adso
12-08-2005, 08:20 AM
Hi Guys, just felt like adding a post, I havent had an IBS attack for a few years, so thought maybe it might help other sufferers:
I had 2 key health issues:
- IBS (Debilitating 6-12hr sessions of writhing agony)
- Chronic Skin Hives (Daily for 2 years)
(Sometimes showed up as swollen lips or eyes)
If you want to read about the skin side, this is my post in the Skin forum:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=347485
But just some specifics I learnt about IBS, I 'eventually' worked out that you dont cure IBS, you just learn to avoid it (not what anyone wants to hear). I suspected Candida, spent a lot of money on naturapaths and enzymes, tried some medication, but none of this was of any benefit.
IBS (for me anyway), is food triggered, and it can be difficult to track down, I know the foods for me (Banana & Avocado) were foods I use to eat from time to time with no ill affects, but your body changes... I 'tested' these a few times, with very painful results, but atleast I was sure I had to avoid them at all costs.
Also keep in mind that IBS is an intolerance, not an allergy, and I have foods that will cause me allergic skin reactions or to feel poorly, but they are completely independent of the avocado/banana intolerance, that is a very different reaction, that sends the bowels into spasm.
I have a feeling there will be more foods that will become IBS triggers later in life, but for right now, ive been very relieved to avoid any serious attacks for a long long time, good luck everyone with finding your triggers!
P.S. For all my internet research, I found nobody else with the same triggers as me, it seems you have to use those food diaries, and find your own!
Good Luck.
I had 2 key health issues:
- IBS (Debilitating 6-12hr sessions of writhing agony)
- Chronic Skin Hives (Daily for 2 years)
(Sometimes showed up as swollen lips or eyes)
If you want to read about the skin side, this is my post in the Skin forum:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=347485
But just some specifics I learnt about IBS, I 'eventually' worked out that you dont cure IBS, you just learn to avoid it (not what anyone wants to hear). I suspected Candida, spent a lot of money on naturapaths and enzymes, tried some medication, but none of this was of any benefit.
IBS (for me anyway), is food triggered, and it can be difficult to track down, I know the foods for me (Banana & Avocado) were foods I use to eat from time to time with no ill affects, but your body changes... I 'tested' these a few times, with very painful results, but atleast I was sure I had to avoid them at all costs.
Also keep in mind that IBS is an intolerance, not an allergy, and I have foods that will cause me allergic skin reactions or to feel poorly, but they are completely independent of the avocado/banana intolerance, that is a very different reaction, that sends the bowels into spasm.
I have a feeling there will be more foods that will become IBS triggers later in life, but for right now, ive been very relieved to avoid any serious attacks for a long long time, good luck everyone with finding your triggers!
P.S. For all my internet research, I found nobody else with the same triggers as me, it seems you have to use those food diaries, and find your own!
Good Luck.
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Uff-Da!
12-09-2005, 11:39 PM
Glad to hear that you found the source of your problems and have been able to eliminate it.
I don't know for sure yet if I have IBS, but it is a definite possibility. I'm age 64 and have never had a colonoscopy, so my GI doctor has to rule out more serious problems first, but I think he believes it is probably IBS. The reason I say that is because he gave me some samples of Digestive Advantage for IBS and told me to let him know before my colonoscopy in two weeks if it did any good. I frankly doubt that it will, as I had been taking another probiotic from a health food store for a couple of months, and that didn't seem to help much. However, I started taking Metamucil (psyllium) a couple of nights ago, too, and that stopped the perpetual diarrhea. (I am taking the Digestive Advantage, too, but according to the package insert, that is supposed to take at least a couple of weeks to notice much difference.)
With a month-long food diary, I, too, found a couple of really bad food intolerances. In my case, the worst one was wild rice. Just a bit of wild rice mixed in with brown rice gave me one of those lovely experiences where a quick cramp in the intestines within an hour or two of a meal said, "I've got 30 seconds to make it to the restroom or I'll have an accident." Next worse was soy milk. I read an article in Prevention magazine on the web last night where a doctor said that people with IBS should avoid the food additive carrageenan, which is a thickener in a lot of foods including soy milk. I looked at the label on soy milk, and sure enough, carrageenan is there. Whether that is my problem, or whether it is actually soy, I don't know at this point. I have a hunch that for me it is actually soy, as I recall getting diarrhea often after eating in Chinese restaurants, and soy is often used there.
But after eliminating those two foods without Metamucil, I still have perpetual soft or liquid stools, just not as severe an emergency. So I'm hoping the doctor will be able to give me some answers when I have my colonoscopy in two weeks, and especially that I will have as good luck in eliminating the problem as you have!
I don't know for sure yet if I have IBS, but it is a definite possibility. I'm age 64 and have never had a colonoscopy, so my GI doctor has to rule out more serious problems first, but I think he believes it is probably IBS. The reason I say that is because he gave me some samples of Digestive Advantage for IBS and told me to let him know before my colonoscopy in two weeks if it did any good. I frankly doubt that it will, as I had been taking another probiotic from a health food store for a couple of months, and that didn't seem to help much. However, I started taking Metamucil (psyllium) a couple of nights ago, too, and that stopped the perpetual diarrhea. (I am taking the Digestive Advantage, too, but according to the package insert, that is supposed to take at least a couple of weeks to notice much difference.)
With a month-long food diary, I, too, found a couple of really bad food intolerances. In my case, the worst one was wild rice. Just a bit of wild rice mixed in with brown rice gave me one of those lovely experiences where a quick cramp in the intestines within an hour or two of a meal said, "I've got 30 seconds to make it to the restroom or I'll have an accident." Next worse was soy milk. I read an article in Prevention magazine on the web last night where a doctor said that people with IBS should avoid the food additive carrageenan, which is a thickener in a lot of foods including soy milk. I looked at the label on soy milk, and sure enough, carrageenan is there. Whether that is my problem, or whether it is actually soy, I don't know at this point. I have a hunch that for me it is actually soy, as I recall getting diarrhea often after eating in Chinese restaurants, and soy is often used there.
But after eliminating those two foods without Metamucil, I still have perpetual soft or liquid stools, just not as severe an emergency. So I'm hoping the doctor will be able to give me some answers when I have my colonoscopy in two weeks, and especially that I will have as good luck in eliminating the problem as you have!
adso
12-17-2005, 03:46 AM
Sounds like you have an excellent Food Diary going on, it does sound like it will be difficult if things like soy sauce, milk & wild rice are the culprits, especially in restaraunts, but better the devil you know!
I am definately sure in my case that there are other things that are 'slight' IBS triggers, no biggy, but def affects my digestive system, not always easy to nail everything.
One thing to look up are: Salicylates & Amines, they are present in a range of food, and I hadnt realised that some various foods have these chemicals in common (including a lot of fruit and veg), infact on the Elimination Diet, all youre really able to have are Pears ;)
I am definately sure in my case that there are other things that are 'slight' IBS triggers, no biggy, but def affects my digestive system, not always easy to nail everything.
One thing to look up are: Salicylates & Amines, they are present in a range of food, and I hadnt realised that some various foods have these chemicals in common (including a lot of fruit and veg), infact on the Elimination Diet, all youre really able to have are Pears ;)
Uff-Da!
12-17-2005, 08:50 PM
What is really annoying is that when one tries to solve one health problem with diet, one can just create a different problem. I have high cholesterol, and since I don't want to take statins, have been using a high-fiber diet (especially legumes) as one of the ways to help bring my cholesterol down naturally. And I had been able to get off my blood pressure meds last January by going to a near-vegetarian diet. That worked fine for seven months. But since this severe diarrhea started in August, a high fiber diet gives me more severe diarrhea. I did calm the diarrhea quite a bit by going to a low-fiber diet for a week or two, but then my blood pressure went back up 15 or 20 points. And I don't want to have to go back on BP meds. Some times it seems one just can't win! There has got to be some explanation for why my body took such a sudden change in how it behaves.