Do I start low FODMAP now or wait until after my GP appointment?

[letsnottt]

I've been having stomach issues for probably around a year now. I will be fine one minute and then the next my stomach will start to rumble and cramp up and I'll have to rush to the loo, where I'll have intense stomach cramps in the middle of my abdomen, sweating, ears ringing, dizziness and a feeling like I'm going to die followed by diarrhoea. If I didn't know any better I'd think I had food poisoning or a stomach bug once a week/fortnight.

I went to my GP about it last year after having blood in my stool, and I had high inflammation in my stool test so I was referred to have a colonoscopy. That was all completely normal with normal biopsies, so they discharged me and said it was likely food poisoning. I'm going back to my GP in 2 weeks, and after a really bad attack last night I'm contemplating starting the low FODMAP diet today.

I've been keeping a food diary for 3 weeks and can't see much of a pattern, but I think it tends to happen if I've eaten a lot of pasta and bread in the last 24 hours. I've already replaced all milk with lactose-free milk and I've stopped having anything with seeds or nuts as I thought they were potential triggers but that's not made any difference. I had a coeliac blood test last year which was negative.

I'm not sure what to do, the attacks come on so suddenly it's really impacting my life as I'm not wanting to leave the house in case it happens. I don't know what to eat

See a dietitian so they Can support you properly with FODMAP. They should see you for exclusion and 6 weeks later for reintroduction so you do it in an exact way and can identify your own triggers long term.

I have had those bowel dumping experiences many times in the last few years, doctor originally suspected it was my blood pressure dropping. Last year i was diagnosed with h pylori after an endoscopy. Since the infection was treated, I have not had one episode of this 'dumping'. I can even eat small amounts of pasta now without feeling physically ill.

Maybe you've already been checked for this infection, if so, I hope you get to the bottom of this as I know how awful and sometimes scary these episodes can be.

I would start on the diet, it can only help. I eat alot better now, as the h pylori caused gastritis, i had to re-evaluate my diet. I hope you feel better soon.