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!

Having read the comments on here & had a read on some other sites I think I am definately going to try the high protein/low carb stuff. I went to see the consultant today & am having a colonoscopy in the NY to check I don't have any other problems - chrons or colitis. Dr was quite concerned as I had a very low blood count earlier in the year 6.3 and needed a transfusion so he wants to make sure I'm not bleeding anywhere but apart from that I'm apparantly quite healthy & he thinks that if he rules other conditions out we can then just treat for IBS. I'm glad its getting sorted at last altho not looking forward to the tests!!!

OK lovely people, quick update - sorry for being so quiet! Christmas was a rather busy time of course!!

So, I got the bottle of Symprove through and read through all the blurb and it says to take the Symprove in the morning before eating so that it gets to the gut better. So I'm having that and then waiting a little while before breakfast to give it a real chance. And... I have to say... fingers crossed that this qon't jinx it, but I've noticed an improvement.

I'll keep you posted each week, but I had the best Christmas on record. A little bit of trouble but probably because I overindulged on Christmas day itself (had goose for the first time this year - was delicious, smelt like a Dickensian Christmas in our house!!!!), but apart from that, I've not had anything like the daily pain I used to get. We shall see what happens long term.

Chickydoo- you poor thing. I have a good friend who is IBS_D and severe, like you. I'm goign to get her to try the Symprove stuff to see if it works for the D-ers too. She'll be a guinea pig for you and I'll let you know how she gets on if she'll agree to do it. I know a few people with Ulcerativ Colitus and Crohn's Disease so I've heard lots of TMI stories over the years! IT's something we have to talk about, no-one should suffer in silence. THat's what I lvoe about forums like this one. We can just be honest!!

Oh yeah, and... I worked out that the amount of this drink I take each day (about 50ml - you take a ml for each kg, but i'm eeking mine out a bit as measuring 53ml is, frankly, silly lol! whose eyes are that good?!) versus what I would spend on prescriptions and painkillers etc etc... it's not that much difference money-wise. Which was my biggest concern.

So.. if it works, I'm going to be cock-a-hoop!

Just in case anyone wanted to know what's going on wtih my bowels - lol!!! Things are still getting a little bit better each day.

I'm religously taking the Symprove and I've had another bottle since then. They did say that it's best to keep it going for a few months to really balance stuff out, which seems reasonable. the bottle actually lasted longer than I thought it would.

I just wanted to update you and to wish MrsPinotGrigio good luck with colonoscopy xxx

Thanks for the update - I read your last one too. I'm still thinking about trying it...

Well, thus far I'd highly recommend it. Get themango and passionfruit one - it's yummy. The plain flavour tastes a bit medicinal apparently!! :-)

Hi I am heading for my colonoscopy today. Not looking forward to it. its IBS-D That I'm suffering from. Went through a really stressful patch in July 2011 and it left me with constantly needing the loo. It has been getting better but still need to have a camera investigation

I tried VSL3 wow talk about making it worse. It was awful. I only took two sachets and I was bloated with explosive D.

I'm going to try the FODMAP diet, if they don't find anything wrong inside me. It has originated from Oz and apparently it quite good. But like most things what works for one person doesn't for another.

I've also decided to stop giving myself such a hard time over this. So I'm tired all the time and panicking about where the toilets are. That's ok. It understandable. One small step at a time and some prep and I can get on with my life.

Hi Just thought I'd update you all - had my colonoscopy about 3 weeks ago & saw the consultant on Friday - I have Crohn's disease but its not in my lower bowel so I am having a barium meal in the next few weeks to check my small intestine. Blood tests also showed that my B12 level is low so I may need injections for that in the future. Apparantly Crohn's in the small intestine can stop absorption of B12 and can cause sever anaemia - something I am an expert in after last year when I needed a transfusion during our holiday in Florida!!!!

Having been weighed on Friday I have now lost a stone since November & now weigh 8 stone!!! Dr has given me a prescription for build up shakes & has advised me to just eat as much as I can when I can. Am still in a lot of pain & am seeing the GP tomorrow for advice on that.

I'm going to wait til my diagnosis is confirmed before changing my diet as consultant has said they will refer me to a dietician. Will keep you posted as and when I have any news.

Vicky so glad that the Symprove is working for you - must be a big relief & I hope you keep on improving.

Pinot - bless you, I'm sorry to hear that. My dentist has Crohn's. Have you heard of Crohn's and Colitis UK? They have a helpline. I looked up the website for you - www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

It is a big relief with the Symprove working. Fingers crossed, no side effects (although I guess there wouldn't be as it's natural ingredients and gluten/lactose free). Its now just a case of getting the rest of life organised! LoL!!

Peachy - I heard that VSL3 made things worse on anotehr forum. I'd definitely recommend Symprove from my own experiences. Like I said earlier in this thread, it does seem expensive, but realistically if it tones down all the symptoms, then I'm not filling myself with painkillers/opther medication, which all adds up.

xxx

Ive noticed they have started to sell this cheaply at medical specialists where i get all my medicines from. its only £19.93 which seems quite cheap from what ive seen. www.medical-specialists.co.uk/chemist-shop/symprove.php
if anyones interested! good luck girls x

My IBS seemed to improve greatly after I started taking Cerazette mini pill 2 years ago. I came off it about a month ago and my IBS is back. So I am pretty convinced now, i think its to do with oestrogen levels or the womb contractions. I am going back on it asap.

I have had IBS c for 20 odd years and it drives me nuts!

After a bad bout recently, I have cut out bananas completely, have porridge for breakfast and use lactofree stuff. I also take yakult and it does seem to work for me. I take it 20 mins before breakfast (same principle as sy prove as it does make sense)

I have also cut out bread (I would kill for some toast & jam right now!) and sweetners.

So far so good!

Really helpful info - thanks everyone. My 13 year old son suffers with IBS - both C & D, and has had to go on to lacto free milk, and more recently, cut out bread, which has definitely helped. We have now bought Symprove, and yesterday was his first day. Unfortunately, he had a bad night, vomiting etc, but not sure if this is anything to do with the Symprove or just coincidence. He did have jacket potato with beans and cheese for tea - and he has not had cheese for ages, so it could well have been that that caused the sickness! I need to persuade him to give Symprove another go, as can't give up after just one day! Will keep you all posted, but if it helps, then I think it will be well worth the money, as he gets so anxious when going to school, or to rugby, in case he gets caught short.

I had diarrhoea every day of my life for 15 years, plus horrendous wind, bloating and cramps.
I was diagnosed with IBS and told to try probiotics. Didn't work.

I have done the following:
Switched to lactofree milk and yogurts
Switched to gluten free pasta and bread
Cut out all fruit except bananas
Started CBT

And for the last 3 weeks I have had one solid vowel movement (sorry for TMI) every day.

The relief is immense

Ha! Bowel not vowel!!! A vowel movement would be like ooooaaaaa which IS actually the noise I used to make with my cramps!

Morning ladies

My dad told me about Symprove after he the article in the Daily Mail. I did think it was expensive but having only been diagnosed at the beginning of the year thought it was worth a try, so I bought two bottles. I got mine from Nutricentre.com as I did a search for vouchers and there was one for 10% off your first order and free P&P over the order amount I spent.
I'm on my second bottle now and must admit I'm more regular now although I am still getting some symptoms. I swing between the two but mainly D unless I have a stree trigger. You take 1 mil for each kilo you weigh so how long a bottle lasts will vary for everyone but I'm getting through a bottle a week. I'm giving it the 3 months to reset my system so fingers crossed I hope this helps some of you to maybe give it a try. Clare from Essex

Just ordered another 4 bottles and another 10% of as they have an offer for 4 bottles.

Just wanted to say I struggled with IBS c for several years. It started when I began taking fluoxetine for pnd. Gp told me that it was an unfortunate side effect, and to drink more water (I was a water-guzzling thing at the time).

I assumed it would go away when I came off the Prozac, but it made no difference.my gp gave me charcoal tablets which just gave me stomach cramps added to the d.

Then I saw a kinesiologist < woo alert > and followed her advice almost to the letter. There was a huge list of 'don'ts,' including wheat, dairy ( of course), potatoes, in fact, all nightshade plants, tomatoes, beef, pork, alchohol, tea, coffee, sugar - the list went on...
I followed that regimen for about 3 years, feeling like a freak and fussy if I went out. It worked like a dream. I started eating normally again by necessity when we were having a new kitchen built and I couldn't be arsed to cook separately for me. I was absolutely fine.

Looking back, I think it's most likely the wheat and dairy that were the culprits. Also one thing she recommended that really made a difference: drinking a pint of warm water on rising, waiting half an hour for breakfast. In fact, only drinking an hour after and half an hour before meals - never drinking with food.

Sounds stringent and weird, but I'm convinced it helped enormously.