Has anyone overcome or completely controlled their IBS symptoms?

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Just that really.
After suffering for 21 years from bloating, pain, excessive wind, grumbling/gurgling/growling guts, nausea, indigestion etc, I’ve had enough.
I’ve had a clear colonoscopy, gastroscope with biopsies, ultra sound scan of upper digestive organs and a ct scan. After that the gastroenterologist wasn’t interested and discharged me.
I’ve tried endless diets (tried low fodmap under hospital 3 times), cut out and added in various food groups etc with no lasting relief from symptoms.
Tried various off the shelf and prescribed meds, again with no lasting help.
I’m looking to see if I’ve missed something, if there is something (anything) which someone has tried with success and I haven’t yet tried.
I’m 47 and have wasted the last 21 years of my life with this awful condition.

[Insertnameherenana]

Have you been tested for coeliac disease? My partner was suffering for years and Was eventually diagnosed at the age of 57. Going gluten free gave him immediate relief.

[mooching]

Not personally but I had a colleague who had hers under control by knowing what her food triggers were. I'm sorry I don't know more that that I just remember her telling me that once.

[MrsMozartMkII]

Water.

If all else is known, i.e. foods and other triggers, then it's quite possibly the water.

[TalbotAMan]

What brought mine under control was being diagnosed coeliac. You say you've had a gastroscope with biopsies so presumably they have tested for and eliminated that?

[kingkuta]

I treated negative for coeliac but cutting out wheat has all but eliminated my symptoms of pain, bloating, gas, constipation and nausea

[Tsubasa1]

As PP suggests being tested for celiac disease. I was going through a massive flare of IBS when lockdown was happening. I had been losely following a low Fodmap diet but it was almost making me worse. I tried giving up nightshades on a whim because It was literally the only thing I hadn't tried. I've been feeling amazing ever since. Apart from nightshades, my trigger foods are oats, beans, soy, legumes and gluten.

[Pantheon]

Mine is much better than it used to be. Gluten, dairy and anxiety/stress triggered it. I can tolerate dairy better again now.

[Trenisenne]

Yes, I have. Not perfectly, but to the extent that I don't think about it and really notice if the symptoms flare up. I had bad bloating and constipation. The latter I sorted out by magnesium. The former just kind of dissipated when I started managing stress better (basically change of job and more stability).

[Chickydoo]

Menopause, my Ibs was horrific.
Peri it was dreadful.
Post menopause, much improved.
35 years of hellish symptoms.
Seems it was hormonal.

[EnoughAlready2020]

I cut out carbs and caffeine completely to diet and all of a sudden my stomach became less bloated and like gone.

[Iamnotacerealkiller]

Lots of things improved for me following low carb. Skin, bowls, hormones. It's anti-inflammatory so helps with all kinds of things.

[bluefoxmug]

yes to test for coeliacs
it's shit, isn't it (pun intended)

have you tried fasting (16:8 or 5:2)?
that helps dh a lot.

[waltzingparrot]

Mine has also improved a lot post menopause. No migraines either.

[lunar1]

I suffered for years with IBS. It completely disappeared when I started Keto to lose weight. It was like someone flipped a switch and it was gone. It comes back with a vengeance if I have a cheat meal though!!

[isthismylifenow]

The fodmap didn't work for me either. I think it's a case of finding the triggers (easier said than done) and cutting them out. I have a list a mile long but the two major factors are wheat and dairy.
But then there are onions, Bananas, apples, tomatoes, any flavored crisps, most alcohol etc etc.

Having a flare up right now as a dared to have a piece of dds pizza. Sigh.

I don't live in UK so perhaps the medications are different, but if you can get the drops called Iberogast, I really recommend them.

[LadyEloise]

lunar1 and Wearywithteens
What exactly did you eat ?

I didn't know oats were a trigger. I thought wheat was the problematic cereal.

[Friedbluetomatoes]

I had the colonoscopy and gastroscope last summer, one of the biopsies was for coeliac and that came back clear.
I’ve kept a food dairy for about 5 years and ni early can see a definitive cause although I do suspect that gluten/wheat may be a bit of a no-no for me, I have just given it up again for the umpteenth time. My friend is on keto and says her IBS has virtually vanished, I am trying very hard to cut back on my carbs to see if that improves things but it’s so hard to do. I couldn’t go full keto as I haven’t touched dairy for 15 years and don’t eat lots of meat.
chickydo I really believe perimenopause is making things so much worse, I’m 47 and the last 2-3 years have been awful.
bluefoxmug I can’t quite do the 18:6 but stop eating at 7pm and I don’t eat until at least 9 or 10am.
isthismylifenow I’ve tried to get hold of the Iberogast drops for so long as I’ve read endless great reviews of it but it appears unavailable here unfortunately.

[blackcat86]

DH has found that he really cant eat anything particularly fatty or greasy as even the odd takeout will set him off. Stress really affects him to so counselling and lifestyle changes around boundaries and relationships have helped. Other things that have helped are tea with valerian root at bedtime (clipper sleepy tea) as apparently valerian root is good for the gut. Dh was prescribed amitriptyline which he has continued to taking as it helps his mood and sleep which then helps his IBS - his IBS was affecting his sleep and mood during a flare up as he was in pain and worried about missing work so it became a bit of a cycle. Its still all a work in progress for him.

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Blackcat86 The tea sounds good, I’m off to google that. My gp has prescribed me amitriptyline but I was uncertain about taking an antidepressant but maybe I should rethink that one as my tummy grumbling often disturbs my sleep.

[Elphame]

Yes but I have some very unusual but specific triggers. Raspberries being by far the worst.

Took me far too long to work out the culprits as they don't fit into the usual problematic categories.

[sauvignonblancplz]

Low Fodmap is so hard to follow but I do find it has helped.

Keto didn’t work for me as high fat is a trigger .

IBS is terrible - the thought of toilets not being open for a long time makes the concept of leaving the house very difficult .😞

[Silvercatowner]

Yes, my IBS is under control at the moment. I don't eat dairy or gluten. I avoid high fibre foods such as beans. I don't eat much fruit. I don't eat fruit or veg with tough skins such as tomatoes and apples (tomato skins are the work of the devil - I don't digest them). Seeded bread is a nono. I take an expensive probiotic and I never overeat. Oh, and I gave up alcohol 6 months ago. That's made a huge difference.

[Wallywobbles]

The iberogast drops are available here


www.homoempatia.eu/product/iberogast-liquide.29520.html?language_code=fr

[bluefoxmug]

careful with iberogast. one of the herbs is known for causing liver damage.