Hi, I've just signed up to this forum desperate for some help.
For the last year / 18 months I've been suffering with IBS symptoms such as constipation and bloating / wind but I'm really at any wits end as to what to do about the constant gas.
It is non-stop from when I get up to when I go to sleep and gets worse as the day goes on. I have not been to the doctors out of sheer embarrassment so have tried everything under the sun to combat it but can anyone suggest any other remedies or if I go to the doctors is there any medication that can help??
To clarify I:
Do not eat cruciferous vegetables anymore and haven't done for about 1 year
Do not drink fizzy drinks
Do not drink milk
Eat a VERY healthy diet (i.e. No processed foods other than the occasional treat - all my meals are home made every day with meticulous care as to what is put in them to prevent gas)
Take peppermint capsules and drink peppermint tea
Tried taking activated charcoal - made it worse
Take Windeze / Deflatine like they are sweets
Tried probiotics and prebiotics which seems to make things worse
I would really appreciate any help as shy of stopping eating / drinking completely I'm really at my wits end with it all.
Thanks
Have you tried eliminating bread? I find that the only bread I can eat is sourdough, and even then I limit it to no more than two slices a day. I don't eat any cereals even porridge used to make me ill.Potatoes are another thing that can cause wind. There is less starch in new potatoes than old potatoes. Like you I make all my meals, no processed food, no biscuits, pastry etc. I can manage the odd piece of cake as long as it is home made. I was also told by the consultant to limit my intake of fruit to no more than three peices a day. It so strange as what suits one doesn't suit another. I have been through phases when I have felt I would be better if I didn't eat anything!
Thanks Patricia, yes I have, I don't really eat bread or pasta etc. As I find them very bland so I never really eat them - same with potatoes. I occasionally have sweet potatoes but they wouldn't be the culprit as I maybe have them 1-2 times a week.
I know I don't understand at all. I have been eating low FODMAP for sometime but it still does nothing. I'm really struggling as to what else I can cut out of my diet
This was my main symptom when I first got diagnosed. A massive trigger for me is nuts and seeds. They irritate your gut and are indigestable so are terrible for people with ibs or diverticular disease.
Have you done a proper FODMAP elimination or are you just following low FODMAP guidelines?
Hello Sarah, i understand what you are going through. I have IBS and Diverticular and have been through the same windy situation as you. I tired cutting out the obvious gas making foods. My doctor told me that my food is not always being digested as it should so it is like having food ferment in your stomach which then will produce the gas. I tried the peppermint capsules and they made me much worse Stopped taking them and things improved somewhat. Now i find if i eat porridge made with water every morning it seems to have made things much better. But i do know for sure the peppermint capsules were terrible for me. Like you i did try activated charcoal amongst many other products and nothing helped. Do not be shy about visiting the doctor it is an every day occurence with people and their gas. I always ake a joke of it as it a normal bodily fuction but for some of us our farts seem to work overtime :-) Best wishes.
Sweet potatoes might still be the culprit Even if you are only eating them once or two times a week, that might be enough ro cause you gas if you are sensitive to them. Try cutting them from your diet.