IBS Question

I am new to this IBS thing. I have not actually gone to the doc for it so this is what I think it may be.

It started last May or so. I started getting really bloated, gassy and constipated more than what I normally would (I have hypothyroid, so I am prone to it). I didn't know anything about IBS so I didn't know what was causing this. I started reading a little more about it and found out that dairy can make it worse. I stopped the dairy on the first of this month and the daily bloating and gas was gone. I could actually see the huge gas bubbles push on my stomach. It was like there was a golf ball in there trying to get out. If it wouldn't have been painful it would have been funny. Anyway, I thought it was gone but it started back again a couple days ago. Last time I noticed it got worse a week after my peroid started. So I am thinking it could be hormonal. I am now bloated again and my weight has gone up a couple pounds. Not much but nothing due to my diet. I have not eaten to much, I have eaten what I normally would. I know weight goes up and down normally but this has to do with the bloating. This is what I would like to know.

Does anyone else have IBS that gets worse with hormonal changes? If so how many days does it usually last? What weight gain if any do you experience? Have you found anything to stop it? Any info would help alot. Thanks.

IBS can be affected by stress. It'd make sense that hormones may also affect it. If it helps any, when I get extremely upset, it usually also makes my IBS-C flare. Weight gain comes in bloating and the lack of a BM. Poo does weigh something! Any gain will be a fluctuation, as such. Periods can also make you very constipated even without IBS-C!

Don't don't don't eliminate whole food groups without a doctor agreeing. Dairy CAN make it worse, but you have to be making sure you're getting nutrition where you may be lacking through elimination - in dairy's case, calcium is the big one. Furthermore, as eliminating dairy didn't help your symptoms, I strongly doubt it's your trigger this time around.

I presume you are IBS-C from your mention of constipation, though if you're IBS-A, take care with this: when you get a flare up, eat a high fibre diet. I mean high. 40g to 70g, really. This is the range I need to be in to allievate mine. It's easy to make that if you eat a good diet rich in grains, fruit and veg. I can give you fibre ideas if you need them.

The reason I mention IBS-A is because if you go the other "way", as it were, you'll need to cut back on the fibre.

Thanks for the response. I do take a calcuim,mag. zinc supplement with everymeal and I started drinking rice milk which is high in calcium but non dairy and calcium enriched V8. The last thing I want is to to be low in calcium. I do eat a very high fiber diet. Some days would be close to 100 grams. I drink around a gallon or more of water a day too. I was thinking it had to do with dairy becouse i could actually go to the bathroom without trouble after I had stopped. I mean, 2 to 3 times a day! Which is really unheard of for me. That is why I thought it had to do with dairy.Not to mention the daily bloating is gone. I am now thinking I may have 2 triggers for it. The worse being the hormonal one. I have not found anything that helps with the constipation though. Even with all that fiber and water, and I do exercise. Even laxitives do not help. I only take them when I haven't been able to go in like 3 days. But those don't give much if any relief.  This is the main problem with me. I feel so run down and tired and cranky when the constipation is acting up.

Thank you again for your response.

Hi there i have had ibs now like 12 years im 24

and i know with my periods my ibs does flare up but not every month

i know dairy has been an issue in the past for me but only if i drink lots an lots

or ice cream... mine really flares up with grease foods. or anything spicy like that bean dip in the stores u buy. ramen noodles  so my ibs has been weird latley since im on here trying to gain weight since im under weight and now that im on a really high calorie diet of 3,000 a day my tumnmy isnt used to it and im once agan struggeling with ibs cramping.. i usualy have consipation and then reg for a few weeks then back to constipated i know if you eat smallar amounts more frequent it will help ALOT!!!  but i have trouble with this since i dont eat after 4pm  any how hope this helps if u wanna add me as ur friend thats fine im Amanda