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ibs symptoms ruining my life.. please help!

Posted , 9 users are following.

spak
spak

So I have been diagnosed with ibs. I alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Along with constipation and diarrhea, I have joint pain, major bloating, inability to lose weight, excess fat storage in abdominal area, fatigue and acid reflux. I got so desperate with wanting to lose weight that i started eating only 500 calories a day, and my diet only consisted of watermelon, as it seemed like watermelon caused the least amount of symptoms. Even with this, I weighed 124 pounds. I'm 5'2. now, i get extremely bloated after i eat anything. I've realized that certain spicy foods and fruits make the symptoms way worse so I cut it out. But now I'm stuck... The symptoms will not go away. What am I doing wrong here? What other foods should i avoid?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • lucy55ww
    lucy55ww spak

    Posted

    Hi I'm exactly the same as you, same heigt too but my prob is really losing weight and struggling to eat, I've suffered this over 10yrs and its getting hold of me, no one will help,I've changed docs so many times, and I'm heavily accused of anorexic with the weight loss, I'm sick of missing out on things too and watching everyone do what they want and have amazing lives, my only info could give is have you tried the fodmap diet? Irs been created for us ibsers,but works for some and not others , if you can get a trained dietician in it its worth having a go for you
  • graham9772
    graham9772 spak

    Posted

    I am interested in the IBS forum because I suffer from REstless Legs Syndrome (RLS)    The connection is that I have just about fixed my RLS which was very severe and getting worse.     I did this by sticking to a Monash University FODMAP diet.   The FODMAP diet was designed for IBS people but I believe there is some connection between the causes of IBS and some RLS.    Not that what I believe matters because the diet is intended for you not me.   For IBS I think its a full cure in about 50% and a partial cure for about 30% of people (from memory)   What country are you in?  There are various specialist hospitals in UK and USA that offer guidance on the application of the diet.  

    I am not selling the diet or making any money by promoting it.   The diet itself is quite cheap to live on.    But these are details.   Which country are you in first?

    • dan38655
      dan38655 graham9772

      Posted

      I agree there is a VERY strong correlation between IBS, bloating and RLS.  The bloated gut is disturbing circulation to the legs, so one must constantly move about to allow for the free circulation through the abdomen.

      As to the OP's issue, certainly large amounts of fruit can be a gas-bomb.

      I always advise resting/cleansing the gut simply by fasting 36 hours to allow for a re-setting of conditions inside the G.I., followed by modest-sized, balanced meals at good-sized intervals. No herbs or special formulas needed, the body does it all if given a chance.

  • leesa56475
    leesa56475 spak

    Posted

    Hi, I symphaise with you. I have experienced similar problems for almost two years,I ended up going private...I was advised to go on a FOFMAP diet, and talking to friends who are celiac, I decided to try and cut out gluten foods...I have been doing this since last august , and I feel so much better, I don't eat pasta, bread, pastries, cakes or coffee, ..I tried eating gluten free bread and pasta and became I'll again.

    it is hard cutting out these foods, but as I feel better, it's worth it..

    I also, try drinking peppermint tea...

    good luck 

    • lucy55ww
      lucy55ww leesa56475

      Posted

      hi leesa, ive been like u and keep pondering going private? im getting no where and its gone on too long now, !! im also doing fodmap and still cant work out whats upsetting me and what isnt ? am i right in saying u said here even gluten free bread /  pastrie upset u? daft as it is i know its the same with me ! i cut out wheat /  gluten foods but also found that wheat free bread and pastries still plagued me
    • leesa56475
      leesa56475 lucy55ww

      Posted

      When I was at my worse, I felt so sick, no appitate, etc I long a stone in weight, in a wk and a half ! so couldn't wait on nhs for apt so went private, lots of bloods again, suggested the fodmap diet , I had a CT scan and all came back clear....to test fully for celiac, I would now have to eat all normal foods and then have a stomach biopsy, I just can't face doing that......yes it was last august I have up bread, pasta, pastries, cakes n coffee and yes, even gluten free bread and pasta make me I'll....so I just don't eat it... I am going back private again,as my GP now has suggested a colonoscopy, as I have an achiness, like tooth ache in my back passage when I feel I'll.... 
  • christine58244
    christine58244 spak

    Posted

    ihad diarohea for around 11 weeks I suddenly went off bread so am trying to cut out gluten see if that helps also drinking peppermint tea and green tea
  • graham9772
    graham9772 spak

    Posted

    Hi I notice that some people are saying tghey are on a FODMAP diet and cutting out gluten.      FODMAP is not about gluten. its about four types of sugar.  Youare probably familiar with fructose and lactose, well there are two other sugars that make up the four.    Ordinary sugar you put in your tea is sucrose and its not your problem.    

    For my restless legs I found that going gluten free helped but I still had problems and when I was following up on this I heard about the FODMAP diet.   THis cured the RLS by 99%

    If you are suffering IBS I dont think is your problem is gluten so you need to get a list of low FODMAP foods.   I have seen references to rice and vetables but this is wrong.   Its not  avegetarian diet either.  Just briefly no onions, no garlic, no apples, no pears no watermelon and you have to havce the list from someone like King’s College, London, and implemented at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.   Most experts say you must have help from a professional dietician.  I saw two and they weren't very helpful b ut its very hard to do without help.   In my case, and probably most other peoples case, I can ruin my day by having just a little of the wrong food.   For example gluten free bread - I used to happily have 6 slices and not associate my resulting problems wit  the bread.   I have found that I can have one cup of coffee (decaf) per day with ordinary milk.   All other cups have to be lactose free milk or black.    I had one tablespoon of sour cream on my potato and suffered miserably for two nights.   I have to stick relentlessly to the diet or suffer the consequences.  There is no compromise with a FODMAP

    PLease google      FODMAP queens hospital     and contact them for advice on where to get a list of allowable foods.

    Stanford University in the US are also working on this.   Googls    Stanford FODMAP lists and you will get plenty of info.

    Most foods contain the FODMAPS but the list will tell you the low FODMAP foods that you should be able to handle.   I have kept to the really low foods on the list.  For example celery you are allowed 1 cm of one stalk.   Why bother?

    When you get the list you will find that there are lots of foods on it and you can eat well when compared to how you eat when your IBS is giving you hell.

    Please try it and please be absolutely strict.

    May the FODMAP be without you.  

    Cheers

    Graham

     

    • graham9772
      graham9772

      Posted

      Correction   you are allowed 5cm of celery

      Cheers

      Graham

    • leesa56475
      leesa56475 graham9772

      Posted

      Thanks for all ur info as above, I am aware off hat the FODMAP contains,a I had several sheets of info from my consultant , it still made me I'll, of me I haven't had a 100% diagnoses! and a lot of my symptoms over lapped with other symptoms. A good friend of mine who is celiac, had suffered from similar symptoms, and although she had been tested for celiac, via the blood test, several times, it came back negative, like myself. She had the stomach biopsy and it confirmed so was celiac,...it was my choice to cut out gluten and try a dif diet, and for me my symptoms have been soooo much better,

      But , everyone is different, and I guess it's trial and error...

  • samra20961
    samra20961 spak

    Posted

    Hi sorry to hear your not well have you got IBD nurse ? Or with the dieatcian you can get things like fortisip fortijuice to drip which will help you , I get can't eat chillies but still do as there is no cure best option is tell your GP to give you steroids which help a lot just be careful that if you get severe pain in the stomach then go A.E as it happened to me mine got narrowed and caused a lot of pain . I would recommend cut the chillies out also don't loose weight it won't help the healing I've never tried to loose weight I've always been skinny but I my Normal weight can be 7 stones but when I get ill it just drops I can become 4 stones I don't like being skinny flesh looks nice not everyone will agree , also get your GP to refer you for a MRI SCAM which they can see what's going on and give you tablets best of luck try taking codeine and parectmol that will help with the pain or try codydrmol also codeine helps with the sore bits in the intensines 
  • coral2786
    coral2786 spak

    Posted

    Do you get any pain in your upper abdomen? And upper right side?
    • vivian89329
      vivian89329 coral2786

      Posted

      Hi

      I have the same thing for years. Now also diverticulosis. I have had bad bouts of both and I am down to 110lbs and I am 5 feet tall. Sometimes even water gets me to the bathroom. The pain is awful. Now I am trying to eat soft foods because everything bothers me. I boil oregano spice and drink it as a tea. I cut out coffee, bread, pasta. I try to bounce from fibre to some carbs like rice. I am going for more testing.

      Vivian

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