Hey folks,
It appears that starting this February I've developed ibs that's consistent with the FODMAP list of good and bad foods. I didn't have it before. For instance I used to eat broccoli all the time but now I can't - of course I had to put that to the test and find out the hard way. :( Same with onions and garlic.
Ok I found this link...https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/is-ibs-an-autoimmune-disorder/ (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/is-ibs-an-autoimmune-disorder/) and maybe its not ibs but ibd or crohn's, all I know is there are several foods I used to be able to eat that cause trouble for me now.
Has this happened to others?
I am in the process of finding out what is wrong with my stomach. I have the diarrhea, cramping, take loperamide it stops for about 2 or 3 days then makes its cycle again.
susanep
Awhile ago I developed an extended period of intestinal problems, Diarrhea, awful flatulance, etc.
At first I thought I had picked up a intestinal bug. But, it continued to point where I could barely leave the home.
Colonoscopy came back clean, and Dr instruceted a 3-prong protocol. 1. increase water, 2. fiber powder (he explained it works for constipation as well as diarrhea and an Rx for Dicyclomine. In my situation fortunately the Dicyclomine acts quickly. And I could go further away from home. I carry some with me (and at times a change of clothes, seriously).
I believe stress is a trigger for this, as well as some foods, additives I was already avoiding.
IBS symptoms are stressful and a vicious cycle can begin. Stress trigger ---> symptom stress ---> stress trigger, etc. And then from my experience ---> full blown SJS flare.
Since I had done the cleanse for the colonoscopy I thought to increase probiotics, etc., but, really it was the dicyclomine which unchained me from the home.
With the relentless diarrhea I saw myself dehydrating.. so as with my children when they were small, I drank pedialyte type drink to address electrolytes (Gatorade or there are recipes on the net to make it yourself.)
I was tested for Crohn's Disease and Celiac Disease and test was negative.
I do want to have digestive enzymes tested.
A Dr. exam will hopefully help.
@susanep - Is there a particular food or food group that triggers this?
@quietdyn - Sounds rough, I'm glad you've had some improvement. I've been scoped but they didn't find anything. My celiac test came back negative. My diet is generally healthy and up until about 3 months ago I've been able to eat pretty much any foods with no restrictions.
It seems likely that this gastric issue is part of the host of autoimmune disorders I've been diagnosed with but what's puzzling and frustrating for me is that it came on so suddenly. One month I can eat broccoli, pears, apples the next I can't without digestive repercussions. I thought it might be some passing issue but it's been going on for several weeks now.
I shouldn't complain, you both have it worse than I do. I just wonder where its going to end? Lupus/SLE + Sjogrens + Raynauds + Sound/light sensitivity...And now add IBD to that growing list. ???
Dear Ignatz:
All of our organs/system can be at the mercy of our Immune Disorders. And our disorders attack new areas Sometimes after years of a consistent set of attacks, a new condition arises.
QD I had NO IDEA of your suffering.. You wear it well..and 'you don't look sick'.
I am beginning to realize that my gas and intestinal distress after eating (but not ALWAYS) and my 'quasi' diarrhea, isn't a passing phase, but the intermittent start of a new one.
I've been referred to a UNC assistant professor gastroenterologist for my swallowing disorder, and perhaps she will be able to address what seems to be starting further 'down' in the system. I expected to hear from her office for an appointment, but I may need to follow up on my own.
I am just recovering from a steroid taper that was too drastic, and I have that "I just cannot deal with one more thing' feeling right now.
But it will pass because: 1. I name what is happening 2. I seek gratitude and acceptance 3. I take action for my health 4. I practice meditation and relaxation 5. I find healing touch and hugs from the people and the animals in my life.
Some times I do have to ask: Which way is up?????
Then I try the methods listed above.
Regards, Elaine
Thanks for the wise advice Elaine. Yes, I need to accept this as the new reality and learn to manage ibs just as I've been managing my other symptoms. I've already become much better at identifying my 'trigger' foods. Why just this morning I had to add another one (et tu pomegranate? :( ).
Good luck with your gastro appt. Hopefully it's something that can be treated and/or cured and not part of your auto-immune issues.
-Ig
Hello Ignatz, yes I have was diagnoses with IBS by my first gastro doc. I didn't like him very much, very poor bedside manner, but now years later I'm sure he was right.
If I were not taking Nexium and Evoxac every day my system would be far worse than it currently is. I had multiple foods that I could not eat, lost a great deal of weight (down to 99 lbs) and had low vitamin levels (I'm sure to absorption issues).
I really fought against taking meds, but after years of suffering and worsening symptoms I gave in, it was the right decision for me because: (1) I can eat many more foods, (2) my vitamin levels are normal, (3) I look and feel much better.
Hope you can find a system that works for you.
Hi SjoGirl, I didn't think about the absorption issues, between that and the loss of appetite I can see that things might snowball into bigger problems if I don't some sort of treatment. I'll make an appt with my GP.
I've been taking omeprazole, I don't have a problem with saliva so Evoxac isn't necessary, is there anything else you take that has helped?
thanks!
I stopped eating wheat, soy, corn, walnuts at the suggestion of an alternative nutritionist and also stopped eating diary (FYI diary can actually cause GERD and definitely fuels IBS for me). I have added back corn and walnuts on a limited basis and occasionally cheat on wheat and soy, but not that often. Coffee, chocolate and other items can also exacerbate my IBS.
We are each different so it's worth experimenting with eliminating a food for a while then reintroducing it to see how it affects you. You need to try this more than once though because we eat foods in combinations and can have other issues that cause IBS, e.g., stress, so only trying once isn't necessarily decisive.
Good luck!
My son keeps on to me all the time saying that all my symptoms would go away if I would just drink a glass of Metamucil each night before I go to bed. If that did the trick I would do it, but when I looked it up it's for constipation. .
He said he had the symptoms I do, and someone told him to do that so he finally did, and it took away all his symptoms. He said After staying on it for 3 years then he stopped and never had to take it again, but was ok. He said he does eat some yogurt each day now though.
susanep
Sharon, the Gastroenterologist instructed me to follow a 3-prong protocol which included Metamucil or other fiber powder.
These fiber powders main ingedient is " psyllium husks can help lower cholesterol. Psyllium can help relieve both constipation and diarrhea, and is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems." The other two protocol components were to increase water and a medication.
Over time I came to see that for me the gastro symptoms came pre- a full blown, higher tiered, knock down flare.
Later with a re-evalualtion and the addition of methotrexate + plaquinel, I now rarely have gastro issues.
So I connect the dots as to how and where SJS inflammation has been affecting, damaging my body.
I now eat the occassional old fashion generic store brand fig newton type product.
I have done a Mediterranean style diet since I was in my teens.
Ditto what quietdyamics said, Metamucil works to deal with constipation or diarrhea. I was shocked when I learned that but that info came from my gatro doc.
So I guess my son was right then. Is it ok for a sjoggie to take the metamucil by pill ? It's hard for me to drink something down quickly.
susanep
ignatz FYI I have also found fewer issues with diarrhrea on days when I take calcium and Vit D tablet. I'm not sure which one is having the effect, I just know that there is one.
Dearest Sjogren's Angels,
ACK! It's back (the gas, rumbling, diarrhea which is acidic and painful).
I was always so happy I didn't have the gastrointestinal 'things' that so many of those with an Immune Deficiency in IgA are prone to suffer. Well, I still don't have a deficiency in IgA, but now I have what appears to be IBS.
I can't even begin to imagine what foods are involved? I haven't 'intuited' any food causes since everything I eat seems to results in an internal grumbling and rumbling. I guess I'll try the Metamucil approach to start with.
You know, so often I hear that my problems are related to my advanced age, 75. But really, that is hard to accept. I guess no one thinks he/she is 'old'.
I have had an 'absorption' problem for the last 10 years (think iron, copper, B vitamins, but NEVER calories). This was before the gastro-intestinal misery I currently suffer.
I have a FB post that says: "Lord Give Me Patience, Because If You Give Me Strength, I'm Gonna Need Bail Money!"
Yep, looking for Patience here.
Hugs, Elaine
I am so sorry, because one ask me if I have a particular food that irritates my stomach, and I am not aware of any particular one.
Elaine, sorry to hear you are having this issue now.
susanep
Three gastroenterologist and one endocrinologist from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are doing an AMA (ask me anything) on reddit at 1:00 ET today. They'll be responding to questions about gut microbiome relating to IBS, obesity and other topics. Should be interesting. Maybe you will find some good information there. Here's a link where people are already asking questions (responders return at 1:00 to start answering).
https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/6g845d/science_ama_series_hi_reddit_were_dr_mark/
The AMA sounds interesting I'll check it out. What a great idea, I hope they have a panel of Rheumys for the next AMA.
My stomach's food sensitivities have diminished on their own somehow. Sorry to raise the alarm but generally when I get a new auto-immune type symptom it sticks around (unfortunately). It started back in Feb when I was really miserable so perhaps it was part of a flare. I doubt it's gone entirely but I've been able to eat small amounts of the food that used to cause trouble like onions and asparagus.
Whatever is it I'll take it! I needed something to go right.
Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm going to start taking metamucil to see if I can improve even further.
Glad you're feeling better now. IBS was the first thing I developed about 25 years ago. Severe GERD and initially IBS-D, later and for many years, IBS-C. Have taken Prilosec for 25 years. I later developed hashimotos, IC/PBS and SJS and was and still am convinced they're all related and start along the lines of leaky gut syndrome.
I have bloating every day of my life, avoided pretty much all veggies but especially those high in fodmaps (broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, onions (make me really sick), I do eat fruit, though it doesn't like me).
I think fiber supplements are the worse thing ever and I avoid them at all costs as they make me much worse.
Anyways, wanted to mention I started collagen supplements and both my IBS, GERD, and IC/PBS are 90% better, I think because its healing my gut. I started a thread on this today. Something to keep in mind though if this comes back to haunt you.
My doctor said try Atrantil so I ordered some, though it's quite expensive and I'm skeptical. Has anyone used it?
I was diagnosed with SIBO a couple of months ago although I've had it for a really long time - a lifelong problem with gas but now I'm belching all day as I can feel the problem moving up higher in my gut. I thought passing gas all day was bad but not being able to pass it is worse. Two rounds of antibiotics costing $600 didn't help. FODMAPS diet seems to help somewhat but not entirely.
When you have four to five day transit time and pain in the middle of your gut, how do you ever figure out on which day you ate the offending food - today? yesterday? the day before yesterday? - let alone which meal. Meanwhile, there are multiple versions of the FODMAP list floating around that differ from each other. So just trying to pin down which foods are the problem is very challenging. To do an elimination diet I think I'd have to wait four days after trying each new food. I'm trying to work up the resolve for that.
Quote from: deniselb on June 10, 2017, 03:04:56 PM
My doctor said try Atrantil so I ordered some, though it's quite expensive and I'm skeptical. Has anyone used it?
Thanks for mentioning this. I haven't tried it but am going to order it in the hopes it helps my afternoon/evening bloating. It is pretty pricey I agree but may be worth it if it works as well as most reviewers say it does.
So five days later. I began the FODMAP avoidance food plan, added metamucil once a day...and WOW
things have calmed down.
I'm still having some distress, but nothing like it was.
I am in a FLARE state: Pain (ache all over), profound fatigue, and depression.
Tomorrow I have my IVIG, so will wait to find out how that hits me 48 hours later.
Here is the link to FODMAP food and how to avoid them:
http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/
I see a GI specialist next week, not for this problem, but I think this takes precedence. Of course seeing a new doctor is so hard, since getting 'up to speed on my conditions' takes a huge effort on everyone's part.
I'm also taking the probiotic out of my medicine boxes, AND my Magnesium supplement which is evidently problematic.
Eating some puffed rice crackers....
Regards, Elaine
My IBS symptoms seem to go away when I drink a bitter drink such as neem powder mixed with some type of fruit juice. I mixed neem and moringa powder and in water or juice and just jug it down. I go to the bathroom more and have less gas. This may be because neem and moringa have anti-bacterial properties. Things like psyllium husks and bentonyte clay simply clog me up. If you can handle the bitterness, give it a try and see how you feel.