My and my boyfriend who also suffers with ibs have recently started the low fodmap diet to try and help with symptoms this is our 4th day doing the diet but so far we are both suffering wth diahorrea,bloating and stomach cramps, my stomach constantly keeps growling, is this normal just while our body adjusts or should we stop?
Hi: I know it's very common when you change your diet. You get all the IBS symptoms until your body adjusts. Good luck with the diet.
Thank you, have you don't it yourself? Just abit concerned because it's been 4 days and still not adjusted
Hi jessica, it's taken 7 years and numerous dietitian appointments even with FODMAP specialists to sort out my diet don't do it alone, you could do it wrong and then end up in a worse state than where you started.
The dietians have given me leaflets about what to eat and what not to and want to see me in 6 weeks when I'm ready to reintroduce things, but the first week is putting me in pain with tummy cramps and going to toilet a lot
How are you feeling now? Are you having any problem sticking to the diet? Wishing you well.
Hi jessica, did you get this pain after re introducing anything or altering your diet at all?
Having gotten that far yet it's our 5th day but so far the diet has cause us to have a lot. Of stomach cramps and bloating and given us diahorrea which was never the problem I suffered with with ibs
Hi Jessica, I pretty much eat a low fodmap diet, I reckon it's as good as it gets for IBS sufferers, but basically IBS drives you crazy you can eat some foods then that food becomes a problem, then you can eat the food which was a problem and it OK for so long, and not eating is no good that can make things worse, one thing I can consistently eat is sourdough dough white bread if that any help to you, good luck.
It shouldn't make things worse. Can you give us an example of what you're eating
I can eat white rice, canned chicken (rinsed) and canned peas (rinsed). I'm sick of it and sick without it. Not getting enough protein. Tonight I had the same beef I had two nights ago that was OK but not tonight. Go figure. It's a toss up. Like a freaking curse. Sorry for the rant but I'm hurting again.
Hi frazzled, I only discovered that I couldn't eat cheap white bread through the FODMAP specialist who helped me to know what I could have and why I couldn't have certain things. IF you really feel you've had enough ask to speak to a specialist, a proper one and don't be fobbed of. It's tough I agree but once you know then you adapt what you eat accordingly and then you know what is right or wrong for you rather than live in pain. Try something once, try one spoonful one day, two the next day and three the next, you'll if you can have them or not. I found out that most of my problems stem from stress, I have one more challenge even after seven years as I was left without support for so long. If I can eat cherries then I've cracked all the FODMAP challenges. IF you stress whilst you're trying things you'll tense all your stomach muscles up and then they will definitely cause worse problems. Eat what you can, try stuff and treat yourself if you want. You can help this none of us who have it can! Oh and good luck
Give Fodmap a week. However, if you are still feeling worse than before after this period, stop the diet. It may not suit you; some people don't respond to it well. You could also see your doctor again to say that it is not working and see the dietician as well to check that there is nothing else you should be doing.
However, if I found my IBS symptoms were worse than before after starting Fodmap, I would not continue with it. It isn't worth the trouble.
Hi, I have a Tortuous Colon also known as a redundant colon, told this a few years ago when they tried to do a colonoscopy followed by a barium enema, when you look at the anatomy of the digestive and the colon and how it should be and then look at redundant colon pictures it seems to go all over the place in some cases, I'd like to know what mine is like.
Thanx for your kind words Sam. The FODMAP does very little for me since I suffer from stress induced IBS-A. If I'm having a bad day sometimes I just look at food and my gut clinches. My stress level is very low so most of the time I'm stressing over something that really turns out to be no big deal. I haven't given up on the diet tho but I find it so restrictive. In fact, I think trying to stick to the diet is stressful. Sigh. At times I feel like a hopeless case -- so glad to have this outlet where people know just how I'm feeling and what I'm talking about.
Be well Sam.
Try dark chocolate for the anxiety and Sominax to sleep too!
Hi Sam: I hear ya about the dark chocolate. I'm an addict when it comes to it and have had to cut back for several reasons. When I can't sleep I take (even with 50 mgs. of Doxepin (low dose), melatonin at 3 or 6 mgs depending on how stress I am. Works.
Thanx for your reply.
The fodmap diet shouldn't hurt. But it isn't a cure all and you are changing your diet. Think about things you are eating now that you weren't eating before.
A trigger food for me is chocolate it is low fodmap in low amounts but I can eat two bites of it and have massive pain. Another for me is eggs, I do not believe eggs is part of the fodmap diet, but eggs bother me if they contain hormones. So I get egg less mayo and watch what I eat for eggs.
The best advice I can give is start simple. If you can eat tuna fish for lunch and is doesn't bother you for three or four days in a row you can mark it on a list of things that doesn't bother you.
I'm glad I have no IBS trigger foods because my intestines react badly to any change of diet. The smallest change can constipate me for up to a week or even two or result in diarrhoea or vomiting.