Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | If you check the IBS Glossary you'll find the IBS entry

which gives the Rome Guidelines for diagnosis. Abdominal pain is a possible symptom but, though most folks have this, it's not a requirement. Constipation with bloating (and I'm assuming discomfort) would fit the bill. The degree to which people say they experience discomfort, versus pain, varies tremendously. This is typical for IBS.

The diet should help to just stabilize your gut, regulate bowel function (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating), and regulate bowel muscle contractions. That's why it's helpful for (and aimed at) all symptoms. If you address your constipation, you'll likely help the bloating as well.

Have you been tested for celiac? For food allergies? I'd double check that they've ruled those out. Are you taking a soluble fiber supplement? Try a variety till you find the one that you tolerate best. Use fennel tea for the bloating, and maybe peppermint caps too. Also check the yoga section of the site for poses for constipation and bloating.

Try using just rice for your soluble fiber food for a bit, and see how you do with that. Rice is the most tolerable grain for just about every GI disorder in the world, and it's also very rare for someone to be allergic to it. Use rice cereals, all kinds of white rice, rice noodles, etc. That will get you the soluble fiber foundation you need but not cause wind.

Do make sure you're following the rules for adding in enough insoluble fiber - that's really important for constipation. The diet faq addresses this.

I'd agree with Laura Sue - give the diet a try and see what happens. You don't have to go to the breaking the cycle diet - that's really meant to calm down the gut when someone is having severe spasms, and obviously you're not. Just try adopting the general guidelines - no trigger foods, soluble fiber basis, careful with how you add insoluble, and make sure you're drinking helpful herbal teas. I'd add in to drink plenty of water (double what you think you need) and get exercise, even if it's just walking, every single day. Plus those yoga poses.

- Heather

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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