Question for the low carbers (delicate subject matter)

[Pompano]

Ok sorry if this is TMI but I am having truly heinous tummy problems lately. Dr says it's 'just' IBS and not offered much help except Imodium when necessary. Ive been given dietary advice to eat more starchy carbs like wholemeal bread, pasta etc to help but it's getting worse!

So my question to the low carbers is - if you're a person who has tummy issues (in my case urgency after food) have you find that going LC has helped?
I do need to lose weight too so maybe if it will help, perhaps this is the way to go.

If you go low carb, remember than sugar alcohols like sorbitol can cause the runs.

A friend of mine had horrific IBS for years and cut out wheat and dairy, completely cleared up, she has no issues with it at all any more. The dairy was the major issue and wheat was mainly just painful, could be worth cutting out one or the other for a month at a time and seeing if it helps?

I feel better without wheat too.

I was diagnosed with IBS a few years back. It was gradually getting worse - over summer I ended up with agonising stomach pains, and diarrheoa (well, this was always going to be an intimate subject ) that was getting worse over three months and ended up as pure water every half hour.

I cut out grains, nightshades, alcohol and cows dairy (I still have goats or sheeps yoghurt to help my gut heal) and within 48 hours I was fine. And haven't had a single hint of a problem since (ok that was only about a month ago but compared to the time I was having before that this is remarkable).

I can't recommend it enough.

Oh - and I'm losing weight quite effortlessly. Have just this week fitted into a dress and a shirt that I couldn't fit into a month ago. I'm eating loads of full fat food to give me energy instead.

Once you get over the shock of "what do I eat for breakfast (no toast) or dinner (no spaghetti, rice or potatoes), it's actually really quite easy, and very tasty.

Google 'paleo' or 'primal blueprint' if you are interested in this.

I have IBS, of the other type and find low carb helps a lot, as does low dairy. Had a crossiant and milky coffee as a treat the other day and was in pain all afternoon.

Hope it helps you.

OP
Have you tried fybogel?

My husband suffered for years with IBS and constant reflux/indigestion. He was also pre-diabetic and suffering from sleep apnea. Since going low carb and initially cutting gluten, nightshades, legumes and dairy he has been totally fine. From living on Zantac and visiting the toilet at least three times a day, to totally unmedicated and normal toilet visits. No pain and no emergencies. He has since gone back to eating dairy with no noticable effects but he had some salsa the other day and really knew about it!

Also his blood sugar is now totally fine and he's lost 3 stone in weight and no longer snores or stops breathing.

Question - what's a nightshade?

my tummy and digestion all feel alot better after starting a low carb diet

Imnotcrazy, nightshades include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cayenne, aubergines and paprika.

It's the level of alkaloids that can cause problems for those with increased sensitivity.

I had similiar tummy problems, tried low carb diet and it actually got worse... Had blood tests done to discover Iam intolerent to eggs and diary, which had been very much present in my low carb diet sadly. Have cut them right out of by diet abs no problems since. Hope u get to the bottom of what is causing your tummy issues.

saying that DH cooked a chilli last night!

It was one of the great revelations to me about low carbing. I started low carbing to lose weight, and then realised all my IBS symptoms disappeared too.

I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 18. It turned out to be coeliac - took another 15 or so years, and lots more weird symptoms (hair loss, night cramps, sudden weight loss, fainting...) before I was diagnosed. I too was advised at 18 to more more brown bread and wholemeal pasta with the IBS diagnosis... Worst possible advice for someone with coeliac! Low(ish) carb paleo diet suits me beautifully. I always eat lots of non-starchy veg, but most of my calories come from meat, eggs, fish and olive oil - it has made a huge difference to how I feel.