Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Yeast Overgrowths...Probiotics

I think we had a brief argument regarding this on the board before, concerning diets' efficacy, if not with you then with someone else.

Let me put it briefly, my considered opinion and it's true that I am a child of Syl's as it were, figuratively speaking, but I do believe in the science of it all and I can only roll my eyes when doctors or anyone else for that matter say that you have to experiment for yourself as some people have different food-triggers etc.

I know IBS is a v broad term, I know how it is defined but pls let me tell you this:
I still mainly class IBS as something that responds to the following triggers, primarily alcohol, caffeine, fat and IF, ie the ones Heather lists, in an abnormal way. It is as I said an inorganic problem. You have D or C or A or pain or bloating or some/all of these as a result. The FODMAP thing is a fairly new discovery but the majority of people suffering from IBS also have that. (not necessarily problems with all those 5 columns: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/072710p30.shtml, but some)
Apparently, only very few IBS-sufferers see no improvement when they address possible FODMAP issues. FODMAP trouble is, however, organic, that is why it cannot be helped by hypnosis. There is a less brain-gut connection there. Whereas, to my mind, that is exactly what IBS is deeply intertwined with, the brain-gut connection and how your body responds not to certain foods, but certain trigger-foods. And that is why saying that some high fat foods are ok, whereas others aren't doesn't bear scrutiny for me. I believe that only very few people would not benefit from a diet based on EFI guidelines combined with the FODMAP approach (see some of my earlier posts for my diet and the debate regarding this) because of this.

As for how some foods affect you differently some day than others, my explanation for that is that - have you ever had an exam to go to? Nervousness takes over. You have D. Going on a hot date? Excitement brimming over. Rush to the loo. I've had these things and pre-IBS, I had D. You're meant to have D then. It's evolutionary. But with IBS and this is where the whole stress/anxiety/IBs controlling your life comes in, if you are constantly in that sort of mindset or when you know you have to drive to work/ have to go on holiday, your body responds the same way, cos it's meant to. But this signals again the power of your mind, that it's actually partly your brain giving these unconscious instructions and in this case, it doesn't matter what you'd eaten, you'll still have symptoms. Just as it didn't matter what I'd eaten years ago when I was on the edge of my seat before my date (no IBS back then) I still had D. And this is where the relaxing/calming part of hypnosis comes in I guess.

Am I being clear here?

IBS is a hard nut to crack, but I for one, am all for the science behind it and hypnosis is by no means dismissed by anyone whose word is valuable in this matter. Look at the article Syl posted. But for those for whom it doesn't work, the basic guidelines of Heather's diet limited with cutting out required FODMAP foods will almost certainly provide relief in the long term. I can only say again, that if anyone does dismiss this approach, as 'I've been on every diet on earth and not made a difference', I used to be like that, but look at again my own diet I posted on here a while ago, take away a large amount of IF for that for Syl's diet, it's as restrictive as it gets but I'd be really really surprised if it didn't work for those that do have the IBS (and not some other underlying condition) that Heather's diet is meant to address in the first place.

oh and I have never NOT advocated trying hypnosis. And neither did Syl. And I am going to try to the hypnosis. (Think Syl already has tried.)

PS the FODMAP thing is very new btw.
PS2 thanks for other reply regarding bloating. hypnosis getting rid of my inorganic bloating will do fine for me! will start on Sat as I said, and getting off the board then!

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now: stable through EFI+FODMAP dieting (no lactose/no fructose/some fructans and some polyols)

before: IBS-D(pseudo-diarrhoea), bloating, often unbearable pain esp from too much fat: Apr 2007- Dec 2010

FODMAPs: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/072710p30.shtml

[I've tried VSL#3 -> I could tolerate v good amounts of IF (even with less SF), it worked great (but overall I find it too expensive)]

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