WOW - what an enlightening and thought provoking article. Thank-you for providing it and such a a detailed reply.
Quote: Have you tried to figure out a base diet - that is a simple diet to which can fall back on when you get an IBS flare-up?
This is part of my frustration. I don't get flare-ups or have reactions to supposed triggers...just the same routine every morning of urgent, loose and multiple BM's. This is despite following the (Heather's) IBS diet. As there is still something I'm eating/drinking that is a trigger, I am working on a self imposed elimination diet focusing on wheat and I want to see if there's any difference by not having tea and avoiding soy (all foods that are supposed to be safe). Basically, I'm just trying to think of and detect if there's been something constant that I've eaten despite a wide variety in my diet over the years that could be the culprit. AND LOW AND BEHOLD you drop this little package of information. While I don't eat a lot of processed or packaged foods, I know fructose is in a lot of foods, probably more than I realize or have seen.
Looking at the FODMAP checklist from article you linked, I see a lot of the same foods we are told to avoid or limit as they are an insoluble fiber; anything to do with fruits, vegetables and legumes, dairy and alcohol BUT THEN THERE'S THAT TOUGH ONE - WHEAT, including bread and pasta which are deemed O.K. by Eating for IBS.
Something else in the article that got my attention was TABLE 4, Lactose Content of Common Dairy Products. It lists Acidophilus milk. I don't drink cow's milk (as recommended) but I do take Acidophilus supplements (as recommended) could this be counter productive? And then the non-medicinal ingredients include fructose molecules.
Anyway I'm going to be looking into this as soon as tomorrow. Who did you first approach? I'm fed up with my GP and noticed that the article mentions going to a dietitian. Also, can I ask what your diet consists of on any given day?