IBS?

I don't think that the ideas about "leaky gut" have been proved yet. However, there is much discussion about the stomach 'flora' being both the seat of many auto-immune conditions. They are using fecal transplants in an attempt to help certain conditions.

I don't know about those of you on here who have have IBS, but most of those I have come across (I been having the symptoms treated for at least 20 years) have other auto-immune conditions which researchers hope could be helped by such transplants. I have two others so find all the research very interesting.

What's the difference between IBS and Leaky Gut Syndrome and other intestinal complaints?

What very helpful advice, and what sympathy I have for all fellow-sufferers out there! I have had symptoms for over four years (and I did consult my GP), and now know that onion is a no-no for me. As a vegetarian, this means that the tasty ingredient in most of my meals will cause pain, wind and those embarrassing situations you all know about. Also on restricted diet because of Warfarin, so sometimes despair of ever enjoying a meal again - but good to have support from all you Gransnetters.

If you are put on a FODMAP diet, peppers are seen as okay food and reintroduced quite early on, but it does differ for everyone. Onions and garlic are pretty much the worst for everyone who has tried eliminating them and then adding them back.

The great thing is that you start on an elimination diet with a few foods that should really be okay and then add the "good" foods back in slowly as intolerances, or the inability to digest "fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (which are short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that are poorly absorbed by the body), need time to be identified.

My advice is to:

A) go to the doctor and ask about the possibility of going on the diet.
B) Stick to it.

As for it being "lazy medical treatment", it shouldn't be. All other possibilities should be ruled out. If you don't think they are - ask. I think people did use to be fobbed off but since the research was done in Australia, GPs are catching up.

I'm afraid that it seems that IBS is a term that legitamises lazy medical treatment. Many in my family have been diagnosed with it to later find that it is something else.

These other issues have included a wide variety of food intolerances, ulcers, crones and a burst appendix that finished up as a collective mass the size of a bowls wood.

Not withstanding the above, it could be many things and if they say IBS ask to be referred for proper investigations.

Try to exclude dairy, eggs, wheat and grains, they are the most common items that we are intolerant of, from your diet together with carbonated drinks for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. If your symptoms improve then add back items 1 item per week to see what items are causing your problem.

I have a lot of foodstuffs that I cannot tolerate with the ones that makes eating out difficult are peppers, red green and yellow, and just as bad is monosodiumglucomate a widely used flavour enhancer, and curry.

Best of luck, don't just accept the discomforts, it is not necessary, find out what is causing it.

try balsamic vinegar in water. i use it on all salads.even potatoes . i have had IBS for years. try cutting out dairy produce too. that includes eggs./onions/ etc .......i have almond/rice oat milk.. wheat is ok sometimes.cut out broccoli. unless its cooked very soft. GO to the door for foods sheets...you learn over time what you can eat.i get more constipation than the other ,so dark chocolate is good..(not a whole bar )and i take lactulose when i get bloated..

Like teabagwoman my doctor put me on a low Fodmap diet and, now I have got used go it I can manage my doctor diagnosed IBS really well but not completely. You should not exclude foods until the doctor tells you too as they will want to test to ensure it isn't anything else.

sbsolutemy absolutely
noyninb nothing

I've no idea why I typed that garbage ?

fietrelated diet related

I wish people would stop giving advice re various foods and websites.
It might have worked for you but the only sensible advice to offer is to see her GP asap.
It may indeed be fietrelated but the amount of pro and prebiotics in yogurt will do sbsolutemy noyninb for your gut unless you eat 20+ tubs per day and even then, that's not close to the amount which would make a difference to your gut.

Ask any GP.

If it turned out not to be diet related it could possibly be cancer and delaying diagnosis whilst faffing about with various diets and online sites could have serious consequences.
Better to go straight to your GP and ask (politely insist) for the whole gamut of blood tests.
Better safe than sorry...or worse.

I agree with others : you MUST consult your GP and have all the tests required. However there are no tests for IBS, other problems have to be eliminated, and when there is nothing else left to blame, they decide it is IBS.

In my case (over 30 years ago) nothing the GP prescribed was any help, in fact on one occasion the GP said he could provide a cork, which was not exactly helpful or re-assuring. Keeping a diary of what you eat is the important thing, not going by what causes IBS in other people - everyone is an individual with individual intolerances. In my case : lactose, fruit skins (tomatoes, cherries, peaches, grapes etc), most breakfast cereals. All the things I really enjoy. If I ate any of these things I would get the most embarrassing diarrhoea and pain.

I eventually discovered Lepicol - look up their website. I can now eat many of the things that disagreed with me as long as I am careful and don't over-indulge. Lepicol is harmless and works for people who are constipated and those who are "wet and windy". I do not own shares in the company, and know no-one who works there, I am simply very grateful that there is a product which transformed my life and made it "normal" again.

Could be due to something changing in the food you eat, like a different ingredient being used. Even a change from using Canadian hard wheat in bread to UK grown hard wheat means that people may be insufficient with Selenium, which there isn't much off in our glacial soils.

Sheff Uni has a research project on IBS looking at 3000 iu a day of vitamin D3. This may work for some, and is based on patient experience and observation. (Double benefit as good for bones and immune health. WHO maximum is 4000 iu a day so well within limits.)

Keffir works for others, it improves the bacterial components in the gut. Sauer kraut also beneficial, as is organic live yoghurt, and pre- and pro-biotics..

Raw milk also has been known to be useful, but can only be bought from the farm gate or specialist supplier. Experience of family member here.

Try A2 milk, available from good supermarkets. This is a genetic thing. Dairy cows are usually type A1, which produce milk containing a particular form of the protein casein, which some people find indigestible. Jersey cows are usually type A2, which produce milk with the other type of casein. Suggest you buy verified A2 milk though, as cannot absolutely rely on the Jersey cow connection.

And see your GP.

Good luck. Lots of sensible advice above.

Hannah Lois.lake,

There are six different ones, is there any particular one you use. Not sure which one you take,

I have suffered with IBS on and off for 4o years. In addition to altered gut bacteria, there is also a brain/gut element which causes the intestines to contract randomly. Buscopan helps with cramps. Take probiotics, kefir is good and follow a gluten free diet for a few weeks, gradually reintroducing the foods you have omitted. Would definitely have a colonoscopy for new or different symptoms.

Four years ago, after years of self treating myself with OTC remedies for IBM, I finally saw my gp who said she doubted I had IBS and did blood tests. I didn't know she was also testing me for Coeliac disease, so big surprise there! Since following a gluten-free diet life has been so much better. Do see your gp please....you've nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It is indeed a fascinating subject - the gut has its own nervous system or "brain" and I am convinced that in the next few years scientists will begin to unravel the cause of these sort of problems.

But in the meantime OP - just get it checked out!

I think gut-related issues will be one of our next big areas of medical discovery. The sooner the better, for sufferers.

I'm reading Gary Taubes' book on sugar and there are striking similarities between the lack of knowledge a hundred years ago about sugar, carbohydrates and diabetes, and digestive issues now. Many glittering medical careers were made on the dissemination of absolute nonsense!

Giving up dairy and gluten has made a huge difference to me. Good luck! I hope you find what will help you best.

As with others on this thread, please check with your GP and ensure you have tests, not get told 'Oh it's IBS, we don't do anything for that, eat more fibre'. My daughter is in remission from ovarian cancer, having being palmed off just like that.

My OH had IBS for years didn't know he had it, used to sit on toilet for literally hours then used to take Magnesium Trisilicate which eased a bit.
When he eventually went to see his GP he recommended he eat 2Weetabix every morning for a month, it has certainly worked for him also would take Fybogel. No more on toilet for hours,

I always tell people who suffer to gets some colonic irrigation as it cured my partners IBS, 10 years ago.
which Drs say is incurable
Colonics are the norm in Europe but for some in this country it’s a no no.
I had a few too and you feel great afterwards
Look into it and you won’t regret it

Try cutting out all lactose. My husband did that after years of supposed IBS.
And is now fine. No wind symptoms. That are the most antisocial.
But still go to docs. TC

Luckygirl is correct. IBS symptoms that develop after the age of 50 may be the sign of something serious and need investigating ASAP. I developed these symptoms last year and was investigated for Ovarian Cancer, then Colon Cancer. Thankfully, all was well and it seems I just have IBS. It is apparently rare as a new problem in older adults. To the OP, please see your GP ASAP.

If it is simply IBS, I swear by Peppermint capsules and a daily prebiotic (probiotics are good, but it’s probiotics that make the big difference for me).

I had my first dose of IBS at 4 am one morning. It was so bad I couldn't go to work and had to stay in bed all day. It was horrendous. Had tests and all sorts, cutting out certain foods, trying certain foods but nothing helped. It got so bad I used to be up most of the night in agony. Nothing helped at all. It would go away then come back again and went on like this for nearly 20 years then all of a sudden it just stopped. Just like that. Just stopped (Fingers crossed) It's been about 4 years now since I had my last episode, there have been a few times when I've thought it was going to start up again but nothing became of it. So weird. But I'm not complaining, I just hope that's it now, never to return.

With symptoms like those, wind diarrhoea, bloating or pains in your back etc...don't self medicate or start altering your diet. A GP appointment and blood tests will be necessary to determine the cause. Don't delay. Symptoms can mean a minor or more serious diagnosis.