How do you manage daily life with IBS-D?

Posted by pjss48 @pjss48, Dec 11, 2018

I have IBS with diarrhea. I'm taking med for it. Had several bowel movements already today. How do you get things done in house and go out on errands and going to Dr appointments? Driving me crazy!

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Thank you. Lentils & beans gave me gas, but I will give them another try. Ideas to minimize the gas? How much daily?

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Profile picture for jab2972 @jab2972

Hello from Canada. I suffered from IBS-D for at least 30 years. I had colonoscopies every year to no avail. My GI Specialist said anxiety and depression have contributed to IBS-D. Last year I was diagnosed with diabetes type II and was forced to change my diet quiet drastically. I switched to initially a plant based diet and eventually some chicken, fish etc. I eat loads of lentils from various multiculticural diets like brown lentils etc. and it seems to have slow down the frequent bowel movements and no more diarrhea at all. I spoke with my GI Specialist in Canada recently. He said he was so proud of my no longer suffering from IBS-D and that the lentils and slow release of various types of slow fiber in my diet seems to work for me. I still have several bowel movements daily but absolutely no diarrhea. Thank God it's finally over. No more Immodium and no more diapers.

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I found brown lentils, ie. French brown lentils, green lentils no gas whatsoever. Beano used to be available in Canadian drug stores or health food stores. Red Lentils slowed down diarrhea but as stated, the brown lentils, even Indian brown lentils available to Canadians works for me. My G.I. Specialist was proud of me. I told him I also observed that Sucralose aggravates IBS-D. My GI specialist says yes, it messes up the GI tract; do not use it at all. Also I purchased from Whole Foods in Canada "Natural Factors" Acidophilus and Bifidus 90 Capsules 5 billion Active Cells., it restores intestinal balance, it helps with my nausea. It is a live bacteria that must be refrigerated. Perhaps you can find it in the USA, made by a local company there. I suffered from severe nausea and, on occasion, with IBS-D

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Profile picture for wdywms @wdywms

Thank you. Lentils & beans gave me gas, but I will give them another try. Ideas to minimize the gas? How much daily?

Jump to this post

Hello from Canada. In response to how much lentils. I would make a Middle Eastern Dish with lentils and basmati Rice. I found this recipe from a Persian Lady in Seattle WA., not far from the Canadian border, called "Unicorns in the Kitchen". She has many recipes from the Middle East using lentils, chickpeas, pulses so I find my food is not bland at all. I recommend making lentil stews vegetarian or with some meat and brown rice or basmati. A lentil rice Dish is called Mujadara is my favourite and I serve chicken with it. Some recipes use bulgar wheat in their recipes. If I use bulgar which I hate, I prefer to use "Turkish Golden Bulgar Wheat" which is absolutely delicious and doesn't have that grainy taste when cooked. I also make my own falafel. Really expand your horizons when you, like me, have suffered years and years of IBS-D. I am a black senior woman, and I was forced to completely change my diet and try other recipes due to diabetes and IBS-D. The lentils don't bother my stomach at all, just the bowel movements are quite full and not as frequent. As soon as I want to go back to the old way of eating, the bowels start acting up, and loose stools and nausea come back, but no diarrhea.

REPLY
Profile picture for jab2972 @jab2972

Hello from Canada. I suffered from IBS-D for at least 30 years. I had colonoscopies every year to no avail. My GI Specialist said anxiety and depression have contributed to IBS-D. Last year I was diagnosed with diabetes type II and was forced to change my diet quiet drastically. I switched to initially a plant based diet and eventually some chicken, fish etc. I eat loads of lentils from various multiculticural diets like brown lentils etc. and it seems to have slow down the frequent bowel movements and no more diarrhea at all. I spoke with my GI Specialist in Canada recently. He said he was so proud of my no longer suffering from IBS-D and that the lentils and slow release of various types of slow fiber in my diet seems to work for me. I still have several bowel movements daily but absolutely no diarrhea. Thank God it's finally over. No more Immodium and no more diapers.

Jump to this post

It sounds like a good Mediterranean food plan! My GI claims it Bile Acid Malapsorption because I have no galbladder. And bascially threw a presrciption for drugs for it to "test". Bottle still sitting there and i will not engage with it. lol Have researched about potentially ASID Acquired Sucrose Isomaltase Deficiency were you don't produce the sucrose digesting enyme which then any sugar and some carbs will not digest and give you pretty much what IBS-d is all about...diarrhea! Waiting for my breath test to arrive and will find out for sure. But been paying real close attention to my sugar consumption and too much will definitely give me major issues. I am making preparations in my kitchen to begin a Mediterranean food plan with all recipes and calories for about 1600 calories. I need to lose weight and struggle with that as well but with no gallbladder I am supposed to reduce my fat consumption to less than 50 grams per day as well. So will need to make adjustments to the recipes.

So your comments/story gives me hope that this "shit" lol will go away with diet alone!!!! Drugs never deal with the root cause of our problems. And so many people i've read about the bile sequeserants (colistipol) seem to not work after awhile and often have other icky side effects. (aka the bandaid has failed and it's time to change the dressing). lol

REPLY
Profile picture for dlb123 @dlb123

It sounds like a good Mediterranean food plan! My GI claims it Bile Acid Malapsorption because I have no galbladder. And bascially threw a presrciption for drugs for it to "test". Bottle still sitting there and i will not engage with it. lol Have researched about potentially ASID Acquired Sucrose Isomaltase Deficiency were you don't produce the sucrose digesting enyme which then any sugar and some carbs will not digest and give you pretty much what IBS-d is all about...diarrhea! Waiting for my breath test to arrive and will find out for sure. But been paying real close attention to my sugar consumption and too much will definitely give me major issues. I am making preparations in my kitchen to begin a Mediterranean food plan with all recipes and calories for about 1600 calories. I need to lose weight and struggle with that as well but with no gallbladder I am supposed to reduce my fat consumption to less than 50 grams per day as well. So will need to make adjustments to the recipes.

So your comments/story gives me hope that this "shit" lol will go away with diet alone!!!! Drugs never deal with the root cause of our problems. And so many people i've read about the bile sequeserants (colistipol) seem to not work after awhile and often have other icky side effects. (aka the bandaid has failed and it's time to change the dressing). lol

Jump to this post

Good evening from Canada! Yes, I happened upon the Mediterranean diet by sheer accident with no guidance from Specialists in Canada. Yep, we have free healthcare, but unfortunately, not enough dieticians to go around. I believe you are correct in saying sugar is ultimately the culprit. There were no medications offered to me years ago.

I have lost weight by using this diet plan, and as mentioned earlier, when I want to splurge, I have found it's just not worth going back to nausea, frequent bowel movements, and misery or diarrhea. It's just not worth it. I have lost weight on the Mediterranean diet; however, at times I crave other ethnic foods in my meal repertoire, I just have to watch fat content, sodium, and sugar with Type 2 diabetes. It's hard! Thank you for sharing your personal experience. Cheers from Canada!!

REPLY
Profile picture for jab2972 @jab2972

I found brown lentils, ie. French brown lentils, green lentils no gas whatsoever. Beano used to be available in Canadian drug stores or health food stores. Red Lentils slowed down diarrhea but as stated, the brown lentils, even Indian brown lentils available to Canadians works for me. My G.I. Specialist was proud of me. I told him I also observed that Sucralose aggravates IBS-D. My GI specialist says yes, it messes up the GI tract; do not use it at all. Also I purchased from Whole Foods in Canada "Natural Factors" Acidophilus and Bifidus 90 Capsules 5 billion Active Cells., it restores intestinal balance, it helps with my nausea. It is a live bacteria that must be refrigerated. Perhaps you can find it in the USA, made by a local company there. I suffered from severe nausea and, on occasion, with IBS-D

Jump to this post

@jab2972 and @wdywms Beano is available in all grocery and drug stores as well as Walmart in the pharmacy section. Ask sales associate if you cannot find it. Costco Canada used to carry it, but don’t any more for some reason.

Food Basics grocery stores have the best price for the 60 caplets.

REPLY
Profile picture for jab2972 @jab2972

Good evening from Canada! Yes, I happened upon the Mediterranean diet by sheer accident with no guidance from Specialists in Canada. Yep, we have free healthcare, but unfortunately, not enough dieticians to go around. I believe you are correct in saying sugar is ultimately the culprit. There were no medications offered to me years ago.

I have lost weight by using this diet plan, and as mentioned earlier, when I want to splurge, I have found it's just not worth going back to nausea, frequent bowel movements, and misery or diarrhea. It's just not worth it. I have lost weight on the Mediterranean diet; however, at times I crave other ethnic foods in my meal repertoire, I just have to watch fat content, sodium, and sugar with Type 2 diabetes. It's hard! Thank you for sharing your personal experience. Cheers from Canada!!

Jump to this post

Approximately how many fat grams are you doing each day? Do you still have your gallbladder? Mine is missing so I think that adds another layer onto this journey of what the problems are. ugh. Have you worked with a dietician? If so did you find it very helpful? Or did you just really do it all on your own?

REPLY
Profile picture for dlb123 @dlb123

Approximately how many fat grams are you doing each day? Do you still have your gallbladder? Mine is missing so I think that adds another layer onto this journey of what the problems are. ugh. Have you worked with a dietician? If so did you find it very helpful? Or did you just really do it all on your own?

Jump to this post

Good evening from the Western Coast of Canada. I don't check my fat grams, unfortunately. Yes, I still have my gallbladder. Years ago, I had a dietician when I was initially diagnosed with IBS-D; however, we have a shortage of dieticians here where I live, so the wait time to see one right now is probably months. I am doing it on my own because our healthcare system is backlogged with the explosion of our population since the COVID days. Wishing you success on your journey to a healthier you!

REPLY
Profile picture for jab2972 @jab2972

Hello from Canada. In response to how much lentils. I would make a Middle Eastern Dish with lentils and basmati Rice. I found this recipe from a Persian Lady in Seattle WA., not far from the Canadian border, called "Unicorns in the Kitchen". She has many recipes from the Middle East using lentils, chickpeas, pulses so I find my food is not bland at all. I recommend making lentil stews vegetarian or with some meat and brown rice or basmati. A lentil rice Dish is called Mujadara is my favourite and I serve chicken with it. Some recipes use bulgar wheat in their recipes. If I use bulgar which I hate, I prefer to use "Turkish Golden Bulgar Wheat" which is absolutely delicious and doesn't have that grainy taste when cooked. I also make my own falafel. Really expand your horizons when you, like me, have suffered years and years of IBS-D. I am a black senior woman, and I was forced to completely change my diet and try other recipes due to diabetes and IBS-D. The lentils don't bother my stomach at all, just the bowel movements are quite full and not as frequent. As soon as I want to go back to the old way of eating, the bowels start acting up, and loose stools and nausea come back, but no diarrhea.

Jump to this post

I have had IBS-D for over 40 years and for me any beans are the worse thing I can eat. I have also been gluten free for 14 years and that has helped a lot. I am going to be 84 next month and I have just discovered that if I take a Beano before any meal I am not running to the bathroom. In fact it has made me a little constipated. I used to take one before a meal heavy in fiber but now I take it before anything I eat. IBS effects everyone differently you just have to see what works for you.

REPLY
Profile picture for gussie @gussie

I have had IBS-D for over 40 years and for me any beans are the worse thing I can eat. I have also been gluten free for 14 years and that has helped a lot. I am going to be 84 next month and I have just discovered that if I take a Beano before any meal I am not running to the bathroom. In fact it has made me a little constipated. I used to take one before a meal heavy in fiber but now I take it before anything I eat. IBS effects everyone differently you just have to see what works for you.

Jump to this post

Good morning from Western Canada Gussie, in response to your comment, nope, beans don't seem to bother me at all. I make lots of Middle Eastern bean dips, which have more flavour than our Western diet. I have to keep up my fiber because of diabetes as well,l and hardly any medication to manage diabetes. I had severe reactions to Metformin, Ozempic, and anything along those lines so those meds were discontinued. A high fiber diet seems to help manage my weight, as well as cut out diarrhea totally now. I don't suffer from nausea anymore after 30-something years of diarrhea, nausea, diapers, and Immodium. It was quite the expense. Thanks for your input. Stay safe down there!!

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