Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | I just had a very severe IBS attack. I think the trigger was coleslaw.

"I just had a very severe IBS attack. I think the trigger was coleslaw. Can an IBS attack be severe enough to cause lower intestinal bleeding?"

Nope, IBS would never cause intestinal bleeding. If you have hemorrhoids from straining or some such, that could cause external bleeding. But any blood passage, fever, joint or skin issues/pain, waking in the middle of the night, are all red flags from something other than IBS.

If it is IBS, coleslaw could be a huge trigger. Cabbage is cruciferous, so the sulphur can cause problems, but it's also just straight insoluble fiber (a huge potential trigger) in a high fat dressing (also a trigger).

Have some plain white rice and lots of peppermint or fennel tea to get your gut calmed down quickly.

In the future you may have much more tolerance for things like cabbage if they are finely shredded and cooked till very tender - that breaks down the insoluble fiber and off-gasses the sulphur. You'd still want to have it with a soluble fiber foundation food though.

XXOO
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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