As a result, most people in the study, including those who were healthy, showed evidence of malabsorption of at least one of these sugars colitis-crohns-disease However, unlike healthy people, those with IBS-like symptoms had greater symptoms when consuming high concentrations of lactose or the combination of fructose and sorbitol colitis-crohns-disease In In this report, restricting intake of these sugars led to reduction in symptoms in 40% of those people with IBS-like symptoms colitis-crohns-disease Therefore, when attempting to uncover food sensitivities, people with IBS should consider the possibility that milk, fruit juice, and dried fruit might cause problems colitis-crohns-disease Researchers have found that that standard blood tests used to evaluate allergies do not help uncover food sensitivities associated with IBS, because IBS food sensitivities are not true allergies colitis-crohns-disease The only practical way to evaluate which foods might trigger IBS symptoms is to avoid the foods and then reintroduce them colitis-crohns-disease The symptoms may may get worse when you're under stress, such as when you travel, attend social events or change your daily routine colitis-crohns-disease Your symptoms may also get worse if you don't eat right or after you've eaten a big meal colitis-crohns-disease Some people are bothered by certain foods colitis-crohns-disease Women who have have IBS may notice symptoms during their menstrual periods colitis-crohns-disease Common symptoms of IBS Bloating, gas and Constipation Diarrhea, especially after eating or first thing in the morning Feeling like you still need to have a bowel movement after you've already had one Feeling a strong urge to have a bowel bowel movement Abdominal pain and cramping that may go away after having a bowel movement How is IBS diagnosed? Your doctor may start by asking you questions about your symptoms colitis-crohns-disease If your symptoms have had a pattern over time, the pattern may make it clear to your doctor that IBS IBS is the cause colitis-crohns-disease If your symptoms have just started, something else may be the cause colitis-crohns-disease Your doctor may need to do some tests to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by something other than IBS colitis-crohns-disease Why may fiber be helpful? Fiber can be helpful because it it improves how the intestines work colitis-crohns-disease There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble colitis-crohns-disease Soluble fiber helps both diarrhea and constipation colitis-crohns-disease Insoluble fiber may make diarrhea worse colitis-crohns-disease Insoluble fiber is in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals colitis-crohns-disease Psyllium (a natural vegetable fiber) and oat oat bran are soluble fibers colitis-crohns-disease You can buy psyllium (some brand names: Fiberall, Metamucil, Perdiem) at the store colitis-crohns-disease Oat bran is in some cereals, bread or muffins colitis-crohns-disease You can also add it to other foods colitis-crohns-disease Increase the fiber in your diet slowly colitis-crohns-disease Some people feel bloated bloated and have gas if they increase how much fiber they eat too quickly colitis-crohns-disease Gas and bloating usually improve as you get used to eating more fiber colitis-crohns-disease Do certain foods cause IBS? Some foods cause IBS colitis-crohns-disease But some foods may make you feel worse colitis-crohns-disease Foods that may may make symptoms worse include foods high in fat or caffeine colitis-crohns-disease Fat and caffeine can cause your intestines to contract, which may cause cramping colitis-crohns-disease If gas is a problem for you, you might want to avoid foods that tend to make gas worse colitis-crohns-disease These include beans, cabbage and and some fruits, wheat & pasta colitis-crohns-disease Keeping a diary of what you eat and what your symptoms are for a few weeks may be a good way to find out if a food bothers you colitis-crohns-disease If you think a food makes you feel worse, try not eating it colitis-crohns-disease But don't cut out foods unless they have caused you problems more than once colitis-crohns-disease What about milk and milk products? If milk and other dairy products bother you, you may have lactose intolerance colitis-crohns-disease Lactose intolerance means that your body can't digest the sugar in milk colitis-crohns-disease This sugar sugar is called lactose colitis-crohns-disease Dairy products may seem to make IBS symptoms worse if you're lactose intolerant colitis-crohns-disease If this seems to be the case, you may need to limit the amount of milk and milk products in your diet colitis-crohns-disease Talk to your family doctor if you think you you have trouble digesting dairy products colitis-crohns-disease How can I deal with stress? Talk to your family doctor about ways to deal with stress, such as exercise, relaxation training or meditation colitis-crohns-disease He or she may have some suggestions or may refer you to someone who can give you some ideas colitis-crohns-disease ideas colitis-crohns-disease Your doctor may also suggest that you talk to a counselor about things that are bothering you colitis-crohns-disease Can my doctor prescribe medicine for IBS? Generally, medicines aren't given to prevent IBS because you'll have to deal with IBS throughout your life colitis-crohns-disease But if you're having bad symptoms, symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medicine colitis-crohns-disease For example, antispasmodic medicines may be prescribed to reduce cramping if your main symptom is pain colitis-crohns-disease Hyoscyamine (some brand names: Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin) and dicyclomine (some brand names: Bentyl, Di-Spaz) help relax the spasms in the colon colitis-crohns-disease Heating pads and hot baths baths can also be comforting colitis-crohns-disease When diarrhea is a frequent problem, medicine such as loperamide (brand name: Imodium) may be helpful colitis-crohns-disease Tranquilizers or sedatives can be given for short periods to treat anxiety that may be making your symptoms worse colitis-crohns-disease Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant for you you if your symptoms are severe and you are feeling depressed colitis-crohns-disease Tips on controlling IBS Eat a varied diet and avoid foods high in fat colitis-crohns-disease Drink plenty of water colitis-crohns-disease Try eating 6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones colitis-crohns-disease Learn new and better ways to | 