IBS and life

[Rachie1986]

Anyone give me some advice on IBS? Or direct me to a previous thread with a wealth of information?

I have IBS. Take mebeverine 3 times a day. Generally not too bad if I don't eat...
Garlic
Much onion
Too much sugar
Alcohol.

Seem to be having a bit of a bad patch on and off the last few weeks though. Not sure what to do or how to make it better, but had another day off today and work aren't going to be very happy (and neither am I).

Had a look at FODMAP but it seems very restrictive and I have other health conditions so can't cook a separate meal for me and then DH and DD. Anyone found it works?

Anything else anyone can recommend?

I've got a dietician appointment late in march.

A bit fed up if I'm honest. I want to have a normal life, not worry about this all the time, which I do at the moment.

https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/IBSfoodfacts.pdf

Sorry you are feeling like this The above may be helpful. Have you been stressed lately? this can cause a flare up of ibs symptoms. Some patients find meditation & relaxation works for them.

It sounds like you have already identified some trigger foods. Caffeine, chewing gum & sugar free products should also be avoided as these can have a laxative effect.

Probiotics work for some people, but if no benefit is noted after 6 weeks, then there is no need to continue.

FODMAP does work for many, but as you have said is extremely restrictive & should be done under he guidance of a specially trained dietitian to ensure your diet remains balanced. It's likely that your dietitian will issue some 1st & 2nd line advice before assessing your suitability for this diet. There is a lot of erroneous information on the internet around FODMAPs. The only trusted source I would recommend is the Monash University, there is an app available for around £7 if you wanted to gain more knowledge of high and low FODMAP foods.

Sometimes excluding bread and wheat for 2weeks may help, if no change is noted then it is fine to reintroduce as tolerated. The same also with lactose but not at the same time as bread.

Ideally your GP should have excluded coeliac disease & IBD before referring you to the dietitian.

Hope you feel better soon

Thanks so much for the advice.

Both IBD and celiac (sp?) we're ruled out. I am lactose free already and manage that.

Appreciate the response, some things to.think about definitely :-)

A long time ago I discovered that a Chinese remedy for digestive problems was to cook rice until very soft and have it with a little sesame oil. I eat a lot of rice (white) cooked until very soft (nearly double the cooking time but watch it or it will turn to porridge!) and I use extra virgin olive oil rather than sesame after cooking. I have found that it really does help keep my IBS under control much of the time, and really helps it settle if I have a bad attack as I increase the number of portions until it settles. If you are going to try this then follow current guidelines for reducing arsenic in rice (soak beforehand and cook in at least five times as much water, drain and rinse with hot water).

I found I can eat some things on the FODMAP list - e.g. I can eat a few baby brussel sprouts but not brocolli and am OK with mushrooms. It really is a question of experimenting with small quantities to see what happens. (I've got to cook now but if anything else occurs to me I'll add it later.) Hope your feel much better soon - it is miserable.

Thanks flaming.

Should I be doing that arsenic thing whenever I cook white rice? What about arborio for risotto etc? Never heard of this...

I've known about the arsenic in rice for years because both my DS and I are glutenfree I did a lot of research about various foods. Luckily I've always cooked rice in lots of water and rinsed it given the amount of it we have eaten. This was raised again recently in Trust Me I'm A Doctor as more detailed investigations had been done about methods of cooking - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2F1MDzyW55pg97Tdpp7gqLN/should-i-be-concerned-about-arsenic-in-my-rice Certainly for risotto I'd rinse/soak it/rinse again before cooking it.

What I said about mushrooms etc. above - I do eat small amounts. I find I can eat small amounts of lots of things I couldn't eat a normal sized portion of. Eating even a small amount stops me feeling deprived when the rest of the family tuck in!

Being honest OP if it's as bad as you say, cooking food for yourself following the FODMAP should be something you'd do. One of my DCs does the Fodmap after seeing a specialist dietitian for this and I have different intolerances. If you were to stick to really simple foods, like plain meats, fish and some (limited ) veg and fruit, you should see some progress. It might mean you eat chicken, fish, spuds , carrots, and salads for a while but it's not a dreadful diet. Once you get your head round it there are quite a lot of foods you can eat and the family could eat the same. The Fodmap is supposed to be for 8 weeks only then you re-assess and start putting some foods back to see that happens.

I have severe IBS (and diverticular disease) and while I followed the FODMAP diet for quite a long time, I ended up modifying it. It helped but I still had problems.

Recently my GP suggested I went gluten free to see if that helped...I was sceptical (even tho I know bread and pasta are a trigger) and the difference has been unbelievable. I am OUT of pain, and my bowels are much better behaved. She also prescribed a low dose of amitriptyline to help with the pain at night and the combo has made me feel better than I have for years.. I don't even need mebeverine now!

Worth a try maybe?

Another advocate for a gluten free diet here - it has changed my life, my IBS has all but gone. And tomato skins - evil buggers. Amitriptyline helped while I was in the throes of IBS but no need to take it now.

The FODMAP diet does include going gluten free - maybe not the info online but the dietitian who treated my DC suggested it and DC does and has had relief. (So am I.)