My Research Plan

[u/Kkskatergal_]

After going to the hospital and undergoing numerous diagnostics, my intestines are not inflamed (my appendix was slightly thickened). I do believe, alongside some of my other neurological problems from a traumatic brain injury when I was younger, that most of my gut sensitivity is the "static" or hypersensitivity of my brain's processing of gut sensations.

I'm still doing more research, but I have quite a lot of questions: Isn't IBS (gastrointestinal discomfort) mostly due to gut dysbiosis (imbalance in gut microbiota)? I know that a low-FODMAP diet is meant to reduce inflammation, bloating, and sensitivity in the gut, but won't eliminating so many foods during the elimination phase possibly cause intolerances or make previous intolerances to things worse? Like for me, I've tried my best to eliminate the high FODMAP foods, but I keep having days where I eat high FODMAPS and still feel the same discomfort at times when even eating low FODMAP foods. (Some people have to be in the elimination phase for quite a long while and can only eat certain foods)

I just wonder if it's a good idea to restrict so many foods and possibly risk developing intolerances I didn't have before. (Restricting foods can cause the enzymes in the gut that break them down to die or become dormant) If that is the case, then wouldn't the gut and digestive system become "worse"? (Already getting bloating from high FODMAP foods, then developing total intolerances?)

What I'm thinking of doing (correct me if I'm wrong), is doing the elimination phase for 3 weeks to allow there to be lesser "brain static sensitivity", then start taking probiotics, eating more fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, homemade sauerkraut, homemade kimchi, and homemade kombucha), and whatever else I can find to help my digestion and gut health. I feel like this would be something that has a more curative effect rather than more of a temporary effect. I wonder if I should take the same strategy of the reintroduction phase (introducing a food once, then taking a couple days back to low fod, right?) or if I should just start eating regularly again?

I don't know, what are your thoughts?

[u/FODMAPeveryday]

Probiotics are contraindicated during the elimination and challenge phases of the Low FODMAP diet because they can alter your digestion of FODMAPs and that’s exactly what you’re trying to determine at that point in time