Is it still IBS if you have *food* intolerances?

[LFHell]

Just wondering as a lot of people seem to talk about flare ups on here and then periods of remission and i dont get that, my symptoms are constant if i eat trigger foods and ok if i dont.

Thanks

[Luisa22]

I think there are all sorts of different ways IBS manifests in different people.

I do get "remission" periods luckily (!) but I know many others with IBS don't. It makes sense if trigger foods are your IBS enemy, then when you eat them you get symptoms.

I suppose in a way it's the same with me. There are certain foods that act as laxatives for me for some odd reason, and if I ate those in decent quantity every day. my IBS D would stay the same every day I am sure. But there are times when I can eat some of them and be okay.

But then there are people who have definite food intolerances (such as lactose intolerance), which doesn't automatically have to mean those people have IBS !

But...people with IBS can also have lactose intolerance, if you see my meaning.

[xjrs]

Some people get IBS flares such as IBS-D due to stress. This is because stress can quicken the passage of food through the digestive tract, so there isn't enough time for the water to be sucked out of the liquid food. Once the stress has subsided, the speed of the digestive tract may slow down to normal levels and the D stops. It depends on specific IBS symptoms and what is triggering them which is still under research. Even pain can be heightened during times of stress.

[Hidden]

I think you might find the attached link to an academic article very enlightening, and at the same time rather perplexing! I share your symptomatology, having had no periods of remission for the past eight years up until now , but I am convinced that my severe post-viral IBS-C was occasioned by significant, gut microbiome dysbiosis, itself a consequence of poor lifestyle and excessive stress. Having achieved very little improvement up till now with allopathic remedies, including the suggestion in the article that treatments should be directed towards modifying the gut - brain axis( I took Amitriptyline up to 100mg with no effect, and a couple of SSRI’s), and the use of reputable probiotics, and low FODMAP diets, I think in my own case that a preponderance of iron utilising pathogenic bacteria has prolonged my symptoms.

Ferrocalm, with its novel action, seems to be making a significant improvement in my symptoms, although, they are adjustment ones at present but an indication that gut health is returning. I combine it with Alforex, since this very useful probiotic , is unable to utilise iron, but its action is modified by combining it with Ferrocalm, which displaces the harmful organisms.

From my own personal experience, I believe that “ food intolerances” in IBS, while exacerbating the condition, are, themselves, a result of the break down of the integrity of the gut lining, consequent upon significant gut microbiome dysbiosis. In my own case, my pre-existing intolerance of aspirin, seemed to be extended to the ingestion of salicylate - containing foods, contained in almost all vegetables and fruits, worsening my abdominal pain.

This explanation might appear simplistic, but I would welcome any comments to the contrary.

The other suggested pathogenesis of IBS in some sufferers is mooted by Professor John Hunter, who thinks that mal-fermentation is the cause, and that his product Juvia might help.

I firmly believe that the Ferrocalm/ Juvia approach might be helpful in some people, especially when symptoms appear intractable, but, at the same time, I accept that the condition is not clearly understood, and that many might find my suggestions unhelpful and idiosyncratic .

Here is the link: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[LFHell in reply to Hidden]

There is a documentary about gut issues on netflix which said that processed food gets absorbed before it even reaches the large intestine because it contains no fibre, and because the microbes dont get any food then, they start eating your gut and that causes inflammation so you could be right. But also different bacteria like different foods. You'd think if eating mostly plant foods we'd be ok tho? And plant foods woudn't cause symptoms Like how can all fodmap foods be bad for us ? Though that article about leeks/ garlic causing inflammation was interesting yesterday.

I probably wont be able to try Ferrocalm til after the research trial, since can't take probiotics for 4 weeks before. But i will def try it after.

Have you tried Juvia?

[Hidden in reply to LFHell]

May I ask in which research trial you are involved? Yes, I did try Juvia but it didn’t really work for me. Had disturbed bowel habit for over 2 months, and when I wrote to Professor Hunter, he expressed his surprise that I was having prolonged symptoms. I stopped suspecting an intolerance to the enzyme product. This was before I tried Ferrocalm.

[LFHell in reply to Hidden]

healthunlocked.com/theibsne.....

Is he an expert then, this Professor Hunter?

[Hidden]

Thanks for the link- it looks very interesting. I’m too old to participate, sadly!

Yes, Professor Hunter is a consultant Physician in Cambridge , and developed this product Juvia.

[LFHell]

Sorry to hear. Oh i'm in Cambridge. Is he in the gastro department? Product may be out next year or year after so not long to wait! I'll let you know if helps.

[Hidden in reply to LFHell]

I think he might now be retired