? I am at a crossroads, I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy, but I also don't want to be immobilised by my bowel.
Written by
huggit
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Too much fibre can be just as bad for some of us with ibs I can't tolerate any brown bread to much fruit etc. You have to find a diet that suits your gut. Elimination is the only way really to find out what you can/ can't tolerate. As for losing weight once you've found the foods that you can tolerate just try to eat smaller portions and obviously excersise if your able. Even white bread and grilled or air fried bacon is OK for breakfast in moderation. I hope this helps good luck.
Thank you it does help! I think I just feel stupid and like people think I am making it up when I say….I can’t eat this and I can’t eat that. They look at me in disbelief (as if I just don’t like healthy food) by people I mean health professionals, dieticians, etc. Then I feel useless…. The truth is I love all the things that upset my stomach! Thank you so much for your reply
I wouldn't worry about what they think you know yourself if things make you sick. I was the same even with friends going out for meals etc I thought they would think I was being really fussy. Luckily I've introduced alot of things back into my diet now it's quiet a boring diet but it's better than suffering.
Yes it is boring totally agree, maybe my constant stomach turmoil causes weight gain, I need to go back to basics. There doesn’t seem to be any support for people trying to navigate unruly stomachs!
Hi! I relate to your struggle with foods; foods that suit my insides seem to change regularly. About the only suggestion I can make is find out what works for you by trial and error, everyone is different. What seems to keep me level is probiotic each morning and a few pieces of ginger after eating. Good luck with your journey!
Thank you I am taking a probiotic only a month in, so will keep going. I do agree with sticking to what suits you, but a sneaky voice in myself keeps saying try something healthy and that is a disaster 😂
I'd avoid diet plans completely - you could try white bread from a bakery not the supermarket or try making your own - commercial bakeries use a fast proving process and additives to improve the rise of bread which can be a trigger for IBS. You might find Greek yogurt more digestible than other types. I find that fibre is an issue for me, but as long as I have a relatively normal bowel movement each day, I don't worry too much. I get most of my fibre from vegetables and I make sure that they're are well cooked (I make a LOT of soups and casseroles!). The best thing is to keep a food diary as you try different foods and work towards a diet that doesn't trigger your IBS, it's more important to do that than to worry about diet plans.
I only found out about two years ago about the two types of fibre soluble and insoluble soluble fibre soak up the water in our colon while insoluble don’t, it can be a bit of a pain to start with but it soon becomes normal in our lives, do you watch you tube? Michelle kenway has some very good videos on fibre and how it works through our bodies. This NHS web site is good to look at about fibre. wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Pa...
Have you tried Alflorex probiotic? I have been much more tolerant to fibre since taking it. It contains Bifdobacterium which helps to digest complex carbs, reduces gas causing bacteria in the gut and helps to kick bad bugs into touch in the colon which feed off fibre and cause symptoms. The problem with avoiding fibre in the long run is that it compromises the microbiome. Good bacteria in the gut feed on fibre too. Without fibre bad bugs overgrow in the gut with the good bugs not being able to keep a handle on them since they are not well fed.
An example of this is going low FODMAP (which can reduce fibre) for a long period. I did this and, although this helped my symptoms in the short term, in the long term my symptoms got worse to the point I could hardly eat anything. Food restrictions, lead to more food restrictions (as things get more out of balance) - it becomes a loop that is very difficult to get out of. A way to end this loop is to take medication or a good probiotic or both to help bring symptoms under control enough, so you can eat a wider range of foods which assist the gut and helps to guard against IBS symptoms. This isn't a perfect solution, since I still have food intolerances, just no where near as many as before.
I spent 40 years on a low fibre diet to avoid the problem which you mention, but a recent test suggested that this has messed up the microbiome, which has resulted in difficulty increasing fibre to improve it - bit of a "Catch 22" situation. However, all is not lost. I have found over the years that I can tolerate more fibre if I introduce it gradually; I think the advice to go for cooked fruit and veg rather than the raw stuff is a good start, as the fibre is broken down by cooking. But, of course, we're all different and there may be specific fibre which you can't tolerate, in which case low FODMAP might be useful - I'm underweight, so advised not to try it, but it should be OK (under dietary supervision) if you want to lose weight. Also, I've found my IBS has changed at least 4 times in 40 years, so there's every hope that yours might settle - I actually had 5 years without a problem until it was upset again by another gut infection.
I'm currently getting advice from the Zoe project on how to deal with mine, as their programme doesn't necessarily suit IBS sufferers - I would be happy to share that advice if it would be helpful.
My advice is eat what you feel comfortable with. Never mind all these "health-kick" food ideas coming in from all quarters around us all the time. I also eat white bread but am just a bit fussy about what kind I buy. I dislike the plastic wrapped supermarket kind of white bread.
But the only way I even managed to get a handle on my IBS was to lower my fibre intake. Now with me that varies, so sometimes I need more fibre and sometimes I need less, but that is what works for me. I have IBS D, so that might not work for IBS C.
I don't give two hoots about what we are all "told" we should be eating. I just worked out my own way by experimenting. Every now and again I can add different things to expand my food variety but it has to be on my own terms.
Oats were out for me from the word go. And I still don't do well with any fruit. But I struggled, trying to force myself to eat it because I thought I should have fruit in my diet. That's a work in progress for me. I haven't totally given up but am better right now not trying to eat it. Though I mostly do well with a decent range of vegetables.
If you fancy white toast with some bacon for breakfast, I would say go for it. Some days when my gut has felt better and I'd consequently felt well in myself with good energy I realise I'd eaten more protein, and white toast or white rice! Not even looked at a piece of fruit, and only had 2 portions of veg.
Losing weight though....I don't know about that. I have to work hard NOT to lose it. But I don't think one or two slices of toast are going to make a huge difference to getting slimmer (?) And there may be more calories anyway in seed and grain wholewheat breads etc. In fact, there probably are.
If you can I would see a nutritionalist - sounds like a few things going on that need to calm, and they may be able to direct you. FODMAP elimination diet does help work out your trigger foods but I would do that with some direction from a nutritionalist. I hope that helps.
Thank you. I have tried the Fodmap diet and nutritionists. With the fodmap diet even foods from the restrictive list upset me which was annoying. Nutritionists so far have been little help they have just charged me a lot to give me tests or tell me to eat foods that upset me. I go round in circles. But I appreciate your comment
Poor you. The only other thing I can suggest is that Biocare have free advise that is not sales driven. You might have a chat with them. And I have found KEFIR Biotiful brand to be really good for me but I think everything takes time to take affect. Good luck.
Really interesting what you say huggit! I’ve lost 3 stones following a low fat diet (Slimming World) and fibre, fruit & veg are mandatory. However now my IBS has flared up (after a gap of at least 10 years), I had an endoscopy and my consultant recommended the FODMAP diet researched by Monash University in Queensland. It’s for elimination to see what the causes are and lots of fruit and veg can seemingly cause IBS flare ups. I’ve tried eliminating lactose for the last 2 weeks but no difference so far. What to do? 🤷♀️
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Fibre seems to be answer
recommend probiotics for fibre intolerance 
IBS - soluble or insoluble fibre?
magnesium/fibre/constipation
Fodmap diet success? 
