IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and weight

I was diagnosed with IBS several years ago, though I am sure that I had it long before I was officially diagnosed. Since I've been on PT and losing weight, I have hardly suffered from IBS. The worst attack that i suffered, by far, was on the day after I completely lost control and ate like I used to.

Does anyone else out there have IBS? Have you noticed a connection between overeating and bad attacks? Has the nature of your IBS changed since you've lost / started losing weight?

TIA.

Sat. Apr 22, 2:45am

I also have IBS.
My overating and attacks do seem to coincide, only in a rather odd way. When I have IBS attacks, I tend to overeat. Go figure.
I haven't lost a significant amount of weight, but I find that when I exercise, my IBS is less of a problem. My biggest issue is getting the energy when I have an attack. I get so lethargic. Do you have similar problems?

Sunday, April 23, 2006, 3:01 AM

I don't have IBS but I do have IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) and I do notice that when I over eat on certain foods that I get attacks. Eating healthy has helped a bit but I am still in the process of finding what foods really trigger my attacks.

Sunday, April 23, 2006, 5:46 AM

Overeating can definitely trigger an attack - as can anything that stimulates your GI tract. The severity and frequency of this will certainly depend on the individual. My mother has this condition and every medical professional she has come into contact with has receommended frequent, small meals to help avoid triggering attacks brought on by forcing your GI tract to deal with a large amount of food at once.

I have watched my mother struggle with GERD, Barret's Esophagus, gall bladder problems and IBS. She has had multiple sugeries and has dropped a frightening amount of weight in a way that is more worrisome than healthy :-(

Since she is not terribly internet -savy I have done quite a bit of research for her. I found quite a few decent sites, but one in particular really stuck out. It is a site run by a woman who has had this condition for 20 years and has learned to control it with diet and lifestyle. She has written a book (and has corraborated her findings with medical research) that she does sell, but the site itself contains a ton of good, free information. Her tips on eating as well as her personal story are full of information on the GI tract and why certain food types affect those with IBS worse than others. Her perspective on this condition after having lived with it for so long and having met so many others is really refreshing and she comes across as a very positive and practical individual.

Ok - I didn't mean to sound like spam there, but reading her site was immensely helpful to me in understanding this condition. I highly recommend it to anyone who has this condition or loves someone who does.

Link

Sunday, April 23, 2006, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the link. In spite of numerous searches on the web, I've never seen this site - lots of very interesting information on it. I don't think *everything* she writes applies to me; there is still the variability of the human body that one must take into account. However, I will definitely attempt to make some changes based on the information in the site. Thanks a lot.

Sunday, April 23, 2006, 4:07 PM

I have to second looking at Heather's IBS site -- she's helped me a lot, although I don't purchase her stuff. I have her book and the principles are smart and helpful. In a nutshell: there is soluble fiber (think white rice, bread, applesauce) and insoluble fiber (think raw veggies, whole grains). The insoluble may be "healthy", but is hard on your intestines, so start meals with a little soluble fiber to coat the intestines with soft stuff, then follow with the other stuff. For instance, don't eat salad first. And if you're having symptoms, try a little soluble fiber. Some Metamucil can be very helpful.
Honestly, the biggest help for me was dropping dairy (switched to soy and avoid ice cream and soft cheese, but hard cheese and yogurt are okay) -- this change changed my life. I think it helped me lose weight too because a) I felt better all over, could have energy and exercise, and b) I think I would eat before to try to soothe my stomach, weirdly enough.
Also, now I notice a greasy meal totally sets me off all over again -- I don't know how I ever ate like that. Once you start feeling normal you'll never want to go back!

Monday, April 24, 2006, 1:45 AM

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