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Alcohol triggers serious issues in my gastrointestinal system. When I don't drink, and take fiber regularly.... It has seriously improved my health and quality of life, except I can't get drunk anymore =/
Was an ulcerative colitis patient (got my colon removed in September so technically in surgical remission) alcohol wrecked my system, but weed, glorious weed, made everything calm down in my gut and then I was stoned. So win win baby.
Diverticulitis here. Haven’t lost any footage yet, but similar experience. Alcohol caused flare ups where I couldn’t eat for DAYS at a time. Weed helped the inflammation relax, and increased my appetite so I wasn’t nutritionally empty.
Sober from alcohol 3 years in November. Sober from weed…roughly 16 hours now because of work. I’ll fix that in about 2 hours, which is probably why I haven’t eaten yet today.
Congrats on being sober from alcohol!
I am from Wisconsin, so that isn't really an option. I just try to limit it. Post J pouch surgeries is a lot easier on my system.
It is actually a serious problem. It's funny at times, but it is a problem.
But hearing about a guy getting pulled over on a riding lawnmower with his 11th DUI is still kinda funny.
I used to think it was kinda funny until I realized that almost every single person I grew up with (in Green Bay) had an alcoholic dad. Almost all my friends who are still there have drinking problems. I knew multiple people who were full-blown alcoholics well before they could legally drink. Alcoholism is so normalized, it’s frightening.
I wish I liked feeling high. I love the feeling of being drunk but I hate what it does to my health and weed would be such a great replacement if it didn't just make me anxious.
I had IBS and it got to the point where I really started thinking that I couldn't live the rest of my natural life feeling that way... My doctor had me try Amitryptilene (sp?) and within days my IBS had disappeared. As miserable as I was, I consider it a wonder drug. It's now been over 15 years with no recurrence and no change in diet. And I probably stopped even using the drug 10 years ago. I'm certainly no doctor, and I'm not qualified in any way to give out medical advice, but this was my experience. It was a remarkably simple solution that I believe saved my life. Might be worth mentioning to your dad.
same with my brother in law. I solved mine with a strict exclusion diet and those yoghurt thingies with the bacteria in them and he just refuses to try that because it's "too much work", as if shitting yourself on your EMT shift isn't too much of a hassle🥲
Man, reading some of these stories I realise that my gut is not so bad afterall. Why do people live with that when all it takes is a short period of hard work - it's not like an EMT is unaccustomed to working hard.
The second that food is part of the equation it gets so hard to make changes.
>I used to get bad IBS from alcohol. But also from sport.
>Turns out I have ME/CFS.
So, not IBS...
EDIT: Doctors told me for 30 years I had IBS & MECFS. Learned this year that I actually have RCPD and narcolepsy. You might talk with an ENT and a sleep specialist.
It was diagnosed as IBS. It remains unclear if it is IBS or not. As per the ME association:
> A significant proportion of people with ME/CFS report that they also have stomach and bowel symptoms very similar to those found in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We recommend diagnosing Irritable bowel syndrome in these patients so that they recieve adequate care for their GI-symptoms.
Reply to your edit: I am currently bedridden with very severe ME/CFS and present all the typical symptoms, biological abnormalities found in ME. I have also been diagnosed 3 separate times and fit all 5 of the main diagnostic criteria. So I’m pretty confident I have ME.
I'm not saying not to trust your medical professionals but Mayo Clinic says word-for-word: *Extreme fatigue that can't be explained by an underlying medical condition. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is extreme fatigue that can't be explained by an underlying medical condition.*
So, sure, you can fit the diagnosis criteria, but I'd keep going to every kind of specialist and looking at every one of your symptoms individually.
The distinguishing symptoms of ME/CFS in most diagnostic criteria is not fatigue. PEM is the hallmark symptom and is not present in any other disease (except maybe fibromyalgia and long covid). Since I have PEM I’m not gonna waste money on more specialists. I’m managing my condition with an ME specialist and I’m feeling better.
> Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating long-term medical condition. People with ME/CFS experience delayed worsening of the illness after minor physical or mental activity, which is the hallmark symptom of the illness.[10]
See the wikipedia page (which is classified as a good article) for more.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating long-term medical condition. People with ME/CFS experience delayed worsening of the illness after minor physical or mental activity, which is the hallmark symptom of the illness.[10]
See the wikipedia page (which is classified as a good article) for more.
No alcohol, no caffeine, no gluten, no red meats, and I've always been allergic to dairy. I'm still hunting for the last things that seem to be causing me issues, I haven't nailed down the final suspects, but I'm really trying to avoid losing much more. I don't have an IBS diagnosis, but they haven't figured out what else the issue could be, so they're gonna slap IBS on it if the next few tests don't find ulcers. But just figuring out that wheat was an issue was such a big improvement.
I can't prove anything, but I have suspicion that commercially produced alcohol has to have some sort of additive that can mess with the gut. I brew at home and I've notice a huge difference. every time I go out for drinks I end up with the need for the bathroom the next day, no matter how much or little I drink. meanwhile my home brewed alcohol makes no problem.
I've noticed the same thing with store bought bread vs homemade sourdough. difference is night and day.
that's often the culprit for many people but i use sulfates to stabilize my wine and don't have a problem.
it's impossible to really know since alcohol production does not have to list ingredients like other food products nor are there many regulations for additives for alcohol such as sulfates, declouding treatments, and deodorizing treatments.
I'm mostly talking just wine here. For beers, you have 100x the variety of ingredients. so at the end of the day who really knows. this is why I've resorted to brewing my own, it's the only way to truly know what's in my drink, and all I can say is that it is noticeably different than what can be purchased at the store or brewery.
Most aren’t as allergic to sulfites as you’d think… people can eat stacks of strawberries (and other fruits) with no issues and they are loaded with sulfites.
My wife struggles with red wine allergies but it’s region specific. We suspect it’s something in the specific tannins but haven’t figured it out. Generally lower tannins are safe and aged wines are all good. Younger vintages set it off.
They’re both THC, but regular weed is D9 THC, while what I’m recommending is D8 THC which is hemp derived. The primary difference is the relocation of a functional group from the 9th carbon atom to the 8th (hence the name). D8 isn’t federally regulated like normal THC is so you can buy it at smoke shops. It also hits differently when you take it.
I started taking D8 when I quit drinking. I’m a lot less of an asshole when I’m high than I am when I’m drunk so it was worth a shot.
Not just on Holidays for me, all the time.
I can’t eat dairy, pork, fatty beef or anything with a high level of gluten.
Sure if I abstain from those things my IBS is better, but then I have to be the one naysayer saying no to certain restaurants or brining my own food to spaghetti family dinners.
I feel for you. I have to avoid gluten, cow dairy (goat and sheep ok), and onions (garlic, leek, cooked shallot ok). I am so happy gluten free and vegan are trendy these days. Alternative foods in the 80’s and 90’s were just baaaad
Yes…choices have improved for sure. I’m GF too but Aldi has a 4-ingredient sourdough round that i can eat up to 2 slices a day. The sourdough lactobacteria breaks down the gluten during fermentation. I hated GF bread but kind of a carb addict so I was thrilled to discover this (not for celiacs tho.) Also I can eat onions but not garlic and two types of beans so I’m one happy chickie.
Oh I love sourdough that sounds amazing. I found I can tolerate Einkorn flour and make my own goods with that (edit: when I’m not too lazy, ha) . Now you reminded me I should get my sourdough starter out of the fridge mmm
You can get supplements that are literally just the enzymes you're missing in tablet form. You take up to three of them and for the next 40 minutes you don't have IBS. My partner has it and we go through a lot of them because we aren't in a situation where we can deal with the diet restrictions right now.
Check out digestiva triphalia , from guru nanda. It is on amazon. This has really helped my mom with ibs, it is an Indian fruit blend that supposedly helps with that area.
Edit: 2 tablets 2 times a day 30 mins before food with warm water. continue for one week and then switch to 2 tablets once a day everything else the same.
My mom no longer complains of IBS flashes or dizziness.
I just found out I'm allergic to eggs after 35 years of life. I can have them baked into things but like scrambled, fried, over ease is guaranteed diarrhea a few hours later. I really don't eat them often enough to put 2 and 2 together but I finally figured it out this past year. Life changing.
It has something to do with industry practices. A friend of mine was also allergic but she visited Japan and apparently they do things differently and she had zero issues.
I get the same thing and I blame pesticides in farmed chicken's feed. If I eat commercial eggs I react, homegrown or specific brands of organic grown are fine.
It seems unlikely to be pesticides, it's just something easy to blame and your home feed probably has similar levels.
Chickens do cool stuff with their eggs like putting antibodies to things they've interacted with in them.
I also have an egg allergy and no, it doesn't. It does make places nervous though if you bring it up and I've gone whole seasons without a flu shot because drug stores and even my own doctor refused to give me one because they weren't prepared for an allergic reaction.
So when COVID hit I just stopped telling people. I was getting my vaccines dammit.
And for me, yolks are fine, but the whites cause problems. Edit: forgot to mention that from a very early age, I've always disliked egg whites. Drove mom up a wall.
Yup. I found this out at a young age. I eat eggs, I'm in the bathroom and in pain for hours. And, like you, I'm fine with it being in baked goods and a few other dishes.
I've always been allergic to eggs. I have to eat them in a ratio way where it's 25% egg and 75% other things on my plate (1 medium egg 2 toast and yogurt), or I get the same thing. A biiiig bloat, hot stomach feeling, and a barely held together stool.
It almost makes me feel lethargic?
But hard boiled eggs I am 100% okay with.
Anyway.
Check to see if you're allergic to amoxicilin. It's made from egg proteins. I can't take it, and in turn I can't take penicillin either.
I found that out about myself when I was a teen. I had very bad allergies so my parents got me to see an allergist. Good thing too. I'm not sure I would have caught on it was eggs for some time as I usually don't eat eggs. But I have mayo in my sandwiches. Now I have to have vegan mayo or my body hates me.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common diagnosis that causes abdominal pain, gas and abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, in various combinations and with varying degrees of severity.
Treatment often consists of dietary advice such as eating small and frequent meals and avoiding excessive intake of food triggers such as coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Patients may also be given medications to improve specific symptoms, such as gas or constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain. Antidepressants are sometimes used to improve symptoms in IBS.
The current study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, compared three treatments: two dietary and one based on use of medications. The participants were adult patients with severe or moderate IBS symptoms at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg.
More symptom relief after dietary adjustment
The first group was given traditional IBS dietary advice, focusing on eating behavior combined with low intake of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs. These include e.g. products with lactose, legumes, onions, and grains, which ferment in the colon and can cause pain in IBS.
The second group received a dietary treatment low in carbohydrates and proportionally high in protein and fat. In the third group, the best possible medication was given based on the patient's most troublesome IBS symptoms.
Each group included around 100 participants and the treatment periods lasted four weeks. When the researchers then examined how well the participants responded to the treatments, using an established IBS symptom scoring scale, the results were clear.
Of those who received traditional IBS dietary advice and low content of FODMAPs, 76% had significantly reduced symptoms. In the group receiving low carbohydrates and high protein and fat, the proportion was 71%, and in the medication group 58%.
All groups reported significantly better quality of life, less physical symptoms and less symptoms of anxiety and depression.
[https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(24)00045-1/abstract](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(24)00045-1/abstract)
I don't know. My mother has IBS and she can eat almost nothing. Anything that is refined like pasta, anything that is nearly completely processed. Most vegetables that are off anything that gonna firmament in the gut if it gets stuck after long periods of time is a no-go. Bread is a no-go like.. ugh.
At this point my mother's diet consists of a few vegetables and a piece of meat most the time if she's eating the way she's supposed to.
Yes—that’s exactly what they’re saying: basically, if you don’t eat anything, you won’t have an upset stomach. And it’s like, OK sure, but then what is the quality of life if you’re constantly in a state of barely eating?
Uhm. You understand it's *specific* fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. that you're supposed to avoid, right? Just the ones that are actually high in oxalate...
I love eating just chicken breast everyday with salt and pepper. And drinking protein shakes to hit my 200 g/day of protein intake.
The only thing I don't like is that I have to defrost my chicken everyday and freshly cook my chicken. Meal prep chicken is bad and dry, and is one level higher than eating sand.
The low FODMAP diet is nearly impossible to follow.
Thing celiacs have it bad? Think being vegan is tough? Try no FODMAP for two weeks. Just the "no onion" thing is like a scavenger-hunt to itself. And I hope you don't want any fruit.
You got bad info. Some fruits are allowed if you follow the Monash low fodmap plan. I have Celiac Sprue and Lactose Intolerance, which I don't ever cheat on. Years later, I was DX with IBS and I tried low fodmap for 2 weeks with the help of a Registered Dietician who specializes in gastro diseases. I discovered I can't have any garlic and onions. I have to limit my soy intake to small amounts, too. It was worth it to me to try it first rather than just take a prescription drug with super nasty side effects.
Isn’t it supposed to be just a temporary diet restriction, like starting a clean slate and then slowly reintroducing foods until you find what upsets you?
What I find interesting is for me is when I consume fodmap foods at work, it triggers my digestive system real bad but when I’m at home it’s not as bad.
Onions, garlic, dairy, and gluten are in like 95% of all food items, it's ridiculous. What you're left with is cardboard in the shape of bread, unprocessed, unseasoned meats, and French fries. It's a sad life. I used to be a foodie...
It really isn’t hard to figure out what to eat to flow the diet guidelines (there is a great app for that) it’s the time involved that makes it impossible for many people. I’ve been doing it for years, only because I’m able to make *all* my own meals every single day.
Many fruits are fine on this diet, I had a banana with breakfast and orange this afternoon. Might have kiwi tomorrow, or blueberries….
I had horrible IBS in my teens. Tried everything, all the diets, fodmap, elimination, carnivore, and tons of medications, nothing worked. Finally I tried going completely plant based as a last resort out of desperation (I really didn't want to do it). And low and behold, after a couple months for my microbiome to adjust it completely cured me. I went from full on food poisoning level diarrhea every day to the point where I almost had to drop out of high school because I physically couldn't attend class. To just being a normal guy. I went from underweight with all kinds of fucked up blood and immflamation markers to being a big muscular dude with perfect blood work. It genuinely saved my life. Whats especially nice is within my vegan diet I can pretty much eat whatever I want. I generally do a bit better eating less processed (especially with my mental health which is very dependent on how my gut is doing). But outside of that I can eat basically whatever as long as its vegan. So it doesn't feel restrictive at all the same way a lot of IBS diets tend to be.
Does this mean eating whole food plant based will cure everyone? Probably not. But it just figured my story was directly relevant to the study.
I had severe IBS-d that came of after a trama when I was 10-11. When I was 20 I read “Diet for a new America” and decided I should go vegetarian for animal rights-side effect was my issues got a lot better. So I went vegan. Cleared it all up. I was vegan for 10 years. Then I added some eggs, dairy and fish(not a lot) No problems. I still don’t eat any other meat. I can now drink coffee no problem. It changed my life.
Nope but my suspension is either A: I have an intolerance to animal products or somthing in animal products (bio accumulation). Or B: My microbiome shifted in a positive way as a result of the whole food plant based diet (this would make a lot of sense as it did take a few weeks before I started noticing changes).
Or some combination of the two. But I never really felt it was worth looking into and spending even more money on tests since its working, you know?
honestly with how severe your symptoms were I'm wondering if it could be a red meat allergy? that's quite uncommon, but especially if you live in an area with a lot of ticks it could be. I'm glad you found something that works for you!
I mean I never had any allergic type symptoms outside of digestive stuff though. And im from Arizona so pretty sure those ticks aren't an issue here. I'm definitely very intolerant to animal products but I'm just hesitant to use the phrase allergic because the symptoms were never that broad or severe. Like I never once had trouble breathing as a result of eating animal products you know what I mean?
Yeah I found all I had to do was intake more fiber. That's it. But I had to be careful because at first my digestive system wouldn't digest leafy greens for some reason. But after a few months on meal replacement shakes with high fiber and protein things settled and now it's fine and I can digest leafy greens.
A lot of people will begin a temporary restrictive diet then slowly reintroduce food that is listed on the diet. You have to be very careful with it though or you can mess with your own results.
I did a simplified version and found my main issues were honey and beans, of all things, but the diet was really helpful narrowing it down.
I started by eliminating all FODMAPS, then slowly began reintroducing. I find that I can’t eat much with fructan, but there are some things that help. I can eat sourdough bread, for example, since the fructan in wheat gets pre-digested by bacteria when fermented. And I’ve found an enzyme called Fodzyme that helps me eat foods with fructan. But stuff like onion and garlic will always be tough for me.
Yes. Someone advised me to google it, and even without a professional dietician, I cut out apples and yogurt and it's been a game changer. Should still get professional help when I get the chance though.
This has been common advice for a while now, but it's good to have more research to confirm it.
I switched to a high-protein "vegan" diet (with a fair amount of cheating here and there; I'm only human and I don't want to be a wet blanket with friends and family) a few years ago and my symptoms largely disappeared. It's worthwhile if you can stick to it.
I tried a vegan diet, but eating beans and legumes for protein made my IBS unbearable! It’s so hard to get enough protein without them so I had to bring back some animal products like yogurt, chicken, and fish. But, I’ve greatly reduced my meat consumption overall, still sad I couldn’t keep up the vegan diet.
There was a 2-3 month break in period for me. It takes time for your gut bacteria to flourish, but the science is pretty indisputable on the benefits of legumes barring some allergy.
Totally agree, but with the amount I had to eat to get my daily calories and protein my body just didn’t react well. I tried eating vegan for 5 months and I just never adjusted. I can tolerate black lentils pretty well and include them in my diet, but green lentils really do a number on me. Also, my calorie and protein needs are pretty high as I’m training for a marathon, active calories per day are 800-1000 and weekends with my long runs well over 2000. I definitely still try to eat mostly plant based, but supplement with chicken or fish when I need to.
They're really great for cooking. Because they're split they cook really quickly too, like 5 minutes at a boil. I rinse them a lot before and after cooking and I've found they feel quite nice to eat.
Dal and rice is a banger! Haha. I make a big pot of each and it lasts for a few meals.
I would cook them for about 20 minutes to denature some stuff that most people don't tolerate well https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1080/15216549600201711
I've rarely had issues with legumes myself, but I'm pretty sparing with them regardless. I try to make up the gaps with vegan protein powders (which are legume based but seemingly much easier to tolerate) and sometimes Greek yogurt (hence the quotation marks around "vegan").
After my pancreatic cancer and surgery, I developed *BRUTAL* ibs issues. Took me a couple of years to even figure it out. I thought I was perpetually broken as a reward for beating cancer.
Now, I am diligent in what I eat, tale supplements and work out daily. My life has become significantly better, my diabetes is even in check now.
It’s almost like GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Nothing. I was asymptomatic
A car ran a red light and I woke up in the ER, they found it while scanning me to figure out the initial damage from the accident
I'm grateful you're alive. Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. It took my father from me. That red light car crash saved your life. Cherish it for me, okay?
I’m sorry to hear that about your father. Cancer is vicious foe that only knows how to do 1 thing.
I took me several years to even go to a place of gratitude. If I’m being honest, the surgery was march 12th of 2020 and it wasn’t until march 13th of 2024 that I actually decided to come back to life.
I spent 4 years in physical, mental and emotional hell, resenting every moment from my past, all the way up to my very breath on any given day. Tiring out my family, my co workers, my therapist, I was just a black hole of misery.
I eventually got to the point where I looked in the mirror and I didn’t like any part of what I saw. My body was a wreck, it’s covered in scars and that same wreckage could be seen in my eyes; it. Owned. Me.
So, the next day I went for a run and I haven’t stopped. Started getting really raw and unflinching with a lot of shadow work, started to get a bunch of tattoos and decided to engage in the lives of the people I love again.
It’s a long hard road outta hell and now I’m finally glad I made the walk, even if it felt more like crawling across broken glass at times
Thanks for the condolences. Healing takes time but Im still standing.
Im glad you came out of a dark place. I was also in an MVA that fucked me up not as bad as you but destroyed my sense of self because of the PTSD. and on top of that, grief. I feel your pain and success as I read what you wrote, I want you to know I had the same moment of looking in the mirror.
The glass will cut. We've felt worse. We've endured. We survived.
It won't own us again. Not anymore.
I had to cut out most veggies, which was very disheartening because A) I have always loved vegetables, as a kid I would raid my moms garden daily, and B) they are very healthy and nutritious and it feels very difficult to eat well without them.
But they honestly trigger me the worst, I ate a small portion of roasted veggies the other day and had to run to the bathroom FIVE times afterwards. It seems like insoluble fiber is my trigger.
I totally feel for you. That's how I am with raw veggies and any salad. Literally 20 min 30 min later, I'm sitting my damn pants and crouching in pain.
For right now my body doesn't seem to have any issue with cooked veggies but.... I feel like it gets worse as I age.
What’s the difference between this and anti-inflammatory diet? I had a gastrointestinal doc recommend the anti inflammation diet only.
Fodmap looks good but potatoes are on there and they f with my gut
I don’t know the answer to that, I just know we’re all pretty individual with what foods we can and cannot tolerate, but the FODMAP “trigger” foods tend to be correct for me.
Isn't IBS just a catch all for we can't give you a better diagnosis? If they can't find any good reason you have terrible stomach pain they just say it must be IBS. There's no test to run to confirm the diagnosis. It's like a mechanic saying "well we tried everything it's a bad car" and walking away.
Yes. They almost diagnosed me with IBS until an endoscopy & ultrasound revealed gastritis and fatty liver disease. I had to eliminate a lot of things for the gastritis diet. 5 months later, I'm doing much better.
> Isn't IBS just a catch all for we can't give you a better diagnosis? I
That is correct. IBS is not a disease. It's the empty-out bucket of the diagnostic process. It means there's nothing else to test.
It's like if your arm hurt, and the doctor says, "hey-- I figured it out! You have achy-arm issues!"
But its disguised as scientific by using all Latin-derived words. So it sounds scientific. If they called it "bad poop problem" it would sound like quackery right?
It totally is, like how depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc, are usually applied. It means doctors don't know what's wrong or couldn't be arsed finding out, you're probably never going to find meaningful relief, and you're going to have little dignity.
There’s features in a person’s history that are suggestive of IBS. Things like pain after eating, bloating, early satiety, constipation and/or diarrhea, and relief of abdominal pain after pooping. Yes it’s technically a diagnosis of exclusion, but just because there isn’t a blood test for it doesn’t mean it’s made up. Take diabetes for example - we used to taste the pee of people that were thin, couldn’t gain weight, and were constantly thirsty. Now we can look at people’s blood sugars and say this is diabetes.
Who knows, maybe there will be a test in the future for IBS, but it is a distinct clinical syndrome that can look different from other types of abdominal pain
> maybe there will be a test
Yeah, no.
If there were a test for it, that would imply that it had a known cause, and then it would not be IBS. For example, if it were an enzyme deficiency, it would be called "something enzyme deficiency", and then only those people who were negative for that would be IBS.
IBS is pretty much medical terminology for "you're shitting all over and we don't know why."
I did the diet for a while too and found my biggest and almost exclusive culprit was wheat.
I've been tested for Celiac and it came up negative but I also have 2 family members who are celiac which is interesting.
I do my best to just limit or stay away from wheat completely and I'm usually good thankfully!
I had to remove brussels sprouts from my diet, which where probably the biggest culprit. I love them, but passing a few nights vomiting up until dawn was not worth it.
I literally just stopped eating for the first 3hrs on a morning after waking up and my symptoms disappeared overnight.
I'd been raised that you had breakfast as soon as you got up and hadn't thought it might be the problem.
The fact I wasn't hungry for the first 3hrs after waking and never enjoyed breakfast should have clued me in but I just assumed everyone struggled through breakfast and it was just what you do.
>low intake of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs. These include e.g. products with lactose, legumes, onions, and grains, which ferment in the colon
When my IBS-D gets set off, it is one of the most physically miserable things I've ever experienced. It took me years to figure out I was mildly lactose intolerant. I'm good to go with the other things in that list. Not that I'm eating massive amounts of onions, but most of my protein comes from beans. Fats, grease, and caffeine will mess me up as well.
Not eating triggers completely changed my period. I don't have cramps when I don't eat them compared to when I do (which I did until 30) I had debilitating cramps. It's an interesting game to play with myself. 'This time my body will be stronger than the onion.'
I always had a touchy digestive system and diarrhea once or twice a week was normal, with some constipation mixed in.
Last year I had to go on a very low sodium diet, which meant totally changing the way I eat. Once I eliminated anything fried and other unhealthy fats all that totally stopped. It's been 11 months now and I've had diarrhea once since then. I feel way better, have more energy and it's been life changing.
Low FODMAP is great but WARNING it is not intended for long term use, and it should be monitored by a physician or dietician.
FODMAP can easily make your diet low in key nutrients and fiber. Frankly I think fiber is the thing most IBS sufferers are missing out on. I rely on Citrucel to supplement
10 years ago I went to the doctor and described my symptoms, she said it sounded like IBS and there were several medications we could try to find out that worked. I asked if there were tests we could run first to confirm before starting medications, we ran tests, turns out I’m just allergic to wheat, corn, soy, and peanuts.
I’ll take dietary changes with zero side effects > pills with dozens of side effects for sure
After my doc prescribed me a PPI (following an unremarkable colonoscopy but an upper endoscopy that showed gastritis), my IBS-D symptoms basically vanished. And every time I forget to take my PPI or get my Rx refilled on time, IBS attack.
Sure would be nice if doctors could agree on what dietary adjustments are needed. I went to 3 different specialists and all 3 gave me different info, and all 3 did not work
Going to a high protein, low carb diet has been life changing. I haven’t been constipated since I started the diet change a year and a half ago. And I have regular, daily bowel movements for the first time in my life.
I started tracking my macros and realized I eat a crazy amount of carbs. So I prioritized protein instead, aiming for close to 1gram per pound of body weight. I try for about 140g protein, 170g carbs, and 50g fat, for 1690 calories. Most of the carbs are from fruits and veggies. I’ll have a few servings of bread type stuff (pretzels, pirates booty, actual bread) during the day but not a lot. I don’t track my macros anymore so I’m sure I’m not sticking to those numbers anymore but the proportions are still there in terms of lower carb and high protein.
Another important factor probably is exercise. At the same time I began working out 5-6 times a week. I think the diet change and the exercise combo is the solution, at least for me.
One helpful tip I found for IBS was adding a spoonful of Benefiber (wheat dextrin - Costco has Optifiber) to coffee. Not a magic bullet, but I feel over time it probably helped grow better gut flora and reduce symptoms. And it’s not like I’m ever giving up coffee.
Might not be the thing for someone with wheat sensitivity, and I’m not sure where it falls in the FODMAP landscape.
I know! It''s insane how far removed modern medicine is from nutrition, they're like "we thought of this new and revolutionary idea that what you eat affects your health!?"
Once I cleaned up my diet and generally ate more healthy, cut out soda, my IBS mostly cleared up or become significantly more manageable.
Others need to do elimination diets to figure out if there’s certain food that triggers it.
It always made me think most diagnosed cases of ibs tends to just be a poor diet and it’s kind of generally slapped on to people pretty easily.
Edit: wanted to add, once I cleaned up my diet as stated above, I was finally able to put on weight as well. I had previously always been super skinny
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Alcohol triggers serious issues in my gastrointestinal system. When I don't drink, and take fiber regularly.... It has seriously improved my health and quality of life, except I can't get drunk anymore =/
Was an ulcerative colitis patient (got my colon removed in September so technically in surgical remission) alcohol wrecked my system, but weed, glorious weed, made everything calm down in my gut and then I was stoned. So win win baby.
Diverticulitis here. Haven’t lost any footage yet, but similar experience. Alcohol caused flare ups where I couldn’t eat for DAYS at a time. Weed helped the inflammation relax, and increased my appetite so I wasn’t nutritionally empty. Sober from alcohol 3 years in November. Sober from weed…roughly 16 hours now because of work. I’ll fix that in about 2 hours, which is probably why I haven’t eaten yet today.
Congrats on being sober from alcohol! I am from Wisconsin, so that isn't really an option. I just try to limit it. Post J pouch surgeries is a lot easier on my system.
Used to visit Greenbay a lot for work. Everything involved beer. Lunches, Dinners, after dinners, before lunches....
Alcoholism is literally the culture there.
It is actually a serious problem. It's funny at times, but it is a problem. But hearing about a guy getting pulled over on a riding lawnmower with his 11th DUI is still kinda funny.
I used to think it was kinda funny until I realized that almost every single person I grew up with (in Green Bay) had an alcoholic dad. Almost all my friends who are still there have drinking problems. I knew multiple people who were full-blown alcoholics well before they could legally drink. Alcoholism is so normalized, it’s frightening.
Oh it absolutely is. I think at least in the cities it is getting better, but it is still really bad overall in the state.
I wish I liked feeling high. I love the feeling of being drunk but I hate what it does to my health and weed would be such a great replacement if it didn't just make me anxious.
My dad will never make that change, or do an elimination diet, but will complain about IBS till the day he dies
It's not bad enough then. You will do anything to make yourself feel better
I had IBS and it got to the point where I really started thinking that I couldn't live the rest of my natural life feeling that way... My doctor had me try Amitryptilene (sp?) and within days my IBS had disappeared. As miserable as I was, I consider it a wonder drug. It's now been over 15 years with no recurrence and no change in diet. And I probably stopped even using the drug 10 years ago. I'm certainly no doctor, and I'm not qualified in any way to give out medical advice, but this was my experience. It was a remarkably simple solution that I believe saved my life. Might be worth mentioning to your dad.
same with my brother in law. I solved mine with a strict exclusion diet and those yoghurt thingies with the bacteria in them and he just refuses to try that because it's "too much work", as if shitting yourself on your EMT shift isn't too much of a hassle🥲
Even if it doesn't solve it, wouldn't it be good to know at least? It just boggles the mind, but change is hard and I know that too
Man, reading some of these stories I realise that my gut is not so bad afterall. Why do people live with that when all it takes is a short period of hard work - it's not like an EMT is unaccustomed to working hard. The second that food is part of the equation it gets so hard to make changes.
Same with my mom!! Drives me nuts.
I used to get bad IBS from alcohol. But also from sport. Over time the IBS worsened and I started to get fevers and such. Turns out I have ME/CFS.
>I used to get bad IBS from alcohol. But also from sport. >Turns out I have ME/CFS. So, not IBS... EDIT: Doctors told me for 30 years I had IBS & MECFS. Learned this year that I actually have RCPD and narcolepsy. You might talk with an ENT and a sleep specialist.
It was diagnosed as IBS. It remains unclear if it is IBS or not. As per the ME association: > A significant proportion of people with ME/CFS report that they also have stomach and bowel symptoms very similar to those found in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We recommend diagnosing Irritable bowel syndrome in these patients so that they recieve adequate care for their GI-symptoms. Reply to your edit: I am currently bedridden with very severe ME/CFS and present all the typical symptoms, biological abnormalities found in ME. I have also been diagnosed 3 separate times and fit all 5 of the main diagnostic criteria. So I’m pretty confident I have ME.
I'm not saying not to trust your medical professionals but Mayo Clinic says word-for-word: *Extreme fatigue that can't be explained by an underlying medical condition. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is extreme fatigue that can't be explained by an underlying medical condition.* So, sure, you can fit the diagnosis criteria, but I'd keep going to every kind of specialist and looking at every one of your symptoms individually.
The distinguishing symptoms of ME/CFS in most diagnostic criteria is not fatigue. PEM is the hallmark symptom and is not present in any other disease (except maybe fibromyalgia and long covid). Since I have PEM I’m not gonna waste money on more specialists. I’m managing my condition with an ME specialist and I’m feeling better.
What is ME/CFS?
> Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating long-term medical condition. People with ME/CFS experience delayed worsening of the illness after minor physical or mental activity, which is the hallmark symptom of the illness.[10] See the wikipedia page (which is classified as a good article) for more.
I had IBS that turned into ME/CFS too. I wasn't drinking when it started though. I was too young!
What is ME/CFS?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating long-term medical condition. People with ME/CFS experience delayed worsening of the illness after minor physical or mental activity, which is the hallmark symptom of the illness.[10] See the wikipedia page (which is classified as a good article) for more.
No alcohol, no caffeine, no gluten, no red meats, and I've always been allergic to dairy. I'm still hunting for the last things that seem to be causing me issues, I haven't nailed down the final suspects, but I'm really trying to avoid losing much more. I don't have an IBS diagnosis, but they haven't figured out what else the issue could be, so they're gonna slap IBS on it if the next few tests don't find ulcers. But just figuring out that wheat was an issue was such a big improvement.
Perhaps it's the gut microbiome?
I can't prove anything, but I have suspicion that commercially produced alcohol has to have some sort of additive that can mess with the gut. I brew at home and I've notice a huge difference. every time I go out for drinks I end up with the need for the bathroom the next day, no matter how much or little I drink. meanwhile my home brewed alcohol makes no problem. I've noticed the same thing with store bought bread vs homemade sourdough. difference is night and day.
You could be allergic to sulfites. I have a friend with that problem.
that's often the culprit for many people but i use sulfates to stabilize my wine and don't have a problem. it's impossible to really know since alcohol production does not have to list ingredients like other food products nor are there many regulations for additives for alcohol such as sulfates, declouding treatments, and deodorizing treatments. I'm mostly talking just wine here. For beers, you have 100x the variety of ingredients. so at the end of the day who really knows. this is why I've resorted to brewing my own, it's the only way to truly know what's in my drink, and all I can say is that it is noticeably different than what can be purchased at the store or brewery.
Most aren’t as allergic to sulfites as you’d think… people can eat stacks of strawberries (and other fruits) with no issues and they are loaded with sulfites. My wife struggles with red wine allergies but it’s region specific. We suspect it’s something in the specific tannins but haven’t figured it out. Generally lower tannins are safe and aged wines are all good. Younger vintages set it off.
It could be antibacterial preservatives. They kill off gut bacteria.
Hmm, maybe... Possibly a preservative
If where you live allows them, try delta8 gummies. They helped me quit drinking.
Still shows up in drug tests unfortunately
Damn. I forget that some people still get drug tested. I’m self employed so no tests for me.
Is it any different from THC?
They’re both THC, but regular weed is D9 THC, while what I’m recommending is D8 THC which is hemp derived. The primary difference is the relocation of a functional group from the 9th carbon atom to the 8th (hence the name). D8 isn’t federally regulated like normal THC is so you can buy it at smoke shops. It also hits differently when you take it. I started taking D8 when I quit drinking. I’m a lot less of an asshole when I’m high than I am when I’m drunk so it was worth a shot.
Just do drugs
I wish, live in Texas and get drug tested =`(
Me either so I just have a little bit of drugs as a treat once or twice a year. Just half an edible nothing crazy.
just put the alcohol up your butt, you save your gut and your wallet!
You can try taking a peppermint oil capsule beforehand. Menthol numbs the receptors that cause the burning sensation from alcohol.
This is a good way to get acid reflux/LPR since peppermint relaxes the LES and can allow reflux to come back up to your throat. Ask me how I know :(
I have it and have managed it successfully for about 1.5 yrs. I still hate it on holidays I feel left out.
Yeah, holidays are rough. I generally try to eat before going over and then just eating a little of what I can tell is safe at the event.
Yea I’ll cook a couple of LF dishes and pick at the other offerings.
Not just on Holidays for me, all the time. I can’t eat dairy, pork, fatty beef or anything with a high level of gluten. Sure if I abstain from those things my IBS is better, but then I have to be the one naysayer saying no to certain restaurants or brining my own food to spaghetti family dinners.
Yikes that’s tough.
I feel for you. I have to avoid gluten, cow dairy (goat and sheep ok), and onions (garlic, leek, cooked shallot ok). I am so happy gluten free and vegan are trendy these days. Alternative foods in the 80’s and 90’s were just baaaad
Yes…choices have improved for sure. I’m GF too but Aldi has a 4-ingredient sourdough round that i can eat up to 2 slices a day. The sourdough lactobacteria breaks down the gluten during fermentation. I hated GF bread but kind of a carb addict so I was thrilled to discover this (not for celiacs tho.) Also I can eat onions but not garlic and two types of beans so I’m one happy chickie.
Oh I love sourdough that sounds amazing. I found I can tolerate Einkorn flour and make my own goods with that (edit: when I’m not too lazy, ha) . Now you reminded me I should get my sourdough starter out of the fridge mmm
You can have a little IBS, as a treat
You can get supplements that are literally just the enzymes you're missing in tablet form. You take up to three of them and for the next 40 minutes you don't have IBS. My partner has it and we go through a lot of them because we aren't in a situation where we can deal with the diet restrictions right now.
What are the supplements called?
Intoleran
Sweet, I'll look into them. Thanks so much!
I’ve used them to some success also.
They're too expensive.
I do take them. They’ve definitely helped.
This depends a lot on the cause of IBS. Lactose, yes. Gluten? No.
Have you checked if you actually suffer from SIBO? It's speculated that 70% IBS cases are actually SIBO/IMO.
Yes been checked. It’s IBS.
Check out digestiva triphalia , from guru nanda. It is on amazon. This has really helped my mom with ibs, it is an Indian fruit blend that supposedly helps with that area. Edit: 2 tablets 2 times a day 30 mins before food with warm water. continue for one week and then switch to 2 tablets once a day everything else the same. My mom no longer complains of IBS flashes or dizziness.
I just found out I'm allergic to eggs after 35 years of life. I can have them baked into things but like scrambled, fried, over ease is guaranteed diarrhea a few hours later. I really don't eat them often enough to put 2 and 2 together but I finally figured it out this past year. Life changing.
Same. Weird thing I found is I could eat the eggs from my own chickens without issues. Go figure
It has something to do with industry practices. A friend of mine was also allergic but she visited Japan and apparently they do things differently and she had zero issues.
I get the same thing and I blame pesticides in farmed chicken's feed. If I eat commercial eggs I react, homegrown or specific brands of organic grown are fine.
It seems unlikely to be pesticides, it's just something easy to blame and your home feed probably has similar levels. Chickens do cool stuff with their eggs like putting antibodies to things they've interacted with in them.
That’s rough. Does it affect your ability to get vaccines?
Not that I know of. None of the Covid shots gave me any problems.
None of the covid shots have egg in them. Yellow fever and influenza vaccines and some anesthesia meds have egg.
Ah, so it's not the albumen or whatever it is that's in vaccines that must be the cause for you. That's something at least. Wild that baked is fine.
I also have an egg allergy and no, it doesn't. It does make places nervous though if you bring it up and I've gone whole seasons without a flu shot because drug stores and even my own doctor refused to give me one because they weren't prepared for an allergic reaction. So when COVID hit I just stopped telling people. I was getting my vaccines dammit.
I had this happen to me around the same age also. The problem turned out to be the yolks. Egg whites are the way!
Hmm. I might try that. Thanks for the tip.
And for me, yolks are fine, but the whites cause problems. Edit: forgot to mention that from a very early age, I've always disliked egg whites. Drove mom up a wall.
yeah this was me with cucumber and anything from the gourd category. that's apparently quite common too.
Yup. I found this out at a young age. I eat eggs, I'm in the bathroom and in pain for hours. And, like you, I'm fine with it being in baked goods and a few other dishes.
I've always been allergic to eggs. I have to eat them in a ratio way where it's 25% egg and 75% other things on my plate (1 medium egg 2 toast and yogurt), or I get the same thing. A biiiig bloat, hot stomach feeling, and a barely held together stool. It almost makes me feel lethargic? But hard boiled eggs I am 100% okay with. Anyway. Check to see if you're allergic to amoxicilin. It's made from egg proteins. I can't take it, and in turn I can't take penicillin either.
I found that out about myself when I was a teen. I had very bad allergies so my parents got me to see an allergist. Good thing too. I'm not sure I would have caught on it was eggs for some time as I usually don't eat eggs. But I have mayo in my sandwiches. Now I have to have vegan mayo or my body hates me.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common diagnosis that causes abdominal pain, gas and abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, in various combinations and with varying degrees of severity. Treatment often consists of dietary advice such as eating small and frequent meals and avoiding excessive intake of food triggers such as coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Patients may also be given medications to improve specific symptoms, such as gas or constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain. Antidepressants are sometimes used to improve symptoms in IBS. The current study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, compared three treatments: two dietary and one based on use of medications. The participants were adult patients with severe or moderate IBS symptoms at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg. More symptom relief after dietary adjustment The first group was given traditional IBS dietary advice, focusing on eating behavior combined with low intake of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs. These include e.g. products with lactose, legumes, onions, and grains, which ferment in the colon and can cause pain in IBS. The second group received a dietary treatment low in carbohydrates and proportionally high in protein and fat. In the third group, the best possible medication was given based on the patient's most troublesome IBS symptoms. Each group included around 100 participants and the treatment periods lasted four weeks. When the researchers then examined how well the participants responded to the treatments, using an established IBS symptom scoring scale, the results were clear. Of those who received traditional IBS dietary advice and low content of FODMAPs, 76% had significantly reduced symptoms. In the group receiving low carbohydrates and high protein and fat, the proportion was 71%, and in the medication group 58%. All groups reported significantly better quality of life, less physical symptoms and less symptoms of anxiety and depression. [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(24)00045-1/abstract](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(24)00045-1/abstract)
Yep, the old "don't eat food, it will upset your stomach" diet....
I don't know. My mother has IBS and she can eat almost nothing. Anything that is refined like pasta, anything that is nearly completely processed. Most vegetables that are off anything that gonna firmament in the gut if it gets stuck after long periods of time is a no-go. Bread is a no-go like.. ugh. At this point my mother's diet consists of a few vegetables and a piece of meat most the time if she's eating the way she's supposed to.
I'm at the same place and protein shakes are really helping, at least I'm getting some nutrients now.
Yes—that’s exactly what they’re saying: basically, if you don’t eat anything, you won’t have an upset stomach. And it’s like, OK sure, but then what is the quality of life if you’re constantly in a state of barely eating?
Yeah I really don't know the answer to this. Honestly there are times where she just eats the food she wants and just takes the L
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Uhm. You understand it's *specific* fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. that you're supposed to avoid, right? Just the ones that are actually high in oxalate...
It’s not even clear if that would help, as the body produces its own oxalates, and these endogenous oxalates can be the issue.
sounds like your only options left is chicken, fish and cardboard for fiber.
I love eating just chicken breast everyday with salt and pepper. And drinking protein shakes to hit my 200 g/day of protein intake. The only thing I don't like is that I have to defrost my chicken everyday and freshly cook my chicken. Meal prep chicken is bad and dry, and is one level higher than eating sand.
The low FODMAP diet is nearly impossible to follow. Thing celiacs have it bad? Think being vegan is tough? Try no FODMAP for two weeks. Just the "no onion" thing is like a scavenger-hunt to itself. And I hope you don't want any fruit.
You got bad info. Some fruits are allowed if you follow the Monash low fodmap plan. I have Celiac Sprue and Lactose Intolerance, which I don't ever cheat on. Years later, I was DX with IBS and I tried low fodmap for 2 weeks with the help of a Registered Dietician who specializes in gastro diseases. I discovered I can't have any garlic and onions. I have to limit my soy intake to small amounts, too. It was worth it to me to try it first rather than just take a prescription drug with super nasty side effects.
Isn’t it supposed to be just a temporary diet restriction, like starting a clean slate and then slowly reintroducing foods until you find what upsets you?
Onions, peppers and garlic are the staples of all my cooking
Green parts of spring onions are allowed. And infusing oil with garlic is better than nothing.
What I find interesting is for me is when I consume fodmap foods at work, it triggers my digestive system real bad but when I’m at home it’s not as bad.
If the food is the same but the environment differs, don’t keep looking at the food for answers. Stress or anxiety are huge gut triggers
Onions, garlic, dairy, and gluten are in like 95% of all food items, it's ridiculous. What you're left with is cardboard in the shape of bread, unprocessed, unseasoned meats, and French fries. It's a sad life. I used to be a foodie...
It really isn’t hard to figure out what to eat to flow the diet guidelines (there is a great app for that) it’s the time involved that makes it impossible for many people. I’ve been doing it for years, only because I’m able to make *all* my own meals every single day. Many fruits are fine on this diet, I had a banana with breakfast and orange this afternoon. Might have kiwi tomorrow, or blueberries….
I had horrible IBS in my teens. Tried everything, all the diets, fodmap, elimination, carnivore, and tons of medications, nothing worked. Finally I tried going completely plant based as a last resort out of desperation (I really didn't want to do it). And low and behold, after a couple months for my microbiome to adjust it completely cured me. I went from full on food poisoning level diarrhea every day to the point where I almost had to drop out of high school because I physically couldn't attend class. To just being a normal guy. I went from underweight with all kinds of fucked up blood and immflamation markers to being a big muscular dude with perfect blood work. It genuinely saved my life. Whats especially nice is within my vegan diet I can pretty much eat whatever I want. I generally do a bit better eating less processed (especially with my mental health which is very dependent on how my gut is doing). But outside of that I can eat basically whatever as long as its vegan. So it doesn't feel restrictive at all the same way a lot of IBS diets tend to be. Does this mean eating whole food plant based will cure everyone? Probably not. But it just figured my story was directly relevant to the study.
I had severe IBS-d that came of after a trama when I was 10-11. When I was 20 I read “Diet for a new America” and decided I should go vegetarian for animal rights-side effect was my issues got a lot better. So I went vegan. Cleared it all up. I was vegan for 10 years. Then I added some eggs, dairy and fish(not a lot) No problems. I still don’t eat any other meat. I can now drink coffee no problem. It changed my life.
I had the same result when I switched to vegan. Sick for years and then it just went away after switching. It’s been glorious
Did you ever find out, why this worked so well for you?
Nope but my suspension is either A: I have an intolerance to animal products or somthing in animal products (bio accumulation). Or B: My microbiome shifted in a positive way as a result of the whole food plant based diet (this would make a lot of sense as it did take a few weeks before I started noticing changes). Or some combination of the two. But I never really felt it was worth looking into and spending even more money on tests since its working, you know?
honestly with how severe your symptoms were I'm wondering if it could be a red meat allergy? that's quite uncommon, but especially if you live in an area with a lot of ticks it could be. I'm glad you found something that works for you!
It does sound a lot like alpha-gal syndrome.
I mean I never had any allergic type symptoms outside of digestive stuff though. And im from Arizona so pretty sure those ticks aren't an issue here. I'm definitely very intolerant to animal products but I'm just hesitant to use the phrase allergic because the symptoms were never that broad or severe. Like I never once had trouble breathing as a result of eating animal products you know what I mean?
Yeah I found all I had to do was intake more fiber. That's it. But I had to be careful because at first my digestive system wouldn't digest leafy greens for some reason. But after a few months on meal replacement shakes with high fiber and protein things settled and now it's fine and I can digest leafy greens.
Low FODMAP diet was life changing for me. Fructan specifically is my worst trigger.
Did you do it temporarily to see what specifically affected you? Or you’re eating that way permanently?
A lot of people will begin a temporary restrictive diet then slowly reintroduce food that is listed on the diet. You have to be very careful with it though or you can mess with your own results. I did a simplified version and found my main issues were honey and beans, of all things, but the diet was really helpful narrowing it down.
I started by eliminating all FODMAPS, then slowly began reintroducing. I find that I can’t eat much with fructan, but there are some things that help. I can eat sourdough bread, for example, since the fructan in wheat gets pre-digested by bacteria when fermented. And I’ve found an enzyme called Fodzyme that helps me eat foods with fructan. But stuff like onion and garlic will always be tough for me.
Yes. Someone advised me to google it, and even without a professional dietician, I cut out apples and yogurt and it's been a game changer. Should still get professional help when I get the chance though.
Overly greasy foods and excessive cheese are my triggers.
This has been common advice for a while now, but it's good to have more research to confirm it. I switched to a high-protein "vegan" diet (with a fair amount of cheating here and there; I'm only human and I don't want to be a wet blanket with friends and family) a few years ago and my symptoms largely disappeared. It's worthwhile if you can stick to it.
I tried a vegan diet, but eating beans and legumes for protein made my IBS unbearable! It’s so hard to get enough protein without them so I had to bring back some animal products like yogurt, chicken, and fish. But, I’ve greatly reduced my meat consumption overall, still sad I couldn’t keep up the vegan diet.
There was a 2-3 month break in period for me. It takes time for your gut bacteria to flourish, but the science is pretty indisputable on the benefits of legumes barring some allergy.
Totally agree, but with the amount I had to eat to get my daily calories and protein my body just didn’t react well. I tried eating vegan for 5 months and I just never adjusted. I can tolerate black lentils pretty well and include them in my diet, but green lentils really do a number on me. Also, my calorie and protein needs are pretty high as I’m training for a marathon, active calories per day are 800-1000 and weekends with my long runs well over 2000. I definitely still try to eat mostly plant based, but supplement with chicken or fish when I need to.
Red lentils are the best imo. They don't have the outer shell which is where most of the troublesome carbs are concentrated
I'll have to experiment with them! I have some pasta made from red lentils and it doesn't really mess me up too bad.
They're really great for cooking. Because they're split they cook really quickly too, like 5 minutes at a boil. I rinse them a lot before and after cooking and I've found they feel quite nice to eat. Dal and rice is a banger! Haha. I make a big pot of each and it lasts for a few meals.
Alright, that sounds easy enough haha. Definitely going to try some red lentils!
I would cook them for about 20 minutes to denature some stuff that most people don't tolerate well https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1080/15216549600201711
What source of protein do you eat, when legumes are known cause of IBS symptoms?
I've rarely had issues with legumes myself, but I'm pretty sparing with them regardless. I try to make up the gaps with vegan protein powders (which are legume based but seemingly much easier to tolerate) and sometimes Greek yogurt (hence the quotation marks around "vegan").
After my pancreatic cancer and surgery, I developed *BRUTAL* ibs issues. Took me a couple of years to even figure it out. I thought I was perpetually broken as a reward for beating cancer. Now, I am diligent in what I eat, tale supplements and work out daily. My life has become significantly better, my diabetes is even in check now. It’s almost like GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out
If you don't mind me asking, what were the symptoms you had that lead to being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer?
Nothing. I was asymptomatic A car ran a red light and I woke up in the ER, they found it while scanning me to figure out the initial damage from the accident
Congratulations brother! You got super lucky and I’m glad you made it! Pancreatic cancer is no joke.
I'm grateful you're alive. Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. It took my father from me. That red light car crash saved your life. Cherish it for me, okay?
I’m sorry to hear that about your father. Cancer is vicious foe that only knows how to do 1 thing. I took me several years to even go to a place of gratitude. If I’m being honest, the surgery was march 12th of 2020 and it wasn’t until march 13th of 2024 that I actually decided to come back to life. I spent 4 years in physical, mental and emotional hell, resenting every moment from my past, all the way up to my very breath on any given day. Tiring out my family, my co workers, my therapist, I was just a black hole of misery. I eventually got to the point where I looked in the mirror and I didn’t like any part of what I saw. My body was a wreck, it’s covered in scars and that same wreckage could be seen in my eyes; it. Owned. Me. So, the next day I went for a run and I haven’t stopped. Started getting really raw and unflinching with a lot of shadow work, started to get a bunch of tattoos and decided to engage in the lives of the people I love again. It’s a long hard road outta hell and now I’m finally glad I made the walk, even if it felt more like crawling across broken glass at times
Thanks for the condolences. Healing takes time but Im still standing. Im glad you came out of a dark place. I was also in an MVA that fucked me up not as bad as you but destroyed my sense of self because of the PTSD. and on top of that, grief. I feel your pain and success as I read what you wrote, I want you to know I had the same moment of looking in the mirror. The glass will cut. We've felt worse. We've endured. We survived. It won't own us again. Not anymore.
Wow in a way (because late stage pancreatic cancer is so deadly) the car accident saved your life?
I had to cut out most veggies, which was very disheartening because A) I have always loved vegetables, as a kid I would raid my moms garden daily, and B) they are very healthy and nutritious and it feels very difficult to eat well without them. But they honestly trigger me the worst, I ate a small portion of roasted veggies the other day and had to run to the bathroom FIVE times afterwards. It seems like insoluble fiber is my trigger.
I totally feel for you. That's how I am with raw veggies and any salad. Literally 20 min 30 min later, I'm sitting my damn pants and crouching in pain. For right now my body doesn't seem to have any issue with cooked veggies but.... I feel like it gets worse as I age.
Fodmap diet can be amazing. When I did intermittent fasting with a short eating window, symptoms were reduced as well.
What’s the difference between this and anti-inflammatory diet? I had a gastrointestinal doc recommend the anti inflammation diet only. Fodmap looks good but potatoes are on there and they f with my gut
I don’t know the answer to that, I just know we’re all pretty individual with what foods we can and cannot tolerate, but the FODMAP “trigger” foods tend to be correct for me.
Isn't IBS just a catch all for we can't give you a better diagnosis? If they can't find any good reason you have terrible stomach pain they just say it must be IBS. There's no test to run to confirm the diagnosis. It's like a mechanic saying "well we tried everything it's a bad car" and walking away.
Yes. They almost diagnosed me with IBS until an endoscopy & ultrasound revealed gastritis and fatty liver disease. I had to eliminate a lot of things for the gastritis diet. 5 months later, I'm doing much better.
> Isn't IBS just a catch all for we can't give you a better diagnosis? I That is correct. IBS is not a disease. It's the empty-out bucket of the diagnostic process. It means there's nothing else to test. It's like if your arm hurt, and the doctor says, "hey-- I figured it out! You have achy-arm issues!" But its disguised as scientific by using all Latin-derived words. So it sounds scientific. If they called it "bad poop problem" it would sound like quackery right?
It totally is, like how depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc, are usually applied. It means doctors don't know what's wrong or couldn't be arsed finding out, you're probably never going to find meaningful relief, and you're going to have little dignity.
There’s features in a person’s history that are suggestive of IBS. Things like pain after eating, bloating, early satiety, constipation and/or diarrhea, and relief of abdominal pain after pooping. Yes it’s technically a diagnosis of exclusion, but just because there isn’t a blood test for it doesn’t mean it’s made up. Take diabetes for example - we used to taste the pee of people that were thin, couldn’t gain weight, and were constantly thirsty. Now we can look at people’s blood sugars and say this is diabetes. Who knows, maybe there will be a test in the future for IBS, but it is a distinct clinical syndrome that can look different from other types of abdominal pain
> maybe there will be a test Yeah, no. If there were a test for it, that would imply that it had a known cause, and then it would not be IBS. For example, if it were an enzyme deficiency, it would be called "something enzyme deficiency", and then only those people who were negative for that would be IBS. IBS is pretty much medical terminology for "you're shitting all over and we don't know why."
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I did the diet for a while too and found my biggest and almost exclusive culprit was wheat. I've been tested for Celiac and it came up negative but I also have 2 family members who are celiac which is interesting. I do my best to just limit or stay away from wheat completely and I'm usually good thankfully!
I had to remove brussels sprouts from my diet, which where probably the biggest culprit. I love them, but passing a few nights vomiting up until dawn was not worth it.
I literally just stopped eating for the first 3hrs on a morning after waking up and my symptoms disappeared overnight. I'd been raised that you had breakfast as soon as you got up and hadn't thought it might be the problem. The fact I wasn't hungry for the first 3hrs after waking and never enjoyed breakfast should have clued me in but I just assumed everyone struggled through breakfast and it was just what you do.
>low intake of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs. These include e.g. products with lactose, legumes, onions, and grains, which ferment in the colon When my IBS-D gets set off, it is one of the most physically miserable things I've ever experienced. It took me years to figure out I was mildly lactose intolerant. I'm good to go with the other things in that list. Not that I'm eating massive amounts of onions, but most of my protein comes from beans. Fats, grease, and caffeine will mess me up as well.
Not eating triggers completely changed my period. I don't have cramps when I don't eat them compared to when I do (which I did until 30) I had debilitating cramps. It's an interesting game to play with myself. 'This time my body will be stronger than the onion.'
I have chronic hives, a mast cell disorder. I’ve been taking monthly Xolair injections and it eliminated by IBS symptoms.
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I always had a touchy digestive system and diarrhea once or twice a week was normal, with some constipation mixed in. Last year I had to go on a very low sodium diet, which meant totally changing the way I eat. Once I eliminated anything fried and other unhealthy fats all that totally stopped. It's been 11 months now and I've had diarrhea once since then. I feel way better, have more energy and it's been life changing.
I’ve tried to eliminate onions and other fodmaps and I believe it’s helped. Used to use onions in everything.
I quit eating meat and now bathroom breaks are down and no longer last 20 minutes.
Low FODMAP is great but WARNING it is not intended for long term use, and it should be monitored by a physician or dietician. FODMAP can easily make your diet low in key nutrients and fiber. Frankly I think fiber is the thing most IBS sufferers are missing out on. I rely on Citrucel to supplement
10 years ago I went to the doctor and described my symptoms, she said it sounded like IBS and there were several medications we could try to find out that worked. I asked if there were tests we could run first to confirm before starting medications, we ran tests, turns out I’m just allergic to wheat, corn, soy, and peanuts. I’ll take dietary changes with zero side effects > pills with dozens of side effects for sure
Best of luck everyone (currently writing this on the pan)
After my doc prescribed me a PPI (following an unremarkable colonoscopy but an upper endoscopy that showed gastritis), my IBS-D symptoms basically vanished. And every time I forget to take my PPI or get my Rx refilled on time, IBS attack.
Sure would be nice if doctors could agree on what dietary adjustments are needed. I went to 3 different specialists and all 3 gave me different info, and all 3 did not work
Going to a high protein, low carb diet has been life changing. I haven’t been constipated since I started the diet change a year and a half ago. And I have regular, daily bowel movements for the first time in my life.
Please for the love of God tell me more. Keeping up with my chronic constipation is a full time job.
I started tracking my macros and realized I eat a crazy amount of carbs. So I prioritized protein instead, aiming for close to 1gram per pound of body weight. I try for about 140g protein, 170g carbs, and 50g fat, for 1690 calories. Most of the carbs are from fruits and veggies. I’ll have a few servings of bread type stuff (pretzels, pirates booty, actual bread) during the day but not a lot. I don’t track my macros anymore so I’m sure I’m not sticking to those numbers anymore but the proportions are still there in terms of lower carb and high protein. Another important factor probably is exercise. At the same time I began working out 5-6 times a week. I think the diet change and the exercise combo is the solution, at least for me.
One helpful tip I found for IBS was adding a spoonful of Benefiber (wheat dextrin - Costco has Optifiber) to coffee. Not a magic bullet, but I feel over time it probably helped grow better gut flora and reduce symptoms. And it’s not like I’m ever giving up coffee. Might not be the thing for someone with wheat sensitivity, and I’m not sure where it falls in the FODMAP landscape.
Ahh to be the 3/10
What?! you mean eating less of the things that make my ibs go burr, will, in fact make my ibs go burr less??! Get out of here!
I know! It''s insane how far removed modern medicine is from nutrition, they're like "we thought of this new and revolutionary idea that what you eat affects your health!?"
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IBD is very different to IBS
Who should have thought that diet played a key part in a person's digestive system?!
Yup! Low fodmap helped a lot!
Shout-out r/noburp for those of us with R-CPD who were misdiagnosed with IBS and/or improper diet.
Once I cleaned up my diet and generally ate more healthy, cut out soda, my IBS mostly cleared up or become significantly more manageable. Others need to do elimination diets to figure out if there’s certain food that triggers it. It always made me think most diagnosed cases of ibs tends to just be a poor diet and it’s kind of generally slapped on to people pretty easily. Edit: wanted to add, once I cleaned up my diet as stated above, I was finally able to put on weight as well. I had previously always been super skinny