please can anyone help me?

[fiona27976]

im 32 and have suffered with irritable bowel since i was 20,bout 6 years ago i weighed a healthy 8 1/2 stone im bout 5'4" but iv gradually lost weight and these days im lucky if i tip the scales on 7 stone,iv tried cutting out diff kinds of food etc but not helping a great deal,im always stressed,tired,and wen my ibs plays up i cant eat....infact iv got to the point im scared to eat incase my ibs plays up,its horrendous,im so desperate i just dont no wat to do its interfering in my everyday life and almost at the point of giving up my job,iv tried all pills but not much help either,im so worrid bout my weight,im so unhappy with myself even thou my life around me is great,i have a wonderful partner who does what he can do to help but even hes getting stressed cos im in so much pain.can anyone give me any advice.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

I wrote on your other thread, but I'll add here.. Whilst there doesn't seem to be a knowledgeable reason for IBS, it is believed that it is stress related and I can vouch for that.

When ever things are way stressful, on comes the IBS 10 fold and it is a horrible thing to experience, I understand that.

But you can get on top of it, you have to get on top of it, it can last for a month and if you continue being stressed, it doesn't go away.

Start a diary of what you are eating daily for a month and each time you feel a bit IBS'y after you eat, look at what it was you ate that day so you can start oliminating foods that don't agree with your tummy anymore, basically you have a weak stomach...

Start walking even if you feel flat and down, even for 10 minutes a day to keep the body feeling good.

As I said in the other thread, eat less meat, no spicy or dairy at all. I still do, but I know when it bites me, then i give it a break again, can't help it i love eggs.

You have to also look at all the things that are stressing you and I know you are going to say you can't change any of them but there is no such word as can't as far as I am concerned, it's finding a way around it, and making those changes..

CW

[jss2000]

Consider also the possibility of a food allergy condition. The link between IBS and allergenic reactions hasn't been well researched yet. So, in addition to what CW recommended (tracking your responses to certain foods and managing your stress), consider making an appointment with an allergenist or gastroenterologist. They can discuss your health history and test for a variety of common food allergies.

[chrisndobes]

I was diagnosed with IBS a few years back, but I found out through my own research that I am actually just very sensitive to milk products. The advice to start a food journal is excellent. If I were you, I'd go on a very low-allergen diet. Something without milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, etc. See if that helps and then gradually add things back to your diet. Beware of hidden ingredients, too.

[WildChild]

Also take a look at Candidas or yeast infections. They can cause leaky gut or extreme irritation. The book The Yeast Connection may be a good starting point.

[Lulu]

Hi Fiona, Have you tried eating probiotics? Probiotics are live microbial organisms that are naturally present in the digestive tract and vagina.

Probiotics are considered beneficial and are sometimes referred to as "friendly" bacteria. Some of the ways they are thought to promote health include suppressing the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, improving immune function, enhancing the protective barrier of the digestive tract, and helping to produce vitamin K.

There are over 400 species of microorganisms in the human digestive tract, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

A number of medical, diet, and lifestyle factors are believed to disturb the balance in the colon. This imbalance is called dysbiosis. Factors include:

* Inadequate dietary fiber
* Oral antibiotic therapy
* Infant formula feeding
* Ingestion of environmental toxins

No longer kept in check, less healthy bacteria and yeast may flourish, which is thought to increase the likelihood of conditions such as infectious diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections.

Sources of Probiotics
Probiotics can be found in capsule, liquid, powder, or tablet form. Acidophilus drinks can be found in health food stores and some grocery stores and Asian grocers.

Probiotics can also be found in cultured dairy products such as yogurt or kefir, however, the number of live organisms varies greatly from product to product due to differences in processing methods. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut also contain probiotics

[sweetpea85]

I totally agree with everyone else

You should try the pain free in 1 day diet.

I was diagnosed with IBS, too, and this diet made my symptoms vanish. It's all about combining the right foods.
My dr. told me I'd have to be on MiraLax and stool softeners for the rest of my life. I haven't taken MiraLax since June 18, 09. I go to the bathroom regularly (5-7 times a week) whereas before, I was going maybe twice a week.

Still see a specialist or nutritionist if you can. IBS can sometimes be a vague/false diagnosis.