Fed up of IBS - what to eat for least problems

[itsthemenopausenotme]

I'm so tired of IBS . I alternate between constipation and diarrhoea, I have a fissure and a lot of pain. I'm tired of it. I'm seriously considering an all liquid diet because due to bad mental health I don't feel I can take much more

I have emetaphobia and fear of any digestive illnesses, so live in constant panic. I know it sounds ridiculous.

What is the best diet I could eat for the least problems, maybe I mean the least faeces?

I eat gluten free and lactose free. I can't handle a lot of fibre.

Sorry, I'm on the edge tonight following another IBS episode and I'm probably not making much sense

Do you hold it in if you need a poo at work or out and about?

I found this caused me to get terrible ibs. A lot of it was stress. I tried cutting out literally every food group but it didn't work until I changed my mind set. Also light excersise helps. Have you tried jogging for 29 mins a couple times a week?

I found my kefir grains via Next Door Ap. You can also source them
Online.

Yes you can sweeten it, add fruit etc. You can make kefir sour cream and cheese too.

Thanks. I've not seen kefir offered anywhere, I've just applied to join a fb group though, will see what they say.

I've never heard of it before, so no idea what I'm doing. Is it the same as live yogurt?

Just remembered I was told by the doctor that amitriptyline also helps with ibs. Might be worth a look

Yes it's a bit like live yoghurt but much much stronger. It is a fermented living food. Very good for gut health. Take a look at the link I posted up thread - lots of info there.

Once you get done grains it is just a matter of adding milk and straining.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-health-benefits-of-kefir

I changed to a high fat, high protein, low carb diet. I had constipation for about a month, but after that my bowel 're-learned' how to function properly. The theory is that your bowel gets used to the fibre pushing through without it needing to contract. After a while it learns to push the food/waste through by itself - no more constipation or diarrhoea...

I've recently started taking Symprove every morning which is liquid probiotic to improve your microbiome / gut flora.
I also did the YorkTest which showed that I had an intolerance to dairy, egg & yeast so I cut those out as well as gluten, caffeine and alcohol which I already avoid.
Neither are cheap but I was at my wits end and my GP was dismissive and uninterested.
I have seen an improvement and am thinking about gradually reintroducing eggs as it's so restrictive cutting out all of these!
I used to eat a lot of gluten free bread but have switched to GF wraps and Ryvita which don't contain yeast.
Michael Moseley's book The Clever Guts Diet has a lot of info about how to maintain a healthy gut.
Good luck - I hope you get an improvement

Watching this thread as another sufferer here as well, have had IBS for a long time and stress is a major factor in mine. The problem is the more I worry about being caught short the more likely it is to happen as i'm stressed!!

Fibre and oats set me off.

I try and not stress as much now as got to the point where I was scared to go anywhere unless i knew where the toilet was. I still don't like long journeys though....

Can you buy dairy free kefir?
I'd like to try it but dairy irritates my gut...

I was wondering that too. I only have lactose free milk.

Regarding your fissure, you need a stool softener like laxido.

Have you been to your GP about your fissure? Lots they can do.

And FODMAP diet generally. Don't up the fibre and cut dairy completely.

Apparently lactose intolerant can have kefir as the process uses up all the lactose.

www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/milk-kefir/reducing-lactose-content-kefir/

Another one who found kefir really helped. I get mine from Morrison’s but I’m sure most of the big supermarkets sell it too. I like the mango flavoured drink one and there are some kefir coconut yogurts I get too.

I was worried about buscopan causing me constipation too but I got no bad side effects at all and it really helps my symptoms loads. I would highly recommend it.

Getting anxious about my symptoms flares them up even more so I have to try and remain calm and do lots of deep breathing exercises etc.

I have suffered from ibs for over 10 years now and have tried just about ever medication and diet. I have found the fodmap diet to be a great help but it is hard to stick to especially when you can't have your favourite foods. I have started getting Accupuncture treatment and I have noticed an improvement in just a few treatments. I have still got a few more treatments to go but fingers crossed it seems to helping

Along with kefir, live foods in general could help balance your gut microbes - sauerkraut and other fermented veg, kombucha (fermented tea), unpasteurised live cheese and yogurt, (you might find the book The Diet Myth helpful as well)