IBS

[StrawberryFizz26]

Hi all, I a lightbulb moment last week, after googling my bowel habits and I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from IBS and have been for some time.

I had an appointment with a doc yesterday who agreed and I'm going for some blood tests etc.

In the meantime, does anyone have any advice on what to eat, what to avoid.

I know each case is different and there's so much info on line, I thought maybe you wise lot could help and looking me in the right direction.

I've also been told I've got high cholesterol so this is something else I need to get a grip of.

Depends so much on what your triggers are.

You'd be better off keeping a food diary for a few weeks.

For me it's milk and yogurt. Melted cheese, whole meal bread and pasta, high fibre foods like weetabix and really greasy food like fish and chips, Chinese take away.

Thank you, I've started one today.

I would avoid cutting anything out until you've been seen. People often cut out gluten for example, but this can throw off the test for coeliac disease.

Food diary is a good shout. And don't be put off by any BS about it being anxiety or all in your head. Food triggers are real. And IBS can massively affect quality of life.

Good luck

Thank you

Have a read up on the low fodmap diet. It helps a lot for me

I had severe IBS & now I have a milder form. It never went away but it’s much much more manageable now thank goodness.

A good probiotic would be a good start OP.

Alcohol & onions were major triggers for me but I really do think there’s a psychosomatic element. That does not mean it’s all in your head. It means the brain is sophisticated & gives us physical symptoms to distract us from repressed emotions. I grappled with IBS for over 20 years & did a lot of research & saw lots of health practitioners including a gastroenterologist. I really do think it’s a mind-body condition.

perriwinkles that's really interesting, thank you.
I've defo been drinking too much lately and thinking about my traumatic childhood.

I'm starting a pilates challenge tomorrow and am not going to drink whilst I'm doing that (23 days).

I'm nearly 40 and want to feel my best so addressing all these things, as well as eating better and exercising more are only going to help me with that.

IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion - it can only be diagnosed after every other explanation for bowel issues has been ruled out, including camera tests and biopsies. It should never be diagnosed in the first instance, any doctor willing to do so is negligent.

When you get through all that, ask for referral to a dietitian before tinkering with your diet.

I am sorry you have so much on your plate and I hope you start to feel better soon.

legoriaklene
Thank you, I'm actually really lucky to have private medical care through my work so am going for the initial blood test tomorrow.

I realise it's not a straightforward diagnosis, although it is a relief to have an idea of what may be going on and to know it can be managed.

It's almost a way of getting through to myself that I do have to take good care of me and I'm doing so I'll feel better. And I can't just carry on as I have been throughout my 20/30's.

Ahhhh, the joys of getting older 😄

I'm wondering if you have a gallstone, I had high cholesterol, raised liver levels and what was thought to be IBS and it was a single large stone blocking the bile to digest my food. With a large stone, you don't get the usual gallbladder pain so can be missed. As others have said, IBS is only really diagnosed when everything else is ruled out.