IBS sufferers I have some questions for you

[Katrina]

Ok, my questions are regarding diet and my problem is needing to avoid things that cause gas.
how do you do with pasta? Onion?

For those of you that are affected with gas from IBS is there any bread, cereal, or pasta that works for you?

Is there anything on my coming list you can't eat: Garlic, olive oil, oregano, basil, ginger, pumpkin seeds

Thanks for all of your help.....I can't tell you how important this is to me since diet is my hugest problem....if I don't gain weight my doc will have a fit....I am working at this but the gas still is ruining things.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

[donutgirl]

Katrina,

I can't eat alot of oil and definitely not seeds of any kind. Cereals that have a lot of fiber do me in as well. Hope this helps a little.

DIANE

[ICNDonna]

I don't have IBS, but I do know that onions and garlic cause me to have horrible gas.

Donna

[Katrina]

Thanks so very much Donna and Dianne....that helps a lot. Frustrated still with eating but that makes it easier!

[Sarojini]

Katrina -- I absolutely cannot eat onions. I can't eat pumpkin seeds either (most seeds are very bad for me). Garlic in small quantities can be okay for me. Ginger -- I don't really like ginger all that much so I don't know if it bothers me at all. The other things on the list seem to be okay, and I don't have much trouble with pastas either. I have more trouble with fatty things, especially if I haven't eaten them in a while... like, we eat mostly chicken and fish for protein, but we will occasionally eat hamburgers or a steak, and the red meat can get my IBS going because of the fat. Also, greasy fried food is a big no-no...

Hope that helps....

[jen_dahling]

Hi Katrina. I can't have onion of any kind unless it is finely chopped and cooked well. Since I have been allergy tested and take allegra every day I haven't had any problems with the IBS or gas. I tend to be a little constipated so I have started to eat those metamucil wafers - work great. Don't eat ginger, don't eat pumpkin seeds, garlic is ok, but I tend to stay away because it will make me gassy, and I seem to do OK with the spices. Hope this helps you.

[Katrina]

ty a lot.....for me it is so hard to know with the constipation and diarhia is when either is caused by IBS or all from my Pouchitis unless I get tested....either way I think I am used to what effects me way down there.....allergy meds helping IBS....hadn't considered that but I am on less since my move here.....and have theese new IBS symptoms.....is there one that seems to help IBS a lot.....I had Singulair on my list of meds I would like to try for IC for my uro......maybe it should be something else.

THANK YOU SO MUCH JEN AND JEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[Rachael]

Hi Katrina,

I've been taking Allegra-D for the past few years (as long as I've had IBS) and it hasn't helped or hurt my IBS as far as I know. As for diet, I LIVE on pasta with chicken or tuna or turkey sausage (although sometimes the turkey sausage causes gas). Pretty much everything I cook for dinner is with olive oil and garlic and oregano (a good herb for your tummy - helps nauseousness). I've never had a problem with garlic and gas, but I don't eat mounds of it at a time. I never order anything with oil at restaurants though b/c they always load it on and that causes problems for me. I'm an IBS D & C alternator. Most of the time, I'm just trying to "stay steady in the middle". I always take 2 Fibercon in the morning and 2 before each meal. I take a Pamine (anti-spasmodic) or Immodium if I'm feeling really uneasy, or know that I'm about to eat a questionable meal. Doing all of these things helps to keep me in balance most of the time. But, when stress and humid weather hit, sometimes the IBS-D is unavoidable. I've started Yoga and hope that this stress-relieving measure will be the best thing to keep the stress-related attacks away. Also, hoping it helps my PFD.

[khatinger]

I was just diagnosed with IBS, the doctor told me to increase my fiber, I eat fiber cereal every morning, it has helped me alot, also my ditropan has helped my IBS symptoms, my GI doctor says that it stops my bowel from spasming too, he also told me that fresh ginger or ginger capsules from the health food store helps with stomach problems, you make tea out of it, let it cool to room temperature and take 2 teaspoons full every 15 minutes until the stomach ache goes away and it works usually for my daughter and I within 1 hour, even for the flu! I believe in natural remedies. Good luck with trying to gain weight,when my IBS was bad I lost 15 lbs in a month, now its settled down and I am back to normal. I don't eat alot of greasy foods, and everything including all snacks are low fat or no fat. Both my Uro and my GI doctor said that IC patients usually have bowel spasms, which is part of IBS. They go hand in hand.

Kelly

[Phyllis Ann]

IBS is one of my biggest problems. If I am not peeing..or running with the squirts.. then I have major constipation...Oh for the love of Bathrooms...I once had to leave a Super Walmart with a full basket of groceries left behind because there bathroom was BROKEN. OMG..

I have to stay away from most types of vegetables but especially onions, peppers, and lettuce and of course corn. I also have to limit my milk products. Now with IC no tomatos either. Now I am salavating for a salad..lolololol. If I eat to much red meat that is when I get constipated. I have tried alot of different medications for bowel spasms but none have worked. And sweety if you have gas, let it out. Otherwise you will spasm more.

I have recently started dropping weight like crazy now, since everything upsets me too. So please if you find any answers let me know.

One last comment, I know that stress..( who has stress) plays a big part in my IBS and my IC. Too much excerise will also make my bowel overactive.

Hope this helps a little, I am a newbie to the IC part but have had IBS for about 2 years now.

Sincerely

Phyllis Ann

[Katrina]

Thanks everyone for your help.....if only gas was that easy.....just let it out....I didn't even know it was gas...it has just been pain....I don't know if it is just IBS....but I know my digestive system sucks. Maybe scar tissue is trapping it ...I don't know. I have a pamphlet from the Gastroenterology Associates of my area and they had a list of the conditions they specialize in...I circled all that I have ....it was scary...out of 14 I had 6. (at that is just in the GI area of me!) Gallstones, GERD, Stomach and intestinal ulcers, Ulcerative colitis, IBS, Diarrhea nd or constipation....anyway .....I so put effort into "letting it out" I just have a huge problem doing so (which isn't embarrissment if you get the drift) Phillis, so you said if I find any answers let you know....so far Beano and Hyoscyamine help...I am sure I take pepto bismo everyday....and I have used Aloe Vera for constipation (I can't take anything to strong for that or I become a mess)....When the mirracle happens that I can take something and all of the sudden can tollerate food....I will definatly have a huge online Scream!