Low FODMAP diet

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with IBS, and the doctor told me to try the low FODMAP diet for 6-8 weeks to see if it helps. She gave me a leaflet, which only gives a few examples of the types of foods to avoid, and having looked for more information on the Internet I'm confused as to whether I should be avoiding wheat or not. Leaflet doesn't mention it but other sources of information do. Can anyone help?

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • Posted

    if you google fodmap diet you will find comprehensive diet guides i cant give you the  link i found cos when you put websites in here it sends the post off for moderation

     

    • Posted

      I have googled it which is why I'm confused as they seem contradictory.

  • Posted

    No wheat! Also, no high glucose corn syrup. Those are the two biggest ingredients to avoid among the many. Good luck
    • Posted

      I know full well how many things have wheat eat as my friend is coeliac. So many things you wouldn't expect. Looks like I'll spending lots of time reading labels.

    • Posted

      I would urge you to play around with your diet as you may be able to cut down. I still eat bread but maybe one loaf over 2 weeks whereas when I was ill it would be 2 loaves a week. You might be able to find what works for you. Good luck
  • Posted

    Avoid wheat (gluten) during the elimination phase. Publications by Dr Sue Sheperd, who researched the interaction between fodmaps and IBS, will provide comprehensive information. I have found her advice to be the most consistent and reliable. 

    Gluten, apart from very small amounts, proved to be a trigger for me. 

    Jan

    • Posted

      Thanks. I can't believe GP's info didn't include it if it's a big one to avoid.

    • Posted

      GP's know very little in this area. One doc even said to me it was wine as I enjoyed a glass with my evening meal at the time. She said no wine and you'll be fine but I cut out the wine and I was still ill. This is one area when you will soon know more than your GP. 

  • Posted

    Wheat has to be completely avoided. Make sure you read food labels carefully as it's in everything! There are other grains to avoid too. As has been said Dr shepherd did the original research but unfortunately you have to pay for a lot of the info. There is a phone app that is supposedly very good but again it depends if you want to pay for it.

    I would be happy to send you the low fodmap list my dietician gave me if you pm me.

    • Posted

      Hi, thanks. Seems daft that we should have to pay for this info. I'm going to ask for a referral to a dietician as every website I've read says don't do it unless supervised by a dietician.

    • Posted

      I agree and if you ask your doc they should refer you to your local dietician. I found it very handy and had to go back a few times but mainly because I kept a diet diary and she looked at it and said no and I said to which foods and she said all of them smile . So when I said I had to overhaul my diet you can see just by how much work I had to do. 

  • Posted

    Google FODMAP and loads of stuff comes up. Maybe ask a Nurtionist.
  • Posted

    I printed off a list the other day for my mum, when I googled it was the first option to come up as ibsdiets FODMAP Food list.  Both me and my mum suffer but luckily I'm not a big bread eater now and have made other changes to my diet so don't get as many flare ups as I used too, my mum however at 83 is being very stubborn about being too old to change her habits!  Even though she has been back and forth to the doctors so much lately with how much pain she is in from being constipated (usually she's the opposite!), she's on medication to help her go to the toilet and they recently did a stomach x-ray and now have her booked in for the camera but not one of them have talked to her about how important it is to watch what she eats!

    • Posted

      See if you can get her to see a dietician or try and see if you can get Movicol/Laxedo on prescription as that wI'll help with constipation. As we get older these small issues can have a larger effect. I have gone through this with my elderly parent. I nearly said parents then, not used to it yet.

    • Posted

      Thanks Astro, I get it about one parent and that's part of my mum's problem, she hates being on her own. She's very good for her age and is out and about all the time but when she is home on her own that's when she stresses about not feeling well and starts convincing herself that there is something "serious" wrong with her. We've told her to ask about seeing a dietician but she just doesn't seem to accept how most of her symptoms are connected to the IBS (or that she is getting older!). The medication she is taking now is at least helping her go to the toilet but she is still very worked up about it all.

    • Posted

      Thank you Lisa In my case it is my father who is on his own now. My mother was the fit one and never Ill but as docs told me cancer takes notice of fitness. It is good that she gets out and about. My father can not do that. I am sure from what you say loneliness is part of the problem. Before I saw a dietician I thought it was all touchy-feely nonsense but now I hold them in high regard as seeing a dietician was the first step to me having a form of normality again. It is good that she has medicine which is helping. I am not surprised a big change in bowel habits can be very worrying which I know from experience. I can not recommend a visit to a dietician highly enough and foods mentioned at the time which I thought disgusting, avocado for example, I am now coming around to eating so improvements suggested long ago I am still acting upon. I only started eating beetroot a few weeks ago but once again suggested 2 years ago. 

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