Anyone experienced at managing IBS type symptoms

[Mustardcustardgrumblebellyandgravy]

I have been experiencing IBS type symptoms and thought it may be dairy linked. Today, however, I had an oat milk latte and never again!!!

I'm having a search online to get tips diet wise. Anyone have any easy tips?

And once symptoms are triggered, is there anything for immediate relief.

Hmm I've had IBS for years and never thought of trying oat milk - probably for the best, too much porridge can kick off a lot of rumbling for me.

Sadly once you're in a flare there isn't very much you can do - immodium will slow down the runs (don't take it too much), and buscopan can help for pain, but really just try not to get too worked up about it, stay near the loo and ride it out. It'll pass, it's just your intestines battling it out. After 40 years or so I know that pulses, nuts, dried fruit, too much green veg, onion and garlic are my worst triggers, but anything can set it off really.

Is this a new thing for you, have you had it checked out? If you're sure it's IBS, have a Google of the low FODMAP diet.

I don't know that it is IBS but seems similar. Fairly new symptoms but mild until the oatmilk mistake. Reading about Fodmap and trying to make easy meal plan.

Are you sure it's not the coffee as opposed to the oat milk?

Coffee is a big trigger for me. I can't drink it at all when I have a flare-up.

I was advised to eat a reasonable amount of soluble fibre e.g. white rice, potatoes, etc, while avoiding insoluble fibre. It's very often driven by stress/anxiety for me, so a low dose of antidepressants is sometimes needed to get it under control.

I have IBS and have oat milk daily without an issue. I find lots of fibre can cause a flare up, as can eating things quickly. I had good results with daily Kefir. Also heard about Enterosgel via another thread on here which has been great.

I found too much fibre would flare up my IBS. However, when I was diagnosed with Diabetes I started to eat low carb and a pleasant side effect of that was that my IBS symptoms reduced dramatically!

Coffee isn't great for me but not usually as bad as this so assume it was the oatmilk. I did a low carb diet a go a while back and I was definitely better. Maybe I try that again.
Quite stressed at moment so going to do something nice to unwind tomorrow which will hopefully help.

I take 2 x immodium every 2 or 3 days.

The best thing I've found is pepto bismol. It's not easy to get at the moment but iherb usually has in stock. Bismol is also used in fire extinguishers so puts out tummy fires !

1/2 cup oatmilk is OK, but 1 cup is high in 2 different Fodmap's, GOS and fructan so that might be a starting point for you. The Monash University fodmap diet app is invaluable.

Stress is a big IBS trigger!

Are you sure it's not gluten?

If low carb helped, you had probably drastically cut down on gluten.

Also, most oat milk isn't certified gluten free so that could explain why it made you ill.

I’ve had IBS for 25 years
I follow the low FODMAP diet. The Monash app is good and has a traffic light system for low to high FODMAP foods. Oat milk is high FODMAP, I think you can have about 1 tablespoon.
The one thing which helps is mebeverine, it’s a antispasmodic drug. It’s really the only thing which helps me (and I’ve tried virtually everything over these 25 years!)

Acupuncture and a Chinese medicine attitude to diet really helps my IBS. I stay away from 'damp' foods.. and no
Gluten, minimal dairy, No coffee... lots of easy to digest foods like white rice, root veg, chicken & bone broth.

Ipadannie pepto was my go to but it’s not available anymore, I even contacted the manufacturer in desperation! They say it may become available in the UK end of the year, I was gutted.

@caravann it's on iherb to order in various formats. Can't get it anywhere else at the moment

The best thing to do imo is keep a really detailed diary of what triggers you and work to find a way of eating that keeps symptoms at bay. For me I can't touch high fibre breads/cereals, popcorn, oats, pulses, steak, etc etc.

Then on top of that I have found I can only eat fresh fruit first thing on an empty stomach. That I tolerate larger meals better in the evening. All of this is from years of trial and error but now it's under control 80% of the time.

Stress is also a trigger, and I find stomach / lower back massage can help when pain is bad.

Also knowing what your super safe foods are is helpful - so if you have a flare you can just stick to those for a day or two (for me that's things like pasta, white bread, Rice Krispies etc).

Basically - try and become an expert on your own body, and ignore whatever "healthy eating" advice might be ingrained.

Don't just wing it. You need to see a GP in case it's something else.
I thought IBS but it was IBD

Ipadannie fab! I will restock.

A low carb diet keeps mine at bay.

If I do have a flare up, which is usually because I've eaten too many carbs (especially wheat), I find that drinking hot water with lemon in it can really soothe things - my main symptom is really painful stomach cramps. A hot water bottle is also very helpful.

But I agree with PP that you should get a proper diagnosis from your GP.

Low carb diet and body scan relaxation exercises fixed my decades long ibs. Learned to be less driven and become aware of when holding tension in stomach and let it completely go. Mine was extremely debilitating now absolutely fine. For flare ups recommend trying white rice with white fish, avoid pulses till calmer. Good luck.

I managed my anxiety with antidepressants and started eating bran flakes for breakfast.

I have identified the things I can't eat after years of trying e.g. bananas or anything like meal replacement shakes slim fast etc.

Always have immodium in your bag just in case and don't be afraid to take a precautionary dose if you have a big day where you might not want symptoms.

Do get checked out though in case there is something more underlying.

I went absolutely hardcore low FODMAP for the whole six weeks, and kept a food and IBS diary.

I'm still low FODMAPPING a year and half later, as I've learned that I can't tolerate gluten and dairy except in tiny amounts. Must be a age thing. And definitely no onions, garlic or leeks.

I've got some recipes somewhere if you want them - although there's loads online.

If you have any new, continuing digestive symptoms you need to see the GP. It's all very well to label it IBS, but there are other things that potentially might need to be ruled out first. You may have developed an intolerance, or it may be a sign of bowel cancer. I'm not saying this to be negative or worry you - but it's all too easy to just say you have IBS and then leave it at that.

For me, what helps is taking a digestive supplement from Boots each morning, and Sertraline helps massively, as I found that my symptoms were largely exacerbated by anxiety.