I was diagnosed around late 2010 with irritable bowel syndrome. I managed to get it under control on the whole with my diet - ie avoiding caffeine in espresso sized doses, high fibre foods (I got the type where too much fibre can be an irritant), but around 3 weeks ago I had a fairly bad case of viral gastroenteritis. Since then, I seem to have become super sensitive with my IBS. Tried going for one run, and I was in so much pain just had to finish off walking. Just seems really hard to get back under control, and pretty much had a few issues every few days since then.
Running just seems to make my stomach hurt since then. Anyone else do triathlons and have IBS? I’m meant to be doing a race tomorrow but if I’m like this will prob have to withdraw, and will be 3rd race this year I haven’t started cos of illness!
This is more of a vent than anything - I am likely going to go back to my doctor next week - just wanting to know what others’ experiences have been like.
I have read that one of the signs of overtraining can be diarrhea. Don’t know if this might partially apply, but just though it might be worth mentioning.
I experienced a huge improvement when I gave up gluten. Honestly, I didn’t notice much change day to day, but during workouts - it was an amazing difference!
If you haven’t tried it already, might be worth a try.
My girlfriend quit (well not entirely) gluten food and has tried to maintain good nutrition altogether.
Since then no single episode of IB and she has also noticed her energy levels rising and her tummy not being as “bloated” (sorry if it isn’t the right word as i am not a native english speaker). Anyway way better since she has reduced her consumption of gluten.
I had IBS-like symptoms of gut pain and bloating until I quit gluten 3 years ago. It made for awful running, the jostling and movement was uncomfortable to say the least. You don’t mention your symptoms, but I agree with the others that this is one possibility. It’s also possible that your gut is still recovering from the virus, either immunologically or structurally, and these symptoms could fade. It is also my understanding that gut infections can increase gluten sensitivity so even if you weren’t sensitive before you might could be now. Your doc might answer that. Best of luck!
get your meds and nutrition right. get yourself into full remission. and in some cases you’ll have to get yourself onto an pretty tight eating schedule so your stomach is empty before running/training.
you really need to figure out what things will work for you, and its a lot of trial and error.
Probably not the best but when i feel it coming on and i have a race or long run that day i take 1 immodium… 2 would kill me but 1 gets me through. I also plan my longer runs going past gas stations that have public bathrooms.
IF* you have a gluten sensitivity, you would give up gluten-containing pasta and bread. Rice is OK, along with gluten-free pastas and breads. I went full Paleo and gave up grains altogether, so I’m not familiar with the g-free stuff. 3 IM’s and 2 ultramarathons later, I can say that training and racing long course without grains is possible. And since you don’t know yet, no need to worry about what to eat.
My symptoms were a little different from yours–the pain and bloating were obvious, but it wasn’t until I cleaned up the diet that I also realized nausea, heartburn, mental fogginess, and fatigue went along with the gluten. I didn’t have the changes in “output” you describe. So we are probably talking about different things, meaning you might be able to keep eating bread and pasta But I noticed a difference after only 3 days without gluten, for me it was an easy test. After living that way for 15 years it was not hard to change my eating habits! Feel free to PM me with questions.
I have issues also, just make sure I have bathroom stops along my run routes, always carry wetnaps. Usually not a problem but it can be. The funny thing is, running is one of the only things that helps my stomach. Good Luck!
I used to plan my runs around bathrooms, making sure there was one between 20-30 minutes in. then I gave up gluten (yes, pasta and breads, but now there are good alternatives to wheat pasta and even good breads made w/o gluten…but giving up those seriously helped my weight control). I felt so much better running and could run anywhere w/o having to worry about pitstops.
I eat gluten from time to time, mostly when I know I won’t be running for a few days or after big races. I just can’t not eat pizza and cake from time to time. But I pay the consequences for it when I do.
I’ll also add that I went through a GI infection and it got worse for a while. It was about 6 months before it got better. I’d be okay for a couple weeks, then it would be back. but I finally rested for a few weeks and it cleared up.
Had/has some similar issues and thought it might be related to lactose, then my wife (a dietician) and I tracked food/drinks I consumed and found out I was/am allergic to SORBITOL, a sugar subsitute that is everywhere these days. Once we figured it out and started looking closely at labels things really settled down. Only real issues now is when we eat out, but getting better. She told me allergic reactions with SORBITOL are very common and give ALL the signs you mentioned. Just a thought…
Absolutely agree. I never knew how incredibly sensitive I am…until I realized I can’t have ANY gluten in my house/diet. Cross contamination is a big deal. I was diagnosed as IBS, but I refused the celiacs boipsey since I knew I’d have a hard time eating that much gluten for the test to work. But I was not super strict…so I never got a clear read on things. In any case, I tried many things until I was forced to go 100% gluten free (the entire household as well) because I was malnourished despite my stellar diet, and was having a lot of random body pain.
I now have NO symptoms running–I joke that I know where every large sage brush is in the foothills. For years I thought I was doing “good” by eating whole grain cereals & milk–such a deadly combo in the end. And now I am “solid” and regular. Gluten free means no bread (unless it’s gluten free), pasta (brown rice pasta is good), a lot of sauces have gluten, & all hidden sources. Turns out I am skin allergic as well (light acne and psorasis) so all my personal care products are also gluten free. All that has cleared.
I am recovering from workouts (now) and feeling really good. My non-related issues such as peripheral neuropathy have been resolved with a gluten free diet as well. I’ve also seen a complete reversal in someone with Chron’s disease, by going 100% gluten free.
Check out Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD…a triathlete (or his wife is I can’t recall)…but he shows the various medical issues that arises due to gluten, including cholesterol problems.
I did give up coffee, but have not tried it again out of fear of breaking the upward cycle I’m on.
The part about cholesterol just caught my eye. I’ve had high cholesterol since age 17. Two years ago I switched to a low GI diet and gave up wheat for 9 weeks and in that short time, my cholesterol dropped 97 points (284 to 187) I thought it was low GI aspect, never considered the connection between gluten and cholesterol, but now I’m intrigued!!
I’ve seen the (huge!) difference in my running by eliminating gluten, guess it’s not surprising it would affect more…wow!
I was diagnosed around late 2010 with irritable bowel syndrome. I managed to get it under control on the whole with my diet - ie avoiding caffeine in espresso sized doses, high fibre foods (I got the type where too much fibre can be an irritant), but around 3 weeks ago I had a fairly bad case of viral gastroenteritis. Since then, I seem to have become super sensitive with my IBS. Tried going for one run, and I was in so much pain just had to finish off walking. Just seems really hard to get back under control, and pretty much had a few issues every few days since then.
Running just seems to make my stomach hurt since then. Anyone else do triathlons and have IBS? I’m meant to be doing a race tomorrow but if I’m like this will prob have to withdraw, and will be 3rd race this year I haven’t started cos of illness!
This is more of a vent than anything - I am likely going to go back to my doctor next week - just wanting to know what others’ experiences have been like.
I work in a clinic where we see a lot of this condition. Strongly recommend you get tested for food allergies. Gluten and dairy are the two biggest offenders. We have seen many patients completely turn their lives around through dietary changes.
I can’t add much to this discussion except to mention a book called “Romance, Riches and Restrooms” by Tim Phelan. It’s a couple of years old but this is pretty good read. Phelan was also a pro triathlete and he discusses some of the issues he had with training and life in general. IBS cost him several relationships and jobs. It’s a funny but frank discussion about a very serious issue. Some of you may know Tim; he was living in Boulder when he was competing in triathlon. I got a copy of the book when I was in the newspaper business. I called him, did an interview with him and wrote a review of for our paper. Might want to pick it up.
But I noticed a difference after only 3 days without gluten, for me it was an easy test. After living that way for 15 years it was not hard to change my eating habits! Feel free to PM me with questions.