New with IBS how to work out the triggers
#337825 - 11/08/08 11:27 AM
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Hi
Well apparently I have IBS 
After 18 years of on off suffering the past year has seen the worst, I hoped leaving the UK and coming to Canada I could leave my gut at check in and not see it in the baggage hall when i arrived, but hey ho!
So after every non invasive test going (no not found one doctor that says I justify having any internal tests) blood work and stool tests and breathe tests only and see GI doc. I have been diagnosed with IBS.
So my point is having only just got rid of insane right side cramps that last 10 days, only for them to come back one week later, where do i start trying to find out the trigger?
I was quite sure the acacia fibre was at first making things better, yes taking small amounts, but then when the flare up happened, I was not so sure.
So how do i determine what is causing the attacks that can lat up to 14 days
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Welcome to the board.
Figuring out individual triggers is a hit and miss process. However, you can start by eliminating common triggers. You can find a list on this web page. There is a common trigger missing from the list, fructose, you can read more about in one of Heather's recent newsletter under the headings 'Sugar and IBS' and 'Role of Fructose in Initiating IBS Symptoms'
It would be helpful if you could post the meals and snacks you have eaten over the past 3-4 days. This way board members can comment on problems they have had with foods you may mention.
Good luck 
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Hi thanks for the welcome
Eek well if I list what I ate in the past 3-4 days i gonna get a big "well there ya go, self inflicted"
Ok will come clean. I used to be able eat what the heck I liked, my IBS was very mild and I put up with the odd flare ups I used to get, but in the past year they have got more often and far more painful.
I tend to have an attack of cramps which last about 10-14 days and then forget i do suffer and go back to eating what the hell i like.
So past 3-4 days, - left over candy from hallowean and a pizza from good ole East side marios, but the night of this flare up Thursday, I was fine up until I ate 3 cookies and then 30 minutes later the cramps started.
Ok I could say well there is the trigger, but I have been eating things like this for years with no real effect.
So I guess my question is, what sort of plain diet should I be on to start with and due to the awful cramps, do i stop fibre until calmed down?
My other question is, am I alone in going through so many doctors relying on blood tests and tummy prods and questions to diagnose IBS? When asked about doing an internal you always get the same repsonse "no alarm symptoms and blood work normal"
Thanks for your help
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I have had IBS for 45+ years. I use to be like you and tolerate most things. However now I manage my diet with extreme care. It allows me to keep the symptoms, particularly pain & gas, under control with relative easy. But it does require strick attention to detail
Here is an excellent web page on diagnosing IBS. It doesn't sound like you have had a complete set of tests. Dietary guidelines start here. Ensuring that you eat more soluble fiber than insoluble fiber with every meal is a good place to start. It is explained on the web pages linked to earlier and in Heather's books.
Keep asking questions. Someone will have answers
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Hi
I have had every test listed other than the colonoscopy, all doctors including GI specialist deemed not nessary based on symptoms. I guess when I have flare ups I always doubt all of them, but then have to think I am still around now and all other tests over years have been fine, and I do not have the red flag symptoms (blood, woken up with it, vomiting).
I have stopped the fibre for now until this settles again and then plan to keep some sort of food diary. I am contuing with my trusted tummy tamers though.
For me its two battles,, accepting what i have and finding the trigger.
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im right with you on this one - i have been same had this thing for 8 years nearly and im still no closer t finding whats goign on - i followed heathers diet and it did help alot but things seemed to have got worse for me and im not sure why which mkes me thinks theres other causes xxx hang in there hun
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Ibs sufferer for 7 years !
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Thanks for the support.
Well woke this morning to bubbly hunger pain tummy, had a bowl of bran flakes now tummy feels like its fermenting
Taken tummy tamer and hoping for results. If I could just get my tummy to calm down then I might be able to start a diet plan, but ts just getting to that point
First trigger was after a night of borwn rice, woke with a feeling identical to my appendix going to explode, went to doctor told IBS, week later still same pain so sent for for blood work and told if all comes back frie then IBS. All came back fine, few days later big gassy movement on right side pain went away WAHEYYY!! 7 days later start nibbling on chocolate after hallowean lleft overs, had some cookies and went for a pizza with my wife, 24 hours later, guess what came back!!
So here I sit with a tummy that will do global warming no good at all, wandering how to calm this power plant of gas down.
Oh shoot! just read your post Syl, here is me gorging on bran flakes!!! OOPS! Well they did make me go though.
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One way to find a trigger is to eliminate all common triggers from your diet for a period of time and then slowly introduce them one at a time. However, you have to remember that the effects of a trigger may not be noticeable for a few hours or even 2-3 days after eating it. Also, some triggers are cumulative i.e. they don't effect you until after you have consumed the offending food a few times.
However, having read you recent posting you might start by removing high insoluble fiber found in brown rice and bran flakes and substituting soluble fiber foods. And high fat and dairy found in pizza are common triggers. You can learn more about the problems with these foods if you read Heather's dietary guidelines.
Good luck
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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