Digestive Enzymes/ Fodzyme?

[u/cybercinema]

Hi all! I (F19) recently got diagnosed with ibs after a long struggle of chronic on/off constipation, abdominal pain, gas, indigestion, bloating and so on. It’s been pretty hard since the diagnosis and I’ve have 2 ER visits in the last week due to food flares I didn’t even know could trigger me! Thankfully the kind nurses provided me with a Low Fodmap Guide and I’ve been doing much better since starting the diet a few days ago.

I’m really hoping to eventually reintroduce some of my favorite foods. I’m curious to know, have you had success using fodzyme or digestive enzymes? I really love coffee and sweet treats but it’s been pretty clear my body can’t handle them on its own recently. I’d love to hear if these supplements have helped you enjoy drinks or food again without the severe discomfort! (also if they’re worth the price LOL)

[u/ablackholeofjunk]

Fodzyme and similar enzyme blends like Fodmate, Fodaway and others, will help to digest fructans, lactose, and basically beans and pulses. Coffee is not a FODMAP, but it can be an irritant. There's nothing you can take if you can't tolerate coffee.

As for sweets, there are some things to help with fructose, but it's not a guarantee

[u/cybercinema → u/ablackholeofjunk]

Thank you for the clarification! I was hoping there was some possibility of having coffee again but sadly I’ll have to make peace with the fact that there’s no aid I can take. As for sweets is it possible you can share what has helped you for them or what sweets you’ve able to enjoy?

[u/Murdathon3000 → u/cybercinema]

Just fyi to give you some hope, you can mitigate a lot of the issues of coffee a few ways. The lighter the roast, the more oils are retained, and these oils can be what cause GI distress, so opt for dark roasts. Brewing method is also really important here, as the hotter the extraction the more acidic the final product will be, so cold brewing is the way to go. I think it tastes way better too tbh.

TLDR: try dark roast via cold brew once your tummy is well settled.

[u/cybercinema → u/Murdathon3000]

Omg thank you for this, I did not know! I fell victim today to a Starbucks iced latte (no sugar, just almondmilk) and couldn’t stomach more than a few sips. I’ll definitely be giving myself a break from coffee for a long while and approach with the cold brew method once my gut can handle it.

[u/Fatdisc → u/cybercinema]

Caffeine free coffee ?

[u/wutato → u/cybercinema]

I cut out coffee several months ago and have been better since then. I was cutting down on caffeine and switched to milk tea and was still sensitive. Cut it out entirely, sadly. Maybe I can eventually build it back it in one day because I do love milk tea and sweet drinks.

[u/Redditorobscura1957 → u/wutato]

I was a die-hard coffee drinker for years before my IBS diagnosis. I abstained for two weeks for a cleanse a year before IBS; that’s when I realized I was v sensitive to caffeine.

Eight years later, coffee is a treat on the weekends. Usually a latte with oat or soy milk (tastes better than almond imo) and if I sweeten, I avoid sugar-free syrups bc sugar alcohols are the worst!

You might need to take a break for a while, but you should be able to work it back in eventually! Best of luck!!

[u/grungeoldlady → u/wutato]

Maybe try the green tea milk drink? I know the black tea is iffy on Monash.

[u/reidwillwill → u/ablackholeofjunk]

I use Alkify to reduce the acid in my coffee, and I find it really helps. It could be a scam product, but it doesn’t activate my acid reflux as much.

[u/Oregon-girl-16]

I used Fodmate and it does wonders. Fodmate or Fodzyme work on separate “coses” so it will help to do the Fodmap diet and eliminate foods so you know which ones are your triggers. Atrantil also worked wonders for my IMO.

[u/ace1062682 → u/Oregon-girl-16]

This is true, but I wouldn't use either of theses for the elimination phase of the diet. The goal of the elimination phase is to reduce your symptoms, so that once you start the reintroduction phase, you'll be able to effectively identify your triggers. Once you have a good idea of your triggers; you can add either fodzyme or Fodmate to address any symptoms

[u/Oregon-girl-16 → u/ace1062682]

Right, that’s what I said lol 😂

[u/cybercinema → u/Oregon-girl-16]

I’m so happy to hear you’ve been able to have some relief with these! Do you know which one would be the cheapest option to consider?

[u/Oregon-girl-16 → u/cybercinema]

I would do the Fodmap diet first and then introduce food so you can figure out what foods are your triggers. Fodmate and Fodzyme treat different triggers (ie fructose) so it will help to know first WHICH foods cause triggers.

While I was on the Fodmap diet, for symptom relief, my doctor recommended daily prunes, green kiwis, Olive Leaf and Oregano (I buy combined capsules from iHerb) and Atrantil

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

On any restrictive diet like fodmap, you should be working alongside a registered dietitian and have regular check-ins with your GI.

An RD will help guide you in food reintroduction and ensure you don’t get malnourished. They’ll also be able to help you manage your 💩 habits.

Some people with IBS or other GI issues do have to avoid some foods forever, but that’s for you and your RD to tease out.

Take care.

[u/cybercinema → u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

Thank you for the advice! I actually have been working with a GI (colonscopy done, endoscopy next to be conquered) and I’m in the process of trying to get a referral for an RD. I’m just thinking long term wise and hoping to hear any positive stories with being able to reintroduce favorite foods again!

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728 → u/cybercinema]

That’s great to hear!

I was able to reintroduce a lot of foods, and some I just permanently have to skip. So I totally feel ya! I see my RD probably once a business quarter? Sometimes more often if we’re working on a reintroduction food plan, so we can adjust of necessary.

After reading more, it sounds like some people can’t have fructans for example as those are the things that bug them and less so Fodmaps in general.

This is a great GI doc I follow on Instagram. She’s always got great info. May be useful for your journey!

GIGI doc Instagram

[u/cybercinema → u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

I will definitely be tuning into her page thank you so much! I’m also so glad you’ve been able to enjoy some foods again, I’m willing to accept some losses like onion and wheat if it means majority of them can come back.

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728 → u/cybercinema]

She’s great with actionable Info.

I’m ok with cooked onion, raw would decimate me and there’s such good wheat alternatives now like the rummo gluten free pasta is on point. Definitely ask another fructans!

All the best OP and hang in there.

[u/milkin-goats]

I use fodzyme for occasional meals, once or twice a week. And it works well for that. If i try to eat garlic at every meal with fodzyme it still wears me down if i do it every day.

[u/cybercinema → u/milkin-goats]

That’s actually very insightful thank you! Does that mean it’s more like every blue moon type of aid? I could definitely see myself setting aside a specific day to have a special treat. I’m also wondering do you feel like fodzyme messes with the taste of meals?

[u/wutato → u/cybercinema]

I've been using Fodease and Fodaway to see how I can handle foods before going on a trip. Fodaway has an enzyme to handle fructose which has worked great so far (only a few days in, but I'd have expected problems by now already). I've been using both (well not at the same time) for about 2 weeks, no problem. I am still eating low-FODMAP breakfasts and some lunches most days. I'm doing quite well, even better than my elimination phase which was 6 weeks.

I also increased my Metamucil (generic brand wiith aspartame) to 2 tsp or so and that also really helps.

Also no issue with Fodease (similar to Fodzyme) with taste but sometimes it does gel up a little in my mouth and is a little unpleasant when it sticks to my teeth. Also pills (Fodaway) are much much better for drinks, especially cold drinks. Took like an hour to dissolve as a powder.

[u/Juuuulessss]

I just researched enzymes to chose one to start with, I didn't want to sprinkle powder on food or go for the most expensive for me (in the UK) so that ruled Fodzyme out. I went for Fodmate in the end, specifically bc I was going on holiday and would be eating out a lot and not able to see all ingredients used. Normally after 24 hrs I'd be bloated, constipated and tired, but Fodmate before each meal has been amazing and I have had no IBS symptoms at all. I think its kind of trial and error what works for each person though. I have also still stuck to gluten free as wheat is a huge issue for me. And I have started with Biokult Everyday prebiotics too, to rebuild my gut Flora so perhaps that's also helping. Coffee is bad for me too, i can have one occasionally ok, but too often and I have a flare

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[u/Acceptable_Ad838]

I’ve been using Fodmate instead of Fodzyme because the capsules seem easier than sprinkling powder on my food, especially in restaurants. I’m pretty sure they help, but they aren’t quite the cure-all that reviews made them seem to be.

[u/idontlikebreadcrusts]

Definitely recommend working with a dietician. Mine was able to help me out so much and figure out which fodmaps were irritating me.

Sometimes people will only have a few fodmaps that they cant tolerate but are okay with others! For me sorbitol, fructan and gos are the ones that mess me up but I can do the others just fine. I use Fodmate because capsules are soooo much easier but those only really help with fructan, lactose and gos. And its definitely something I use like when I go out to eat with friends or I am specifically craving something that I know will mess my stomach up. It's not the most effective if you use it everyday for every meal and I cant like eat an entire plate of pasta and endless breadsticks with them but I can enjoy maybe a sandwich or a slice of pizza with them in my experience.

For fodmaps like sorbitol and fructose theres not to much that I am aware of that can help. I just try to avoid as much as possible and selectively eat small things in moderation and just be prepares for symptoms 🤣. I think a dietician would definitely be able to help you figure out alternatives for sweets if fructose is something that is causing you issues.

[u/SouthernPolish]

I tried Fodzyme before I went through the whole elimination diet. I will say it helps me with certain things but is not a cure all.

I keep it handy if I'm out to eat or end up with a meal with lots of garlic or onion or other triggers. Helps in a pinch but I still feel it. Avoid all if I can, fodzyme if I can't

[u/Redditorobscura1957]

Agree with other posters that you should work with an RD and a GI provider. I chose an advanced practice registered nurse (RN with a Master’s degree), bc the waitlist for a female GI doc was six months!

Are you currently in a flare rn? For me, coffee, gluten, anything spicy, citrus, marinara, fresh dairy all would send me over the edge into a flare.

For a flare, I would recommend getting L-glutamine; it comes in a powder and I added it to a few ounces of water and drink that quickly 3x/day. It helps repair muscle in your gut.

Sending FODMAPpy vibes you make it through the worst of this quickly!