IBS

A diagnosis by a Doctor of IBS is usually meaning that after many tests for many conditions which have ruled them out, the cause for the problems being experienced are 'unknown',

Like many other terms which are used far too often and lightly (migraine being one - for anyone who ever had a bad headache), IBS is just thrown around anytime anyone has a stomach upset.

If bloating, problems with bowels, etc are being experienced more than once or twice then proper medical investigations need to be carried out. Cutting out certain foods, changing diet is not the first-call answer.

I was in my thirties, and healthy when I first experienced bowel problems - which proved to be due to Ulcerative Colitus (an auto-immune) disease. Despite the rather harsh drug treatments back then, I eventually had to have a permament iliestomy -which gave me a new lease of life and - in fact - my life. Without it I would have long since died.

Keep a note of when you have any such stomach/bowel problem and take yourself and that information to your GP. You may need referral on to a hospital. Do not self-medicate in any way. IF the eventual diagnosis is IBS - with everything else having been ruled out, then a nutritionist can help you work out solutions.

BlueSky

I think you need to be checked first (If it hasn’t been done yet) to exclude other causes before diagnosing IBS, which is a diagnosis of exclusion. Then you can explore the various avenues.

I agree with BlueSky have all other tests to exclude other causes.

sadly my sil kept being told her problems were IBS she was eventually found to have ovarian cancer to late to save her, she died within two months. Don't me fobbed off by your GP.

I think you need to be checked first (If it hasn’t been done yet) to exclude other causes before diagnosing IBS, which is a diagnosis of exclusion. Then you can explore the various avenues.

I had not known the term 'sugar alcohol' before reading this thread.

I found the following.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/sugar-alcohol-vs-sugar#differences

I’ve had IBS for many years and have tried many things and diets over the years. The most successful was going low carb for my Diabetes! Side effect of improved IBS! Obviously I’ve had to cut out a lot of fruit and veg for the Diabetes, so maybe that has helped. I also used to go for regular colonics when it was at its worst.

You have to get your gut flora back into sync.
3/4 years ago I went on the Symprove 3 month plan. I’ve never looked back. ?

I have IBS but had a lot of tests to rule out other things that could be the problem first.

Silverbridge - Interesting. I figured out long ago that sugar alcohols are something I can't tolerate. It's such a shame it's so widely used now. I sometimes pick up products and check the ingredients. Often the only reason I don't buy it is the sugar alcohol in it.

I’m a 63 yr old women. I’m fairly healthy but I do get tired easily this last year. I’ve had blood tests all normal. I find myself wanting a rest mid morning or in the afternoon if I’ve been busy. Is this an age thing ?

Why so many people are falling prey to bowel problems is a lot more complicated than wheat and gluten although it’s true that the highly modified product contained in the plethora of wheat-based products which dominate many diets bears scant resemblance to the ancient plant. Our bodies may not process it so easily.

New Scientist carried an interesting article about wheat in its 12 July 2014 edition for anyone who can still access copy of that (I still have mine). It points out that people who think they are gluten sensitive may actually be reacting to certain sugars.

Sugar and sugar alcohols are a primary cause of gut problems so look to see whether what appear to be health diet includes too much sugar whether naturally occuring in, say, fruit and veg, or added and refined.

I read somewhere that apparently in the 1980s to 1990s time approximately some plant breeding was carried out to increase the amount of gluten in wheat so as to make dough stickier so that less energy would be needed to make bread rise or something like that. So although there is coeliac disease, there is now also recognised non-coeliac gluten intolerance. I am not a clinician but I think that I had a lot of problems simply because of the stickiness and gooiness of wheat.

There used to be lots of stories of people who had these sort of problems, got sent for a blood test for coeliac disease and it came back negative, but the person decided to avoid wheat or other gluten-containing grains anyway and felt a lot better.

There might have been a placebo effect to whatever extent as in "Oh oh oh I have a gluten-free diet" but nevertheless some people got a lot better.

Sometimes something that seems a good idea is not, so a warm milk drink with some biscuits before going to bed might seem sensible, but in effect it is dairy, gluten and fat all together so can give some people problems.

There is a website for the Coeliac Society. I think that now that non-coeliac gluten intolerance is a condition they cover that as well.

www.coeliac.org.uk/home/

Here is the link to the Vegan Society website.

www.vegansociety.com/

Alas, gluten-free vegan tends to fall between two stools.

I find spicy food, caffeine and things with tomato puree make mine much worse.
I have had IBS symptoms for many years and even with a careful diet it still flares up from time to time, would love to find a way to stop it.

Yes, do check with GP first. If all is OK then you can try cutting down on fibre and see if that makes a difference (salad stuff can be a bit too much). Or try cutting out wheat products for a few weeks, or even dairy. One thing at a time.

IBS is so difficult to live with and can be so restrictive to things you enjoy doing.

I know they say fruit and veg is good for you, but it can turn out to be ‘too much of a good thing’

AGAA4

With your symptoms it is probably best to see your GP so that they can rule out other causes.
You could try cutting down on fruit/veg and salad for a week and see if things improve. I find some foods irritate my digestive system.

Agree with all AGAA4 says here. Fruit and veg were a significant part of my diet until the last year or so. After going down the GP and tests route it seems I just can’t eat so much of that sort of stuff any more. I’m interested in the new drug thanks for the info Delila.

There was a very interesting programme on channel 5 on Thursday evening called “How to Stop Your IBS”. A female doctor investigated several potential treatments, including hypnotherapy, yoga, FODMAP diet and a drug which is being trialled & showing promising results. Lots of info and 4 or 5 sufferers each experiencing one of the methods investigated.

Have you been checked to see if you are affected by gluten?

Dairy products can also cause problems in some people.

A fatty diet can also cause problems.

Here is a recipe that you might like to try, unless you are allergic to soya or rice.

One pack Tilda plain basmati microwave rice.

Empty the heated rice into a bowl or a pyrex jug.

Add a third of a litre of Alpro long life no sugars soya drink that has not been kept chilled.

Add two sachets of Ella's kitchen 4 month plus baby food of whichever flavours you decide to choose.

Eat and enjoy.

That is vegan (therefore no dairy), no gluten, low fat, no large lumps and rice is usually very digestible, though I think some people can have problems with rice, but I am not sure about that.

I have three meals a day like that.

I hope that helps.

With your symptoms it is probably best to see your GP so that they can rule out other causes.
You could try cutting down on fruit/veg and salad for a week and see if things improve. I find some foods irritate my digestive system.