Health & Support

I've been dealing with some stomach problems for the past two and a half weeks, although a somewhat brief period, my doctors are leaning towards IBS (there are still more tests to be done). I'm going on a mini road trip this weekend and I would hate for this trip to be ruined by my frequent urges to use the bathroom and nausea. My doctor recommended taking Imodium which i will do, but are there foods that can help with IBS. I know to stay away from fattening foods..as well as most dairy. I know worrying will make my problems worse, but I hear IBS can be very debilitating. Any advice would be great!

Hello! [: I haven't been diagnosed with anything specific as such yet, but I suffer a good few IBS symptoms (particularly constipation/bloating/gas, yuck) and know a few foods:

Fibre in general is important. If you suffer diarrhea symptoms more than constipation lower your fibre intake a little, and if you suffer constipation over diarrhea increase it.

If you have trouble with constipation, try eating prunes or drinking the juice. It works wonders :D If you have trouble with diarrhea, though, try eating bananas.

I would stay clear of dairy full stop if not as much as humanly possible. Fizzy drinks, caffeine, and booze can also make things worse.

Peppermint teas and fennel teas are both brilliant digestive aids. Peppermint is also good for getting rid of nausea.

I found a pretty handy website after a bit of a dig on Google: http://www.ibshealth.com/ibsfoodsinfo.htm I just learnt a couple of things reading through it, actually! @___@ I hope you enjoy your roadtrip! :D

Hey!

I too am a fellow suffferer of IBS. I hate to tell you but it doesn't really go away nor get much better in sense you can eat what you want/not tummy issues.

its all about learning what messes you up. for me its dairy/wheat/fried foods, but everyone is different.

i suggest that you keep a journal and after everything you eat, write down what you ate/time/how you feel/how quickly you felt that. it honestly really helps to find out what causes you issues

if its something you like (ice cream for me), and you cant stay away, learn to schedule eating it so that you will have the next few days free to deal with your stomach. i eat ice cream on friday nights and i'm okay by sunday

hope that helped! :)

My wife was diagnosed with IBS several years ago, after a series of tests. (IBS is what you have when they don't know what you have as far as i know). Then when we moved and got a new doctor, he suggested trying to go GLUTEN free for 30 days and seeing how she felt, because apparently the test for Ceiliac disease can give false negatives. well it turns out that is what is was......now finding foods without wheat products in it isn't easy, it sure makes a difference.

thats my experience with IBS.

on a side not when she was a child doctors had told her she was allergic to dairy, and that she couldn't digest meat..... but now that she is wheat-free she can eat all that with no problems.

 

*Barges into thread with great excurberance*

*Looks around awkwardly*

Uh...oopps...sorry, thought it was IRS sufferes...I don't think this is about taxes...uh...yeah...

*Backs out sheepishly*

Raw fruits and vegetables made things worse for me. Especially green peppers and apples. Everyone has different problem foods, so it's trial and error.

Don't give up looking for a medical cause until you get relief. There are treatments for IBS (antispasmodics, neurogenic painkillers that block pain transmission between brain and gut, loperamide, etc). If they don't work, don't stop looking at other medical causes. Like sirbrady's wife, I was diagnosed with IBS and it took years to figure out that what I have is a different bowel disease.

This forum is very interesting to me! I have very severe IBS as a result of complications with anorexia nervosa. I take Modulon 3x per day, and it seems to prevent those horrible "attacks".

Anything with a lot of fat in it really does not agree with me. Fried foods, nachos, butter & most spreads...even milk that is 2% or higher!

Milk I can usually drink about half a cup, but no more because it will trigger an attack. I can eat tiny amounts of cheese, now that I have medication.

IBS can be very debilitating, especially if when you get your period. It is AGONIZINGLY painful for me - i'm actually bedridden for 1 or 2 days because of the pain. However, for the most part, it is manageable, as long as you abstain from trigger foods, or eat them sparingly.

As for helping to nail down what exactly you have, you could as for a referral to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. That will help to rule out IBD, chrohns disease etc. If the verdict is IBS, I would definitely suggest a medication that you can take 3x per day, I know it really has helped me.

I was diagnosed with IBS 8 years ago and the tough part is that every IBS sufferer is different.  Some people make frequent trips to the bathroom, some don't go for 6,7,8 or more days.  Certain foods that work for some don't work for others.

My Doctor told me no small seeds and small grains, nothing deep fried, caffeine is bad (that includes chocolate) and so are all sodas (or anything carbonated!).  But at the same time, I ended up experimenting a little to see what else was affecting me.  I've cut out meat, fish, eggs and all milk other than skim milk but even that's not great for me. 

I've been lucky enough to be able to get on with life on an (almost) daily basis.  Sometimes I feel bad, bloated, get heartburn etc but in the end I can go on with my daily routine.

I'd say you should check with your Doctor, see what they say about what foods to eat and what to stay away from.  But in the meantime I'd recommend (I'm clearly not a Doctor though!) staying away from fatty foods, sodas and beer. 

Good luck!

Hi!  Ok, I don't mean to be gross, but one thing that has helped immensely with me is bringing a roll of toilet paper with me when I know I won't have access to a bathroom easily.  There are times I've had to use it, but more often than not the comfort of having that roll of tp there eases the anxiety about possible tummy trouble and helps a lot.

I don't find dairy to be problematic at all, and think that lots of fiber is good.  I do think that it is different for everyone, and some of it has nothing to do with food.  Smaller portions of food more frequently instead of big meals does make a difference for me--I usually have trouble if I eat a huge meal.  If my tummy acts up I drink ginger ale and gatorade and eat soup.   Your body will tell you what would feel good when you don't feel well--listen to it (for example, sometimes I want pizza, sometimes just some toast--seems counter intuitive, but it makes me feel better).  Also, I find that if I take Immodium that I get into a vicious cycle of terrible diarrhea followed by constipation, over and over again.  I would recommend something gentler, like Pepto (honestly, go with the liquid--it's coating and soothing immediately).

Most importantly, don't be embarressed by your tummy trouble.  I spent years trying to hide my IBS and thought people would make fun of me because of it, but now am older and open about it, and people are so understanding!!  Everyone has had at least one experience with tummy trouble and can relate. 

Good luck!  And seriously--bring the tp on the road trip.  The worst that'll happen is that you have to pull over and use it.  Not fun, I know, but you'll learn to laugh about it eventually.  Have a great weekend! 

i got horrible stomach issues the beginning of summer - I am 19. I hear these issues spring up for people about my age, women especially. It sucks. It is embarrassing. It is life - we gotta deal. I have never wanted to die so much as my horrible horrible lows but have also never been so thankful for the good days....I promise you will find peace but it may not be permanent. Right now I am having a bad streak, i think it is due to a flare up caused by TTOM. I find cutting out dairy, most wheat - and also soybeans/peanutsfor me this is different for EVERYONE remember that - caffeine, all coffee/non herbal teas, carbonated bevs, fatty and fried things (never really ate them) meat (i am a veg besides for fish), large portions, the aid of perscriptions by my doctor, probiotics and over the counter things, herbal teas to help tummy pains, water, knowing when to just lay down and nap, heating pads, not eating too many cruciferous veggies or fruits, no beans, fiber supplements for some people help - it is a LAUNDRY list but u will find a lifestyle for u. Sometimes exercise greatly helps me sometimes i kow i cant do it but by and large, i exercise a lot. I have IBS-C so they tell me, I hope it will go away though :) good LUCK message me if u ever need someone to talk to.

stay away from the booze! ooh my lord. haha. It will not mix well. Dairy will hurt, and so will peanuts. Try to stick to salads and natural products. Artificial stuff makes it real bad.