Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Support Group

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common intestinal disorder that is characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, and constipation. Typically no abnormalities appear during standard medical testing, and so irritable bowel syndrome is identified by the symptoms. Although irritable bowel syndrome can cause serious discomfort, the intestines are not harmed.

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/ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Support Group

FODMAP DIET?

muffindog
muffindog

Hi everyone,


I am new to this board and this is my first post. A quick history, I have had stomach problems for years and have finally seen a gastroentranologist who has diagnosed me with IBS. My symptoms are mainly extreme and painful bloating and consipation but also include muscle pain, very low energy and joint pain. I also get 3 reoccuring sores but he didn't think they are related. I am seeing a dermatologist for that.


He did recommend I try the fodmap diet to see if this will bring me relief. Problem is that I am having a hard time following it. A lot of the foods that I enjoy, and crave, are on the high fodmap list. I am hungry and craving.I also find that some of the items like onion and garlic are in most prepared/canned foods. Things like salad dressings are out now.


I am wondering if anyone has experience with this diet and if you would be willing to share some tips on making it easier.


Thanks so much.

billwfriend
billwfriend
Welcome but Im no help never heard of diet
BlueSky
BlueSky
Welcome!
I also have chronic constipation along with bloating and have had it for years...
Hey, I've never heard of this diet but glad to see there's something out there I can try. After reading down the list I see I've actually been somewhat following it just by eliminating foods that have obviously brought more irritations to my symptoms. Like breads, beef (and sometimes other meats), fast food / fried foods, processed foods, too much pasta, apples, rough celery, onion & garlic, etc. But I see there are some adjustments I could make. Sometimes I like to bake cakes and that's probably not good for me. I also LOVE avocados and cherries. :(

I noticed a lot of the greens on the OK list are mostly leafy vegetables. It'll be interesting trying to come up with new recipes.

I'll try anything if it means a happier belly. Good luck to you and I hope you find relief!
muffindog
muffindog
I have been able to find 2 friends of mine who have tried it and both rave about the results they got. One did say it took 4 or 5 month and the other said she noticed relief within a couple of weeks. So far I'm pretty hungry on it but believe it will be worth the effort. There's also supposed to be a good app from the researchers for it. Looking forward to checking that out.
sharpie
sharpie
Hi! I am also new to this site but I am not new to IBS
Lenoire
Lenoire
Hi Muffindog, I have used the FODMAP to cure my IBS. I found some of the items on the diet I could eat just fine, but others not so. I found that for me it was the legumes, ie beans. As long as onions and garlic are cooked, I'm fine with them, and same for tomatoes. But to follow it completely was not necessary for me. I discovered it was legumes that was causing the pain I had under my right rib, and the bloating, and fatigue, and irritability.

Legumes, ie beans, take longer to digest and create gas that backs-up the other food trying to move through. The pain under my right rib, is where your large intestine takes a turn, and that's where the gas produced by legumes, was backing up and causing bloating, pain, and all sorts of other problems.

Try eliminating beans, and white potato, buy yellow flesh instead, and see if you notice any change.
There's so much more you can do to reduce the symptoms of IBS or cure it altogether, as I've done with mine, after 35 years of discomfort, pain, pills, tests, and constant irritability. Removing commercially prepared food (anything that comes in a box or can) and produce, was key for me to restore my gut flora. I discovered FODMAP didn't work for me unless I eat organic produce because of the high amounts of pesticide residue in wheat and crops that we eat that annihilates gut flora. Stress can also wreak havoc on gut flora.
KB1
KB1
Just started FODMAP a week ago. The trajectory seems to be in the right direction so far. Encouraged to see the results from above poster.
stitch
stitch
I was given the fodmap diet also by my Gastroenterologist. I also kept a food journal to help see which foods on the diet helped and which didn't. It helped some but not much. My experience was that it did help but I was still having a lot of problems. The food choices were very limited to me as some of the food that was ok I still could not tolerate.. Then I did some research and came across the SCD diet (specific carbohydrate diet) I have been on this diet instead. It has worked a whole lot better than the fodmap. I suggest you give it a try. Also keep a journal because you will find that some foods they say you can eat will bother you. For example broccoli is allowed and I can't tolerate it at all.
Debbi
Debbi
hello I am new here as well. I saw your Fodmap title and wanted to give you my experience. I have IBS C I have a bowel movement maybe once every 5 days. I get very bloated and crampy. My Dr. asked me to try low fod map diet. I did it for 8 weeks . Stuck to it except I had gluten/wheat free bread. I didn't notice any difference for me. When I was trying to wean back to regular diet I couldn't tell whether it was the food I had just introduced or my time to poop.

I think you should try it though everyone is different
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