does anyone have experience of IBS?

[ChopinRocks]

have recently been diagnosed with this and want advice on what foods you have avoided/recommend.

I think it is an individual thing, but there are certain culprits that a lot of people suffer from.
So spicey, garlicky food can set me off.
yeast has been implicated, so not too much bread
Lots of tomatoes, havd also been sited as not good.
What do you notice yourself feeling bloated after?

Chilli, hot spices and rich food set me off.

I take aloe vera gel every day (mixed with apple juice to make it even vaguely paletable!). It keeps almost all my symptoms away unless I go for a curry.

too much coffee, alcohol, rich food and very spicy food

it is individual.

you can try eliminating a food group for a week at a time, and see if you feel better. So for example, you can have no wheat for a week, if you see no changes, you could try not having dairy for a week instead, and so on.

I've had IBS since I was a teenager and suffered terribly for years - largely due to an intolerance to wheat. I've reduced the wheat in my diet (non wheat cereal for breakfast, keep bread and pasta to a minimum), which has made a huge difference but I finally discovered the best help yet. It's a natural remedy found in health food stores called 'Acidophilas' (sp?) and helps the gut with natural bacteria. I take two of these every morning after breakfast and it really helps keep my digerstive system in order. When I run out of the tablets, I really notice the IBS return. Give it a go!

I get IBS and my trigger is wheat... If I have too much bread or pasta I get terrible stomach cramps...

have no real triggers but a violent stomach spasm over a month ago put me in hospital and has left me with this ibs. I have been advised to lay off the diet coke - i love diet coke! Have given up bread for lent so the absence of bread hasnt had any impact. Bloating i can cope with its the "urgency for the toilet" that is a worry, am so scared i will be caught out one day when i am out shopping or something.

It's often to do with too much carbohydrate in youe diet.

However, stress is also a key component.

It would be a really good idea to start keeping a food diary, but one where you also record how stressful your daily life is. After some time, possibly only a few days, you may be able to identify what triggers off your attacks.

Good idea about keeping a diary - i actually bought one this morning so that i can keep a record of the food i eat plus symptoms the next day.

Doctor asked me to to a stool sample but am too embarrassed to take it back in and just leave it with the receptionist! maybe i will just drop it in and run!

Am interested to hear that it may be carb related.

Thanks for all the advice guys.