Any IBS sufferers please?

[Pompano]

I've just posted this below, on the In the club section, but thought i'd post here too for more feedback if possible. Has anyone here tried cutting out wheat and or other grains and seen an improvement? Or any other advice for dealing with toilet urgency problems? I came close to having an accident earlier this afternoon and it's horrified me..thank you

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Ok sorry if this is TMI but I am having truly heinous tummy problems lately. Dr says it's 'just' IBS and not offered much help except Imodium when necessary. Ive been given dietary advice to eat more starchy carbs like wholemeal bread, pasta etc to help but it's getting worse!

So my question to the low carbers is - if you're a person who has tummy issues (in my case urgency after food) have you find that going LC has helped?
I do need to lose weight too so maybe if it will help, perhaps this is the way to go

I suffer most days, never had any dietary advice so I'm marking my spot.
As a strict veggie I'd have difficulties doing this but I'd be willing to try if it helps.

Hi I have IBS, diagnosed by GP but I understand IBS to a symptomatic of underlying allergies.
I havent eaten gluten for years but still get occasional IBS. I cut out dairy products and that seemed to help with errr... Bowel distress (coy term!)
I also cut out red meat as that isn't easily digested.
I think it's a long process of trial and elimination, pro-biotics are supposed to help.
Low carb definitely helps! But then I get "bowel distress" from eating too much fibre, can't tolerate green veg.
I bought a juicer though and veg juice in the morning is amazing for quietening my guts.

I've had IBS for 30 years now. I've not had much treatment/help.

I think it's largely trial and error.

I was on a gluten free diet for 12 years. I think it did help a bit but not massively. And it's really restrictive socially. But I had the constipation rather than the urgency.

Going vegetarian has helped me quite a bit. I think meat for some reason is hard to digest.

But the main thing for me has been cutting my stress levels. I changed to working from home a few years ago. I don't have any problems at all lately. Being able to go when I need to go and not having the travelling to work, awful colleagues type of stress has made a massive difference.

I know it's not an easy thing to find a home working job. But in hindsight I think stress levels are probably what caused my problems. I actively avoid stress and I am ok. The only problems I have now are when we go away for a weekend or on holiday. I can't go at all for up to a week - causing bloating and pain. Half an hour after I get home, I go and I'm fine.

What I mean by actively avoiding stress - don't try to do too much. Know your limits. Take regular rest. Relaxation cds are good. Also gentle exercise.

Don't be ashamed of getting some pads if you're worried about leaking. I'm in my 40's now but I'm a lot better than when I was in my '20s when I was literally doubled over in pain. It's one of those illnesses that you find a way to manage. Find what works for you. For some people it's cutting gluten, for others dairy, meat or alcohol. Just try things out.

Sorry you're having such a hard time with it.

I echo the "stress factor", mine is definitely much much worse on work days (I work pt), I have an easy going yet high profile / accuracy job (hard to explain), i have to self motivate and meet my own deadlines (which I can change but not indefinitely). God that's sooo vague sounding
But I can get very ill on work days, often live on Imodium for those 3 days

My IBS was confirmed through intrusive tests. My Dad had UC, had his bowel removed just in time. GP suspected I had it too, thankfully I don't but I hate the lack of guidance / treatment for IBS

Yes I swing between loose and constipation. I did an elimination diet and reintroduced things (I followed guidance in a book) it was definitely wheat that triggered me off. I eat a strict gluten free diet now and my IBS is so much better! Not gone completely but better. My stomach stopped being bloated, my bowels settled down. Now I can tell if I've eaten wheat within an hour max - I get palpitations and bloat. Then I get diarrhoea.

Interestingly any medics say when I have a flare up to monitor my diet and a lid the trigger food but they won't give me GF food on prescription because it's not diagnosed (coeliac test came back negative) so its not cheap or definitely as pointed out above, difficult eating out! If you're serious about it you need to follow a clear programme rather than just cutting odd things out. Might be worth doing a food diary first to look for a pattern. Have you been tested for coeliac disease?

Stress is the trigger for me but I found buscopan would sort of break the cycle, because once it started it would trouble me for ages and it would take a holiday or something to settle it all down again.

I've had IBS for about 25 years. I've finally fallen out with my GP over it as she says there's not much more she can do for me and I need to just get on and take Immodium and Senokot. I refuse to do that!

Suggestions - get tested for Coeliac disease, if you can afford it, do a York Test where they'll test you for allergies. Go and see a nutritionalist.

I'm much better without wheat, but I seem to be allergic to so much more.

Eggs are my real nemesis. I am doubled over and rushing to the loo within 30 mins of digesting eggs. (NB Most gluten free breads have egg in them so beware!)

Have had diagnosed IBS for 3 years but probably had since birth! The amount of very invasive tests I've had (over the last 5 years) did nothing to confirm it so if you're offered these, think very carefully about them - especially a barium enema. Can only speak from my own experience but found my IBS is definitely exacerbated by wheat and gluten. When I gave them up completely, after a month I found I had more energy, could think more clearly and was no where near as bloated (still happened occasionally though). I won't lie, it's incredibly difficult to give wheat up - it's in everything, even soup.

More generally, avoiding anything which brings on gas is key. This includes fizzy drinks, beans (of any kind) and some green vegetables (unless they're really well cooked).

Peppermint oil and a gelatin-based chewy tablet thing called Bimuno really helped me but I'd check with doctor/pharmacist to see if they're safe if you're pregnant. NB: Peppermint oil makes your poo smell really fresh . The other lifesaver for me was a prescription only medicine called laxido which unsurprisingly, is a laxative. When I was given that, my bowels could move again so if you're getting horrendous constipation, maybe ask your doctor about it. Get the orange one as it tastes the least awful. You do get used to the taste .

Wheat free food is much better than it used to be - I buy Warbuton's bread and freeze it. It does go hard quickly so not really suitable for sandwiches but if you toast it, it's fine.

Good luck with the IBS - You have my deepest sympathy xxx

I find peppermint tea helps but I can't take the capsules, I seem unable to digest the capsules and sick them up after about an hour (whole). Really not nice! Buscopan helps me too but that isn't safe in pregnancy. I have mebeverine but the advice on that's a but woolley so I haven't been taking that either.

I agree laxido is effective but not great tasting, when I had it I added a drop of squash which made it more tolerable!