IBS .... Just what CAN you eat?

BarneyRubble

Dustykitten wrote: »

For me foods to avoid are bananas, pastry, red meat and onions. Bread I'm ok with if I don't over do it. Stress is definitely a factor. Have a read of Claire Weeks books which are great at describing the physical effects of stress.

Which of her books would you start with please?

LE3

I'm really surprised that the hospital suggested crackers & toast for somebody with IBS ... gluten is often a trigger!

I would try cutting out the toast & crackers and giving him a bit of simple plain chicken & some potato or boiled rice if he will take it ... I think you may have to go back to almost weaning methods - little & often to tempt him to eat!
(or see if he will eat one of his most favourite foods (even if that is going to give him an attack!) just to get him eating again!)

want_to_save

when my brother was diagnosed with Crohn's he would not eat for fear of pain. we managed to coax him to eat

Dustykitten

BarneyRubble wrote: »

Which of her books would you start with please?

'Peace from nervous Suffering' although I think they all will work on a similar theme. They are written like a kindly old aunt is sitting talking to you and may just provide a bit of reassurance. Good luck and you can usually get them from the library or may be charity shops.

ailuro2

My friend tried everything, and ended up going vegetarian which helped her enormously. Perhaps some of the Quorn products to begin with - and of course good old macaroni cheese. Hope he's feeling better soon.

JennyJewell

Morning all
Just reading over these posts and noticing how different foods affect people so differently. As ailoro2 said about her friend going vegetarian - I too have been vegetarian for over a year, (I stopped eating meat for reasons other than IBS though), in the process my stomach problems seemed to have decreased considerably until this last week that is I've had an awful bout this week and only now it is improving although was still running to the toilet last night, (sorry for tmi). It makes me wonder if being vegetarian has lessened the problems or if the bouts just went away for a while anyway as they sometimes do?
I couldn't touch macaroni cheese with a bargepole! And bananas can be really helpful for me right now in replacing lost potassium, fiber, B vitamins and vitamin C and they feel ok to eat in small doses yet there are other times that I have to stay away from them. Hence one of the hardest things is trying to find right and wrong foods but as I said in an earlier post, for me this also changes, arrggghhh!!
Anyway on Monday I am embarking on the NHS Healthy Eating plan - just to lose some weight and get my fitness levels up I will see what foods affect me then too I honestly don't think you can ever stop learning about IBS - I think there should be a Degree in it,lol!!
Best of luck to everyone who is affected by it and may your stomachs give you as little grief as possible x

tesuhoha

I've suffered for years from I BS, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and the most agonising stomach cramps.

I've tried all sorts but nothing worked until I accidentally stumbled on my present remedy. I was really ill at one point until I discovered milk thistle. I take a high strength milk thistle tablet once a day. It works like magic and in the evening I usually take a slippery elm tablet. I now longer suffer from cramps or bloating. I would also recommend drinking a fair amount of water and if he does get a cramp the most effective thing I have found is a hot water bottle. I think this works because it relaxes you if you are bloated so also tell him to try to relax his stomach when he gets the cramps rather than tense against them.

I find that on these supplements I don't really need to restrict foods although I do tend to limit gluten but not cut it out completely. Pulses give me wind but there was recently an article about how good oats are for friendly bacteria. Also bananas are supposed to stop diarrhea.

tesuhoha

JennyJewell wrote: »

Hi Lazer
I find that my food triggers change - as I get used to one thing my digestive system seems to change it's mind about what it will and won't accept.
I swear to god it really has it's own mind,lol!

It does. I remember hearing that the stomach has its own brain.:)

Faith177

Mr_helpful wrote: »

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.

This is what triggers my IBS I can eat anything and everything and not have any problems the minute I get stressed it sets it off.

I was diagonised in June 2010 after a long period of being unwell and feeling miserable. Like your son it got to the point i was petrified to eat anything.

I am currently going through therapy for general anxity and found that is helping as it is giving me the coping methods I need to limit my stress.

I have also found that since taking up exercise (boot camp and Zumba both once a week) again my stress levels have been reduced and my IBS has been at bay for a while now.

When I was first diagonised I kept a food journel and also a mood diary to help find my triggers. I also take Colonfac for when I do get spasms and that has really helped ease the pain. The doctor did give me a stronger one to start off with but for the life of me I cannot remember the name

Hope your son gets well soon xx

grandma247

My dil was treated for IBS for years and only this year discovered she actually has intolerance to wheat. She had those same symptoms.dil has discovered wheat is in so very many ready made products including gravy powders/granules. Shopping was a nightmare as labels you had previously checked had to be read again in case the company "improved" the recipe by adding wheat.