Severe bloating / IBS advice

[Chans11]

Hi all,

i was diagnosed with IBS around 10 years ago and at the time was mainly experiencing bloating, diarrhea & bad stomach cramps after eating. Since having a baby in Nov 2021 I now experience severe bloating, constipation, extreme fatigue/brain fog and the occasional bad episode of going to the toilet.

my father had crohns disease for 25years and died of bowel cancer in 2021 so because of this i have been to the drs numerous times to see if it is something different to IBS. I have had bloods done for coeliac which came back clear & full blood count OK. My symptoms are really now making me feel down, when i eat anything I can feel myself expanding and feel bloated for hours. I have tried the fodmap diet, cutting out certain foods etc but nothing is improving my symptoms.

just seeing if anybody else has been in a similar situation. Should I push for a colonoscopy? Diets anyone can reccomend?

thanks for reading

Do you know if your IGA antibody was checked?

Have you tried keeping a food diary? Have you tried cutting out lactose or doing low fodmap?

Do you think you could be perimenopause? Histamine might be an issue.

I also always get coldsores which I’m not sure whether is linked to all this aswel!

Hi,
yes i believe was tested and came back as normal

have kept a food diary but there id no pattern, i could have the same meals 2 days in a row and one day be fine the next get severe bloating. Noticed zero difference with low fodmap diet

also dont believe i am perimenopausal. Am 33 with no other symptoms in relation to that

thanks

This is me! After pregnancy my IBS was worse and i was in so much pain. Also have coeliacs in the family and have been tested but also negative.

I did a private food allergy test (IGE) and it came back with wheat / seafood. So I’ve cut out wheat out and it’s made such a difference, I’ve got more energy, having normal bowel movements for the first time in forever, not feeling sick and hardly ever bloated.

Sorry to hear youve experienced the same!

Thats interesting to know - I may have to go down that route as cant carry on like this. I love my food but am really starting to dread eating as know i’m going to feel uncomfortable for ages!

This is where I got to! I was so fed up and the GP wasn’t much help other than asking if I depressed….i was getting more angry so took matters into my own hands. I tried the FODMAP but like yourself really struggled as one day it was fine the next day not to much.

I ended up using this one but there is others on the market: https://www.yorktest.com/products/food-allergy-test/

Just make sure they are testing IGE for an allergy response (IGG for intolerances aren’t as supported scientifically but it could be worth doing if you are desperate as I think you can do a bundle)

I accidentally ate some wheat yesterday and I can feel it today, its made a massive difference to my energy levels and I haven’t looked 6 months pregnant in a while 😂

You really need to check if iga was tested as coeliac testing won't be accurate if you don't produce the antibodies. Mouth ulcers can be a coeliac thing.

Also keep a diary of your menstrual cycle and how it links to symptoms.

Histamine and I think fodmaps can be more like a bucket, you could be fine with a certain amount of high histamine/fodmap foods, but eating something similar the following day could tip you over the edge into an amount you can't tolerate, as the bucket is full.