Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is a most unpleasant condition. I've had it for many years and spend much of my time making sure I know where the nearest toilet is. Fortunately after having it for so long I've learned what I can and can't eat - and that everyone is different. I don't eat if I'm going to the theatre for example and I'm very careful about choosing what's on a menu. I carry a small bag in my handbag which contains medication, wipes, pads etc. I've got into a routine over the years and have stuck with it though I've had the occasional upset even now . The IBS Network is a very helpful resource. Overall I think I've learned about what foods do or don't suit me and anything new I try out when I'm safely at home.

I have come away on a five day holiday without my Mebeverine! I chose carefully what I ate at breakfast and just hope it stays stable, as getting to a pharmacy may be tricky.

I don’t get any pain but sometimes spend a whole day just going to the loo. And if I go anywhere have to eat very sparingly for days beforehand. Can’t go anywhere by bus or train without taking Imodium beforehand ( although I sometimes think a placebo would work, too). I find fasting for as long as possible overnight helps. I’ve started drinking water with a bit of organic apple cider vinegar in the evening; not sure yet if that’s helping or not. It must be nice to go through life without needing to know where the nearest loo is most of the time!

I've had IBS for about 50 years .
Sometimes , it's ok and sometimes I can't go out due to the pain and diarrhoea .
Mine is triggered off by coffee -not just as a drink , but in cakes and ice cream too .
Sometimes other foods and drinks will trigger off an attack .

I can't skip meals , pig out and get tired or stressed .

Many of my relatives have IBS ,diverticulitis and Crohns disease - so I certainly wonder about genetic factors .

I take Mebeverine .

Sometimes , I lie in a warm bath and massage my abdomen to relieve the discomfort.
I also recommend a short walk before bedtime .
Both actions shift trapped wind !

A food diary is useful .

Please check out the low fod map diet from the Monash university, Australia. Also, our very own Becky Excell who has a you tube channel and about four cookery books published on gluten free food. She refers to IBS, low fodmap, and gluten free eating. I am not saying that you are GF or need the low fodmap diet but these elements are all interrelated and you may get some relief from exploring the different foods. Good luck!

I have had it all my adult life. Now early 70’s. I heard about the ATLANTIS trial. Amitriptyline once a day starting on lowest dose and gradually titrating it up to max of30 mg. I printed out the information ( it was in the Lancet ) and showed it to my GP. She was happy to let me try it. I’ve been on it six weeks now. No overnight fix but it takes about three months to see any improvement. My quality of life is basically nonexistent. I can’t go anywhere unless I know there’s a toilet. If this helps even a little bit I will be very grateful

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38315998/

Insoluble fibre can make mine worse. Greek yogurt is good. But really it's trial and error as we are all different.

As others have said, you need to discover which foods are causing your problem and then eliminate them from your diet. I have IBS but I found that fruit juice was the main cause. Now I make my own fruit juice and it has certainly made a difference.

Here's the link to give you all the gen on controlling IBS with diet. www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/
Hope this helps.

I’ve had IBS for years. Major accidental improvement when I started to eat low carb for T2D. Also, can’t eat too much fibre.

I swear by Symprove. It's a probiotic, and it is expensive, but it is one of the few which has been clinically proved to reach the gut intact, and it's made a world of difference to me

100% agree

I dont take it all the time. Every so often mine flares up and I tale Symprove for about 3 months and experience a vast improvement. It contains live microbes so you have to store it carefully and take your dose first thing before you eat.

I've had IBS all my adult life (now 65). Mebeverine is useful during bad flare up periods but taking it daily causes constipation which is also a problem with IBS.
I tried eliminating various foods over the years with mixed success but it still kept getting gradually worse. Two years ago it had become so bad I went for food sensitivity testing at a local herbalist practice. It turns out I am very intolerant of all dairy products.
I stopped the dairy immediately and within 3 weeks there was a remarkable improvement. Two years on I can say it has been life changing. My symptoms are at least 95% gone. Unfortunately I haven't been able to reintroduce any dairy into my diet, even small amounts cause a big IBS attack, however it is pretty easy to eat dairy free nowadays with so many vegan options available.

It might be worth trying a gluten free diet. You may be sensitive/intolerant rather than allergic. It’s made a world of difference to me.

Home made kefir works for me. No problems in that department since I started in 2017 and I think the effect must be cumulative as I can go on holiday for a fortnight and not be taking it without any ill effects.

farringdon I suffered miserably with IBS , during my divorce. This condition is related to stress, I believe. However, I tried cutting down on spicy food, ate a lot of natural yogurt, drank lots of water. I still find that, if there’s anything stressful going on in my life, the IBS is back. I always carry Imodium in my handbag. It’s not on doctor’s advice, it’s just that I feel relaxed, if I know it’s there if I need it.

As said before we are all different and it’s trial and effort to find out what triggers a reaction. It really can make life a misery at times.
Never go anywhere without Imodium - this girl’s best friend!

I have given up on cauliflower ( cooked or raw) and only just gone back on to tomatoes. Some things are good for some condition but bad for others and every IBS sufferer is different - mine has been very stable for a while now.

IBS is awful isn't it. I manage it by following the FODMAP diet. No problems at all now, providing I avoid the foods as advised. If you Google FODMAP you can learn all about it.

There are one or two vegetables which are really dodgy for me. For example raw cauliflower is lethal! I can have a little now and again but…… Maybe it is a vegetable that is causing you such trouble.

MissInterpreted

I swear by Symprove. It's a probiotic, and it is expensive, but it is one of the few which has been clinically proved to reach the gut intact, and it's made a world of difference to me.

It’s the best there is. Symprove is the only biotic that doesn’t
have the good stuff destroyed going through the gut.
That’s what happens with most probiotics.

Fruit is very sugary , so are some veg

I swear by Symprove. It's a probiotic, and it is expensive, but it is one of the few which has been clinically proved to reach the gut intact, and it's made a world of difference to me.

look up SIBO also dysbiosis

Stress levels can make it worse too. Take time out to relax and look after yourself.

I am pre- diabetic too so whilst I eat plenty of vegetables, I moderate my fruit otherwise it can go straight through me. If I get a bit constipated I eat more fruit. I avoid mayonnaise and salad dressings as they act as laxatives.
I only take mebeverine once a day first thing unless I have a flare up. It is prescribed to take morning and evening but that makes me constipated.
It is a case of adjusting to get a balance.