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Success with LCHF but what about IBS?

Tweetypie

Tweetypie

Well-Known Member
Messages
570
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
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Spiders, control freaks, untidiness, ignorance.
Good evening,

Well, after lapsing a bit last year and regaining one of the two stones I lost, I have now regained my control by following LCHF as explained by Diet doctor website. I have also started exercising and so far lost 7 pounds. My results are better than ever - between 4 and 5.5. My Fasting level has been especially good, I'm very pleased. However, I am really struggling as ever since I had to cut back the carbs, I developed IBS and find that LCHF exascerbates it. I've also had very bad headaches. I've heard FODMAP is good for IBS but can it work with low carb high fat and has anyone else had any success? The meal I most struggle with is breakfast, don't think my 2 rounds of burgen toast is allowed anymore.....

Grateful for any thoughts please......
Tweety
 
You don't say which medications you are on. Are you taking metformin? If so, I'd be more inclined to think your IBS symptoms are related to that.

In my experience IBS symptoms subsided with LCHF but the FODMAPS info helped me pinpoint certain foods that were problematic. I found both diets have much in common. The Monash Uni website gives great information about FODMAPS:

http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/

Another diet used for IBS is called the "Specific Carbohydrate Diet".
 
Tweetypie said:
Good evening,

Well, after lapsing a bit last year and regaining one of the two stones I lost, I have now regained my control by following LCHF as explained by Diet doctor website. I have also started exercising and so far lost 7 pounds. My results are better than ever - between 4 and 5.5. My Fasting level has been especially good, I'm very pleased. However, I am really struggling as ever since I had to cut back the carbs, I developed IBS and find that LCHF exascerbates it. I've also had very bad headaches. I've heard FODMAP is good for IBS but can it work with low carb high fat and has anyone else had any success? The meal I most struggle with is breakfast, don't think my 2 rounds of burgen toast is allowed anymore.....

Grateful for any thoughts please......
Tweety
Click to expand...
))Denise(( said:
Is it IBS-C or IBS-D?
Click to expand...
Hello Denise,
I have been blessed with both IBS C and IBS D, depending on what mood it's in, it jumps from one to the other.
 
Indy51 said:
You don't say which medications you are on. Are you taking metformin? If so, I'd be more inclined to think your IBS symptoms are related to that.

In my experience IBS symptoms subsided with LCHF but the FODMAPS info helped me pinpoint certain foods that were problematic. I found both diets have much in common. The Monash Uni website gives great information about FODMAPS:

http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/

Another diet used for IBS is called the "Specific Carbohydrate Diet".
Click to expand...
Hello Indy,
I was on Metformin but only very briefly at diagnosis, I was taken off it and put on insulin but now am on no meds. The IBS started at the time of cutting back my carbs and taking metformin so I don't know which it is to blame. If I haven't taken Met for a few years now, wouldn't any associated upset have subsided?

Thanks for the tips about FODMAP, I will be looking into it as I think I could make that work - any suggestions for breakfast ideas please?

Have not heard of Specific Carbs plan will look into, thanks
 
What is your fiber intake like? I know if I go overboard on the fiber I get IBS like symptoms and activity.
 
Cblake843 said:
What is your fiber intake like? I know if I go overboard on the fiber I get IBS like symptoms and activity.
Click to expand...
Well, because the C was a problem, I upped my veg, berries and oatcakes but this was also because I wanted to replace missing fibre as I'd lowered my carbs significantly. Now I've gone the other way (please excuse the detail). If I reduce said fibre I will then go back to C! What to do?!
 
Also, is it best to eliminate all possible culprits and then reintroduce one at a time, or eliminate one possible culprit at a time until eventually I find it?

Ideas I have so for breakfast are:
Almond porridge and berries: should be low FODMAP and carb, I hope?
1 slice Gluten free toast and poached eggs: worried about carbs obviously here
Berry and almond milk shake?
Egg and veggy omelette
Scrambled egg and avocado/smoked salmon?

Would there be enough or too much fibre in these ideas?

Thanks for input so far, I'm sure I'll get there
 
Here's some info on the SCD: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

I'm definitely one who does very poorly on insoluble fibre and probiotics like inulin - guaranteed to both bloat and constipate. I find a higher fat intake - especially MCT oil (be very careful with dosing as it has the nickname "disaster pants") solves any "C" issues.

There's also a very interesting theory by a specialist called Dr Mark Pimentel at Cedars Sinai Gastroenterology Dept that SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a major player for IBS. He has a book called "The New IBS Solution". It was certainly true for me and doesn't take much insoluble fibre to turn my gut into a fermentation factory - another reason why LCHF works really well for me.
 
Indy51 said:
Here's some info on the SCD: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/

I'm definitely one who does very poorly on insoluble fibre and probiotics like inulin - guaranteed to both bloat and constipate. I find a higher fat intake - especially MCT oil (be very careful with dosing as it has the nickname "disaster pants") solves any "C" issues.

There's also a very interesting theory by a specialist called Dr Mark Pimentel at Cedars Sinai Gastroenterology Dept that SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a major player for IBS. He has a book called "The New IBS Solution". It was certainly true for me and doesn't take much insoluble fibre to turn my gut into a fermentation factory - another reason why LCHF works really well for me.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your replying again.
Yes, found "breaking the cycle", think I'll try FODMAP first. I take a high strength probiotic but I don't think it contains inulin. Not taking that means I cannot go at all. I have been taking it with prebiotic/FOS, but that is high fodmap so I stopped today.
What is MCT oil? -- not heard of that
Have not yet worked out if it's soluble or insoluble fibre that triggers me but think I am ok with oatcakes and one of those only raises my blood sugra by a point.
Is fodmap based on soluble fibre then?
Thanks
 
I think it's more based on fermentable fibre than soluble/insoluble, but I'm not really that well versed in it - I found out pretty easily which ones affected me and things have settled down a lot since going LCHF and removing grains from my diet. I was also put on 2 courses of antibiotics for a resistant UTI strain when I was diagnosed - so basically got a gut reset from that as well.

MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides - I buy the Melrose brand from my local health food store. It's the same kind of fat found in coconut oil, but more concentrated. It's odourless and tasteless.
 
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