As a result, most people in the study, including those who were healthy, showed evidence of malabsorption of at least one of these sugars crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease In In this report, restricting intake of these sugars led to reduction in symptoms in 40% of those people with IBS-like symptoms crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease The only practical way to evaluate which foods might trigger IBS symptoms is to avoid the foods and then reintroduce them crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease Your symptoms may also get worse if you don't eat right or after you've eaten a big meal crohns-crones-disease Some people are bothered by certain foods crohns-crones-disease Women who have have IBS may notice symptoms during their menstrual periods crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease If your symptoms have just started, something else may be the cause crohns-crones-disease Your doctor may need to do some tests to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by something other than IBS crohns-crones-disease Why may fiber be helpful? Fiber can be helpful because it it improves how the intestines work crohns-crones-disease There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble crohns-crones-disease Soluble fiber helps both diarrhea and constipation crohns-crones-disease Insoluble fiber may make diarrhea worse crohns-crones-disease Insoluble fiber is in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals crohns-crones-disease Psyllium (a natural vegetable fiber) and oat oat bran are soluble fibers crohns-crones-disease You can buy psyllium (some brand names: Fiberall, Metamucil, Perdiem) at the store crohns-crones-disease Oat bran is in some cereals, bread or muffins crohns-crones-disease You can also add it to other foods crohns-crones-disease Increase the fiber in your diet slowly crohns-crones-disease Some people feel bloated bloated and have gas if they increase how much fiber they eat too quickly crohns-crones-disease Gas and bloating usually improve as you get used to eating more fiber crohns-crones-disease Do certain foods cause IBS? Some foods cause IBS crohns-crones-disease But some foods may make you feel worse crohns-crones-disease Foods that may may make symptoms worse include foods high in fat or caffeine crohns-crones-disease Fat and caffeine can cause your intestines to contract, which may cause cramping crohns-crones-disease If gas is a problem for you, you might want to avoid foods that tend to make gas worse crohns-crones-disease These include beans, cabbage and and some fruits, wheat & pasta crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease If you think a food makes you feel worse, try not eating it crohns-crones-disease But don't cut out foods unless they have caused you problems more than once crohns-crones-disease What about milk and milk products? If milk and other dairy products bother you, you may have lactose intolerance crohns-crones-disease Lactose intolerance means that your body can't digest the sugar in milk crohns-crones-disease This sugar sugar is called lactose crohns-crones-disease Dairy products may seem to make IBS symptoms worse if you're lactose intolerant crohns-crones-disease If this seems to be the case, you may need to limit the amount of milk and milk products in your diet crohns-crones-disease Talk to your family doctor if you think you you have trouble digesting dairy products crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease He or she may have some suggestions or may refer you to someone who can give you some ideas crohns-crones-disease ideas crohns-crones-disease Your doctor may also suggest that you talk to a counselor about things that are bothering you crohns-crones-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 crohns-crones-disease But if you're having bad symptoms, symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medicine crohns-crones-disease For example, antispasmodic medicines may be prescribed to reduce cramping if your main symptom is pain crohns-crones-disease Hyoscyamine (some brand names: Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin) and dicyclomine (some brand names: Bentyl, Di-Spaz) help relax the spasms in the colon crohns-crones-disease Heating pads and hot baths baths can also be comforting crohns-crones-disease When diarrhea is a frequent problem, medicine such as loperamide (brand name: Imodium) may be helpful crohns-crones-disease Tranquilizers or sedatives can be given for short periods to treat anxiety that may be making your symptoms worse crohns-crones-disease Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant for you you if your symptoms are severe and you are feeling depressed crohns-crones-disease Tips on controlling IBS Eat a varied diet and avoid foods high in fat crohns-crones-disease Drink plenty of water crohns-crones-disease Try eating 6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones crohns-crones-disease Learn new and better ways to | 