I suffer terribly from IBS. It's either constipation or diarrhea and it can be brutal.

If you can pinpoint which foods bother you the most you might take a OTC med beano before eating. For me that is anything green and leafy.

I also take a probiotic every day and it helps some but not entirely.

I had to do the elimination diet for this. Beef and dairy seem to be a trigger for me along with the greens, but sometimes I can eat those things and have no problem so it's hard to get a handle on it.

I did not have to see a GI.

I forgot to add that I take prescription Lomotil on days that it's problematic and I have to leave the house and won't be close to the bathroom. You might ask your doc about that med.

I don't like to take it because it gives me dry mouth but it's better than having an accident or being trapped at home.

Thanks Skinny.I am vegetarian and gluten free.There doesn't seem to be a food connection.I will ask Dr. about the Lomotil

I used to have IBS very badly I had to watch everything I ate no salads, roughage , no veggies. but I drank juice that had veggies in it.I can say the one drug I was put on that worked for me was salfolk . It worked great and got me eating normal. good luck isabee

I used to have those IBS symtoms so bad that it was hard to leave the house, and eating out, on the rare occasion I did it, always led to an embarrassingly long trip to the rest room.

I never managed to tie it to any food, but finally found a good probiotic, and with consistent use of that I have overcome 95% of my symptoms and their severity.

Are you gluten free because you have celiac or just by choice? If you go gluten free and don't have celiac then it can cause all kinds of problems with your system. Also, as many have mentioned, salad greens and vegies seem to be part of the problem and can be a trigger.

I am gluten free because i am allergic to wheat,yeast.I haven't been eating salads.i eat tofu,quinia,gluten free pizza.IDK if its the stress i've been under.As soon as i can get insurance iwill go to G.I.Dr

I'm often in the IBS-D category and rarely in the IBS-C. And almost never in between.

I've been living with this for years. My mom had bad colitis. And I just figured for a long time I was following suit.

I focused in on foods and this is what I discovered. Any kind of protein makes it happen. Eggs...w/in minutes. So I cut out proteins as much as possible.

Then I ate mainly veggies and fruits....that too amped it up.

Then I ate carbs...still happened.

So that left Toothpaste and water. Yup, still happened.

I did however discover that when a doc put me on some prescribed probiotics, I was doubled over in pain for 3 days. Yet when I have 2 - 3 Activia brand yogurts, I can get things back to kinda 'regular'.

Stress still activates it in minutes. But I honestly don't see that happening anytime soon. Yet I did make many changes in that area. All that I could. So now I just eat my activia each day and eat as I normally would (cereal, salads and a sensible dinner).

Never know when it will happen, so I always know where the bathrooms are where ever I go. And I'll often forgo eating if I need to. But hey, that sure does beat the tummy farts and sweats because the pain is so intense from the IBS!

I have IBS-D also. I have gotten under much better control with a strict diet and limited medication. Diet includes NO; dairy, eggs, red meat, fats, spicy foods, tomatoes or alcohol. I take Align probiotic and drink fennel tea for bloating. I can eat SOME vegetables and beans if they are cooked good and cut up small. I also take Acacia fiber(heathers ibs site). Still occasionally will need to take Immodium and or Librax but it used to be every day and several times a day so it is a big improvement. So for me the diet is worth it. But everyone is different with what will effect them, hope you can figure yours out.

Good Luck!!!! Holly

I have IBS and when first diagnosed my doctor recommended each morning a glass of metamucil and that helped. I don't need that anymore because I drink green smoothies most days and use a probiotic liquid I make with water kefir and if I don't drink a green smoothie I take acidophilus pearl. It is important to keep the gut healthy.

Typical culprits are milk products and gluten. Gluten free pizza at regular pizza parlors are not gluten free. The contamination is horrific. I cannot even have a salad at pizza or bakery type places.

In addition to Activia and aAlign, you might wish to try kimchi (there is a spicy and nonspicy version), and sauerkraut. Stay away from hidden gluten such as soy sauce, beer....

I've had the most problems with IBS-c so not so sure how much I can help but I do know stress can affect us in many ways and tends to afflict areas that are already problems more often. Just really hoping you are able to get insurance soon. Will be thinking of you. Hugs

Just one more example of how different we all are - Angel you do fine with sugar, and it's one of my IBS triggers.

If I "forget" (which I don't, sometimes I just make bad choices) that sugar is a problem and decide to eat a sugary dessert, I'll pay big time the next day.