Questions & Misconceptions about IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Most IBS patients don't entirely understand the what is going on in their digestive tract and therefore get very frustrated and upset when things don't get resolved as planned. It is important to make sure you know and understand what truly affects your body. Remember, your diagnosis of IBS is not just in your head or something simple to remedy with a quick easy pill. Find out the answers to these questions and how they all affect your body. What is IBS? Do food allergies affect IBS? What do I do if I have IBS? These questions and more are answered under this topic.
What is IBS?
Also known as spastic or nervous colon, IBS is a group of symptoms, not a 'disease' in itself. With IBS, the normal rhythmic muscular contractions of the digestive tract become irregular and quite uncoordinated. This causes interference with normal movement of food through the digestive tract. As the abnormal digestive tract flows, toxins and waste material get clogged in the intestines and can result in partial obstruction trapping gas and stool resulting in bloating, distention, constipation and pain. IBS can affect part of or the entire digestive tract from mouth through to the colon and anus. Interestingly there are likely- 1. no physical signs of disease, 2. the colon appears to be normal and 3. there are no structural abnormalities. IBS is called a "functional" disorder: The system just doesn't work right. IBS affects 1 in 5 adults in the United States, making it one of the most common ailments diagnosed by doctors. Women are more frequently affected than men. According to US News, only about 10 percent of people with symptoms of IBS go to a doctor for evaluation or treatment. In spite of this, IBS accounts for nearly 3.5 million physician visits in the United States annually, and it is the most common diagnosis by gastroenterologists. Though IBS is a constant problem, flares of IBS are usually set off by ingesting food that the body can’t process correctly. It may be something that the body has formed an allergy to or is too fatty to breakdown. Please note that some symptoms of IBS can show up hours or even days after ingestion of the allergen.
What are symptoms of IBS?
Symptoms of IBS can include one or more of the following;
Abdominal pain
Anorexia
Bloating
Constipation and/or diarrhea (often alternating)
Flatulence and/or gas with or without gas pains
Intolerances to foods
Malnutrition due to lack of nutrient absorption
Mucus in the stools
Pain triggered by eating
Pain triggering headaches, diarrhea, nausea, possible vomiting
Misconceptions about IBS
For most people who have IBS, conventional medicine only masks or temporarily reduces symptoms. To find lasting solutions one has to find out what IBS is and how it affects the body. Dr Richard N Ash narrowed it down to 7 problems or misconceptions about IBS. For many, reading this was a relief - it meant that what they we were feeling wasn’t just in their mind, but was truly reality! Notice some of the important misconceptions as described by Dr Ash:
Problem 1: Most doctors teat the symptoms of IBS, rather than searching for the cause of the problem. IBS is a description of a group of symptoms; it is a label of exclusion, not a diagnosis of a specific disease. IBS is a sign that the digestive system is out of balance. Most doctors dealing with IBS patients first turn to drugs rather than finding out the cause of the digestive problem.
Problem 2: Traditional treatments will actually make IBS worse. When facing a patient with IBS, most doctors reach for a pen and write a prescription for Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, Prilosec or other dugs to inhibit the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This causes a change in the pH levels in the stomach. The change of pH also alters the microbial environment through out the digestive tract, weakening the “good” flora and encouraging the overgrowth of “bad” flora. The patient may feel better for a moment but the digestive problems will only get worse over time.
Problem 3: Medications used by traditional doctors often have unwanted side effects. Popular drugs use to treat IBS often may cause yeast and digestive flora imbalances, which can further stress the digestive system and contribute to immune system suppression.
Problem 4: Most doctors dismiss food allergies and hypersensitivities as irrelevant, although they are a major trigger in many cases of IBS. Most gastroenterologists believe that ones diet does not affect IBS, there is no doubt that it does. While some doctors begrudgingly acknowledge that lactose intolerance can cause digestive problems, they fail to appreciate the significance of other dietary factors as a trigger for IBS.
Problem 5: Most doctors use IBS as a catchall diagnosis when they have done an upper GI series, colonoscopy, and endoscopy and they see inflammation or gastritis but do not know the cause. IBS is not a disease; it is a collection of symptoms indicating that the body is out of harmony. As an approach to treatment, most doctors perform several tests to rule out ulcers, cancer, infections and other common disorders, offering diagnosis by exclusion. Instead, as doctor should work with the patient and perform the necessary diagnostic tests to determine the actual cause of the digestive complaints.
Problem 6: Most doctors are satisfied before their patients are cured. A majority of doctors assume their patients have been well treated when their symptoms subside, even if they later return. The doctor’s goal should be the elimination of the cause or irritation. The doctor’s job is not done until the root cause has been identified and balance has been restored to the patient’s digestive system, not when they feel they are done.
Problem 7: Most doctors fail to recognize the importance of environmental factors in triggering IBS. Psychological and lifestyle factor also contribute to IBS. These issues must be dealt with head-on rather than setting them aside in favor of reliance on medication. A growing body of research indicates that psychological stress triggers IBS in many people, and that many relaxation techniques can be effective in controlling stress and IBS.
Instead of trying to quickly remedy the digestive disorder with medications, the goals should be to 1. identify the root cause(s) 2. fortify or strengthen what is working well and formulate a plan to nourish what is not working well; therefore bringing back to harmony the entire digestive system.
What can I do for my IBS?
Be honest with yourself and your condition. Do your research, take notes, take charge of your body; remembering that what you put into your body truly matters. Do all you can to work through any discouragement and recognize it will take time and sustained effort to get to the results your body requires. Dont be afraid to explore and be creative in searching for potential solutions. Find a good support group and people that are supportive of your health. Know that what you are doing is important, this is not just in your head it is your life and the quality of it that is at stake. Like everyone else, you want the best life possible, don’t settle for less.
As you do your research, take notes! I can’t stress this enough, if you think you will remember all the helpful information you find… you won’t. Though the physical and mental effects of IBS impact you directly, it also affects your entire family and those around you. Your support network needs to know the specific things you can and can not eat in order to help you minimize your pain and suffering.
Take heart though, there is hope. Those dealing with IBS, food allergies and digestive disorders aren’t as uncommon as once thought, people have just been covering it up. Not only are more people coming out and being honest with their digestion but many more companies are providing foods that are free of allergens and restaurants are complying with peoples needs. Many restaurants have ‘gluten free’ menus or can point to items that are allergen free for you to eat, just ask, you may be surprised that your favorite restaurant has options!
Some other suggestions for treatment involve what many doctors call 'alternative therapies'. These treatments to help reduce stress and calm the body have proven beyond a doubt to be helpful to many sufferers. Definitions of these and recommendations to some our favorite types can be found under Alternative Therapies.
Am I allergic to food?
The answer is it is highly possible that there are foods you most likely are sensitive if not allergic to. Food allergies and sensitivities have been known to be a big player with IBS patients. When you discover which items these are and remove them from your diet symptoms drastically improve. First of all you must realize that food sensitivities and having a food allergy is not a choice, you cannot just choose to be “sensitive” or “allergic” to a food, either you are or you are not. Most people have a difficult time grasping that they may be allergic to the things they love to eat. The truth of the matter is, you probably have formed an allergy or sensitivity to certain foods and you need to take measures to control the allergy, if you don’t your symptoms will worsen; therefore your condition will control you. Second the people around you must realize that your food allergy is not something you ‘choose’ to have, if it were a choice, chances are IBS is not something you would ‘choose’ to have.
The most common food sensitivities are to dairy, gluten (wheat, oat, rye, kamut, spelt, barley), eggs, corn, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, tomatoes and strawberries. Common allergic food allergies also include FD&C Yellow No. 5, vanillin, sulfates, benzaldehyde, MSG, BHT/BHA and benzoates. There are many ways to find out your sensitivities and allergies; one is by going directly to a NP or MD that can take a blood test for allergies. This can be expensive but well worth the trip for many. They start with a large list of most common items people tend to react to then specify from there. Results aren’t always conclusive because you have to be eating the allergic item for it to test positive, but it is a solid place to start. The great thing about this form of testing is you find out to what degree you are sensitive to these items, if you can have them on occasion or if you have to cut them out completely. Based upon the results you can remove from your diet the items with a positive result and start feeling better immediately. After that, there on out it will be self-testing by trial and error by way of allergy self-testing.
Allergy self-test is the sure way to firm up food sensitivities and allergies, this requires patience and some time. Though this part can be frustrating and hard hitting, the time and effort you put into this, the better more sure results you will find. Be rest assured that the results you find will better your situation and life will become more enjoyable again. Start by ruling out the things listed above, this means you must read labels, ALL of them, understand what each ingredient means. Ask questions, don’t settle for “I don’t think it’s in there”, find out exactly what things are, the very items that people are allergic too are hidden in words we either don’t question or don’t understand, so research it, find out its origin. Don’t be shy to pick apart even fresh fruits and vegetables, by doing so, we found it wasn’t the ‘tomato’ causing the reaction but it was the spray or ‘wax’ the grocer used on the tomatoes. Many of the wax sprays used to make food looks inviting are made from casein which derives from dairy sources; casein is a common dairy food allergy. When we personally figured that out, it was a matter of finding a veggie wash that we could soak our tomatoes in to remove the wax and thus being able to keep them in our diet. When you get to digging into everything that goes into what you eat only then will you know for sure if it contains a very ingredient you need to rule out.
How do I know if I have a food allergy?
Allergic reactions to food vary from person to person with the reaction being immediate to sometime over several weeks. Each item can produce a different reaction all depending on how your body deals with it during digestion and when it is absorbed into the system. Most reactions will come within 3 – 5 days, though some can take weeks to surface. Allergens once introduced into the body will stay living and active for 2 - 3 months causing a wide range of damage within the body at various stages of absorption. Once it dies, it can take up to a year for these allergens to be completely free of the body; this is why it’s important to note all symptoms and reactions you may be having even if you feel it isn’t related.
Most immediate reactions can be described as follows:
Abdominal pain, bloating or gas
Hives
Itching or rash
Nausea and or vomiting
Phlegm, nasal drip or discharge, coughing or clearing of throat
Stomach pain
Sudden diarrhea
Swelling of the lips, throat and tongue
Prolonged reaction to foods can be as follows:
Chronic digestive disorders including IBS symptoms
Chronic headaches
Chronically swollen glands
Constant stuffy nose or nasal drip that you “seem to just have”
Dark circles under eyes
Foggy headed or temporary memory loss especially after eating
Irritability
Lethargic or low energy and fatigue especially after eating
Pain in gallbladder or gallbladder history
Regular use of antibiotics
Reoccurring infections including urinary tract infections, yeast, ear, respiratory, sinus etc
Unexplained skin rashes, acne, dry skin and/or eczema
Weight gain, or inability to loose excess weight
Specific reactions to food items can be as follows:
Asthma: Wheat, eggs.
Cerebral Symptoms: (affecting energy, emotions, and psyche): Milk, soybeans, corn, and wheat.
Childhood Allergies: Milk, wheat, eggs, artificial colors/flavors, peanuts, salicylates, (less common) rye, beef, fish.
Eczema: Eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes.
Hay Fever: Milk, wheat, nuts, chocolate, colas, sulfites
Headaches: Wheat, chocolate
Hives: Strawberries, tomatoes, chocolate, eggs, shellfish, mangos, pork, nuts.
Migraine Headaches: Alcohol, cheese, chocolate, nuts, wheat, citrus fruits, tomatoes, MSG, nitrates, eggs, milk.
There are many other things that can result from food allergies that are not listed, including anaphylactic shock. Anything that you feel isn’t not ‘normal’ is something to be paid attention to and documented. You can see if there is any change in the symptom while you are checking for food interactions. If there is no change you will want to contact a doctor to make sure it is not part of some other problem or more serious health issue.
If you find something you are allergic too you will want to eliminate it from your diet. Foods you find you have a mild reaction to, or something you are ‘sensitive’ to you may find it possible to eat on occasion. Depending on the reaction you may be able to eat it once a week, once a month or once a year. Don’t push it though, it could result in it becoming an allergy, for which it will be something you will not be able to have at all. Once you remove these items you will feel much better, though this is a large part of controlling IBS this doesn’t solve the matter by any means.
What other things affect how I eat?
Controlling what goes into your body is the first step, there are other precautions you will need to cover, unbalanced ph levels have been attributed to IBS symptoms. Sometimes just eating more alkaline foods and less acid foods will be enough to balance your system. Judging whether a food is acid or alkaline isn’t a matter of taste between sweet and sour, it’s a matter or how it reacts with your body as it is digested. Foods like oranges and lemons are actually alkaline, unlike meat and are acid, a good list of acid/alkaline foods and more on how this plays a part can be found in the book “What your Doctor may not tell you about IBS”.
Yeast and Candida can also play a big role in IBS patients, an over production of yeast in the body can give off bouts of internal gas and bloating to painful itching and bleeding when using the toilet. The body needs specific levels of bacteria to digest foods, however an over production of bad bacteria can lead to problems, including Candida. Many have tried a Candida cleanse or treatment to get rid of the problem, unless you stop feeding yourself the yeast causing foods, it will come right back. Foods containing sugars, yeast and fungi all contribute to the growth of Candida, this means or many ruling out breads containing yeast, alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and ciders, corn syrup, sugarcane, dates, molasses, lactose, fruit juice, artificial sweeteners, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables that may have or grow mold including cheese. For more information on how yeast plays a role in IBS see the book “What your Doctor may not tell you about IBS”.
Are there support groups for IBS?
Talking openly about what you are feeling and dealing with can truly help you to take better care of yourself, knowing you are not alone is very comforting. Most support groups for IBS aren't as common as those for say cancer, however they are out there, many have been able to reach each other via website support groups. Some of the following group have been helpful for many and a good place to start:
http://www.ibsgroup.org/
www.supportgroups.com
Also known as spastic or nervous colon, IBS is a group of symptoms, not a 'disease' in itself. With IBS, the normal rhythmic muscular contractions of the digestive tract become irregular and quite uncoordinated. This causes interference with normal movement of food through the digestive tract. As the abnormal digestive tract flows, toxins and waste material get clogged in the intestines and can result in partial obstruction trapping gas and stool resulting in bloating, distention, constipation and pain. IBS can affect part of or the entire digestive tract from mouth through to the colon and anus. Interestingly there are likely- 1. no physical signs of disease, 2. the colon appears to be normal and 3. there are no structural abnormalities. IBS is called a "functional" disorder: The system just doesn't work right. IBS affects 1 in 5 adults in the United States, making it one of the most common ailments diagnosed by doctors. Women are more frequently affected than men. According to US News, only about 10 percent of people with symptoms of IBS go to a doctor for evaluation or treatment. In spite of this, IBS accounts for nearly 3.5 million physician visits in the United States annually, and it is the most common diagnosis by gastroenterologists. Though IBS is a constant problem, flares of IBS are usually set off by ingesting food that the body can’t process correctly. It may be something that the body has formed an allergy to or is too fatty to breakdown. Please note that some symptoms of IBS can show up hours or even days after ingestion of the allergen.
What are symptoms of IBS?
Symptoms of IBS can include one or more of the following;
Abdominal pain
Anorexia
Bloating
Constipation and/or diarrhea (often alternating)
Flatulence and/or gas with or without gas pains
Intolerances to foods
Malnutrition due to lack of nutrient absorption
Mucus in the stools
Pain triggered by eating
Pain triggering headaches, diarrhea, nausea, possible vomiting
Misconceptions about IBS
For most people who have IBS, conventional medicine only masks or temporarily reduces symptoms. To find lasting solutions one has to find out what IBS is and how it affects the body. Dr Richard N Ash narrowed it down to 7 problems or misconceptions about IBS. For many, reading this was a relief - it meant that what they we were feeling wasn’t just in their mind, but was truly reality! Notice some of the important misconceptions as described by Dr Ash:
Problem 1: Most doctors teat the symptoms of IBS, rather than searching for the cause of the problem. IBS is a description of a group of symptoms; it is a label of exclusion, not a diagnosis of a specific disease. IBS is a sign that the digestive system is out of balance. Most doctors dealing with IBS patients first turn to drugs rather than finding out the cause of the digestive problem.
Problem 2: Traditional treatments will actually make IBS worse. When facing a patient with IBS, most doctors reach for a pen and write a prescription for Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, Prilosec or other dugs to inhibit the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This causes a change in the pH levels in the stomach. The change of pH also alters the microbial environment through out the digestive tract, weakening the “good” flora and encouraging the overgrowth of “bad” flora. The patient may feel better for a moment but the digestive problems will only get worse over time.
Problem 3: Medications used by traditional doctors often have unwanted side effects. Popular drugs use to treat IBS often may cause yeast and digestive flora imbalances, which can further stress the digestive system and contribute to immune system suppression.
Problem 4: Most doctors dismiss food allergies and hypersensitivities as irrelevant, although they are a major trigger in many cases of IBS. Most gastroenterologists believe that ones diet does not affect IBS, there is no doubt that it does. While some doctors begrudgingly acknowledge that lactose intolerance can cause digestive problems, they fail to appreciate the significance of other dietary factors as a trigger for IBS.
Problem 5: Most doctors use IBS as a catchall diagnosis when they have done an upper GI series, colonoscopy, and endoscopy and they see inflammation or gastritis but do not know the cause. IBS is not a disease; it is a collection of symptoms indicating that the body is out of harmony. As an approach to treatment, most doctors perform several tests to rule out ulcers, cancer, infections and other common disorders, offering diagnosis by exclusion. Instead, as doctor should work with the patient and perform the necessary diagnostic tests to determine the actual cause of the digestive complaints.
Problem 6: Most doctors are satisfied before their patients are cured. A majority of doctors assume their patients have been well treated when their symptoms subside, even if they later return. The doctor’s goal should be the elimination of the cause or irritation. The doctor’s job is not done until the root cause has been identified and balance has been restored to the patient’s digestive system, not when they feel they are done.
Problem 7: Most doctors fail to recognize the importance of environmental factors in triggering IBS. Psychological and lifestyle factor also contribute to IBS. These issues must be dealt with head-on rather than setting them aside in favor of reliance on medication. A growing body of research indicates that psychological stress triggers IBS in many people, and that many relaxation techniques can be effective in controlling stress and IBS.
Instead of trying to quickly remedy the digestive disorder with medications, the goals should be to 1. identify the root cause(s) 2. fortify or strengthen what is working well and formulate a plan to nourish what is not working well; therefore bringing back to harmony the entire digestive system.
What can I do for my IBS?
Be honest with yourself and your condition. Do your research, take notes, take charge of your body; remembering that what you put into your body truly matters. Do all you can to work through any discouragement and recognize it will take time and sustained effort to get to the results your body requires. Dont be afraid to explore and be creative in searching for potential solutions. Find a good support group and people that are supportive of your health. Know that what you are doing is important, this is not just in your head it is your life and the quality of it that is at stake. Like everyone else, you want the best life possible, don’t settle for less.
As you do your research, take notes! I can’t stress this enough, if you think you will remember all the helpful information you find… you won’t. Though the physical and mental effects of IBS impact you directly, it also affects your entire family and those around you. Your support network needs to know the specific things you can and can not eat in order to help you minimize your pain and suffering.
Take heart though, there is hope. Those dealing with IBS, food allergies and digestive disorders aren’t as uncommon as once thought, people have just been covering it up. Not only are more people coming out and being honest with their digestion but many more companies are providing foods that are free of allergens and restaurants are complying with peoples needs. Many restaurants have ‘gluten free’ menus or can point to items that are allergen free for you to eat, just ask, you may be surprised that your favorite restaurant has options!
Some other suggestions for treatment involve what many doctors call 'alternative therapies'. These treatments to help reduce stress and calm the body have proven beyond a doubt to be helpful to many sufferers. Definitions of these and recommendations to some our favorite types can be found under Alternative Therapies.
Am I allergic to food?
The answer is it is highly possible that there are foods you most likely are sensitive if not allergic to. Food allergies and sensitivities have been known to be a big player with IBS patients. When you discover which items these are and remove them from your diet symptoms drastically improve. First of all you must realize that food sensitivities and having a food allergy is not a choice, you cannot just choose to be “sensitive” or “allergic” to a food, either you are or you are not. Most people have a difficult time grasping that they may be allergic to the things they love to eat. The truth of the matter is, you probably have formed an allergy or sensitivity to certain foods and you need to take measures to control the allergy, if you don’t your symptoms will worsen; therefore your condition will control you. Second the people around you must realize that your food allergy is not something you ‘choose’ to have, if it were a choice, chances are IBS is not something you would ‘choose’ to have.
The most common food sensitivities are to dairy, gluten (wheat, oat, rye, kamut, spelt, barley), eggs, corn, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, tomatoes and strawberries. Common allergic food allergies also include FD&C Yellow No. 5, vanillin, sulfates, benzaldehyde, MSG, BHT/BHA and benzoates. There are many ways to find out your sensitivities and allergies; one is by going directly to a NP or MD that can take a blood test for allergies. This can be expensive but well worth the trip for many. They start with a large list of most common items people tend to react to then specify from there. Results aren’t always conclusive because you have to be eating the allergic item for it to test positive, but it is a solid place to start. The great thing about this form of testing is you find out to what degree you are sensitive to these items, if you can have them on occasion or if you have to cut them out completely. Based upon the results you can remove from your diet the items with a positive result and start feeling better immediately. After that, there on out it will be self-testing by trial and error by way of allergy self-testing.
Allergy self-test is the sure way to firm up food sensitivities and allergies, this requires patience and some time. Though this part can be frustrating and hard hitting, the time and effort you put into this, the better more sure results you will find. Be rest assured that the results you find will better your situation and life will become more enjoyable again. Start by ruling out the things listed above, this means you must read labels, ALL of them, understand what each ingredient means. Ask questions, don’t settle for “I don’t think it’s in there”, find out exactly what things are, the very items that people are allergic too are hidden in words we either don’t question or don’t understand, so research it, find out its origin. Don’t be shy to pick apart even fresh fruits and vegetables, by doing so, we found it wasn’t the ‘tomato’ causing the reaction but it was the spray or ‘wax’ the grocer used on the tomatoes. Many of the wax sprays used to make food looks inviting are made from casein which derives from dairy sources; casein is a common dairy food allergy. When we personally figured that out, it was a matter of finding a veggie wash that we could soak our tomatoes in to remove the wax and thus being able to keep them in our diet. When you get to digging into everything that goes into what you eat only then will you know for sure if it contains a very ingredient you need to rule out.
How do I know if I have a food allergy?
Allergic reactions to food vary from person to person with the reaction being immediate to sometime over several weeks. Each item can produce a different reaction all depending on how your body deals with it during digestion and when it is absorbed into the system. Most reactions will come within 3 – 5 days, though some can take weeks to surface. Allergens once introduced into the body will stay living and active for 2 - 3 months causing a wide range of damage within the body at various stages of absorption. Once it dies, it can take up to a year for these allergens to be completely free of the body; this is why it’s important to note all symptoms and reactions you may be having even if you feel it isn’t related.
Most immediate reactions can be described as follows:
Abdominal pain, bloating or gas
Hives
Itching or rash
Nausea and or vomiting
Phlegm, nasal drip or discharge, coughing or clearing of throat
Stomach pain
Sudden diarrhea
Swelling of the lips, throat and tongue
Prolonged reaction to foods can be as follows:
Chronic digestive disorders including IBS symptoms
Chronic headaches
Chronically swollen glands
Constant stuffy nose or nasal drip that you “seem to just have”
Dark circles under eyes
Foggy headed or temporary memory loss especially after eating
Irritability
Lethargic or low energy and fatigue especially after eating
Pain in gallbladder or gallbladder history
Regular use of antibiotics
Reoccurring infections including urinary tract infections, yeast, ear, respiratory, sinus etc
Unexplained skin rashes, acne, dry skin and/or eczema
Weight gain, or inability to loose excess weight
Specific reactions to food items can be as follows:
Asthma: Wheat, eggs.
Cerebral Symptoms: (affecting energy, emotions, and psyche): Milk, soybeans, corn, and wheat.
Childhood Allergies: Milk, wheat, eggs, artificial colors/flavors, peanuts, salicylates, (less common) rye, beef, fish.
Eczema: Eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes.
Hay Fever: Milk, wheat, nuts, chocolate, colas, sulfites
Headaches: Wheat, chocolate
Hives: Strawberries, tomatoes, chocolate, eggs, shellfish, mangos, pork, nuts.
Migraine Headaches: Alcohol, cheese, chocolate, nuts, wheat, citrus fruits, tomatoes, MSG, nitrates, eggs, milk.
There are many other things that can result from food allergies that are not listed, including anaphylactic shock. Anything that you feel isn’t not ‘normal’ is something to be paid attention to and documented. You can see if there is any change in the symptom while you are checking for food interactions. If there is no change you will want to contact a doctor to make sure it is not part of some other problem or more serious health issue.
If you find something you are allergic too you will want to eliminate it from your diet. Foods you find you have a mild reaction to, or something you are ‘sensitive’ to you may find it possible to eat on occasion. Depending on the reaction you may be able to eat it once a week, once a month or once a year. Don’t push it though, it could result in it becoming an allergy, for which it will be something you will not be able to have at all. Once you remove these items you will feel much better, though this is a large part of controlling IBS this doesn’t solve the matter by any means.
What other things affect how I eat?
Controlling what goes into your body is the first step, there are other precautions you will need to cover, unbalanced ph levels have been attributed to IBS symptoms. Sometimes just eating more alkaline foods and less acid foods will be enough to balance your system. Judging whether a food is acid or alkaline isn’t a matter of taste between sweet and sour, it’s a matter or how it reacts with your body as it is digested. Foods like oranges and lemons are actually alkaline, unlike meat and are acid, a good list of acid/alkaline foods and more on how this plays a part can be found in the book “What your Doctor may not tell you about IBS”.
Yeast and Candida can also play a big role in IBS patients, an over production of yeast in the body can give off bouts of internal gas and bloating to painful itching and bleeding when using the toilet. The body needs specific levels of bacteria to digest foods, however an over production of bad bacteria can lead to problems, including Candida. Many have tried a Candida cleanse or treatment to get rid of the problem, unless you stop feeding yourself the yeast causing foods, it will come right back. Foods containing sugars, yeast and fungi all contribute to the growth of Candida, this means or many ruling out breads containing yeast, alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and ciders, corn syrup, sugarcane, dates, molasses, lactose, fruit juice, artificial sweeteners, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables that may have or grow mold including cheese. For more information on how yeast plays a role in IBS see the book “What your Doctor may not tell you about IBS”.
Are there support groups for IBS?
Talking openly about what you are feeling and dealing with can truly help you to take better care of yourself, knowing you are not alone is very comforting. Most support groups for IBS aren't as common as those for say cancer, however they are out there, many have been able to reach each other via website support groups. Some of the following group have been helpful for many and a good place to start:
http://www.ibsgroup.org/
www.supportgroups.com
