IBS recommended diet - looks really low calorie!

[GreyishDays]

I’m very windy! Over the last few weeks/months I’m very windy and uncomfortable. I’m thinking I may have IBS. (I don’t think it’s ovarian cancer but am keeping an eye out.)
So I looked at a recommended diet, avoiding the big triggers.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a4949/the-anti-irritable-bowel-syndrome-eating-plan/

So no wheat or dairy. How am I not going to be staaaaarving? I guess crisps and chocolate are somewhat off-plan?

www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a4949/the-anti-irritable-bowel-syndrome-eating-plan/

What do other IBS sufferers eat for calories?

Oops didn’t mean to post the link twice, sorry!

What you really need to do is the fodmap diet. Eliminate all fodmaps for a few weeks. Then gradually introduce them and keep a track of symptoms. Then you’ll know what you’re sensitive to and in what quantities

I’m low carb due to Diabetes and a side effect of this is that my IBS is much better! I eat very little wheat products (have previously eliminated it for IBS) and I eat more fat than I used to. I have lactose free milk and cream.

I would recommend seeing your doctor and having bloods done before you start eliminating foods from your diet. If, for example, it's turns out that you have coeliac disease but have elongated gluten, the antibodies won't show up in your blood and you'll get a false negative.

*eliminated

Yeah, I know that in theory, although I doubt my drs will do bloods because I’m a farty?

I’m farty! Not A farty!

I have IBS. It used to be much worse. My main triggers were fairly obvious - red meat and mushrooms in particular.

Since I’ve been eating mostly veggie it’s been much better, and I never touch mushrooms. Onions, peppers and garlic are notorious triggers but I tend to get away with them in the main. Fizzy drinks are bad for me.

As pp said the FODMAP diet and then slowly introducing things is considered the best. If you don’t want to start to extreme though you could just try keeping a food diary and tracking symptoms/ fartiness to see if there’s any obvious patterns and you might be able to make some smaller adjustments.

Also drink peppermint tea/ take peppermint capsules.

Have to say gluten/ wheat is definitely a trigger for my husband’s fartiness. Bread in particular.

Thanks everyone.

Hm. There’s just so many things that could be triggers. I’ll have a ponder about how much to cut out and then get a food diary on the go.

I can google, but how long does it generally take to get a reaction? I saw 30 mins to a few hours, does that fit with your experiences? Just thinking it would help pin down what the trigger was!

I have IBS and am fine with wheat and dairy...can't touch eggs, onion, citrus or red meat though! I'd recommend keeping a food diary and logging everything you eat and how you felt then looking for patterns. Really helped me at the start.

And yes to peppermint capsules! I was having an awful flare up over the last few months until I started taking peppermint, finally feeling more like myself again now.

Yes you can get bloods done. I did. Just be pushy. And then do fodmap once you know. I agree with PP about coeliac testing.

At the moment my diary would be non stop bloated and uncomfortable though, from two hours after breakfast.
So does that suggest I need to consciously cut some food types out?

I think if you explain you’re symptoms to your Gp they would do bloods. It’s a good idea to have a baseline even have a look at how things are.

Yes they will do bloods. I was a "farty" for years and was diagnosed coeliac three years ago.

Yes they will do bloods. I was a "farty" for years and was diagnosed coeliac three years ago.

Where’s the ‘head in sand’ emoji?
I’m not listening to dr and coeliac suggestions.

(I am really, thanks everyone.)

You really must see your GP first. You need to have blood tests including coeliac tests before doing an elimination diet. Otherwise if you cut foods out you’ll have to reintroduce them, (if you cut out wheat then get a coeliac test you’ll get a false negative) and reintroducing wheat after cutting it out can cause worse symptoms - I speak from experience!

If all bloods are normal, ask your GP to refer you for the low FODMAP diet as pp have said. I did it a few years ago, it was really helpful. You only have to go on the low FODMAP for a short time, you find the triggers then eliminate those and reintroduce the others. I am strictly gluten free but reduced my lactose intake. I tried going dairy free and low carb and both made me horrendously constipated. Different things work for different people.

Just had a look at my surgery is only doing blood tests connected with chemo and drug safety. So I guess I’ll try cutting out some non wheat things and keep a diary and see how that goes.

Missing a ,

Is that those are the only bloods they are taking at the surgery? I can’t see that no other bloods are being done, there are loads of conditions that require regular bloods. I would speak to them, it is likely that you would just need to go to a phlebotomy clinic elsewhere.

The exact wording is “ At present we will continue to carry out essential blood test appointments (e.g. chemotherapy blood tests and tests required to monitor the safety of medicines), necessary injections and dressings only. These appointments need to be prearranged with the nursing team.”

I think I’d be taking the piss a bit to request a blood test because I’m a bit farty!

I’ve made new breakfast, no wheat, (but not cut out wheat entirely for the rest of the day) and see how today goes.

Another whose IBS disappeared when I went low carb. I do eat normal dairy and that doesn't cause problems.