I am almost a year out from my third surgery to complete my total colectomy with IPAA. I had a terrible time after my third surgery--plagued by gas, pain, very frequent stools, and general malaise. I have since discovered that I have a problem with FODMAPS (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols). These are essentially short chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and and can cause irritable bowel like symptoms. My first clue was discovering that I was lactose intolerant and then I realized that fructose was a culprit along with other sugars. I also was having a terrible intolerance to onions and garlic, and those are huge problems in the FODMAP world. I'm sharing this because this has been a break through for me. I now feel SO much better. I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered this. I have even found a pilot study out of Monash University in Australia--The Effect of Reducing Dietary FODMAP Intake on Bowel Function in Patients without a Colon (Croagh, et al).
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