Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Can anyone help this mother of an 8-year-old with IBS?

If you don't have Heather's "Eating for IBS" book, get it. She shares many safe dishes she enjoyed as a child.

Keep feeding her safe foods especially in the morning before school and packed for at school. Low fat peanut butter and banana sandwich, rice cakes, pretzels, graham crackers, turkey sub, soup and bread ect.

Another idea for mayo... we use fat free but I also sometimes mix it with a nice mustard. That way you use only half the amount of mayo and mustard is good for the gut

If egg yolks bother her, also be careful with anything else that has sulfer in it. This is what most of us who are sensitive to yolks are bothered by. Sulfer is also in many medications! Be careful, talk to her doctor, research and read labels. Watch out for the words sulfites and sulfates. All wines have them (if you cook with them) and some juices.

When she's having pain try a hot pad set on Low to relax her muscles and a nice message or a warm bath.

I'd also start a daily log. Note what she's eating, when, and how much (over eating's never good but undereating can make an IBS tummy feel worse) also have her describe her BM. Finally, see if there's anything stressing her out. A major change in her life like a move, a divorce, a broken friendship, or a bully. Maybe it's just everyday things that she feels overwhelmed by. Or maybe she's a "what if" child, I was... always thinking about what might go wrong. While this makes you very prepared for just about anything, it's way more anxiety than any child (or adult) should carry around.

In any case, be sure she has something in her life to reduce the stress. What makes her happy? What gets her laughing uproariously? A game, dancing, sports, writing, singing. Make sure she gets to chill out each day. Don't over schedule her or let her get herself too run down... getting enough sleep will help her too.

Most of all, we can all hear how much you love her, so I'm sure you'll do your best for her. In the meantime, try not to get overwhelmed and stressed yourself. She'll feel it and it won't do you any good either. Hang in there.

Dana

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IBS-A

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