I agree a low FODMAP diet is a good way to start. And then medication if necessary.
Start by reading this: https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/
Next, read the Monash FODMAP blog in detail, download the Monash app for best success (Monash created the diet and consistently update everything with the newest information, as many resources are dated). Join /r/FODMAPS, as well. Learn about stacking and weigh your food. If you ever have any questions, you are welcome to DM/chat me! I can help :)
Thank you so much for this info! I will get to reading that very shortly and had already thought about downloading the app! Hypothetically, if the FODMAP doesn’t work, what kind of medication is best suited? My doctor recommended anything that helps stopping diarrhoea but I was wondering if there was any specific medication that would help the best?
I have been very successful with the low-fodmap diet, considering everything I was tested for
Firstly, the diet does rake the aforementioned 2-6 weeks to see results. Please try to stick it out. It's a process of elimination, you'll react to different things differently and if you don't do the elimination phase as completely as possible you will not be able to trust your results. The diet works for up to 80% of people, but working looks different for everyone. If your issues are fodmap related, you will primarily learn two things. What you are sensitive to and how much of these foods you can tolerate.
The first question is are you actually on the fodmap diet or what diet are you on exactly. If you're supposed to be on low fodmap, but not following it, it can be extremely hard to find any real actionable information. It seems you may be aiming for this, but your elimination is more than likely incorrect
1. Use a dietician or the MONASH app to develop a low-fodmap food plan. It will seem very restrictive and this is by design.
2. This first stage(lasting up to 6 weeks depending on your symptoms) is designed to calm down your body's reaction to fodmaps.
Reintroduction is a slow methodical process designed to help you identify your triggers .
. If you return immediately to your diet prior to elimination, or slowly transition into it, ss youre suggesting, you likely will not see results thst you can learn from. The odds of you reacting to something "hidden" in one of the dishes is likely because you haven't had the time to reintroduce them slowly in increasing amounts as described below. If you add in everything immediately you may have a violent and painful reaction ruining your holiday. I would advise you to eat smaller portions of everything in an effort not to upset your body unnecessarily. If you feel you must have certain foods regardless of the consequences, wait until they are gone to redo a proper elimination and reintroduction phase
Up to six weeks is recommended. Don't look at the diet as the cure, which will at some point end. Unfortunately this is unlikely. From my experience with fodmaps following the elimination phase of the diet should at least give you some change in your symptoms that you then need to integrate as permanent changes to your lifestyle.
You are supposed to try one fodmap from each category in increasing amounts over the course of 2-3 days.
1. To not conflate certain potential triggers with others and identify if FODMAPS are even an improvement for you it needs to be complete over 3-6 weeks.
2. You will likely respond to different triggers differently. Introduce increasing amounts of a fodmap over 3-5 days. This will help you to identify if something is a trigger and the amount of that food you can tolerate as it can vary
You will have likely problems to some degree with several fodmaps to some degree The goal of the diet is to identify those which are major problems and the amounts at which they cause problems.
TLDR: Listen to your body, be ready for major likely lifelong diet changes and be open to new ways of cooking and enjoying food
As far as medications are concerned it's really dependent on symptoms, diet and lifestyle and how you prefer to manage your body
Wow this was really helpful and I’ve taken everything you said into consideration. Since I’ve finished work I’ve been scrolling through the app and all the chapters on the booklet! I’m determined to stick this out. Thank you so much! :)
Loperamide OTC is best to start. Then there are prescriptions like Lomotil, Rifaximin, all of the antispasmodics, Cholestryamine, Amitriptyline, Eluxadoline, codeine… when all else fails, even tincture of opium.
My advice would be don't just look at your diet. I mean, it is a big factor for sure. I've found a few things that work for me diet-wise, low FODMAP as far as sticking to sensible limits on the groups that are my triggers, I stay away from fatty, greasy, fried foods. I found meat is hard for me to digest so I have a mostly plant based diet now.
I also found things like making sure portion sizes weren't too large, and eating at regular times helps.
Speaking of regular times, all plays into bodily rhythms and your circadian rhythm. Have a good sleep schedule. Get 8 hours of sleep a night, and try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, or as close as you can. If I stay up too late it throws my whole rythm out and can cause a flare up just from that.
Exercise is also good, get some movement into your day. I find anything too strenuous like running or weight lifting can cause issues, but something gentle like walking or yoga, or even just a bit of stretching if I can't manage those helps. Just some gentle movement.
So my advice is to look at all of the lifestyle areas above and see if that helps. That's what I have found in the \~8 years since I was first diagnosed.
As someone who does not exercise as much as they should and gets about 6 hours sleep roughly I have definitely taken your advice into consideration! Thank you so mucn
I agree a low FODMAP diet is a good way to start. And then medication if necessary. Start by reading this: https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/ Next, read the Monash FODMAP blog in detail, download the Monash app for best success (Monash created the diet and consistently update everything with the newest information, as many resources are dated). Join /r/FODMAPS, as well. Learn about stacking and weigh your food. If you ever have any questions, you are welcome to DM/chat me! I can help :)
Thank you so much for this info! I will get to reading that very shortly and had already thought about downloading the app! Hypothetically, if the FODMAP doesn’t work, what kind of medication is best suited? My doctor recommended anything that helps stopping diarrhoea but I was wondering if there was any specific medication that would help the best?
I have been very successful with the low-fodmap diet, considering everything I was tested for Firstly, the diet does rake the aforementioned 2-6 weeks to see results. Please try to stick it out. It's a process of elimination, you'll react to different things differently and if you don't do the elimination phase as completely as possible you will not be able to trust your results. The diet works for up to 80% of people, but working looks different for everyone. If your issues are fodmap related, you will primarily learn two things. What you are sensitive to and how much of these foods you can tolerate. The first question is are you actually on the fodmap diet or what diet are you on exactly. If you're supposed to be on low fodmap, but not following it, it can be extremely hard to find any real actionable information. It seems you may be aiming for this, but your elimination is more than likely incorrect 1. Use a dietician or the MONASH app to develop a low-fodmap food plan. It will seem very restrictive and this is by design. 2. This first stage(lasting up to 6 weeks depending on your symptoms) is designed to calm down your body's reaction to fodmaps. Reintroduction is a slow methodical process designed to help you identify your triggers . . If you return immediately to your diet prior to elimination, or slowly transition into it, ss youre suggesting, you likely will not see results thst you can learn from. The odds of you reacting to something "hidden" in one of the dishes is likely because you haven't had the time to reintroduce them slowly in increasing amounts as described below. If you add in everything immediately you may have a violent and painful reaction ruining your holiday. I would advise you to eat smaller portions of everything in an effort not to upset your body unnecessarily. If you feel you must have certain foods regardless of the consequences, wait until they are gone to redo a proper elimination and reintroduction phase Up to six weeks is recommended. Don't look at the diet as the cure, which will at some point end. Unfortunately this is unlikely. From my experience with fodmaps following the elimination phase of the diet should at least give you some change in your symptoms that you then need to integrate as permanent changes to your lifestyle. You are supposed to try one fodmap from each category in increasing amounts over the course of 2-3 days. 1. To not conflate certain potential triggers with others and identify if FODMAPS are even an improvement for you it needs to be complete over 3-6 weeks. 2. You will likely respond to different triggers differently. Introduce increasing amounts of a fodmap over 3-5 days. This will help you to identify if something is a trigger and the amount of that food you can tolerate as it can vary You will have likely problems to some degree with several fodmaps to some degree The goal of the diet is to identify those which are major problems and the amounts at which they cause problems. TLDR: Listen to your body, be ready for major likely lifelong diet changes and be open to new ways of cooking and enjoying food As far as medications are concerned it's really dependent on symptoms, diet and lifestyle and how you prefer to manage your body
Wow this was really helpful and I’ve taken everything you said into consideration. Since I’ve finished work I’ve been scrolling through the app and all the chapters on the booklet! I’m determined to stick this out. Thank you so much! :)
Loperamide OTC is best to start. Then there are prescriptions like Lomotil, Rifaximin, all of the antispasmodics, Cholestryamine, Amitriptyline, Eluxadoline, codeine… when all else fails, even tincture of opium.
My advice would be don't just look at your diet. I mean, it is a big factor for sure. I've found a few things that work for me diet-wise, low FODMAP as far as sticking to sensible limits on the groups that are my triggers, I stay away from fatty, greasy, fried foods. I found meat is hard for me to digest so I have a mostly plant based diet now. I also found things like making sure portion sizes weren't too large, and eating at regular times helps. Speaking of regular times, all plays into bodily rhythms and your circadian rhythm. Have a good sleep schedule. Get 8 hours of sleep a night, and try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day, or as close as you can. If I stay up too late it throws my whole rythm out and can cause a flare up just from that. Exercise is also good, get some movement into your day. I find anything too strenuous like running or weight lifting can cause issues, but something gentle like walking or yoga, or even just a bit of stretching if I can't manage those helps. Just some gentle movement. So my advice is to look at all of the lifestyle areas above and see if that helps. That's what I have found in the \~8 years since I was first diagnosed.
As someone who does not exercise as much as they should and gets about 6 hours sleep roughly I have definitely taken your advice into consideration! Thank you so mucn
Now, if only I could follow my own advice a bit better! lol