Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I don't know if my comments will help any, but here's my experience:
I haven't had a cup of coffee since late January, just a little while before I discovered this wonderful place. I was very much NOT STABLE at the time, but I did discover coffe brough gas, then a BM within about 2 hours. Regular tea caused gas & bloating but not a BM in the same amount of time.

Even well before I knew I had IBS, I could never drink coffee in the morning. It would cause gas for a few minutes and then clean me out very suddenly and completely. Regular tea in the morning would upset my stomach. However, later in the day, I was fine with either.

I've been stable for a couple of months now and have been tempted to try caffeine in regular amounts again.

I can nurse a 20 oz bottle of diet Coke...and by nurse, I mean have a drink or two a day so that I have the same bottle for about 2 weeks.

I haven't given in yet, though, be cause I'm not altogether sure 8-12 oz. of caffiene is worth the possible upset!

As for gas & bloating, for a week or so last month, I had the gas that just rolls around in my gut, the sort that's annoying but never leads to anything. Around the same time, I was experimenting with lettuce again a little. I stopped putting lettuce on my sandwiches and it pretty much went away. Is there anything you've introduced or reintroduced into your diet that might be causing it?

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