Mumsnet Talk

DD, age 5 has just been diagnosed with IBS. Her main symptoms are constipation and stomach ache. Have been prescribed an anti-spasmodic medication which is helping her but I would like to see off we can find a food trigger rather than rely on meds once she has symptoms. The constipation is a big problem. At present she eats a good varied diet. I am planning on keeping her diet the same for now and starting a food diary to see if I can pinpoint any triggers but am reluctant to withdraw a food group from a child of this age without medical advice. Does anyone have any experience of IBS in a young child? It is possible to have allergy testing or see a dietician? When the GP made a diagnosis I was too surprised to ask sensible questions! Thanks in advance for any help...

Dd is 9 and was diagnosed when she was 8 by gastroenterologist along with other stuff. We were given a list of foods to avoid and no medication for ibs.

I would insist on referral tbh.

Thanks for such a speedy response Rainbow - tbh I hadn't thought of a gastro referral but I am going to see GP without Dd and will ask for this. May I ask what foods your daughter avoids, and does this help? It seems like everything could be a trigger and I don't want to just cut things out. The medication is helping relive her wind and therefore pain but I don't want to keep giving that, would rather find the cause

Pretty much had instant effect after years of gong to a and e and GPs about pain. List was gas forming food e.g. No deep fried food, no caffeine, no choc, no fizzy drinks, no peppers, broccoli, onions, no take away, no spices, no tomatoes, no coated foods like fish fingers, oven chips etc.

We went back and still do for reviews with gastro.

Thanks rainbow, so is your daughter ok with gluten and wheat which from what I've seen seem to be triggers for many?

She is fine with those and was tested for celiac.

Insist on a gastro referral, without wanting to alarm you its not uncommon for other conditions to be misdiagnosed as IBS so I would want a gastro consultant to rule these out. You should also get the support of a dietician, my DCs have a dietician ( for a different condition) and although I manage their diet fine, it's reassuring to have that support, and they are also often aware of new products and good at giving advice when eating out and travelling.

I agree re other stuff. Dd was diagnosed with other more serious stuff by gastro.

Ds is 6 but watches you've been framed, it's a knockout, animal programmes and anything science based.

Thanks rainbow and charmingbaker, that's really helpful advice, I am going to ask GP for referral to gastro and dietician. Would like to get more info an see if avoiding foods lessens the need for medication

If you do get a gastro referral (and I would advise refusing to leave without one- I had to do this once, generally I'm quite non-confrontational, but it was one of the best things Ive done for my kids) don't exclude any food groups until you see them, some tests are reliant on still having certain foods and it can be hard to re-introduce them.

Excuse post in wrong place! I have IB myself and its awful

Agree with getting a referral- my DS was diagnosed after lots of different tests to eliminate any other causes for the symptoms, he had blood tests, exclusion diets, camera in both ways.

I'll be honest I'm still not 100% sure that IBS wasn't a 'we don't really know, go away' diagnosis, bbut that might just be my overprotective mother side, we have no medication he continues to suffer, I continue to be brushed off.

Completely agree about it being generic diagnosis. I am very dubious about it especially as dd was diagnosed with a more serious condition at same time and told both unrelated.

Has your dd been tested for coeliac?
If not don't go gluten free without asking if that's a possibility, as the blood test only works if they are currently eating gluten.
It's still woefully undiagnosed (1/100 incidence in uk) and can mimic IBS.

Thank you very much to all of you who have posted, this is all so helpful. She hasn't had any tests so am going to leave any dietary changes for now, keep giving her the anti spasmodic, which is helping, and ask for a referral to a gastro.