My Husbands IBS has reoccured... PLEASE help?

[deee]

Back when my husbands IBS started we didnt have a computer, therefore I wasnt able to researh it other than at the library and thru info available from the Dr, which wasnt much. Finaly we threatened to fire our Dr and head out to Mayo Clinic! At which time the DR
FINALLY took us serious enough to send us to a diferent Dr who diagnosed him. After a few months he recoverd to normal! Since then his DR has passed away,(its been 10 yrs) and silly as it sounds its hard to remember the type of diet we had my husaband on. Last night he had his 1st IBS attack in 10 yrs! He gets pain and Diareah, any help with what foods he should and shouldnt be eating is very much appreciated! I need to go shopping today yet, before dark! PLEASE help me with some ideas on what he should be eating?!?!?!??!
P.S. whe he 1st got this he went 8 months undiagnosed and lost 50 lbs.. hes 53.

[sammy4]

How do you know the IBS is recurring and it isn't a simple case of gastritis ro stomach flu? maybe you should go slow and just eliminate triggers before completly revamping his diet... watch him for a week or so: if it isn't IBS and just a flu you could bring the IBS on by a diet that is too restricted. just a thought
sammy

[deee]

Because we are all to familiar with the symptoms. There
have been times in the past when he would get 'slight'
symptoms. Once you become famliar with it and it reoccures you just know when it returns. Trust me he almost died from it back then. The DR admitted he was dieing fron non-treatment. Alot of it was stress at the time (from work) he since got out of the company. My main concern now is his diet.. we are stopping greasy foods, spice, salt, sugars, and dairy,starting bland diet. The BRATT diet he was on back then (banannas, rice,tea,and toast) but thats horrible for too long a time. I just need to remember what types food he ate when he was on the mend. High fiber or low fiber? old age here sorry..CRS! Times runing out ill be grocery shoppng at midnite. Im searching other web sites too for info.. thanks for the reply.

That is good that you have cut out dairy and probably the most likely foods that will cause problems are wheat, dairy and possibly gluten. Also sugar may not help, as the gut has trouble absorbing that sometimes.

To take the load off his stomach, it might be helpful to stick to fresh food, such as fish, chicken, vegetables and some fruit that will not make his diarrhea worse, such as bananas. Also, you could try him on some carbohydrates such as rice and potatoe. This will line his stomach and can help give bulk, helping the diarrhea, but not overload him.

Is he taking Metamucil at all? This is a water soluble fiber supplement that can be taken twice daily with a lot of water. It will help bulk up his stools also and is as helpful for constipation as it is for diarrhea.

Also, Acidophilus caps might be good to take at present. As he has had diarrhea, it will help to re-balance his good gut bacteria and might help his stomach pains. Keep them in the fridge and take them twice daily on an empty stomach.

Consider Calcium supplements too. This helps the large intestine to absorb more water naturally, thus stopping diarrhea by bulking up the stools.

Hope this helps and this is from my experience and what I have done for myself. I have had stomach problems too and earlier in the year came back from holiday with a very bad stomach and hives. I had allergy/food intolerance tests done and found I have lactose intolerance and also wheat and various other things too. Since cutting these out of my diet and taking Acidophilus and some other things, my stomach has been a lot better.

Hope this helps and that you hubby is soon feeling better?

[deee]

Super Sarah, thanks so much for your reply! I copied it all. He is some better now. This comes and goes so quick .. it has been so long since the last attack this was a reminder to us that IBS never really leaves.. just lays low. Thanks so much. I apprecaite your time. Happy Hollidays to you and yours