[kel1059]

I can't speak for everyone but my situation is different. Cramping and pain has been reduced to an almost non-existant level the past 12 months. eliminating sugar, wheat, corn, dairy and dozens of other foods is mostly responsible for it. i also believe that antifungal drugs helped quite a bit because prior to taking them i had incredibly low tolerance for carbs.When i get gas now (i am on a high legume diet), there is never any pain. There may be an extremely mild discomfort but that is all. This proves to me that ---in my case--- it is not the gas that causes the pain but it is the massive immune activation or chemicals that are being released in response to eating intolerant foods. i also think that when the colon is home to not-so-friendly microorganisms then these bugs can secrete metabolic byproducts that trigger both the immune and enteric nervous system.Concerning stress, it is also a trigger but it seems to pale in comparison to what certain foods can do to me. extreme negative stress is more likely to cause my brain to get into a state of confusion but it doesn't affect my gut unless it is the highest level panic situation which is a rarity.

 

[kel1059]

The oligoantigenic diet has been a life saver for me. It has resulted in me eliminating some of my worst IBS symptoms -- cramping & severe pain, bloating, out-of-control gas production, and constant trips to the bathroom.However, problems remained. Therefore the root cause has yet to be discovered. the biggest clue is the fact that Ibsacol has given me countless days of normalcy for the first time in 20 years. but even Ibsacol has failed from time to time. it is operating at about 80% right now (80% of my days are good). i have to believe that there is some type of pathogen that is behind this whole mess (i will believe this until proven otherwise).I think that it is going to be some type of mycobacterium, virus, fungus hypersensitivity, or bacteria such as staphylococcous (inhabits 40% of us).the people who acquire IBS after a sever infection -- parasitic, amoeba ----- it could possibly be the result of the heavy antibiotic regimen that they undergo. Although maybe not. However, since the problems --IBS, crohn's -- seems to affect Westerners more often than underdeveloped populations, i think that something in our diet may be contributing.Sugar and dairy stand out. A high sugar diet is perfect for feeding certain microorganisms especially mycobacterium which is present in the milk supply. imagine that---- the lethal combination would be a milkshake. hey--who knows.