Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

[kristina]

Thanks for all the information that was provided. I am going to lose the last of my "non-vegan" habits -and take the plunge. I am also going to try to eat smaller meals in hopes that will help to stop some of the IBS symptoms.
I just purchased some quinoa, and am hoping that will be something I can tolerate.
I just hate living my life around my stomach....

[IndigoSea]

Puffin- Have you seen the book Eating For IBS? If not you may want to check it out. It has big lists of all the stuff you should and shouldn't eat and why. Wholewheat bread is an insoluble fibre- so it will irritate your colon. White bread is soluble, and will turn into a paste that can easily be passed through.

Also, if it's undiagnosed IBS, you may want to see a doctor and have it properly diagnosed. IBS has the same symptoms as many many other more serious illnesses, and you need to be told you don't have those. I'm on a medication called Zelnorm. It's great, it started working that very day and has been working since. Zelnorm works by stimulating the colon muscles (it's only for constipation-type IBS) and making them process material faster. But I still like to manage it by diet to ensure no fats or insoluble fibres irritate it on the way down

[puffin]

Interesting. Thanks for the info Indigosea.
I have been diagnosed with it but was given some tablets with lactose in so i refused to take them.
Where can i get the book?

[IndigoSea]

Interesting. Thanks for the info Indigosea.
I have been diagnosed with it but was given some tablets with lactose in so i refused to take them.
Where can i get the book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...UTF8&s=gateway
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...258050?ie=UTF8

those two are really fantastic!

[Tempest]

Aren't the proposed remidies for IBS: C and IBS: D different? If this is true, perhaps it would be fuitful to distinguish between them in this thread.

[StmpyElephant]

I've had IBS since I was 16, I'm currently 21. I had a test for both dairy and wheat but I was not allergic to them- however, cutting them out plus meat helped immensly. Although IBS is not related to diet, diet reformation tends to be the best solution for most people. I peronally think changing your diet and figuring out what you can handle is the only thing you can do for IBS (and the most natural)

I bought the book at helpforibs.com....didn't work for me but I did take on some of the advice which I still use today. I think it may depend what kind of IBS one has, works for some and doesn't work for others. I think it's IBS D that seems to be most succesful with it.

I'm currently trialing a raw food vegan diet to see if that helps me. My biggest problems these days are bloating and gas and feeling uncomfortable even though I'm pretty regular.

Being a vegan tends to stop the attacks or severity of attacks...it made my IBS very managable and seemed to stop most symptoms for awhile. However the above ones listed have returned.

Hang in there and just experiment with different things, It's a horrible horrible thing to have and no one can truly understand the toll it takes unless you have it....so we're with you!!

The best thing to do is eat as naturally as possible...make fruit and veg your bible and cut out things that tend to trigger allergies in people who don't suffer from IBS.

PS. My specialist suggested hypnotherapy as it can help some people...although I've yet to try it. Maybe ask your specialist about this? I also tried a drug (started with 'Z' I think) but it did nothing for me. I have this feeling that IBS may be related to not just stress but something bigger- that puts a strain on ones life...perhaps therapy may help to unrelieve whatever burden one might be carrying, whether they know it or not. I'm thinking about taking therapy to see if I can find something that will make me more at ease and perhaps reduce my IBS.

[jenniebean]

hey, all,

I've been vegan in the past for about a year at a time, but lapsed back to vegetarian in between. the problem is, every time i try to go vegan, i can't seem to have normal, solid poop. sorry, i know that's kind of gross, but there it is. i have had colitis in the past, and so i worry about my health when veganism seems to cause diarrhea for me. when i eat dairy, everything works great, which seems to be contrary to what most doctors, like McDougall, would expect. any thoughts? any similar stories? perhaps too much fiber and/or soy? all my philosophies are right in line with veganism, but my body can't seem to follow suit.

[aubergine]

I was the same when I first went Vegan, but it firmed up over the course of a month or so. I guess it was adjusting to a completely new way of eating.

[sugarmouse]

hey, all,

I've been vegan in the past for about a year at a time, but lapsed back to vegetarian in between. the problem is, every time i try to go vegan, i can't seem to have normal, solid poop. sorry, i know that's kind of gross, but there it is. i have had colitis in the past, and so i worry about my health when veganism seems to cause diarrhea for me. when i eat dairy, everything works great, which seems to be contrary to what most doctors, like McDougall, would expect. any thoughts? any similar stories? perhaps too much fiber and/or soy? all my philosophies are right in line with veganism, but my body can't seem to follow suit.

what kind of foods do you eat on a vegan diet?it may be a case of just changing them.

[kristina]

jenniebean-
I have the same problem, I consider dairy to be my "safe food" when my stomach is acting up. You could be allergic to soy- it's considered to be one of the most allergenic foods, along with dairy and wheat.
I personally have a problem handling the increase of fiber that goes along with a vegan lifestyle- but I am trying!
Good luck.

[nervine]

Read my post about enzymes. Read the whole website. I know it's alot but so worth it.

CHRONIC INDIGESTION - TAPING THE OIL LIGHT

Gas, bloating, heartburn, stomach ache, feeling full when beginning to eat, abdominal cramping, unsatisfied hunger - these are common symptoms of enzyme deficiency. But most doctors treat such problems as though they were signs of drug deficiency! Perfect examples are Tagamet and Prilosec - standard drugs given for indigestion and heartburn. Now the main reason there is pain is simple: blockage. All that pizza and fries and tacos and yoghurt is devitalized food: no enzymes. As a result, once in the stomach, it just sits there. The stomach produces more and more acids and digestive enzymes trying to break down this overcooked, chemical-laden sludge we mistakenly refer to as food. But it can't do it. All that digestive juice sitting there unable to do its work is uncomfortable. It burns the stomach. On swallowing, the acid splashes back into the esophagus causing a painful condition known as reflux esophagitis, or heartburn, or for the really clueless - hiatal hernia.

So first the geniuses try Tagamet, with the idea that all the excess acid needs to be absorbed. When that doesn't work, enter Prilosec. The shrewd rationale behind this brain-child is to stop all digestion by halting further production of digestive juices! Short-term, the discomfort is postponed, but what about the underlying cause - the sludge sitting there in the stomach? It now begins to rot (go rancid, putrefy, or ferment, depending on whether it is fat, protein or carbohydrate). Then we have intestinal blockage, which promotes diseases like peptic ulcer, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, chronic colitis, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and colon cancer. This is how anti-digestive drugs like Prilosec can set the stage for a condition doctors call auto-intoxication. (See Chapter 9: Journey to the Center of Your Colon---www.thedoctorwithin.com)

[nervine]

I found this: http://www.clfshop.com/product.asp?m...6871&nav=brand

I'm gonna go buy it tommorow. I suffer from eczema and acne. I also have quite a few scars. Enzyme supplements combined with fresh fruit and veg should get rid of these things. It's been said that some enzymes even eat scar tissue away. It will definatly help with your IBS. It will also detox your blood and get rid of leaky gut syndrome.

[Angel]

I have IBS too. Gosh I hate it.

I can't eat that much fiber or my symtoms get worse. I do okay with soy though. I can handle soy protein way easier though so I eat fake meats made with soy protein. I can't handle dairy at all.

BTW Drinking mint, ginger, and fennel tea help IBS.

http://www.helpforibs.com is a good site for info. It has helped me.

[IndigoSea]

hey, all,

I've been vegan in the past for about a year at a time, but lapsed back to vegetarian in between. the problem is, every time i try to go vegan, i can't seem to have normal, solid poop. sorry, i know that's kind of gross, but there it is. i have had colitis in the past, and so i worry about my health when veganism seems to cause diarrhea for me. when i eat dairy, everything works great, which seems to be contrary to what most doctors, like McDougall, would expect. any thoughts? any similar stories? perhaps too much fiber and/or soy? all my philosophies are right in line with veganism, but my body can't seem to follow suit.

It's not really too much fibre so much as what /kind/ of fibre. Soluble and insoluble fibres are digested very differently. I have IBS-C, so I don't know too much about the D type but the book I have tells me that the same diet can help both. Try eating JUST insoluble fibre for a time (no fats, no oil, no cheese, etc) Things like root vegetables, bananas, white bread, pasta, rice, quinoa, couscous. Here's a list of bad foods you should NEVER EVER eat:

French fries
Onion rings
Fried chicken
Corn dogs
Anything battered and deep-fried
Anything skillet-fried in fat of any kind
Shortening
Margarine
All oils, fats, spreads, etc.
Mayonnaise
Salad dressings
Tartar sauce
Cool Whip
Coconut milk
Shredded coconut
Solid chocolate (baking cocoa powder is fine)
Solid carob (carob powder is fine)
Olives
Nuts and nut butters
Croissants, pastries, biscuits, scones, and doughnuts
Pie crust
Potato chips (unless they're baked)
Corn chips and nachos (unless they're baked)
Store-bought dried bananas (they're almost always deep fried)

Foods you can eat with caution, and only with large amounts of soluble fibre:

Whole wheat flour, whole wheat bread, whole wheat cereal
Wheat bran
Whole grains, whole grain breads, whole grain cereals
Granola
Meusli
Seeds
Nuts
Popcorn
Beans and lentils (mashed or pureed they're much safer)
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, etc.)
Grapes and raisins
Cherries
Pineapple
Peaches, nectarines, apricots, and pears with skins (peeled they're much safer)
Apples (peeled they're safe)
Rhubarb
Melons
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes
Dates and prunes
Greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, mesclun, collards, arugala, watercress, etc.)
Whole peas, snow peas, snap peas, pea pods
Green beans
Kernel corn
Bell peppers (roasted and peeled they're safer)
Eggplant (peeled and seeded it's much safer)
Celery
Onions, shallots, leeks, scallions, garlic
Cabbage, bok choy, Brussels sprouts
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Tomatoes (peeled and seeded, especially raw, they're much safer)
Cucumbers (again, peel and seed them and they're much safer)
Sprouts (alfalfa, sunflower, radish, etc.)
Fresh herbs

And foods you should eat in abundance:

Rice
Pasta and noodles
Oatmeal
Barley
Fresh white breads such as French or sourdough (NOT whole wheat or whole grain)*
Rice cereals
Flour tortillas
Soy
Quinoa
Corn meal
Potatoes
Carrots
Yams
Sweet potatoes
Turnips
Rutabagas
Parsnips
Beets
Squash and pumpkins
Mushrooms
Chestnuts
Avocados (though they do have some fat)
Bananas
Applesauce
Mangoes
Papayas (also digestive aids that relieve gas and indigestion)

My specialist suggested hypnotherapy as it can help some people...although I've yet to try it. Maybe ask your specialist about this? I also tried a drug (started with 'Z' I think) but it did nothing for me. I have this feeling that IBS may be related to not just stress but something bigger- that puts a strain on ones life...perhaps therapy may help to unrelieve whatever burden one might be carrying, whether they know it or not. I'm thinking about taking therapy to see if I can find something that will make me more at ease and perhaps reduce my IBS.

Probably one of the tegaserod drugs. I'm on Zelnorm. It's actually really helped me. I manage it through the drug and through diet. I hate not being able to eat abundant amounts of raw foods, but it's much better than the alternative......
I've heard of hypnotherapy working for some people, but honestly I think hypnotherapy is a load of bull that works only by the placebo effect, but that really is just me. It's not something I'd bother trying, but if it works for other people then more power to them.

[Haniska]

I'm starting to think I have IBS-C. Could you clarify a few things for me? Why is granola bad but oatmeal is fine?
Why are nuts on two seperate lists?
Is brown rice safe? I see that whole grains are used with caution but rice is totally safe..
Are things like hummos safe?

Thank you so much for posting this list!

From my own experience I find that pureeing beans into milks, straining them, then using them in soups or pancakes ( I avoid soy) is helpful.

[=Sarah=]

Does anyone with colitis, mostly during flare-ups find themselves incredibly hungry all the time but also gaining weight because of it? I know usually the hunger is due to malabsorption and usually results in weight loss, but this time around I've gained 5 pounds or so in the last 1-2 weeks. I'm also peeing a lot more than usual, not sure if that could be related. Anyone have any advice? I've had glucose tests done recently so despite sounding possibly like diabetes it's not that.. Anyways.. just wondering if anyone else gets this uncontrollable hunger and if there's anything I could do to satiate it! Thanks

-Sarah

[Tigerlily]

I'm starting to think I have IBS-C. Could you clarify a few things for me? Why is granola bad but oatmeal is fine?
Why are nuts on two seperate lists?
Is brown rice safe? I see that whole grains are used with caution but rice is totally safe..
Are things like hummos safe?

Thank you so much for posting this list!

From my own experience I find that pureeing beans into milks, straining them, then using them in soups or pancakes ( I avoid soy) is helpful.

I didn't see this until now. My guess is that granola is very high in sugar. I don't think you can find unsweetened granola?

[Haniska]

Sugar and/or fat. Haha. As an update I noticed that rice is constipating to me (probably why I asked before) so I looked it up. Rice has made the list of constipating foods such as dairy, bananas, and carrots. Finally validation of my carrot problem.

[Hemlock]

Actually, some do. I have IBS and I get constipation.

Bummer (no pun intended)

[Tigerlily]

It is. It's not as easy as simply "eating more fiber" because more fiber gives me diarrhea! I never win!

[thecatspajamas1]

What about water and exercise? Has that helped?

[Tigerlily]

Nope. I've had this all my life so I really don't think it's going to go away anytime soon.

[Astrid]

Nope. I've had this all my life so I really don't think it's going to go away anytime soon.

Tigerlily, are you sure you don't have a food intolerance, like coeliac disease?

[Purple]

Nope. I've had this all my life so I really don't think it's going to go away anytime soon.

I've been like that a lot of my life too. I've found that eating a bowl of porridge (oat meal?) in the morning with some chopped up medjool dates on it, (and sometimes some agave syrup) seems to have really helped me.

I feel for you though, it sucks

[puffin]

I find mine gets worse if i eat large amounts in one sitting. I have to eat small amounts of food or my tummy gets very bloated and painful. I have had it since i was 15.

[Tigerlily]

I don't think I have any food intolerances. I've eaten a gluten-free diet for two months and a low gluten diet for several months and it hasn't helped. In fact, it made me MORE constipated. Right now for the past month, I've been having liquidy diarrhea every morning. I much prefer constipation over diarrhea!

[aubergine]

I find mine gets worse if i eat large amounts in one sitting. I have to eat small amounts of food or my tummy gets very bloated and painful. I have had it since i was 15.

I've been having random bouts of diarroea for the last four years. I've only noticed very recently that it seems to be linked to overeating in one go. Unfortunately what my stomach considers is a big meal is probably small by most people's standards. I have to eat little and often. I think maybe my stomach shrank when I was very ill.

[Megan89]

Hi There,
Just been finding out about what exactly IBS is......I'm not sure if i should go see my doc or not as I often suffer from bouts of either constipation or diarrhoea. At moment have fairly bad diarrhoea....its annoying me and I don't think its healthy as I'm not absorbing all my nutrients efficiently.
Don't want to be wasting doc's time either? Would like others advice/opinions.
Thanks, Megan xx

[aubergine]

Go to the doctor. That's what they're there for.

I've been seeing my doctor as I've been suffering with this for three years or so.

[angelamc]

I would suggest going to the doctor just to make sure that it's not anything dangerous. You never know unless you get it checked out. I would also suggest looking into homeopathic or natural medicine in addition to seeing a regular physician. I've taken some herbs for my ulcerative colitis and it helped alot. All my regular doctor wanted to do was run tests and give me medicine to ease my symptoms. He didn't seem too concerned about 'fixing' me.

[aubergine]

He didn't seem too concerned about 'fixing' me.

I experienced this with my ex-GP. I had already been starving myself for 48 hours at a time to clear out any infection in my gut. They just suggested doing the same thing again. I've developed an unfortunate distrust of people at the shallow end of the medical profession. Once I got referred to a hospital to see someone who actually had some training on digestive issues it was far more productive.

[Nikorusama]

Hi, i was brought up a veggie and have had IBS since I was about 17, 7 years ago. Around a year ago I changed to an omni diet (it was really hard to make myself like meat but i persisted and started to like some meat). This seemed to help,then I found i had put on a stone and went on a diet. I did eat meat but I ate a lot less of it whilst on the diet and then became "obsessed" with nutrition and did more and more research on the healthiest diet , which lead me to veganism. It wasnt hard as I had already been a veggie for 23 years of my life and so i decided to go for it. I am on my 5th day vegan and already all of my IBS symptoms are back badly. I belive that fruit does set me off but i have been limiting it and i know from being a veggie that baked beans and spicy food also set me off. I have been earing more beans whilst being a vegan but its hard to avoid them. Can anyone reccommend a UK product or suppliment to help? Thanks. I dont want to give up my vegan lifestyle. Please help!

[harpy]

Hello, sorry to hear about your problems.

Not sure what you mean about beans being hard to avoid? Maybe you could eat more nuts or tofu and lay off the beans to see if that helps? I agree beans are nice though - maybe you would be OK with some types of bean, or if you cook them a bit longer than usual?

There are various experiences reported on the web, e.g. http://www.myvegansite.com/2009/04/v...elp-treat-ibs/ but like everything on the web I wouldn't take it as gospel.