IBS and FODMAPS

GGMk2 Thanks for posting this thread.

I went gluten free a couple of years ago, which has helped dramatically with IBS and also the rosacea, but I have to confess that the FODMAP seemed complicated enough to be a step too far!! I really need to get a grip and see if it makes a further improvement.

Oddly enough, neither the gastroenterologists nor various GPs have ever suggested any change in diet! As I already eat piles of fruit and veg they must have assumed that my fibre levels were OK. They've never mentioned going gluten or wheat free, or the FODMAP.

I've already discovered that soya is The Enemy - that's when I used it instead of dairy, a short-lived experiment!!

I came at it a bit from the wrong end MiniMouse, and left out the things that were easy to leave out and then found out about the other ones - if that makes sense You do re-introduce things and it would be good to have a dietician helping but, because of the lack of funds, I have a feeling most people would see pigs fly first. It is, thankfully, very easy to get lactose free milk these days. I just need to find out if I can make ice-cream from it

Good luck if you decide to start. I just had the lists the doctor gave me in my bag when I went shopping to start with - they can be down loaded - and did my best but shout if you think I may be able to help.

Two years ago a friend from Melbourne Australia visited us for a few days. I knew she suffered from IBS and she sent me a copy of the FODMAP plan. The University in Melbourne does a lot of work/research using the FODMAP diet.
When she arrived we went to Sainsburys and stocked up on all sorts of foods for her trip - after staying with us she went on to France and Greece. I was surprised that she was lactose intolerant but had small pills to take to counteract the lactose. I made a ham, cheddar cheese and egg layered pie which my friend tried a small portion and enjoyed it! I was rather fearful of the consequences!

Fodmaps does seem complicated when you start out - but like Gracesgran I cut out the easy stuff like - apples, onions, mushrooms, wheat etc and saw a massive improvement, and then gradually refined it to suit my own gut. It takes time and experimentation but is well worth it. The Monash University app is a wonderful help. It is such a pity we don't have more dietitians available with the time to talk people through the changes they need to make.

Thanks GGMk2!

I avoid milk altogether as I can't stand it in any form (the body's way of telling me to avoid it?!) However, I love cheese and use Lactofree Cheddar - yum!

I've also stopped eating onions, apples and mushrooms, so I seem to have naturally eliminated some foods!

Will check out the FODMAP & see what else I may have given up that's on there.

Interestingly chocolatepudding, you can eat small portions of some cheeses on this regime. I can only think that the processing 'kills off' the lactose (I'm sure that is not right but you will get my meaning) .

I am still trying to work out if I can download the Monash app on to my Kindle wildswan, as I don't have a Smartphone; it would make things a lot easier.

I suffer from IBS D and have done for at least 20 years. I've tried everything I have read about but some seem to work for a while then back to square one. I can be perfectly alright for a few days or even a week then spend a morning rushing to the loo about 4 times on and off.

I've just started this FODMAP thing and read lots about it. It doesn't seem too difficult other than the wheat and ice cream thing.....love both.

I suppose you cannot expect results overnight. Did you GranGran find it took time to be symptoms free?

I am now keeping a food diary and account of times I've had to 'go' to try to draw conclusions over which foods my guts don't like.

Any tips welcome

I struggle to know what will trigger an upset. I had to give up sprouts and cauliflower, but broccoli is fine, also green beans, onions.
I tend now not to eat fruit, unless I have gone the other way after an episode and need to get my system going again, when it does the trick.
I did keep a food dairy but it didn’t really tell me anything specific. I just think I have got it sussed, when out of the blue the problem flares up again, for no obvious reason.
I would love to work with a dietitican, but have not been able to find one nearby.
Fortunately it is more or less manageable.