What can/can't u eat w/ IBS- Constipation?

Answer 1

I have IBS-Constipation, better described as "Functional Bowel Disorder". Here's what came out of my consultations with the best gastroenterologist I've met:
He told me there are no forbidden foods. He told me if I notice that a certain food causes problems, avoid it. (It must be quite individual, because there was no recognized set of "problem foods".)
He did prescribe exercise like walking. I found that gentle exercise after eating helps the food (and gas) move through my gut better. It reduces the discomfort. He said that the contractions of my intestinal muscles are not properly regulated. I think the exercise helps by making them move more normally.
For those occasions when my belly feels like there's a racetrack inside it, he said I can calm the intestinal muscles by taking Immodium. Also, if I need a couple hours of freedom from intestinal spasms (like I'm attending a wedding or will be far from bathroom facilities) I can take Immodium for that too.

For me, it pays to:
1. avoid raw apples (puts my gut in a twist a few minutes later)
2. avoid raw cucumber (indigestible) but pickles are OK
3. avoid green bell peppers (indigestible) but red and orange are not so bad. (The green are less ripe.)
4. avoid excessive amounts of shredded wheat (one bowl of miniwheats is OK. More than that gives me really loose stools.)
5. cook my vegetables (less discomfort than raw)
6. drink/eat hot cocoa, starches (mashed potatoes, pasta, oatmeal) and dairy products.

I've tried wheat bran tablets as a cheap, easy way to get more insoluble fiber into my diet. It can help reduce the constipating effects. But as I mention above, I have to watch what else I'm eating. If I eat a bowl of miniwheats cereal, I have to cut out the bran pills.