Ibs

[dragonsdy]

Hi,

Is there any information on atkins and IBS. I have suffered with it for many years and one thing I have trouble eating is any lettuce or salads. It looks like salads are a huge part of this diet. I want to try atkins because of my diabetes but what can I do if I can't eat salad greens?

Thanks,
dragonsdy

[jimmie 48]

Re: Ibs

you don't have to eat just salad greens. there is a list of acceptable induction veggies in the book and also here.

What foods can be eaten on Induction?

you will notice there is plenty of choice other than the typical iceberg lettuce and romaine.

as for the IBS, you can simply search our site by using the search tool above. if there is anythink i come across, i'll post a link in here for you.

[jimmie 48]

Re: Ibs

dragons, i did a really fast search and not as in depth as it should be, but if you check the link below, you will see the search words i did and maybe there is something in the posts/threads that will give you what you are looking for

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...earchid=508843

[Sweet Strudel]

Re: Ibs

Hi Dragonsdy

I saw your post so thought I would reply.

I had my gallbladder out in 1985 and have suffered with IBS since. I guess it happens sometimes to people when they have their gallbladder removed...or it was just co-incidental that it happened to me just after that. It doesn't really matter though, I had it, for 22 years and it was horrible. I'm sure I don't have to tell you its very limiting...well for me it was. Constant planning around when to eat, especially if you have to go out...or on a trip in a car or anything for that matter. I just learned to live with it and around it.

Then last year I tried Atkins because I wanted to lose some weight. Much to my surprise my IBS symptoms stopped nearly immediately. I couldn't believe it. It was just amazing. Well, I kept on Atkins for a few months but then went to Florida for 3 months and fell off the wagon and back came my IBS symptoms. So, May 1st, I re-started Atkins and once again my IBS symptoms disappeared. Its like a miracle to me. I had tried everything before this but nothing worked.

Atkins works...for me anyways...hopefully it has the same effect for you.

So, now the weight loss that comes with this way of eating is a bonus to me what is the real benefit is not having to live with the symptoms of IBS. I feel free, normal...like my life has been given back to me.

I really didn't know what triggered my IBS symptoms. I could never peg it. Sometimes it was anything that passed my lips...no real pattern. How do you know you have a problem with lettuce or salads? Sometimes I could just have a cup of coffee or a piece of toast and I was running to find a bathroom.

Anyway, give Atkins a try, like Jimmie said, there are tons of vegetables allowed on this plan. They are limited a bit for the first two weeks of induction but after that you can add more and more in.

It worked for me...thats all I can tell you....I hope it works for you! Please let me know.

Take care and welcome to the board.

[SandyL2002]

Re: Ibs

I agree with Kathy.. I have had IBS issues too..and when I am doing the program I have NO problems.. I watch my family always running to the bathroom.. When I have a cheat the issues came back... I think you might be surprised at how its not the salads that are doing it to you but the bad carbs.. You may at first have some issues..but once you get the sugars and breads out of your system you might you are having great results

[firemedic277]

Re: Ibs

first advice, go see a GI specialist. i have ibs, it runs in my family. most in my family have it with constipation, i have it the oppisite the way. there is no cure and no reason doctors can find why ibs happens. there are many ibs trigger foods, some worse than others. if you have ibs with the runs like me, your colon is spastic. you need an anti spasm. i was prescribed a very old drug called bentyl. i take 2 a day, very low dose and havent had a single problem in 2 years. the absolute worst trigger for ibs ,dairy and alchohol.

[Hoping]

Re: Ibs

I have an IBD, which is even worse than IBS.
I have to be picky with my veggies and even certain meats. For example, I can't have steak very often because sometimes it makes me sick. Just depends on the day. I try to eat celery as my snack food to keep my intake of fiber up, because as you know it really does help stomach issues. However and this is a big one, certain veggies such as broccoli (which is a gassy veggie) and collard greens I can not stomach.
Overall, I'm doing much better. I can actually go out in the morning, something I couldn't really do before. I was a little weary of the fat content of this diet, but it actually hasn't affected me. I do take a maintenance medicine because of one of my symptoms.
Here's the downside, with Atkins you can get a bit constipated. When I don't go on a daily basis my symptom gets worse, so it's necessary for me to take my medicine.
I actually mentioned to my gastro about Atkins. I thought he was going to scold me, I don't know why I thought that he's such a wonderful doctor, very understanding.
Because I wasn't flaring, and I flare as soon as I eat a trigger food, he wasn't concerned. The only thing he really said was to try South Beach diet because Atkins is so restrictive, but so far I'm very content with my food variety and I'm only in the extended induction phase.
Since IBS is such a touchy health issue to deal with you may want to check with your Gastro and see what they say. They may discourage this diet, but really only you will know how it affects your organism.
I would suggest giving it a two week trial (the induction phase) or even just one week. I would say no less than that because you won't really know if it's just your body cleaning out or if it's the food your eating. If you know cheese makes you go, don't eat it. If you know lettuce makes you go, don't eat it either.
If you get constipated without being on Atkins it may get worse OR it may get better.
When you have IBS or IBD it's all about trial and error.

One other suggestion, if you're trying to find a diet to get control of your stomach issues you should first go on a very bland diet. I tried ate plain Chicken and rice and it got my stomach somewhat under control.
Please keep in mind that I don't have a medical degree or anything of that sort (wouldn't that be nice !), I am only sharing from personal experience in hopes that it can help you make a decision that is right for you.

Best of Luck! I know how frustrating it can be. *hugs*

[sallyseachange]

Re: Ibs

I have no personal experience, but would join with some of the others in saying that it's worth giving Atkins a try... I've heard of several people whose IBS symptoms have completely disappeared when eating this way.

Keep us posted!

[Sweet Strudel]

Re: Ibs

I have no personal experience, but would join with some of the others in saying that it's worth giving Atkins a try... I've heard of several people whose IBS symptoms have completely disappeared when eating this way. *Raises hand*....I am one of those people.

Keep us posted!

Yes, give it a try...what have you got to lose, please let us know!

[ttdriver]

Re: Ibs

Atkins TOTALLY cured my IBS.

I used to have regular outbreaks (at least 2x a month) of unbearable IBS. Its now been nearly 6 years without a single episode (and 6 years on Atkins)...

Betty

[Hoping]

Re: Ibs

I don't believe there is a cure for IBS or for IBDs.
But Betty is correct. Your symptoms may go away, mine have for the most part.
And it's not that Atkins is a miracle diet, it's the fact that you're no longer eating trigger foods. For example, high fructose syrup *I think that's the name* or corn syrup are found in many processed foods and are a major trigger for many people. Plus, being on Atkins you have to pretty much cook your own meals. At least I have, I would dare to say that none of my food is processed except for ham and pepperoni.
You could have the same effects on a bland diet. I did that for some time. I only ate meat/poultry seasoned with salt, some rice, and a veggie. You would lose that way as well, but it would probably be slower.

[des]

Re: Ibs

I've had IBS since I was a baby, and I too have found Atkins helps to control it pretty well. When I'm eating non-low-carb, I have to avoid dairy and egg like the plague. On Atkins I can have both, though I still have to be sure not to eat eggs every single day. I find the low carb eating significantly lowers gas and bloating and general discomfort. I still have occasional flare-ups, but not as bad. If you're worried about the salads, stick with the salad veggies that you can cook, like bok choy, etc. Lettuce can be hard on the gut for IBS sufferers, so keep it to a minimum in the beginning. I also agree that because you eat so few processed foods, you get way fewer preservatives, which are a major IBS trigger. It is trial and error. But cutting out sugars and starches does help a lot of people with IBS. Plus many IBS sufferers have some degree of wheat gluten intolerance, which is also basically illiminated with Atkins phase 1.

[GotWadda]

Re: Ibs

Do yourself a favour(if you havent already done so) see an allergist. I had IBS for 10 years and last year I saw an allergist for an unrelated problem (pineapple) and they found I had 9 different allergies-all to foods. I eliminated these trigger foods and voila! No more problems.I did atkins 4 years ago before my diagnosis and found my IBS symptoms disappeared too. On atkins I wasnt eating chocolate, oatmeal,oranges,fluid milk and pepsi and therefor-no reactions. An allergy test isnt painful and it could save you from alot of unnecessary trips to the washroom. They allergist told me that so many people go undiagnosed when often it is a simple allergy causing the problem.

[des]

Re: Ibs

Do yourself a favour(if you havent already done so) see an allergist. I had IBS for 10 years and last year I saw an allergist for an unrelated problem (pineapple) and they found I had 9 different allergies-all to foods. I eliminated these trigger foods and voila! No more problems.I did atkins 4 years ago before my diagnosis and found my IBS symptoms disappeared too. On atkins I wasnt eating chocolate, oatmeal,oranges,fluid milk and pepsi and therefor-no reactions. An allergy test isnt painful and it could save you from alot of unnecessary trips to the washroom. They allergist told me that so many people go undiagnosed when often it is a simple allergy causing the problem.

I'm curious what kind of test your doctor ran, as there are many different kinds. I had a skin prick one done in my early 20's and everything tested negative, including grass. Yet if I walk barefoot in grass I develop a huge rash on my legs. So I've found (and other's I've talked to) that allergy tests are not always accurate.

My sister had one done at a naturopath clinic and it showed her which foods she needed to avoid completely, and which ones she could have on occasion. Worked like a charm for her. Years later she only has one allergy remaining (oats), and has no problem avoiding it. That test was not the skin prick kind. It had to do with electrodes and the antibody reaction in the body to various foods.

[GotWadda]

Re: Ibs

I had the scratch test - they scratch the skin and apply a drop of allergen to the area, then watch the swelling. I also had the needle one done when I ws 15. Not a pleasant test, but when I asked as to whether I was gonna get the needle test again, I was told that that type of test has fallen out of favor with most allergists and they tend to do the less invasive scratch test now.I was so relaxed when I had the scratch test done, I almost fell asleep on the doctor's table.