MANAGING AND IMPROVING IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

A 76-year-old health care professional presented with Irritable Bowel Syndrome type C and D. She reported her bowel movements have dictated her whole adult life, as stress exacerbated her symptoms. She shared several stories about how she, in preparation for a stressful work event, would not eat for up to 12 hours to hopefully hold off symptoms so she could get through the event.

She stated she is in the bathroom at least every hour throughout the day. She reported that she has tried everything. She came to The Nutrition Professionals exhausted, feeling like there were no answers to a lifelong problem.

She was educated on sound nutrition principles, and we started her on an elimination diet to discover what foods she was intolerant to. We employed the FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for certain types of carbohydrates that some people are sensitive to. This is not a diet that should be used without the direction of an RDN.

Within the first week she reported her life had changed and she was feeling incredible. She reports she is able to eat many foods that she enjoys again and finally feels free. The life change manifested as going to the bathroom 1-2 times a day with normal bowel movements, and the constant churning in her stomach is gone. She reports The Nutrition Professionals facilitated a miracle in her life!