What shall I try first? Gluten Free or Dairy Free?

[Hins]

Long story short- over the last 2 years have had intermittent digestive issues, bloating, gas, loose stools in the morning, increased burping etc. It can last for a couple of weeks and then I can be fine for months before it hits again. Over the 2 years I would say I have had 4-5 flare ups.

Because of this and because I’m a worrier- I think I’ve developed health anxiety over it all. Been to the GP many times, had blood tests which usually show low ferritin, thank God stool tests and endoscopy so far all clear.

Have been taking Symprove since September and up until the last couple of months it has worked really well for me. But now it’s not. The past week I wake up every morning feeling worried and have to go to the bathroom within 2 hours or so. It’s just mush and I can feel myself spiralling into a health anxiety panic.

So far I haven’t thought it could be dietary related because I can be fine for months- but now I’m thinking maybe I should explore this a bit more. A lot of people say the first things to try and remove are dairy/gluten but which one shall I try first because I don’t think I can do both at the same time?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Most people would have mild gastro issues 4 -5 times in 2 years. Its normal.

Most people go to the toilet within 2 hours of waking up especially if they are coffee drinkers in the morning.

Poo is supposed to be mushy rather than hard. If it's hard you need to drink more water.

Please don’t do this, unless you want to add salt poisoning to your issues.

OMG, what bloody awful advice.

"Cleanse" my arse.

That could make someone quite unwell. It's a recipe for electrolyte mayhem, and it's bulimic behaviour, which "cleanses" nothing.

If you have a problem digesting gluten (coeliac or otherwise) you have to cut out every last crumb OP, whereas if you have an intolerance of lactose, you can be fine by reducing your intake.

What tests have you had, though?

Before you cut out anything, I would keep a food diary to see if there is any link between what you eat and your symptoms.

Also track if they coincide with a particular stage of your menstrual cycle, if that’s relevant. Or periods of particular stress.

Anxiety can cause gastro symptoms too, so it may be you’ve got in a bit of a vicious cycle.

If you do want to cut things out, I would try and see a dietitian who is well versed in IBS to come up with a plan

Have you actually had the specific blood tests for coeliac and or dairy intolerance?
If not, can you request from your GP and see if they’ll do it for you? Because if you stop eating gluten, for example, and it improves your symptoms you will have to go back to eating it for at least six weeks in order for blood tests to give you a diagnosis - which presumably you won’t want to do.

Try Inulin powder.

If you had a dairy intolerance you’d typically have more regular flare ups, I have a lactose intolerance and it was pretty constant until I figured it out.

Rather than cut stuff out keep a food and symptoms diary and you’ll soon see if there’s a correlation.

I do agree that most people go to the loo within a few hours of getting up in the morning, it is a natural response to your body being up and about.

however, if it really is totally mushy, then I don’t agree that is normal. Stools should not be hard/painful, but they shouldn’t just be mush either. this is a Wikipedia link explaining the Bristol Stool Chart which is still used in the diagnosis of IBS, and explains what is more typically seen.

Anxiety itself can impact your gut/bowels, so you may be in a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy where worrying about it is actually making it worse!

food triggers vary significantly between individuals with ibs, if you are not sure where to start, perhaps a food diary for a few weeks might help identify any obvious triggers?

purely anecdotally, your tendency towards loose stools would make me think of a lactose/dairy sensitivity more than a gluten one - but that is based on my own/family experiences with IBS/food triggers.

you might also see if your GP would refer you to an NHS dietitian who could support you with an elimination diet to identify triggers, while still ensuring you were eating a balanced diet? Once we had ruled out Coeliac/Diverticular Disease etc, that was my next step.

I found that being menopausal really messed up my gut. Cutting out gluten worked for me but I had already started to subconsciously avoid bread etc because it kept making me feel ill. My sister has been GF for 20yrs so I had some knowledge. The impact on my digestive system was within 48hrs amazing. I’ve found it easy to do at home but harder when travelling in a different country.

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice- a lot of things for me to think about.

Tests I have had:
Blood tests including coeliac which came back clear
Endoscopy
Pelvic ultrasound which found a blocked fallopian tube and a cyst on the right ovary- 3 months later second scan showed both had gone

It definitely really is making me incredibly anxious which is not helping things at all. Last years summer was particularly bad, referred myself for CBT which did give me some useful tips to manage behaviours like the constant googling etc and starting Symprove really helped but the past week, can feel myself slipping again.

I have noticed it’s worse around my period, usually only have loose stools for the first day or two but this period it’s been every day.

I’m panicking about pancreatic/bowel cancer in particular.

In the months when I’m feeling ok I can eat all the bread and dairy in the world and I’ll be a type 3-4 on the Bristol stool chart but when I have these anxious weeks, I do feel like dairy makes things worse but like you guys said I need to keep a proper food diary first.

It's very normal for hormonal changes around your period to cause loose stools.

It sounds like maybe you might have mild It's, perhaps your trigger is actually anxiety. Definitely keep a food diary. My dh discovered that artificial sweetners were the culprit for him.

I'm always looser on my period and when I'm anxious. I do wonder whether it's physical symptoms of your anxiety and a vicious circle as it's so inconsistent.

Have you tried a low FODMAP diet? It’s often prescribed for IBS and straightforward to follow. I have IBD and regular colonoscopies so have to do this diet in preparation for that. I would try low FODMAP for 6 weeks and then start introducing other foods gradually. Keep a food diary.

Google FODMAP eating Monash university and eliminate one thing at a time. I have IBD and buy lactose free dairy milk, hard cheeses, butter, gluten free soup or sauces every now and then, gluten free pasta, cereals and stick to sourdough bread when I want it. Avoid stock cubes, soya sauce & beer. I eliminated garlic & onions from diet altogether which helped. Astofotedia ground spice, garlic powder or green part of spring onions instead. No fruit juice either.

DO NOT do anything without seeing a dietitian with an interest in food intolerances and allergies. Find one. Choose one from here https://www.bda.uk.com/find-a-dietitian.html

In Australia, there is no need to get a referral from a gp - we just make an appointment.

Everything you are describing though sounds like normal patterns of human /female digestion. Nothing is screaming cancer or even particularly strongly of intolerance.

Sometimes food gives you mild stomach problems because it's too rich, too much, you've eaten too fast or its interacted with something else you have eaten. Women are often loose/gassy around periods. It's so normal

It sounds like you are picking up on every minor grumble and thinking zebras rather than horses.

FODMAP for sure - it really helped me identify triggers and reset my system. There’s an app to make thing easy and I felt so much better. I do eat bread now but I know that too much will set me off

Thank you everyone for your replies- issue is still ongoing. I have an appointment in 10 days time and will discuss diet etc with GP.

I have noticed it’s worse around my period, usually only have loose stools for the first day or two but this period it’s been every day.

This is a really common period side effect.

Hi guys having a very bad day today- period is well and truly over but the ‘looseness’ is continuing and I’m well and truly in the grip of obsessive googling….

Keep wondering if this is ‘just IBS’ (never been officially diagnosed) or something else?

Are you doing a food diary?

Hi sorry for the late reply-

Yes since yesterday- I’m hoping it will help me identify any triggers. Problem is I feel bloated and bad most of the day so hard to pinpoint to a particular food but I will persevere.