7 years of experience - advice for IBS sufferers

Hi all,

I have suffered from IBS for 7 years.  I have found that stress does cause flare ups but some recently discovered food intolerances cause my worst bouts. I noticed there have been a lot of posts about IBS. So rather than repeat the same info. for every discussion that is started, here is my advice for everyone who suffers from IBS. 

Here are some things I have found help listed by symptom:

Constipation

For me, brown bread  only otherwise things just simply don't work.

Exercise can help keep things moving!!

Fibre

Fruits and veg. - however watch out for certain ones which may cause food intolerance reactions! 

Overflow.

If you don't get enough fibre on a long-term basis, you can get this. Which is quite embarrassing. Basically constipation causes a blockage of faeces in the gut. The blockage can cause nausea and acid reflux. Nausea occurs especially in the mornings. You can also get "overflow" stools then, a large stools that has built up that comes out at once.  

This should  first be confirmed  by a doctor if she has it or not. (can do via physical examination/X-ray)!!!!!

You can counteract this by trying taking psyllium husks or a bulking agent such as Fybogel for example, regularly for a certain period of time. And you should only use laxatives or bulking agents on advice of your doctor. Need to be careful with dosage!!!!!

Stomach pain

Peppermint oil, available in health food shops is great for stomach pain. I find it works wonders. You can apply it directly to skin or you can add it to hot water. You can also buy peppermint tea.

Nausea

I think ginger is supposed to be good for nausea. I found a ginger tea helped nausea but didn't have a lasting effect after I finished the tea. 

Prescription drug, buccastem is very good. You take it under the tongue and let it dissolve.

Food

Foods to avoid

Caffeine, alcohol, greasy/fatty foods. Spicy foods can be upsetting too. 

Intolerances

I also found out recently I was lactose intolerant (just from testing out not  taking it.) Lactose intolerance has different specific symptoms. More severe than just upset tummy from IBS - for me, I get nausea, belching and very bloated for up to an hour (lately more) until I get rid of all the gas (by basically pressing on my stomach or rubbing my chest or back like you would a baby with wind. Sometimes hunching down, bending at the waist and leaning my head forward helps or rubbing my hand upwards above my oesophagus to help the air get out or rubbing my hand in a fist gently but firmly around in a circle on my tummy and then raising it up along the oesophagus as described). 

You can get lactose-free milks or soy milk etc. as an alternative. And other alternatives eg. soy ice-cream and that. I have yet to investigate these options. 

Check out the Fodmaps diet - it lists foods you can be intolerant to. Some people will be more intolerant to one group than another - for me it's polyols and lactose that really set me off. It's a scary diet with lots of things to eliminate when starting off but keeping a food diary can help. Once you identify which group affects you, it is much easier to identify other trigger foods as you can just look at the group and say well I ate that thing belonging to that group, so that must affect me too. Also, being aware of which symptoms are food intolerant specific is key to helping identify food intolerances. Be aware that some foods will cause a near-immediate reaction that is more obvious, but some foods will take longer to cause a reaction! Watch out for anatto - a natural food dye. It is in Cheerios and other foods.

Diarrhaoea

I'm afraid I can't really help with diarrhoea as it was never a major thing for me - but if this happens I would imagine just lowering fibre intake should help and drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

Tests: 

An OGD/endoscopy/barium test can help check for haemhorrhoids/rule out Crohn's disease

Stool samples can be tested for infections

Hope all this helps! This is pretty much my 7 year's worth of knowledge on the topic!! 

Anonymousgirl xx

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