Get Your Fill of Fiber Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects mainly the bowel, the part of the digestive system that makes and stores stool. IBS has several symptoms, such as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, and can be very painful. One way to lessen the symptoms of IBS is by introducing fiber into your diet. Fiber reduces IBS symptoms — especially constipation — because it makes stool soft, bulky, and easier to pass. It is found in bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruit, and vegetables. Here are some examples of foods with fiber: Fruit: apples, peaches Vegetable: broccoli (raw), cabbage, carrots (raw), peas Breads, Cereals, and Beans: kidney beans, lima beans, whole-grain bread, whole-grain cereal Begin to add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time to allow your body to get used to them. Too much fiber all at once might cause gas, which can trigger IBS symptoms. Besides telling you to eat more foods with fiber, your doctor might also tell you to get more fiber by taking a fiber pill or drinking water mixed with a special high-fiber powder.
I once increased my fibre and it seemed to ease the symptoms slightly, but when I eventually went to the doctors about it a few years later it turns out I was having too much fibre! Ultimatly, for me fibre was not the problem at all - and changing the amount of fibre in my diet simply gave me a different type of discomfort rather than resolving it. Funnily enough, when I first got IBS I had just switched to eating a lot of fruit and ever since I've been particulary vunerable to the more acid types, so I would agree that small changes over a period of months are important. Ultimatly my IBS was "solved" by taking a peppermint pill for a few months, but ultimatly everybody is different so I woudl say to those suffering from IBS, expect a long road of experimentation!
Have you always had it? It's said it's quite common after childbirth but the symptoms usually go away sooner or later. Another good example of the large range of things that IBS can be affiliated to!
It started when I was 16. It comes and goes. I will have problems with it every day for like 6 months and then be symptom free for 6 months. It is strange. And its very painful!
