To think I can never eat chips again?

[Nomorechips]

Morning Mumsnetters! Just been diagnosed with IBS. Looking on the bright side I don't have the diarrhoea type just the constipation. I also have lower stomach pain right side, headaches, frequent weeing (lovely!) and tiredness. Sadly weight gain! Have been looking up what I should avoid food wise and says oven chips! Anyone out there with IBS with any advice please? Is the IBS network worth paying for? Low Fodmap any help? It's a mine field out there. So many books but which are helpful? I just want a chip sandwich now....

Peppermint tea or oil capsules. Probiotics either tablet or natural yoghurt and exercise. I get few symptoms after 20 years but the above I've found helps.

Food wise lots of potatoes or chips didn't seem to go down well early days but I can have them as a one off. Fizzy pop and greasy food was an initial problem too.

I eat lots of things apparently I've sufferers can't. I eat lots of fruit and veg which doesn't seem to affect me at all. Minimal grease nothing fried. Although as one of treats this seems fine. It's repetitive eating of things which got me. Think it's trial and error about finding your triggers.

Exercise has helped in the last ten years, I have been much more active with regular exercise and it seems to have almost stopped the ibs bar very minimal flare ups with stress. I know everyone responds differently though.

Differentnameforthis just seen you have explained stacking-thanks. Didn't know it takes 24 hrs for symptoms. Wow there's so much more to this than I realised.

Think I might have to ask for a referral to a dietician.

Do you drink loads of water too? If I get dehydrated at all then I get symptoms

IBS is a catch all phrase when they don't know what is wrong with your gut. I would consider parasites if it has come on suddenly or is periodic in nature. About 50-80% of us have parasites and they cause exact same symptoms as IBS do. Worth looking into! I thought
I had suddenly developed IBS or food allergies, turns out I had parasites.

Stoutdrinker where would I start with parasites then? Does this require tests?

Caramel prob don't drink enough water hut lots of decaff tea! I've got to change my lifestyle really.

Remember that IBS can be a stress thing too. (The same foods can give different results.) The digestive system is an emotional thing!

Checking for individual triggers is time consuming. Sadly, there does seem to be a connection between things you think that you love or crave (so often eat) and the intolerance you have. Cut these things first and see what happens.

I'm on dietician controlled FODMAP for coeliac and IBS. The big hitters for me are wheat, gluten and dairy.

You can eat chips as potatoes are low fodmap. What's perhaps causing the issue is the binding agent in the batter. Buy some GF oven chips or make your own wedges. Spices and herbs (but not onion or garlic) are fine for seasoning.

stoutdrinker Whilst the consultant is totally convinced that its ibs, I'm awaiting the results of a calprotectin test which is for bacteria levels so would that also detect parasites? 1Wildheartsease that makes sense as I comfort eat when I'm stressed and now need to lose 2 stone!

Yes but often a stool test won't pick them up. I'd try a natural way to cleanse first such as diatomaceous earth and see what 'comes oyt' as it were or go down the Ovex route which will temporarily deal with most threadworms or other worms (there are lots of types). If you find symptoms start getting better then you've got a starting point at least. Unfortunately they can take a long time to treat if you have a heavy load but you can get referred by gp or given stronger antiparasitic medication like albendazole. Hth

Stacking is when you have too many low fodmap foods in the same meal, or too close together.

Ideally you want 4-5 hours between your main meals and stick to lo or no fodmap snack options.

Portion control is KEY too.

@TatianaLarina I understand that. Not everyone has the same triggers.

Elimination is a bit hit and miss ime, you need to observe your reactions over time Yes, as I stated in a previous post.

@Nomorechips - I initially had a diagnosis of IBS, but last year I had a colonoscopy and they discovered I have something called lymphocytic colitis - but the symptoms are generally the same as IBS (except during a bad flare up, when I need steroids).

My consultant advised the low FODMAP diet, and the thing I found that helped the most was reducing the amount of lactose I have - especially milk in coffee - I use Lacto-free now.

I've also found that probiotics, turmeric and ginger supplements, and aloe vera juice can be very helpful (though the turmeric and ginger supplements make your burps taste of curry ). You can get aloe vera juice - I used to take that in very strong blackcurrant squash, because it tastes vile - and I now take capsules instead.

Most importantly - I can still eat chips, including oven chips.

My IBS-C reacts really well to taking Prebiotics and Magnesium supplements.

YObetterwerk oh yes-brilliant. I made my own wedges recently (why does that sound weird?!) I'll look out for gf chips too. Bet they'll be expensive thou like everything that's gf. Have you read any useful books on Fodmaps or any that your dietician recommended please?

I have IBS-D so not sure if a different approach is needed for IBS-C but I think it really varies from person to person and you can never really know what to avoid without a bit of trial and elimination. I can eat oven chips and microwave chips with no problem, but absolutely not proper fried chips. Also can't touch citrus fruit or grapes, raw onion, or egg unless it's in something like cake where it's cooked for longer (apparently something to do with a protein that breaks down after approx 20 minutes of heat). RE buscopan, were you taking the one in the silver box or the 'cramps' one in a gold box? I weirdly find the silver version is pretty useless but the cramps version usually does help with the pain.

SDT consultant has told me that will only do colonoscopy if calprotectin levels are high. That's interesting though and will ask about that. I'm lactose free but suspect that the chocolate I eat doesn't help there! My wind problem reduced significantly when I went lactose free. I tried aloe vera juice but couldn't hack it! Maybe I'll have to give it a go with blackcurrant. Thanks Differentnameforthis you sound very knowledgeable and like you have been a lot with all of this.

All the indications I find for DE are suggestion to wait until after elimination. Plus there isn't a lot of information as to it's safety rating, so be cautious.

BearSoFair didn't know that Buscopan came in different strengths! I just had a prescription from the GP and it worked out cheaper than buying over the counter. Presume that it was the silver then.

If you're buying processed oven chips, label check carefully as they may be coated in common triggers such as lactose or flour (wheat/ gluten) for crispiness.

There are so many triggers and they vary from person to person.

DS had multiple food allergies in infancy. When he went back up the food ladder, my digestive system flared up again after a stable phase. I realised that I had a low tolerance to certain foods and could manage moderate amounts of certain forms of certain forms of the trigger. So while a glass of milk would make a fantastìc cure for constipation, I can fortunately eat modest amounts of cheese (experience with DS told me there is no remotely adequate subsitute!). My tolerance levels seem to have improved a little if I am careful.

It is a minefield and takes a lot of trial and error.

When I was diagnosed the hospital gave me a bran drink. To cut a long story short it turned out to be wheat bran that caused it, as long as I avoid anything wholewheat I'm generally fine although something occasionally sneaks up on me. I don't get diarrhoea, just very a painful and swollen belly.

Just read up on DE it's used to defeat slugs! Don't think I'll be going down that route!

I have been doing it for years loosely on and off, but really went full on with it in Sept last yr after some pretty bad flare ups where I could barely stand.

My triggers are fructans (onion, garlic, mushrooms, also found in muesli and fruits, and I think lactose too. Milk will be my first reintroduction)

Most of my knowledge is gleaned from Monash Uni, and their app, my dr, and a great facebook group. Plus lots of my own research.

I have stress related flare ups, so an only just reliably symptom free, so will start reintroduction.

I have lost a lot of weight on it too, and have joined a gym, so that seems to help too.

P.s, I hope people don't think I am stamping all over their suggestions, I am just pointing out some contraindications to their suggestions. I know a few people who think they are doing the right thing, then find out their probiotic contains inulin etc!

Aloe vera juice should be checked for additional ingredients, as it can be high in fodmaps. Capsules are OK though as it is just the straight plant.

Honestly, the monash app will be a god send for checking ingredients when out and about.

Yeah, the GF stuff is so expensive. I can't do big meals so tend to snack throughout the day or my bloating goes back to me looking 8 months pregnant.

The schar stuff is good. I like their GF rolls that are cool in oven. I find the GF bread really dense so just don't really bother. I miss sandwiches.

For convenience, I keep a pack of mccain sweet potato fries in the freezer. They're about 2.30 and I get 4 servings out of them. Mccain also do GF oven fries at around £3 a pack I think.

As previous posters have explained, portion control is really important. Today I've had a trek protein bar (breakfast as low fodmap, Gf and dairy free). Lunch will be Gf oatcakes, cherry tomatoes, lacto free cheese cubes. I'll have some fruit (grapes and raspberries) at about 3 and dinner will be at 7 and I've got salmon, veg and maybe some rice.
I've lost a lot of weight and I was little to begin with. Still got the remnants and stretch marks from the six months I looked pregnant before gp worked out it was allergies.

The dietician gave me the approved NHS fodmap books to help me meal plan and know what I can have and to avoid. I'm happy to photograph these and either pm or add to thread?

Captain you're lucky it's so specific. I hardly eat bran and weirdly enough the consultant said too much fibre can actually cause constipation.