Can anyone talk to me about the low FODMAP diet for IBS?

[LionsDontWeaveLentils]

My gp has suggested I take a look at the FODMAP diet to try and help my IBS symptoms.

I've taken a look but am feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. I was wondering if anyone has tried it or is doing it now and can give me some pointers?

My sister is on this diet as she has very severe IBS and it has certainly helped. It is quite restrictive, especially initially when you start with a limited number of foods, but you gradually test food groups and if you are Ok with the tester it should mean you can eat the foods in that group - so your range of foods increases over time. You have to check ingredients very carefully (e.g something like marmite has celery in it - so might be off limits because of that if celery is one of your thing syou can;t tolerate.)

Anyway - my sister was sent to see a nutritionist/dietician who gave her loads of booklets and info. of all the food groups and how you cut out and re introduce things, the time scale etc. - she sees the dietician regularly and has her progress monitored. So really I think your GP needs to refer you to a dietician, because it is hard to just do this on your own - it is quite a radical diet initially, and there is so much to work out and take in with it that it is quite overwhelming - definitely worth asking him/her for a referral though because it can make a real difference.

Mys sister has gone from being so ill she was unable to work and desperately losing weight being in awful pain all the time and hardly ableto leave the house at some points because she had to be near a loo, to being able to return to work, go out on long walks, and lead a relatively normal life. She has the odd set back -and can usually pin point something she has eaten that is lightly off diet, and the other disadvantage is that she feels hungry a lot of the time on it. But the improvement in her health is fantastic from how she was.

She's been on the diet for about 15 months to give you an idea of time scale, and is still trying out new food groups and testing them -so it is a fairly long term thing, and you have to stick with it.

My DD is currently following it as much as she can - it's been really successful, but is restrictive. However, you really shouldn't do it on your own - she's been referred to a dietician and has an appointment in a couple of weeks - to make sure she does it properly.

There is loads on the internet about it and some really good recipes, but your GP shouldn't just put you on it and leave you to get on with it - they should refer you onwards for more help.

Tried to do it on my own and had some success but ended up with very few things I can eat confidently so I'm waiting for a referral to a dietician for some help.

Thanks for the responses. I mentioned a dietician to the gp but they said to try it on my own and go back if I was having problems. She was a bit wooly and vague on the whole thing really and I don't think she really understands it.

Sounds like I need to go back and try and get the referral!

Yes, I think so - it's a complicated diet which involves cutting out certain foods and reintroducing them. DD has to keep a food diary in advance of her appointment with the dietician and has a questionnaire about the frequency of intake of certain types of food. It's really something that you should at least start with support and guidance from a dietician - the British Dietetic Assoc, should be able to help if you're having trouble getting a referral.