IBS .... Just what CAN you eat?

Dazzle_drop

Hello all:)
I hope somebody can help....
DS was this week diagnosed with IBS and possible anorexia ...

We spent the past week in hospital whereby he gradually started to eat - (dry crackers & dry toast )
We saw dieticians whilst in hospital who advised to introduce a new food daily to see if certain foods trigger the IBS ...
We have been home 3 days and seem to be getting nowhere fast as he is refusing to try any "new" foods for fear of developing stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting ...
DS is 15 ....upon discharge from hospital I was told that the dietician would be in contact "in due course" and we were given a sheet with foods to avoid - pizzas etc

Please .... If there is anyone with IBS out there - please could you tell me your typical eating plan ...
DS has suffers with the stomach cramps, diarrhoea and nausea - so a high fibre diet I'm guessing is a no-no ...
Please could anyone help or recommend a book to buy that would maybe suggest foods that would help DS

Thankyou in advance for anyone who helps - no matter how small you may think it is - ALL advice is welcome as right now
XxxxxX

welshbookworm

I control my IBS by avoiding all yeast and yeast extract including mushrooms, Quorn , marmite, most ready meals etc.
I eat meat, potatoes, green veg, tortillas, chapattis and soda farls.

squiggles

I do not suffer personally but I have read about something called FODMAP diet for IBS.

pelirocco

It's not just food , stress can bring on an attack , I'm just getting over a flare up so I understand the not wanting to eat anything in case it starts again . Try avoiding fizzy drinks , artificial sweeteners , too much fruit . Any processed food. The only food I'm sure gives me no problems are eggs

pelirocco

Also there is an awful lot of misdiagnosis , check out crohns , coeliacs, and colitis

want_to_save

Hi i have crohn's disease and have had it for over 16 years now. There are many different trigger foods for IBS i would have a look at the low fibre/low residue diet for him. (i was informed i had ibs for 3 years prior to my diagnosis)

which basically will ensure that his tummy is not fighting to digest hard to digest food and give his stomach time to calm down. Then possibly cut out a different food at a time to see if you can find out what his triggers are. There are different triggers for different people.

A good website is crohnsforum.com (i know he has not got crohns but there may be some good advice on there)

has he been given any meds? or any anti spasmodic drugs?

If he has bloating then peppermint tea is good and also peppermint cordial (as in rum and pep ) about 30ml in 100mls of hot water. Its cheaper than culpermin which also helps and is available on prescription.

I hope some of this helps

wondercollie

I've been fighting this since '86 with various doctors. Everyone has
different trigger foods. I have to avoid fatty sauces, pork (for some reason deli ham and bacon don't hurt me). Dairy in small portions is not bad.

Avoid fruits with small seeds. I gave up eating fresh bananas and it was great. Banana bread I can manage. Kiwis' trigger an attack. I also have diverticulosis and the small seeds get trapped there.

I find that fibre and acidophilus supplements help me get over the bad days.

Buscopan has saved me many times.

Basically my GI tract is a nightmare. Gastric and esophageal ulcers, diverticulosis in my sigmoid colon. Part of my bowel was ischemic this summer and I have another gastro and colonoscopy in my near future. It runs in my mothers family.

Tiglath

With me (20+ years of cramps + diarrhea), it's any kind of grain, and insoluble fibre such as the hard skin on veg. Can no longer eat peppers and aubergines. FODMAP was a really useful tool for pinpointing where the problems are, although I can't tolerate some of the low FODMAP foods:

http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/low-high.html

devildog

Two of my offspring suffer, one with IBS and one with IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Both can result in cramping, diahorrea and nausea.
As already stated there can be a lot of misdiagnosis. Unfortunately what can be a trigger for one is ok for another. The one with IBS has to stay clear of milk, cheese, sunflower/vegetable oil(do everything in olive oil) and any type of alcohol.
The one with IBD (which is a more 'serious' illness) is good on typically everything unhealthy! There are no food triggers for them (but they do take a cocktail of drugs to keep it under control) when they do flare, they have to avoid wholemeal/grain foods, fruit and veg(seriously) To maintain there current weight the dietician says they can eat anything that is loaded with calories and typically unhealthy for the 'normal' person (including pizza)!! But every person is different.
Re the possible anorexia, this is another symptom of crohn's (IBD), but it is not because they don't want to eat, they simply can't manage it. My one with IBD was the same, weighed 6 1/2 stone (at 16 1/2) so keep an open mind!!

prideandprejudice

I am so sorry to hear about your son's health. I can highly recommend Buscopan, over the counter medication or on prescription.

Here's hoping for a speedy diagnosis and a suitable diet that eases his symptoms. xx

Mr_helpful

If it is genuinely IBS it is most likely stress related. Sort out the stress and you dont need to worry about what you eat. NICE recognises hypnotherapy as an effective treatment.