Does anyone have IBS? I hope its not too gross a topic and I haven't been formally diagnosed with it but I really think I have it. I think I've had it for a long time but never really thought that it was that. The next doctor appointment I am going to ask if she can give me some medicine for it. I have tried gasx, beano, yogurt and activated charcoal tablets and zantac and the only thing that helped was the charcoal but that can make meds less effective.
The reason I bring this up under weight loss support is because there are a lot of healthy foods I can not eat, including salad, most vegetables especially raw, high fiber food, beans, garlic, and fatty food, and no way can I eat soy, Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of foods to eat? Hey I might actually lose some weight because I am getting tired of the attacks and already have started closely watching the types of food I eat, especially at night.
Well my friend has IBS and she ended up becoming a Vegetarian (not saying you should do that) but she says you can't eat high fat- so while you think it might be lettuce- if you are putting high fat dressing on it it might be the dressing or something else with the salad like your entree?
Her doctor told her no large meals, eat 6 small ones a day, high fiber and low fat is how she lives. And she also drinks a LOT of water.
I'm like you--I haven't been formally diagnosed, but UGH. If that's not what's going on, it's a close relative--or I'm losing my mind! I have to avoid dairy, wheat, beans, large quantities of veggies (like, more than a small salad), fried foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and anything carbonated. Also anything really spicy (and I live in Southern CA ) or oily, or too many flavors at once, if that makes any sense.
Some foods are a lifesaver for me: apples (with peanut butter or without) and oatmeal are the ones that jump out in my mind. There's something about oatmeal that really soothes my stomach.
I can't help with the medicines part, except to say that I take Lactaid so that I can have some dairy. Most of them don't help enough to be worth bothering. What I can say is that I'm going very slowly and eating one thing at a time--like, I had oatmeal for breakfast, and then an apple for snack this morning--and taking notes in my journal about what effect it has. It takes patience but it might help.
ETA: Just read the reply before me and YES, drinking lots and lots of water really helps. I go through 5 or 6 liters a day. And I can do proteins comfortably, so I eat my protein first when I have a "multiple part" meal. That helps.
Well, I don't know if I have IBS myself, but I've always had a sensitive tummy, so it's crossed my mind. I can't eat yogurt at all oddly enough, it has me in the bathroom. I'm also lactose intolerant, so could be some relation there (I take lactaid though). Once I get another job and I've got health insurance again, I'm going to go to my Doc and ask about this.
I have been formally diagnosed (had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, neither of which are very fun), and I can tell you that the "lots and lots of water" comment beerab made is right on the money. My doctor first prescribed colace, which didn't really help me. So he took me off and told me to take Benefiber 3 times a day (like it says on the OTC bottle). That helps me TREMENDOUSLY. Veggies don't really bother me anymore. I also discovered that IBS can lead to lactose intolerance, and it did for me. Actually, the only thing that really bothered me was milk (yogurt has less lactose, and doesn't really bother me much) so I switched to Lactaid. Those changes really helped, and now I don't have problems at all. I must admit thought that I have talked to some people who have IBS worse than I do and even with a treatment regimen, they still have to avoid certain foods and vegetables.
Oh another thing you can do is cook all your veggies, that really helps!
I don't know about the high fiber foods. For myself, more fiber was always a better thing for me. I was so irregular that a diet super high in fiber helped make me regular, but IBS can work "the other way" too and make you go too much. Still, the type of fiber that is in benefiber helps to "bulk" you so you will not go as often and have regular movements.
I would also doubt any doctor who just gave you meds for something you self diagnosed. If you mention your symptoms, your doctor should recommend a colonoscopy at the least, to rule out other things (such as Crohn's, etc) before giving you an IBS diagnosis.
Ugh, colonoscopy, can you believe my 20 year old daughter has to have one.
The last time I heard scopy anything I headed for the hills, LOL, no I know its not funny.
My poor husband, not to give you TMI but there have been some really bad nights, it happens in my sleep, and the last time that happened I said I am not gonna let that happen anymore, luckily I have a downstairs bedroom. actually this week I didn't even eat much and I woke up with stomach pain.
I guess one of the symptoms is abdominal pain and bloating. The lactose intolerant thing is probably going on too because I can remember going to restaurants and ordering cream sauces and having my stomach bloat and hurt and having to lay in the bathtub with hot towels on my stomach.
Yeah beerrab I'm doing small meals. I can eat chicken, high fiber bread, eggs and lean cusines don't bother me, to give you an idea. Actually most protein seems fine. I was thinking after two attacks this week I'm going to really watch it. Last night I ordered grilled chicken and veggies at a restaurant, but they put garlic in the veggie sauce, but it seemed to be only the spinach. I might add restaurant food in general is not good for me unless I really tell them no to put anything on it.
Irritable bowel syndrome
I have to avoid dairy, wheat, beans, large quantities of veggies (like, more than a small salad), fried foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and anything carbonated. Also anything really spicy (and I live in Southern CA 
) or oily, or too many flavors at once, if that makes any sense. 
