Help desperately needed for IBS

[HeBeaverandSheBeaver]

Dd has what I believe is IBS

She has had it years anxiety and stress related.

She has had cbt which helped with her mind but her body still tells her otherwise.

I've booked her in for hypnotherapy as she is missing loads of school
Had USound scan and bloods done All negative so far.

What are your best treatments please. 🙏😥

Has she tried the FODMAP diet?
Have her stools been checked for parasites?
Bloodtest included Coeliac testing?

Also had stool sample and ovary's all look fine.

Still waiting on ceoliac result.

Mine has virtually disappeared after cutting out all processed foods, most sugar and limiting carbs.

It's also do intermittent fasting. It may sound drastic but it's been worth it for me.

I have had anxiety related IBS for probably about 5 years and I started taking Rheal balance tonic and clean greens and it has completely cleared up. FODMAP diet didn’t help as I don’t think that was the problem. I think it is the balance tonic that has really helped but I started them both together so am not 100% sure. This is not an ad but I’ve found it game changing for me.

Have you tried keeping a food and symptom diary over a decent time period? It may help identify specific foods that are triggers. If a few things form a pattern then try cutting one thing out for at least 3 weeks then gently reintroduce it for a few days. If the symptoms flare then you have one thing to cut out and move on to seeing if another thing can be cut out.

There may also be an emerging food allergy (my niece is allergic to cocoa but didn't find out till she was an adult). Also have they done a lactose intolerance test?

Alternatively just try cutting out the main known culprits straight away and see if there is a difference. Onion & brassica family for a start - very common intolerance. Read the FODMAP book as that will give information on why & how some of these foods set off IBS.

Be very careful about any advice to increase fibre - for those with IBS a lot of types of fibre can make symptoms worse. Ditto the trendy fermented drinks like Kombucha & Kefir or any 'fermented' foods.

I get a bit fed up being told my chronic IBS is 'stress related'.
It might get a bit worse when under stress but is there all the time no matter how good or bad my life is. It's definitely mainly diet related (and more exercise helps it too).

Another advocate for FODMAP diet. It’s miserable for a few weeks but worth it, can get dietician referral via GP

Fodmap changed my life after 30 yrs of ibs hell!
Do it with a nutritionalist tho. It's hard but so so worth it!

I've got crohns disease and I feel immensely better on very low/no carbs. Its not easy but it's SO worth it. No bloating, less gas, no noisy stomach, no mucas. If she can try it for just a week she may well feel some improvement.

@Gerwurtztraminer “I get a bit fed u p being told my chronic IBS is 'stress related'. It might get a bit worse when under stress but is there all the time no matter how good or bad my life is. It's definitely mainly diet related (and more exercise helps it too)”

I so agree. I find there is a link between IBS and becoming stressed but in my case it starts with something I’ve eaten, for example if I eat onion or garlic I become very angry. Bizarre!

Unfortunately, there is no universal list of foods to avoid as different people have different triggers but a low FODMAP diet is a good place to start. As already mentioned, high fibre foods are off my list and I’ve given up both coffee and dairy. It means my diet is not very varied but my quality of life is greatly enhanced.

Peppermint tea helps

I was just coming on to say peppermint tea is great too.

Yep , another peppermint tea advocate here but also ginger tea ( which is foul but hey.)

Tomatoes and sauces which are tomato based are often triggers for me. As is cooked cheese , I've noticed. A lasagna , true food heaven, is a sure way of ensuring a good few sessions on the lavvy.

Interestingly , if I know that I'm going to eat something that might disagree with me , I take a good glug of Gaviscon beforehand. This was a tip from an emergency doctor once.

First start with cutting out the most likely triggers ..wheat and dairy. I didn't find following FODMAP helpful at all as many of the suggested foods I can't tolerate.

Unfortunately it has taken a while for me to know what my triggers are, but no Dr can say it's XYZ.

Do you get Iberogast drops? They work really well to ease the pain. I also like to have one of those ginger shots each day if I can, they do seem to help me.

Its difficult to diagnose, mine was actually pick up by my gynaecologist when he did a sonar, and we watched my colon in spasms.

Well I don't know about anyone else but probiotics and cutting out bread really saved my life.9

Iberogast sounds interesting but it's seems to be Europe

Where do you get from@isthismylifenow

Ah no that's a pity. I'm not in the UK so I wasn't sure if it was something available to you there.

It's so popular here, it makes no sense why it's not available in the UK.

Good old Buscopan also works for pain although obvs getting to find the triggers is the end game.

I'll list a few of my no no's, maybe they are similar for others :

Bananas
Any skin on fruit , so things need to be peeled, ie apples etc
Onions , absolutely never ever raw (causes agonising pain) sometimes ok with small amount cooked
Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels type veg
Any crisp flavourings, can only eat plain salted
No bread, rye, or any of these types . I don't even eat gluten free as it's a risk
No wheat, although I do sometimes use flour to thicken things but cornflour is better
Watch cereals , they sometimes are triggering so safest to have oats, well cooked.

I have rice and corn pasta , never normal wheat semolina type
In a hurry not too long ago I grabbed to go sausage roll. It took me about 2 weeks to get over that mistake. Not just the pastry but additives in the sausage.

There are more but you get the gist. It seems quite limiting but it's something you just get used to. Worst is if going somewhere where snacks are provided. Most of the time these are wheat based, and are very tempting.

Is your dd also suffering with diarrhoea and/or constipation? Both are equally debilitating at times. I'm a combo of both so I have to be careful with food mixtures too. If I do ever have cheese, I absolutely cannot have egg in the same meal.

Many people brush ibs off as a bit of stomach bloating, maybe some trips to the loo in a hurry. But it is truly can put me out of action for a few days if I'm having a serious flare up. Sometimes it's so bad that I just won't eat anything as it is just too painful to. Yes stress is a factor but I think diet is more so.

Good luck to you and your dd. I know it's just awful and I hope you find a way forward soon.

@isthismylifenow
Thank you. I've noticed onions may be a trigger for her
Also possibly
Eggs

I've ordered
Some online. Only a few places seem to sell and delivery expensive but it's worth it. If it works I'll order a large bottle. Is
It super effective/popular in Europe then?