How do you all manage your IBS? I have gone to a very bland diet, trying to find which foods effect me, keep a diary. Any other suggestions for a newcomer?
Hi I have a different problem but I have found the Monash University's FODMAP diet was very helpful to me. This was developed specifically for IBS and has shown excellent results for people with those symptoms. Search for them and find a dietician who has experience with it. The diet has been adopted all over the world and I thought it was accepted as the first line of attack.
Be in touch if you need help to find out about it. What country are you in?
Cheers
Graham
Thank you I have heard of the University but wasn't sure as there is so much info out there. I live in Colorado USA
Food and symptom diary is definitely the way to go. The FODMAP diet is very helpful, but it depends on your symptoms. There is a very useful website by a lady called Heather which I'm not sure I can link to without getting deleted, but Google it.
Medication wise painkillers, anti spasmodics and laxatives/anti diarrhoeals (depending on which way you go!) And a good old hot water bottle help the most.
Thanks for the info, I have tried and anti spasmodic didn't do much for me. How does a hot water bottle help???
I haven't read anywhere about the FODMAP diets effectiveness depending on your symptoms. Is this from a FODMAP specialist dietician?
It is from reading online and from a post on this forum. How do you manage your symptoms?
I take Buscopan occassionally or painkillers. Sometimes I need Imodium. Food does not affect my IBS but stress does. As long as I stay as calm as possible, I have no symptoms. At the moment, I have had a long period of remission.
Another vote for FODMAP from me-I downloaded a free app which was really helpful. I didnt follow the diet strictly, just used it as more of a guide but it quickly helped me figure out my triggers. Seemingly all my favourite things set things off for me annoyingly, so I did try avoiding them completely but my diet was so bland, and with a family to feed aswell it just got too much. I’m at the stage now where I’m just mindful of what I eat, and keep plenty of meds in stock to deal with whatever symptoms arise. I have started drinking peppermint tea regularly which does seem to be helping.
Thanks for the info, yes stress effects me but also food.
Yes the bland diet is hard for me, I went from eating spicy foods like Jalapenos and shrimp with no issue to IBS. I also drink peppermint tea. Thanks for sharing I really appreciate it.
There is a website http://www.katescarlata.com/fodmapdietitians/ ; that lists dieticians who have had some training, There is one in Colorado but I am not in a position to say whether they are any good or not.
The original work is at Monash and they have released a smartphone App that you can download. You definitely need some one to "hold your hand" like a dietician or your family doctor. To make it work you have to be strict. The FODMAP diet is thought to only work for 75% so I wish you luck.
Graham
Remember the FODMAP exclusion diet is only to find out what upsets you. If you find out that Jalapemos and shrimp don't affect you then you can include them in the diet once you have determined your future menu.
I would say exclude everything that is advised and wait until everything has been proven and then try your favourites again.
Graham
I don't have IBS I have RLS and I have found that the IBS diet (low FODMAP) does a great job of stopping the symptoms. There is some relationship between IBS and RLS I have no idea what it is and I am not researching anything about it. I just try to conduct simple experiments, with myself as a subject, and hope I can find improvements. So far so good I have done better than any doctors I have visited. I just follow a low FODMAP diet with a couple of extra exclusions (gluten, lactose, caffeine and alcohol) Pain in the neck but if I depart from the diet I get restless legs and no sleep for the next two nights. Its the main basis of my life worth living.
Graham
I suppose I have been lucky that I’m ok with food. My brother’s IBS was triggered by potato.
Hey anne....I hd started the discussion on" My IBS journey and what I hv learned from it" Where I have written my detailed experience with different approaches...You can read that and it will give you insight
Thank you for the advice
Thank you I got the Monash phone app yesterday.
I hope it helps.
Can't hurt to try, thanks