Low Carb and IBS

[maryrachel]

Not sure if this posting should be on Non Low Carb or Low Carb but anyway; about 5 years ago I went low carb. I read Dr Bernstein and embarked on a strict low carb diet eating high fat, high protein. I am not a promoter of artificial sweetners as most of them are poison but I tried stevia, fructose etc. My BS were great and I reduced my insulin by 2/3's. However my IBS symptoms worsened considerably. I became bloated and almost incontinent with incredible cramps. During this time I developed a back problem. I went to the GP and was referred to a physiotherapist. I asked the GP if the back problem could be related to the IBS; she laughed at me and said no. There was a 8 week wait for the physio so I saw a private chiropractor as the back problem was crippling. I spend £300 on the chiropractor who eventually admitted defeat. I asked him if my back problems were related to my stomach and he said definately not. I saw the physio and same thing, denying any ling to my stomach. I went back to the GP 3 times and each time they told me they were not related. Eventually I stopped the diet for a while and my sysmptoms improved. Still at that point having full faith in the medical profession I beleived this was a coincidence so I went back on the diet. The back probelm and IBS came back. This is why I dont low carb. Has anyone else had this problem? :shock:

 

[noblehead]

Maryrachel,

Reading what you have written, it would seem that the diet was causing you the problems. Perhaps you could try ditching the Atkins style diet and just reduce your carbs to a reasonable amount, whilst eating a healthy diet. I tried the low-carb approach as recommended by some on here, but it played havoc with my stomach and did cause me constipation too. I now eat around 100-130g of carbs per day, and eat a low fat/protein diet and have good bg readings. I feel much better eating a moderate amount of carbs than I did previously, but as they say we are all individuals.

Nigel

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi Maryrachel,
There was somebody who posted the other day to say that she had the same problem when she lowered her carbs. Her Consultant told her that she must eat complex carbs to keep her gut healthy.
I hope she sees this post and comes forward.

Catherine.

 

[jopar]

The lack of fibre combined with high fat, can irritate IB, my sister who suffers from this has to watch her fat content, if she eats a lot of fat, she pays with her IB kicking off..

It is probably wise to eat a moderate carb diet, you will find that those of us that eat a normal diet actually only comsume a moderate amount of carbs within our diets contray to the believe of the extreme low carbers..

Your back problems, well not a direct link to the diet, but two things could have happened while you were on this diet...

1, Because of the pain from the IB you changed your prosture slightly effecting your back muscles normal position, which will cause them to spasam..

2, If the diet lead to weight lose and take you down to an boarderline underweight BMI, it is possible that there wasn't enough fat content in your body to asorb the impact shock caused by walking, so it transfers straight into the low back muscles causing them to spasum...

I had terriable back spasam for a while, and had been put onto tablets to prevent my back muscles going into spasam and provide pain relief, told this was likely to permenent... That was until I was talking to my DSN who told me her theroy which is No2, and I am very skinny indeed.. And it might be worth taking a look at my shoes and footwear to ensure that the soles can asorb shock, to see if this might help..

Well I am pleased to say not only making changes to my footwear, such as wearing trainners, proper walking shoes when I'm working at the kennels, or out with my own dog.. Any other shoes I enusre a good springy sole and insole, not hard it's actually cured my problem, I've never needed to take any more of the medication prescribed, as I am completely painfree..

 

[lovinglife]

That was me Catherine in a reply to something you posted

Hi Maryrachel,
There was somebody who posted the other day to say that she had the same problem when she lowered her carbs. Her Consultant told her that she must eat complex carbs to keep her gut healthy.
I hope she sees this post and comes forward.

Catherine.

My post copied and pasted below (my italics)- I too get back pain - I have back problems also but it is a different kind of pain than that- it could be referred pain :?: - I am getting pains in my left side again today and I am worried that it is going to flare up again - which definitely will mean a op - believe me I am making sure I get my complex carbs!!

also a link to the full thread

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13834

catherinecherub wrote:
It sure was a revelation for me after three weeks thinking I would give it a go. Silliest thing I ever did as I have good control but I thought I would try it and see what all the fuss was about. (All in the name of science ) I ended up as an emergency in A@E with acute pains in my abdomen. I was diagnosed with cancer after two ultrasounds and an MRI scan but after a biopsy it was reduced to ulcerative colitis. I am now symptom free after three intervals of steroid treatment and the Consultant telling me that the high fats in the cheese, butter, cream and red meat had damaged my stomach and intestines. Lucky for me it was only on a temporary basis. I had great difficulty eating the fats as it is something I have never really wanted to do.

Me too Catherine - I have just gotten over another nasty bout of diverticulitis with an infection that I had to have antibiotics for - and a threat of a big operation if it didn't sort itself out- Looking back on my food diary it seems to have come about after a couple of days of unintentional very low carb - My consultant went crazy - I usually have about 30 - 40 g carbs a meal and he agreed this is fine but MUST have complex carbs to keep my gut healthy - not just carbs in veggies which actually makes it worse!- I did go lower carbs for a while when I was first Diagnosed with diabetes - my BS came down but my cholesterol shot up from 4.6 to 5.5 and I had traces of protein in my water AND a painful tummy most of the time that I tried to ignore because I thought I was doing the right thing - I go for bloods next week and hopefully things will be back to normal after adjusting my diet

I have yet to be convinced of the low carb way for life - I feel I did damage in a small space of time - but each to their own and we all have free will and I wish everyone luck however they manage their diabetes - however I do wish that SOME of those that do low carb would keep a civil tongue in their heads and not resort to petty arguments that get personal (not referring to anyone or any post in particular just things I have come across from time to time on other forums as well as here). I find it totally counterproductive and in fact weakens the argument for low carbing IMHO. To be berated for needing meds makes me cross - some of us because of health reasons cannot manage our diabetes without meds and should not be made to feel failures becuase of this - going now because I am actually winding myself up into a rant and don't want to do that

 

[GINNYFLY]

Hello Everyone
I am extremely interested in this thread. I was diagnosed with T2 in march this year and as my blood sugar was so high (45) i was put on maximum doses of metformin and Glicazide. I immediately felt a lot better and then in May I started experiencing hypos. 2 0r 3 times a week and usually just before lunch.

As my bs levels were so much better my doctor cut out the glicazide which helped a lot but I still had the occasional lunch time hypo. i was referred to the practice dn who suggested I increase my carbs -she told me that I should eat some carbs with every meal and cut down on fat and protein. Since then I have not had a hypo.
I eat mostly fresh fruit and vegetables - including lots of salad - I have cut my protein and reduced my fat intake and am gradually losing weight - about 2lbs a month - which i am happy with.
I was so surprised to read all the posts suggesting a low carb diet. personally I wont risk it as I also have IBS - which has given me no trouble since I started my new regime.
Now if only i could stop smoking
Gill

 

[justfoundout]

Please don't be so dismissive of low carbing. My IBS has run for the hills since I turned LC. I suffer no more from the other myriad of symptoms that the NHS so called healthy db diet produced. Low carbing has been my saviour.

 

[Helga]

I started low carbing many years ago before I knew I had a "sugar problem". Just thought I try the Atkins Diet. After about 2 weeks I ended up in hospital with diverticulitis. When it was all healed up I started with the diet again and sure enough the same amount of days I got the diverticulitis again. Asked specialist if my diet had anything to do with it and was told no. Apart from not having enough fiber and causing this in my bowels I feel really good on a low carb diet. My arthritis improves unbelievably. My whole body loves it except my bowels. I can't do the first 2 weeks with real restrictions on carbs. The second phase with a bit more vegetables and fruits works well. Even my husband watches that I don"t get too carried away with low carbing as we know it gets me into hospital real fast if I don't watch it. Now it still happens about once a year. Usually on vacation because everything is different. Just have to make sure I have something on hand with lots of fiber as soon as I suspect I get close to constipated. Popcorn works well.