Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hello!

I'm new so I thought I'd say hello, as this seems like such a friendly, supportive place. Also I have some questions I hope someone can help me with!

Anyways, I'm 18 and have really been struggling with my IBS the last few months, so much so that it was making me VERY depressed, especially as I'm trying to get a job at the moment and supposed to be moving away to start university next September, and had no idea how I would be able to manage either in such a state. BUT, then I found this website and starting following some of the advice, and my symptoms totally cleared up! Things had been really bad in the mornings especially, I would have an upset tummy everyday, but since I switched from my breakfast of wholewheat (and seeded!) toast and apple juice to white toast and water, this got MUCH better. I realised my diet was very high in insoluble fibre, since I'm a vegan, and eat lots of beans, pulses, wholegrains, veggies and so on. I've been eating lots more soluble fibre (white rice, pasta, white bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lentil soup etc.) and have been feeling a lot better and healthier. I was starting to feel so sickly before! I had lost quite a bit of weight but since I changed my diet I have put some back on, and am managing to maintain a healthy weight at the moment. So thankyou so much to this helpful website for all those things!

The only thing is, I had been taking slippery elm supplements which I think may also have been contributing to the improvement, but these are really expensive so I switched to psyllium husk powder (the only soluble fibre supplement I could find in the UK). I have taken this twice (small 1/2 tsp. doses), and the IBS flared up again, only more C and gas this time. Anyway, I'm a bit confused, as I've only taken this twice should I stop or should I perservere for a week or two and see if things settle down? Did this happen to anyone else?

I could really use some reassurance that things will settle down again, I had been feeling SO depressed before and the weeks without symptoms were bliss! For a while I felt like I had my life back again and I really want it to stay that way.

Sorry for this being such a long post, thanks for reading it

Sarah x

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