Does anyone here have IBS? If so, do you find that greasy foods, like sausage, and bacon give you cramps?

I have been able to control the bloating problem I have due to IBS by eliminating carbs from my diet. However, I get so upset, because I find that the foods I am supposed to eat (like, sausage, bacon, or even lean red meat) give me cramps. I just wanted to know if I was the only one.

POOR YOU! I DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT MY BROTHER DOES. HE HAS TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WHAT HE EATS, MEAT/GREASE-WISE, OR HE REALLY SUFFERS FOR IT.

THE ONLY SOLUTION HE HAS FOUND IS AVOIDANCE. SAUSAGE AND BACON ARE NOTORIOUS, THOUGH. THERE IS SO MUCH NONSENSE ADDED TO THEM IN THE WAY OF PRESERVATIVES (IN BRITAIN THEY OFTEN ADD GRAIN-BASED FILLER, AND A LOT OF SAUSAGES AND BACON HAVE ADDED SUGAR!).

HAVE YOU TRIED ISOLATING THE RED MEAT TO MAKE SURE IT REALLY *IS* THAT? NO FAT TO COOK IT IN, JUST PLAIN (BAKED OR BROILED/GRILLED, WITH SALT AND PEPPER MAYBE?), AND PLAIN VEGETABLES? I AM NOT TALKING FOREVER, OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST FOR ONE MEAL, TO MAKE SURE IT IS ACTUALLY THE MEAT ITSELF AND NOT SOMETHING YOU ARE HAVING AT THE SAME MEAL THAT PERHAPS TRIGGERS THE MEAT TO UPSET YOU (IF THAT MAKES SENSE).

YOU HAVE PROBABLY DONE ALL OF THIS AND KNOW YOURSELF, I'M JUST RACKING MY BRAINS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY SOLUTION OTHER THAN COMPLETE ABSINENCE. THESE DIETS ARE SO RESTRICTIVE, IT HURTS TO CUT EVEN MORE OUT!

AS FOR ME, MY IBS BUGBEAR WAS DAIRY. IT TURNS OUT I AM LACTOSE INTOLERANT. HOWEVER, LUCKY FOR ME, IF I TAKE LACTASE (THE ENZYME LACTOSE INTOLERANT PEOPLE ARE MISSING), I AM FINE WITH IT.

I HOPE YOU GET THIS FIGURED OUT SO YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT YOU EAT.

Beth,

Thank you for the advice. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. My IBS seems to be a lot better than when I originally posted this question. However, I tried eliminating some things from my diet, anyway, and it appears pork rinds may be the culprit. I tried the pork rind French toast recipe, which is very good! However, I think the pork rinds are too much for my tummy to handle! I may be OK with them on a good day, so I will have to try it again then.

Anyway, thank you again for your help!

THE ONLY PORK RINDS I HAVE FOUND IN THE U.K. ARE TEENY WEE BAGS, AND THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF STUFF IN THEM BEING A LC'ER OVER HERE ISN'T ALWAYS A BAG OF LAUGHS. THEN AGAIN, BEING AN LC'ER ANYWHERE HAS ITS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

I KNOW HOW PAINFUL IBS CAN BE. WHEN I HAD AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY IN 1998, I WOKE UP ONE NIGHT IN SUCH AWFUL PAIN I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT; I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IBS ATTACK I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS PREGNANT, SO NOTHING ELSE CROSSED MY MIND

I AM GLAD YOU SEEM TO HAVE FOUND YOUR TRIGGER, EVEN IF IT DOES MEAN SACRIFICING THAT FRENCH TOAST (IT SOUNDS SO GOOD TOO)

lissylou73,

Have you tried digestive enzymes? I just started taking these this week, and I'm asking everyone if they know anything about them myself, BUT I did hear that they can help you digest everything better depending on what you get I guess. Ox bile I think is supposed to help with the digestion of fat. (you can buy the enzymes seperately or with a combination that helps you digest all things) I have posted what I'm taking in enzymes already once.. but here it is again:

Ox bile
Pancreatin
HCI
and Pepsin

I guess those are the important things.. but some add a lot more, or I think you can find them all on thier own as well if you know exactly what is bothering you. Ummmm.. I dunno what it is in thier that helps with protien and carb digestion, but this bottle says that it helps digest protien, carbs and fat. Have to take a lot of em though to notice a difference. I am taking 3 before each meal, and sometimes if my stomache hurts inbetween meals, I pop one. So far no trouble with heartburn, which is like a miracle for me, but I still have some stomache cramping and constipation. But honestly I haven't been on it long enough to notice a real change yet. The heartburn thing is pretty amazing though, don't you think? I'll try and keep everyone posted on how it goes for me. I just can't imagine living without fat.. seems it would be way hard. Anyways... good luck

Lain

drink more water m8