I think I have IBS and advice please

[Blossomflowers]

Am very uncomfortable right now, looked up IBS and I seem to have all the symptoms, Pain in lower abdomen, diarrhoea, nausea, very tired tummy bloated etc. Have had this for a few weeks and seems to come and go. Seems like a little a GP can do but wondered if anyone has any tips, re diet or anything I can do to ease things. Have been very stressed this year so thinking this a contributing factors.

Hi Blossomflowers, I had IBS quite badly a few years ago and it was quite debilitating, but it is much improved now. I found it helpful to look carefully at my diet. In my case I was eating ALOT of very high fibre foods such as branflakes, masses of wholegrains, fruit and veg. Contrary to everything I had been told this was actually making my problem so much worse. I had a friend who had bowel problems (much more serious than mine) and she told me she couldn't eat this much fibre either, she would be permanently on the loo!

I started eating more gentle forms of fibre such as oat based foods and cut out things like dried friut and pulses (which was hard because I do enjoy them) and my symptoms improved quickly. I also have a juicer so that I can enjoy the nutrients of the fruit and veg I like without the insolulable fibre.

Have you heard of the FODMAP diet? It tells you about the foods that take the longest to digest in your gut and are the most likely to cause wind/diarrhoea and hence make your symptoms worse. I used this as a guide too.

Hope things improve for you, I know it can be a really distressing illness and one that is hard to talk about.

lilac thank you, that is very interesting actually about high fibre foods. I was diagnosed Type2 diabetes last year so try to follow a wholegrain high fibre type diet. In your experience did you also have back ache? I have got so used to the diarrhoea thing but this morning my tummy was hurting so much that DP asked me what was wrong. ( Trying to keep aches and pains to myself) I have not been to GP as do not want to waste their time. As thought I might try and make changes to my diet first.

I had IBS for many years, undiagnosed but the same symptoms as goes. It persisted until I did Atkins and cut all bread and pasta from my dieta at which point it vanished. I haven't stayed on Atkins but still avoid many processes carbs. Whenever I do eat a big portion of pasta or too much rubbish white bread, I start getting cramps, wind etc. So maybe try cutting bread and other wheat products from your diet for s wife and see if it improves.

Because of Diabetes I try to avoid processed food,s very little pasta, limited bread, never white. ah the dreaded. So it seems all connected to diet then? I also read stress plays a bit part. Any thoughts on this?

I was certainly under stress when mine was at it's worst....on a day to day basis I would say I always have a pretty sensitive digestive system but when it was bad I had the nausea, tummy and sometimes back ache yes. I really never ate alot of processed food either. For me it was definitely the high fibre diet and the stress that exacerbated it. I have a young friend who has it too and she finds, like Justwondering72 that processed foods and alcohol set her off. She is trying really hard to follow the fodmap diet and eating really clean food in a more mindful way (not stuffing herself with doritos etc!) and it is really helping.

I found motilium was very helpful when I had the nausea, that was the worst symptom for me, really horrible!

Your symptoms sound very similar to coeliac disease, it would be worth asking your doctor to test for this.

I am only guessing about the IBS, don't know much about it but know it has been a recurring thing over the years, just particularly painful episode right now, ouch!

I do think you should talk to your doctor about testing for coeliac. Many people suffer with what they think is IBS for years before being diagnosed. People with coeliac disease are also at a higher risk of diabetes. You can check out the symptoms on NHS Direct or Coeliac UK and see if you think they match your symptoms.

I will check it out charming feeling a lot better today might even make to the gym. Stomach was so swollen last night looked like I was 6 months pregnant eek. Crazy thing last night ate curry and a few glasses of wine (because I thought what the hell) and this morning no bloateness or pain, go figure!

It does sound like a problem with wheat or gluten (coeliac disease is where your body cannot tolerate gluten). Curries tend to be gluten free which would exPlain why you feel fine this morning. Definitely ask your doctor for a test.

You can be intolerant to wheat without being coeliac. Stress can also play a part.

I know to get tested for coeliac disease you shouldn't stop eating wheat but it sounds like just a few wheat free days would give you the necessary feedback from your body.

Had a bit of nan bread . I am putting a lot of how I am feeling to stress. Been a shit year really, long term partner left me early this year and then came back, money troubles, being self employed and worried about where the next bit of business is coming from, ho hum probably nothing compared to some people trouble, But I feel in constant state of slight panic. I keep reading IBS is so connected to stress.

Hi Blossom it does sound like stress is having an effect. What I am about to suggest doesn't sound like much but may make a big difference...always stop and sit to eat your meals (ie not standing, working, on the run). Take a moment to pause before you start to eat - take a few deep breaths and relax (saying 'grace' even if you aren't religious can be really helpful). Then eat as slowly as you can - not necessarily chewing loads, but really tasting and enjoying the meal. If you can have meals without any other distractions, like tv or book, even better.

Try this as much as you can at every mealtime for a week, see if it helps. If your body is in a stressed state then your digestion will be compromised, your body is in fight or flight mode, assimilating food isn't a priority, running from a predator is .

Ps- let me know how you get on