IBS sufferers

[Vickymumof2]

Hi,

I did mention this in an older thread abotu IBS but no-one has replied, so I guess it's a dead thread. But has anyone seen the article in the Daily Mail from a couple of weeks ago about a probiotic that's been proven to help IBS?
It was here:
//www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2067322/So-nonsense-Probiotic-drinks-tame-irritable-bowels.html
Has anyone tried it? I'm IBS-C. My friend is a holistic healer and did my kinesiology test to see if I was intolerant to anything and yeast, gluten and coffee came up the strongest. I?m a bit skeptical about the whole thing, but having gone gluten-free, I have to say it has made a bit of difference. Started avoiding red meat. And obviously any gassy veg. Carbs are still on my hate list, as they do seem to make things worse. I just want to be able to eat a varied diet though.
I did try the Actimel/Yakult stuff but didn't make any difference, but this one is apparently not dairy, and it's just natural stuff.

Please- has anyone tried it? I want to get some opinions before I leap in and buy it. It's more expensive than the other probiotics so I want to see if it's worth it.

Thanks!

[OneWaySystemBlues]

I have not tried it, but it does look good. It looks expensive though. I am tempted to try it...
I find that refined carbs make my IBS worse. And fatty food. And milk. I read an article by Professor Whorwell (mentioned in that article) who said lots of people think they are sensitive to milk when in fact it's not the milk but the fat content. He suggests having skimmed milk instead of semi-skimmed (0.02% fat v 2% fat) and that can do the trick. It's worked with me - I used to feel tummy achey and bloaty within minutes of cereal with semi-skimmed milk, but I can tolerate it with skimmed.
I get fed up, as sometimes it feels like everything I eat makes me feel bloated. And at others, I can eat anything. I would be interested in anything that could help me eat a more varied diet too.

[RetroMuff]

I suffered from IBS for many years (constipation, bloating and severe pain) and find the following help tremendously -

Organic bio yoghurt (a little daily on an empty stomach) - Yeo is best for me.
Linseeds or linseeds in bread - daily (Burgen is great, and not at all stodgy)
skimmed milk, like OneWaySystemBlues said

Actimel/Yakult made no difference to me whatsoever.

I avoid too much sugar and chocolate as I know they are triggers for me. I also avoid 'stodgy'-type bread but can eat and drink almost anything else, including alcohol.

[cardamomginger]

My consultant said that the only probiotic that had any real evidence to support it was VSL#3 www.vsl3.com/ and he recommended that I give it a go. I did. It made it all SO MUCH WORSE . Am lactose intolerant so couldn't give the Actimel/Yakult stuff a go.

[RnB]

Very low carb eating definitely helps my IBS. This may be purely because it's very low gluten. Interesting article, would be interested to see the results...

[Meglet]

Can't read it on my phone but will look tomorrow.

I'm at my wits end trying to figure out what causes my 'IBS'. I get results from my colonoscopy tomorrow, I'm half hoping they know what's causing it but I suspect they won't and we'll head down the endoscopy route next.

rnb interesting that you think low carb helps, I've gone back to eating meat and think that more protein in my diet helps.

[Bunbaker]

I get IBS -D, but as I have got older it has improved a lot. I find that my triggers are: a high fibre diet, wholegrains, cream, rich food, coffee, too much fruit and too much alcohol.

It has taken doctors far too long to realise that diarrhoea related IBS is made worse by a high fibre diet, but it's common sense really.

I would also be interested in finding out whether this stuff is any good.

[Vickymumof2]

OneWaySystemBlues - that's what I liked about the sound of this one - lactose and gluten free!!! I have a couple of friends who swing between IBS-C and -D. I think I'm going to try this stuff. What they said on the website about how it works makes so much sense - cardamomginger - it talks about the freeze dried stuff and why it probably hasn't worked for you.
www.symprove.com/why-symprove-different.php

I just like the fact it's not packed full of sugar. I'm so bored of stuffing medication and :-( ADs into me. I really think that there must be more natural ways of sorting it all out. Our diets have changed so much in the last few centuries, we probably eat stuff that our bodies weren't designed to take. And the whole exclusion diet thing to work out triggers - it's just not practical with a family to feed as well! Although cooked cauliflower does nothing good for me lol!!

Fizzy drinks, bread, red meat... all the things I love! Grrrr!!!

[Vickymumof2]

I just rang them (very brave of me, I hate calling people up) and they were soooo nice. I didn't order any though - see I'm a wimp!

The trouble is I?m just frazzled and I'm on citalopram (10mg) but I don?t want to be on them forever ? so many of my friends rely on them. I can hardly preach a healthy lifestyle to my kids if I'm knocking back ADs like they're Smarties. Which I dont, I hasten to add, but I just love the idea of something natural sorting it all out.

That video on their website is broken - but I found it on youtube (I googled Symprove and IBS and it came up)
www.youtube.com/watch?www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XXvsQuHpfSo

It reminds me of the science videos we used to get at school!!! lol!

This is so nice being able to talk about it all! OH isn't particularly interested bless him. Doesn't get it at all!

[RetroMuff]

Meglet I also find more protein in my diet helps. Strange, isn't it? Lots of fruit & veg - not good, but red meat helps my constipation. Very odd.

[Vickymumof2]

Do you guys find that OHs are a bit funny about it? My DH isn?t much help at all bless him. He showed me a sketch by Sean Lock about wheat intolerance and bloating and it made me laugh a bit, but it does go to show how people view this kind of thing. It?s just seen as a moan. But if you feel the pain like I do you?ll know that I?d give anything not to have it. I?ve got better things to do with my time than just double up in agony on the sofa/watch what I eat.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FUbOomQRe8

Things like this make me reluctant to talk about it to anyone. And often I?ll avoid certain social situations. Whihc is ridiculous.

Red meat makes my belly ache RetroMuff. Lucky you! I miss it terribly! :-(

[OneWaySystemBlues]

I find more protein helps - well, less carbs anyway. Unfortunately I love crappy carbs - bread, biscuits, crisps etc. I can tell if I've had too much because I start feeling bloaty. It helps if I vary my carbs - i.e. not the same sort more than once a day, so cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch and potato for tea. I also find that pita bread is less bloat making than normal bread - less yeast? If I have too much bread in a day that can trigger it off.
But fat is a killer - I can get really bad ibs after things like quiche - butter in pastry, cheese in egg bit. I've taken to not having butter in my sandwiches either - find I feel better if I don't.
Also eating late in the evening is bad for me - bloats me up and I can't sleep. But if I eat the same meal earlier, i'll be fine. It makes going out for a meal difficult though.
Stress is a killer too. But often I'll get an attack when the stress has let up a bit.
My OH is OK about it, but I do feel self conscious because so much makes me feel bad at times that eating out stresses me out, which also doesn't help. It makes me feel "fussy" when all I'm trying to do is not feel crappy. It makes me feel tired - because like Vicky says, I have better things to do than sit on my sofa with a heat pack feeling horrible.

[Littlefish]

Aloe Vera gel sorted my IBS out almost completely after taking it for 3 weeks. I took it for about a year in total, and now, just take it when I'm going through a stressful time at work.

I agree with many others - fat makes mine flare up, particularly the fat in curry!

[Bunbaker]

I tries Aloe Vera and it didn't make any difference.

[Bunbaker]

tried not tries!

[Bunbaker]

C = constipation symptoms. D = Diarrhoea symptoms. Some sufferers veer from one to the other.

[Bunbaker]

I didn't. I had to look it up.

[Vickymumof2]

When I was looking it all up when I was diagnosed about 5 years ago, I was so surprised to find out how many people have it - its about 1 in 5. Mainly women - why's it always us. Or that could be because we have the guts (hahaha, unintentional pun) to talk about it and go to the doctor.

Anyway, I think it's probably a case of trying different things to see what works. I've gone ahead and ordered a bottle of that symprove stuff. Should arrive this week. Would be lovely if it sorted me out for Christmas!! I think that might be a bit optimitic though!

Yes - prob the fat in red meat. Everyone just seems to be different with it.

And double yes - people think I'm a fussy eater too!!!

[MrsPinotGrigio]

I have IBS-C and have recently had a very bad flare up to the point that I have now been off work for a month as the pain is so bad. I'm waiting to see a consultant as GP thinks I need further investigations. Am just about managing to eat properly & the pain has reduced with loads of medication. I have been researching on the internet & have noticed there is some thought that reducing carbs & increasing protein helps so I was wondering if anyone had tried this & if so what are the results? I think I may try after Christmas - too frightened to change anything now as don't want any more problems over the weekend.

[OneWaySystemBlues]

I watched The Food Hospital last night and they had a bit on about IBS and a new diet/research from Australia called the FODMAP diet. It is basically eliminating stuff from the diet, often fructose based, that ferments in the gut, causing IBS symptoms. It has apparently been shown to improve 75% of suffers' symptoms. In this country you can only find out more about it from Guy's hospital, although there's a bit about it on the Food Hospital website on Channel4.com. I also found this: ibsdietplan.org/the-low-fodmap-diet/ which explains a bit more. It sounds promising.

[MrsPinotGrigio]

Funny enough I spoke to our my company's occupational health people this morning and she mentioned that programme. I was intending to look for it on the on demand thingy for C4 when I have a bit more time. It does sound quite interesting and will defo look at the website you've linked to.

[chickydoo]

IBS D here, I should say double D. It can be so bad sometimes, if I am going out, I just don't eat, as I have been caught short so many times (TMI SORRY)
The worst triggers are any white sauces, pastry, cake, cheese on toast. Anything combining fat and flour, but sometimes it can seem to flare up out of the blue and have bouts of D 20 times a day for a week. Best diet for me is baked fish, mashed pots, root veg, simple protien and light food.
Diagnosed 20 years ago (approx)

[MrsPinotGrigio]

Oh god poor you - I can't imagine how horrible it is to have to go to the loo that many times a day. At the moment I am managing the symptoms with meds but don't want to rely on them long term plus they can make things unpredictable iyswim? I have cut out a lot of foods but feel I do need to make some other changes to get myself back to 'normal'. I know its linked to stress & this year has not been the best (bereavement, family illness etc) so am looking forward to the new year.

[HaveUrselfAFaithyChristmasBaby]

I've been diagnosed with ibs for 5 years. I swing between the two. I've had kinesiology to which indicated a slight sensitivity to wheat and freckled carbs. Over the years I found ten wheat issues got worse. Now I have a gluten free diet which iradicates the worst of the diarrhoea! and I tried a high protein diet recently until some personal upheaval lots of protein, nuts, very little processed food, I was so well! No gas, regular bowels movements ?tmi but hey it's an ibs thread. Also my skin was brilliant. I lost 2 inches from my stomach in a month which I think was loss of bloating! I also found my pms was better.
Back on the diet after Christmas!