Irritable Bowel Syndrome Support Group

I am 60 years old and have been suffering with IBS for about 25 years. I tried for so long to figure out what was setting off my bouts of painfull diarhea with out much luck. I knew that stress played a big part in it but it was hard to narrow down the food part. For years I could not go out for meals because I would never be able to get home in time before the diarhea hit.

I am about 75 lbs. over weight and I started the South Beach diet about a month and a half ago and I am so excited that so far I have lost 17 lbs. ( long way to go), but I am patient. Anyway, I have cut out refined sugar, and have cut down on fats and carbs. and the affect on my IBS has been miraculous! I switched to whole wheat Pasta, and I try to make choices that have a lot of fiber. Leafy greens, and lean meat have replaced my burgers and fries. Also started drinking 4 to 6 large glasses of water a day where before , I was lucky to get one glass a day down.

I used to go thru periods where I was constipated for days and then the diarhea would hit for days. it was so unmanageable. Now, TG, I go every morning like clock work. Just normal, no rushing to the toilet and barely making it.

I dont know whether it was the sugar, fats or just all the junk food(chips, candy) or what but if my IBS is held at bay, I'm sticking to this diet. Anybody else had luck with a South beach type diet?

'm doing Adkins, which is probably a bit stricter at first than South Beacj, but the later phases are about the same as your diet. Yes, it makes a huge difference! I think losing weight and not having so much food passing through helps. Not sure either if it is the sugar or what.

Glad you did so well with this.

I've decided I'm sick of being sick and will stay on this way of eating the rest of my life. I feel so much better.

hugs, violett

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Yes, I feel the same way. I will stick to this diet because it seems to really be benefiting me weight wise and with the IBS.

When I first started with the IBS symtoms, I really convinced myself that something horrible must be wrong and saw the doctor. Because IBS can mimic some really bad illnesses, he sent me for a colonoscopy and removed some polyps that could have turned malignant so its good that I had that done. But it wasnt the cause of all the diarhea and he diagnosed me with IBS. I tried some medications that i cant even remember what and none worked. So, when this diet made symptoms disappear I was estatic! Hope it continues!

I hope it continues for you too. It's so easy to slip back into old habits and I'm afraid if I do the old symptoms will return. That is (hopefully) enough motivation to keep me eating right. We will have to be on guard always, but it is worth it to feel so much better!

hugs, violett

So true...

I need some help managing my diet and it sounds like I wouldn't be able to do a "meat" based diet at all, I wonder if anyone else has similar triggers? For me it's a list of certain food items I eat and they will bind me up for DAYS if I even just have a little: red meat, caffiene, alcohol, dairy, chocolate and fried foods. I don't get runs just the Bloating, binding up and severe abdominal pain if I eat just a little of these things. I've been considering cutting out sugar but not sure how, I have a bad sweet tooth and all the fun stuff has been taken out of my diet. I started brewing kombucha tea and that works really well. I need a good plant based diet and advise on how to stick to it because I do NOT want to go back on meds. I was taking dicyclamine before I got pregnant w my second and I heard it can dry you up when you are nursing. I really don't want to give it to my daughter if possible.

Im sorry I cant help with a plant based diet but maybe someone else will be able to. I have been on a low fat, no added sugar diet for about 2 months and have lost 25 lbs. so far. My IBS was mostly always diarhea but I did have bouts of constipation too. I cut out all fatty meals, carefully watch added sugar and salt, and eat lots of fresh veggies and salads and my IBS has been almost nonexistent. I dont eat red meat often, maybe once every couple of weeks, i will have alean burger or small steak. I eat mostly fish and skinless chicken breasts. I try to make sure there is lots of fiber in everything I eat to, like I switched to whole grains instead of white.I dont really miss the cake and candy anymore.. It seems like as soon as I cut out all the sugar, ive made a miraculous recovery. Well good luck! Hugs

I never have done a vegetarian diet, but looked it up for you. Here's what Mayo Clinic has to say about it. They give the types of foods to eat to be sure you get adequate nutrition.

hugs, violett

I guess what I'm looking for is tips on how to stick to a diet. I have little willpower and wanted to know what you all did to avoid certain foods, act well under different situations (how would I eat at a BBQ without drawing attention to myself?) also I have no idea how to just cut out sugar

Post edited by: Lemonfresh, at: 06/27/2011 05:00 PM

I try to find foods that are low-calorie that I can snack on between meals. I also make a lot of desserts with Splenda, though some people don't think artificial sweeteners are good for you. My Dietician says it is OK for me so I use it often.