IBS and Diet

Any questions about irritable bowel syndrome and related psychological and physical issues should be posted for our experts here.
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Harrison1
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Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:51 am
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by Harrison1 on Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:05 pm

IBS and Diet

I have had IBS for 20 years and wondered if my weight problem is down to my IBS as I find it difficult to lose weight even though I diet and exercise. Also how can I stop worrying and be stress free. I do not usually get any pains but there are things that are out of my control and things stress me out especially work. Is there any new drugs coming out please? :!:

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Julie Thompson
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Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:24 pm
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by Julie Thompson on Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:32 pm

Re: IBS and Diet

Hi Harrison

We do not have any evidence that IBS per say causes a person to be overweight or IBS making it more difficult to lose weight - these challenges are usually due to lifestyle factors and the treatment is a combination of reducing calories consumed and increasing energy expended. You could ask your GP to check your thyroid function if you are following a plan for weight management and not having any success. I don't want to make assumptions about you without knowing more but my experience has been where people can struggle when they have IBS is with food choices - if they are restricting the variety of their diet due to finding food groups such as fruit and vegetables make symptoms worse, for example. This makes reducing calories consumed, by choosing more of these foods more difficult. If you have found foods result in symptoms then ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian to try the Low FODMAP diet - people often find the available choice of Low FODMAP fruit & vegetables means they can possibly modify their diet to reduce calorie intake without it necessarily affecting symptoms.
For your other questions you can find out about medications using the Self Care Plan here
http://www.theibsnetwork.org/the-self-c ... medicines/
I hope this helps
Julie Thompson
Gastroenterology Specialist Dietitian - BSc (Hons) Dietetics

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... ompson.php

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Dr Nick Read
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Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:22 pm
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by Dr Nick Read on Wed Jul 08, 2015 8:04 pm

Re: IBS and Diet

I'm not sure that new drugs will necessarily work. Weight gain, IBS and being stressed are all signs of the physiological systems of youyr body being dysregulated and out of control. I would try to find ways of getting of trying to bring the emotions under control using mindfulness techniques, which involve distancing yourself from the pressures of everyday life and focussing on something on creative and restful activities that takes your mind off those and make you feel better about yourself.
Dr Nick Read
Gastroenterologist and Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... k_read.php

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