IBS help appreciated

butler_helen

Morning all... Firstly apologies if this is all too much info but I'm struggling and have no idea what to do. I've (pretty much) been diagnosed with very bad IBS and am struggling. So far I have anti-spasmodic, anti-nausea and painkilling medications. None of these are stopping the pain, spasms, nausea or cramps. So I'm sat here off work again, looking at full cupboards working out what food will make me feel better and which are the devil in disguise.

Does anyone else suffer from this? How did you cope in the early days?

(I'm waiting for internal investigations to rule out worse things but the doctor thinks ibs is most likely).

alec_eiffel

Hi,

My DH has a bowel disorder and for us it is just trial and error. His mum has the same thing and the list of foods she can eat is totally different to DH. When he's having a flare up we avoid anything high fibre, anything with seeds, switch from dairy to rice milk, reduce spices, reduce wheat (we eat spelt which is fab), cut down on fat and make sure we include lots of low residue foods like white rice and very gentle stuff like that.

Sorry you're suffering at the minute, it's no fun.

coinxoperated

I've had terrible IBS - Milk, Bread, Dairy, Wheat, you name it, it HURTS.

Have you tried De-caff Green Tea? It really helps with all the cramping and bloating!

floss2

When my IBS flares up I have to avoid alcohol and any animal fat - cheese, cream, chips fried in dripping (Harry Ramsdens!), belly pork.

I also increase my intake of bio yogurt - usually low-fat plain ones from Tesco which goes into smoothies, onto cereal, has fruit added or is eaten plain.

Have a look at this helpsheet

butler_helen

Ahhh thank you for that spreadsheet, I've printed it to read again and again until it sinks in.

I feel like there's nothing I can actually eat. Especially once artificial sweetener is ruled out - its in loads of things!

The day has gotten better, probably because all I've had is plain rice - I daren't eat much else but I know I can't stick with that forever.

What would a typical meal be for you guys? I'm still working out what I think my triggers might be - do far alcohol and spice are on the list.

Tiggy_Wiggy

That's good that your doctor is doing lots of other tests.

I too suffer from IBS with bloating and spasms being my worst symptoms. Trousers which are loose on me in the morning can be impossible to fasten by the time I've left work.

I've been on Amitriptyline for about 7 months now and my symptoms have definitely improved.

I started off on 10mg which seemed to have no effect, then after a gastro appointment at the hospital, the consultant upped my doseage to 30mg.

I was a little wary of increasing the dose as your hear horror stories of people being addicted to this type of medication. So I only increased my dose to 20mg and have miraculously been near symptom free for a while now.

This type of anti depressant is now widely used as a help for IBS, so might be worth asking your doctor about it.

jenniewb

I was diagnosed with IBS 3 years ago now. I cut out all dairy on a whim and was sad to find that it greatly reduced my symptoms. I say sadly because I love dairy and miss it a great deal, its in everything from certain types of porridge oats through to Quorn and even in some sliced meats, the worst thing though is my morning tea which I've had to trade in for green tea. Still miss this more then anything else but its either that or looking like I am 6 months pregnant (I got this number by asking people who offered me seats on the tube/train/bus how far gone they thought I was and 6 months was the average).

I was recommended to take Buscopan but it made no difference at all.

I still eat gluten which is in normal porridge oats but thats just 30g per day. I still chew gum and drink diet drinks (sweeteners) and I still don't have "perfect" bowels but am prepared to live with the other effects (without going into too much detail here...) because I don't think I can take out much more without feeling a bit too miserable about it!

Racheldevon

I too have suffered badly with IBS, spending a week in hospital at one point with a flare up. Having gone down the whole med route, I decided I wanted to try other things. A combination of the following i've personally found helpful: Colpermin (a peppermint oil capsule that releases in the lower intestine where the spasms often occur- - available in boots/from GP), managing my stress levels better, fennel tea, mindfulness meditation, but more importantly colonic irrigation - which has had some bad publicity, but it made a huge difference, I had weekly sessions for a month, then fortnightly, and then only occassionally for a relatively short period of time, and I haven't been for a good 6 or so years and remain largely problem free. When I do have the odd flare up it's much more managable with the first few things I listed, and doesn't rule my life and food choices like it used to. Also, traditional accupuncture has been really helpful (if you go down this route choose someone registered with the British Acupuncture Council or other national accredited body). Also, if you have a local independent health food shop, see what probiotic supplements they have (you can get good quality ones often in found in the fridge - it makes a big difference to the bloating I experienced previously). I'd be careful with cutting whole food groups out of your diet, as this could have other health implications. You may find that eating a healthy diet, in a unprocessed way e.g., an apple rather than the juice - the natural form food grows in, may limit some of the reactions you experience with your IBS.

floss2

OP, have you started a food & symptom diary - write down everything you eat or drink every day with times, and also write down any symptoms / changes / effects, also with times. Then you may start to see some patterns and triggers.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I'm waiting for further investigations into whether I have IBS or not. I notice flareups when I eat cereal with milk. So, I started eating Alpen with oat milk & am not sure whether this combination doesn't agree with me either.

Can having IBS make you put on weight?

trigger2

Hi

I'm reading this with interest as I'm about to embark on a trial of going lactose free to see if it helps my symptoms. I've not been diagnosed, am waiting for a GP appointment, but feel I have either IBS or lactose intolerance. As well as pain, bloating, & occasional nausea, I have been suffering the most ridiculous stomach noises. I mean they can be heard the other side of the office ! This was an occasional thing after a bout of gastroenteritis, but for the past few months has been daily.

Does anyone else suffer from these loud stomach noises ? And if so what do you find affects you or helps you.

Regards

Trigger