Help with IBS

Posted by clkurth @clkurth, Dec 7, 2023

My daughter has severe IBS. Intermittent diarrhea and occasional vomiting and stomach cramps. She has been medically evaluated and prescribed an antispasmodic, but this does not seem very helpful. She also has chronic Gerd. Would appreciate any feedback on treatments that might be helpful. She is desperate!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Has your GI doc done testing for H Pylori, SIBO, celiacs or a rare but one to consider, CSID? Unfortunately (or fortunately) many of us with IBS have some significant issues with food intolerances vs actual structural issues. If you can work with a dietician to strip down her diet and then add items back in, while keeping close records of symptoms, that would be my advice. Best of luck and remember you have to be your (her) own advocate!

REPLY
@seabright2001

I feel like my IBS is under control. I’m following the FODMAP diet, taking the probiotics found in Kefir, Chobani yogurt, and taking 25 mg of Nortriptyline daily. If needed, on occasion, I also take Imodium.

Jump to this post

Does the dairy part of the yogurt affect you in any way? I gave up yogurt because of that.

REPLY

I have had IBS for a few years and I have tried everything. The main items that I found to be triggers are: dairy (lactose intolerance), saturated fats (meat, especially oils including olive oil, sugar and gluten. I tried Fodmap and it never worked. I am back to normal if I stay away from the above triggers!! Don’t forget to take a probiotic! 😊

REPLY
@nazleer

Does the dairy part of the yogurt affect you in any way? I gave up yogurt because of that.

Jump to this post

I find I can tolerate aged cheeses, kefir which says lactose intolerant friendly on the bottle and Chobani Greek yogurt. I’ve read that when they strain Greek yogurt, a lot of the whey (lactose) is removed.

REPLY

I suffered from increasingly severe IBS for 5 years until I was diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome for a tick bite and then Histamine Intolerance. You can receive a tick bite and never know it. They don't have to attach and engorge and ticks submit a substance that anesthetizes the site so that you don't feel the bite. AGS is not a health issue that is typically suspected by Drs. However the testing is a simple blood test. Once diagnosed and after eliminating all mammal foods and as many by-products as possible all IBS symptoms stopped in two weeks. From the CDC: "The main diagnostic test for AGS is a blood test looking for immunoglobulin-E antibodies specific to alpha-gal (alpha-gal sIgE).
Tests for alpha-gal sIgE antibodies are available at several large commercial laboratories and may be available at certain academic institutions.
LOINC Code: 73837-7 Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (Alpha-Gal) IgE Ab [Units/volume] in Serum."

REPLY

@palladio1500
I think it’s the first time I see Alpha-Gal Syndrome mentioned here.
My daughter has AGS- manifesting in beef allergy, including the smell of beef cooking.
Very frustrating.

REPLY
@astaingegerdm

@palladio1500
I think it’s the first time I see Alpha-Gal Syndrome mentioned here.
My daughter has AGS- manifesting in beef allergy, including the smell of beef cooking.
Very frustrating.

Jump to this post

It is very frustrating and it is way beyond just beef. There are mammal-sourced ingredients in so many products that you have to read the labels for everything and often check with the manufacturer to determine if ingredients such as glycerin, gelatin, magnesium stearate, etc are mammal-sourced or plant-sourced. Only organic sugar and some lot numbers from Domino Sugar are "safe". Others are filtered through bone char. Bottled water can be filtered through bone char. Many processed foods use whey (dairy) even when they claim dairy-free. It goes on and on. I thought this was bad enough but for many of us, this morphs into Histamine Intolerance which is another level altogether. You are probably aware but there are some good AGS support groups on FB and Alpha-Gal Info. org is an excellent reseource.

REPLY
@pamelamorey

I have had IBS for a few years and I have tried everything. The main items that I found to be triggers are: dairy (lactose intolerance), saturated fats (meat, especially oils including olive oil, sugar and gluten. I tried Fodmap and it never worked. I am back to normal if I stay away from the above triggers!! Don’t forget to take a probiotic! 😊

Jump to this post

Dairy is a big trigger for histamine intolerance which is beyond lactose intolerance. Olives, sugar and gluten are also high histamine foods as well as anything that is fermented, pickled, and foods with vinegar. Tomatoes, avocados, bananas, citrus as well as black and green tea are high histamine foods. This can be misdiagnosed as only IBS. Some strains of probiotics are helpful but others are harmful. Look for Low Histamine Probiotics.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.