Advice - sorting out ibs with diet
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all, I've been trying to treat my ibs , and other health complaints including severe depression and anxiety, for many years, and it really seems like diet could be the answer. I could just do with a bit of advice from others who may have similar issues and experiences, as there is still so much uncertainty about whats helping or hindering.
I'll try and keep it brief - i get pain, wind, constipation and diarrhoea from eating a variety of foods - most severely from milk, wheat and alcohol - and i also get some other problems which may or may not be related, some a bit strange, such as anxiety, insomnia, sore eyes, skin complaints, joint problems (diagnosed hypermobility, pain,stiffness) and bleeding gums.
My gums have bled every day for years, but for some reason cutting out all grains stops this. Not sure why.
Cutting out dairy and grains has significantly reduced the diarrhea, but i eat extra fruit, veg, nuts and dried fruit and this gives me as much wind as ever, but helps to keep me from getting too constipated.
The skin seems to be improved by no grains or dairy.
I do in fact eat natural yoghurt, and i was told by a dietician that this should be ok as there is very little lactose in it. It sometimes seems to help the pain and constipation, but it might be adding to the wind - unsure about this.
Most meat and fish seem ok.
I've cut out eggs and nightshade veg and this seems to be a good thing, despite being extra hungry with so little left now!
OK, that wasnt as brief as i'd hoped, but i would like some opinions on this if possible.
It also could be useful to add that my concentration levels and memory have always been terrible, and i get hungry very quickly which exacerbates this. I experience light headedness, mild to moderate fatigue and some mild confusion.
I have experienced spells of better gut health and mental health while trying different restrictive diets, but it hasnt always been a hundred percent clear what i might have done right or wrong during these times.
i'm a 31 year old male from the UK. I work as a guitar teacher and support worker - just about hanging in there, with all these issues work is a trial!
Official diagnoses: IBS, anxiety disorder and depressive episodes, joint hypermobility, gilberts syndrome.
These issues have been present in worsening degrees since my teens - roughly 17 years.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
-W
0 likes, 9 replies
leeniepie WolfeG
Posted
Have you been tested for coeliacs? Some of you issues sound like describing it to a t!
For the IBS I would really recommend the low FODMAP diet- but you need to go to a dietician and do it properly. It sounds like you are at risk of malnutrition at the moment, and your light headedness, inability to concentrate and tiredness could easily be down to your restrictive diet.
WolfeG leeniepie
Posted
Thanks for getting back to me. The poor concentration and tiredness predates any diet i''ve been on, although it does get worse through hunger. Even back at school, 18 or so years ago, or at training days, my attention span is terrible. And i've had a lot of tiredness since my teens, and i used to mostly eat what i wanted them, and relatively healthily.
I was tested for coeliacs but it came back negative.
I followed a low fodmap diet for a month after speaking to a dietician but it just didnt work for me. Quite a few low fodmap food's make me worse.
I am following the rest of the dietician's advice best i can but no joy so far. I'm trying more fermented foods but they may be adding to the real painful bloating and wind - not too certain on this yet, but i am keeping a meticulous food diary!
WolfeG
Posted
And in regards to malnutrition I'm eating approx 6 different types of fruit a day, plus varied veg, sweet potatoes and parsnips for carbs, and white meat and fish. Also nuts and yoghurt.
I eat 4 ish meals a day, usually with snacking on fruit and nuts too, so i dont think their should be malnutrition.
leeniepie WolfeG
Posted
Unfortunately low FODMAP doesn't necessarily mean IBS friendly! Personally I find nuts and seeds give me terrible wind. As does coffee. Believe it or not, having lots of fruit and veg can also make IBS worse as it's too much fibre for your intestines to deal with.
WolfeG leeniepie
Posted
Yes i think you're right about the fruit and veg. Which makes it so hard to know what to eat at all! I loose weight very easily so i need to eat quite a lot, but can't survive on fish and chicken alone...
What foods do you find problem free?
Coffee definitely sets me off too, but peppermint tea possibly helps a tiny bit.
leeniepie WolfeG
Posted
Well everyone is different, but for me the following are ok: white bread, white rice, gluten free pasta, egg or rice noodles, potato, all meat and fish, soya milk and yoghurt, carrot, green beans, peas, peppers, cucumber, tomato, courgette, butternut squash, sweetcorn, olives, oranges, bananas, apples, grapes, oats/corn based product (oatcakes, rice cakes etc)
WolfeG leeniepie
Posted
Thanks for sharing. But yes, seems very much to vary.
jason00106 WolfeG
Posted
does it seem to get worse in winter? mine does and only realised until i went away in February to canary Islands and got a weeks dose of sun. my symptoms got better 2 days into the holiday and had no symptoms for a few month after. been away every February since and started taking cod liver oil tablets thinking it may be the vitamin d.
WolfeG jason00106
Posted
Mine seems to be bad all year round to be honest, but i'll monitor it to see how things change when we (possibly) have some sun in the uk.