Balancing IBS with diet

[KatyMac]

I have had IBS for many year & always balanced it by diet

It now turns out I am milk intolerant and that may have been causing my IBS

So I have cut out all milk products & I'm now constipated; I need to start reintroducing things into my diet

Is it fairly safe to do this by myself or would I be better getting proper advise - I am a bit scared of making things worse

If you've been diagnosed as milk intolerant I would push for your GP to refer you to a dietitian for clear advice.

I've got an appointment at the end of July; but I am in so much pain right now; I've been so used to diarrhoea

I guess I should adapt a little, I've excluded so many foods over the years - probably incorrectly

I wonder what should be the first for me to re-introduce. I am finding excluding milk products quite hard and I guess this is my first long run (maybe 2 weeks or so) when I haven't made a mistake

I excluded wheat after doing a food diary. Its not easy to cut stuff out is it! And i was constantly surprised of what contained wheat!
I did a proper food exclusion/reintroduction using this book well I think an older edition. Is it worth trying to follow a laid out program? You could see what it recommends to reintroduce and then you'd knw what you could and coudln't tolerate.
For constipation there's several things that help - try roughage, fruit juice that's not from concentrate - I find that works a treat!! -, prunes (if you can stomach them). Drink plenty of fluids too. I appreciate waiting til July is ages when you're in pain! You could ask your GP for treatment (not lactulose though because it contains lactase) but maybe senna or movie of. Hope some of that helps!

yes but they are all things I cut out because they upset me so much (or so I thought before I knew about the milk)

I am scared to try them in case they send me back to where I was

What exactly did you cut out? If you're bunged up reintroducing something might just get you moving.,

All green veg
All raw veg
Most raw fruit
Tomatoes & salad
anything bitty
eggs

I definitely still have problems with coconut, almonds, eggs & obv milk, cheese, yogurt etc

But I am scared to reintroduce anything at all; actually that's not true tonight I had peas..........fingers crossed

Intellectually I know I am being stupid, but I am scared

I reckon you need to do it one little thing at a time! Well doe with the peas!

I have been so controlling with my diet for so long - 18 years

Cutting out things that I perceived made it worse; I never considered milk as the evidence for the veggies was visible (tmi sorry)

Tomorrow I am having a banana (I think)

I had issues with constipation- I used to drink ginger cordial and peppermint tea to help in the short term.

Well I am back to normal; so more comfortable but slightly annoyed

Thanks everyone

Glad to hear you're back to normal but hope you get sorted long term soon.

Back to normal = rampant IBS, so it's not good just different (I wonder if I had milk accidentally)