Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Maybe i havent got ibs at all??

the reason that foods make a difference is because they are GI irritants.

let me try an analogy....

do you know anyone with mild to moderate asthma? i had that when i was in college. ok, on most normal weekends i could go to a bar or a party where the air was filled with cigarette (and other!) smoke and have no problems aside from stinking like an ashtray the next day. so, in those cases, one could argue that 2nd hand smoke, even copious amounts, was not an asthma trigger for me.

HOWEVER... if i had bronchitis, i couldn't stand near a smoker outside in the fresh air without having an asthma attack. in those cases, 2nd hand smoke, even in minute amounts, was definitely a major asthma trigger for me, even though it normally wasn't.

in the same way, dairy products, caffiene, high-fat products, and other things identified in this diet are IBS triggers, just like the smoke was a trigger for my asthma. IBS means that your large intestines aren't working properly, just like my lungs weren't with the bronchitis. in IBS, your large intestines are prone to either pushing things through too fast (causing diarrhea) or too slowly (causing constipation), or sometimes switching back and forth between. if you put a known GI irritant in your mouth, it will eventually make its way to the large intestines where they will irritate the already messed up system there. sadly, though we love those foods, they are known GI irritants. the reason i am emphasizing that is this: Heather didn't make up the fact that dairy and caffiene and other triggers are GI irritants. they just ARE, and studies and doctors and researchers agree! i loved my coffee, but even back in the day before IBS i knew that a strong cup of coffee in the morning would trigger a BM. lots of smokers and coffee drinkers will tell you the same.

i don't care if you used to eat a gigantic cheeseburger and large fries while sipping your Diet Coke and following it with an icecream sundae. i used to be able to do that, too. however, i cannot now because i have IBS. now, i may not want to believe that, but it's true. cutting all of the triggers identified on this diet, eating the recommended way, adding soluble fiber supplements.... these things all help me stay diarrhea-free. i have not had diarrhea yet this year. and this time a year ago i was having diarrhea 10-12 times before noon EVERY DAY. i never thought that my cheeseburgers were responsible, however i was so fed up with being sick i gave Heather's diet a chance and followed it 100% (though it took 6 months of cheating to really get to 100%). once i DID give it 100%, i got well. and i stay well. so, you may believe that these foods aren't a problem, but i think your colon disagrees! i read your other post... you sound like you're in attack-mode a lot of the time. you may be surprised to find relief if you try this diet 100%.

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