IBS help

[Twinkletoes91]

Has anybody got any good tips or suggestions to help reduce signs of IBS? Feel like its interfering with my life and stopping me enjoying life :(

I was interested that you said that, because I've often thought that a severe bout of gastro-enteritis on holiday (possibly food poisoning) could have been one of the triggers for my IBS.

Not sure about being related to hormones. Mine was definitely stress related though.

Rabbit mine is definately hormonal!! Every time Im due to ovulate without fail it flairs up, or when I'm really stressed!!

Ibs here, too! Mine seemed to start after I got really bad D & V on an exotic holiday. I went to the GP after a year or so, they said "yes, you've got IBS" and sent me out the door.

After struggling on for more months Dh decided I couldn't go on like that and made me go back to the GP to see if we could find out what was triggering the IBS- I'd kept a food diary and been on an exclusion diet but it hadn't pointed to anything.

I was referred to hospital and they gave me a breath test for Lactose which was positive. I now have a lactose free diet which is a pain (especially eating out as Lactose/dairy creeps into all sorts!) but I have been much better.
Still have some bad days, though, especially around my period as if I didn't feel grim enough already

I was also a very regular thrush sufferer, which always used to flare up around my period. In the reading I did about thrush, I discovered that there is a link between IBS and candida albicans (the overgrowth of which causes the thrush).

The other link is with long-term antibiotic usage; in my teens I had several courses of antibiotics to deal with acne.

I suppose there is one advantage to being menopausal, in that I don't have the same cycle any more!

IBS is a complicated issue.
First of all, you do need to be sure that's what it is. IBS is functional - that's to say there is no inflammation, blockage or other reason for it. You do need to make sure the GP has run tests to rule everything else out.
Secondly, many people find dietary considerations are important - some people find cutting out dairy or gluten helps, but each person is different. Probiotics can help the balance of gut flora.
Thirdly, colpermin can help soothe - peppermint oil in some other forms can cause acid reflux. Loperamide is a treatment only for symptoms, it shouldn't be taken regularly or long term.
Finally, stress reduction can help IBS. A good hypnotherapist can help (try this directory, which contains only qualified people) www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/
Here's a good article on the subject bit.ly/RhJgSu
(Source: I'm a qualified hypnotherapist)

I second what everyone has said, get a referral for tests, dont let the GP fob you off.

Ive had IBS for many years, and I have to take penicillin twice a day as I have no spleen , which doesnt help.

I take acidphillus in tablet form once a day, try and eat little and often rather than big meals. Very little bread and pasta as it fills me up to quickly. I also try and eat a very healthy low fat high veg/salad/fruit type of diet, but this is a double edged sword as I have to be very careful how much fresh food I eat. I also avoid beans/lentils etc like the plague. Stress is also a huge trigger.

I was lucky to be referred to Dr Peter Whorwell who is a pioneer in hypnotherapy for IBS, he immediately told me to stop eating "healthy" food and to eat more processed food as my body was less able to digest unprocessed food. This does work but I dont like to eat very much processed food.

The hypnotherapy I was taught helps me manage my pain, I also take spasmonal when I feel an attack coming on and I drink lots of peppermint and ginger tea. Exercixe also helps, I run.

Once you are absolutely sure its IBS you will be able to slowly try and find a diet that works for you.

I still drink wine :)

good luck

Mine is purely stress related. If I know I can't use the toilet or don't know where one is, that immediately sets it off.
My doctor is perfectly happy for me to use loperamide regularly and long term. When I have to travel every day, I take 2 in the morning about an hour before I leave. As another poster has said, just knowing I have taken it, is normally enough to keep things calm.
I am also on Mebeverine 3x daily which seems to help. I agree with peppermint being useful too.
The only things food wise which seem to set me off are spicy food and alcohol but the lopermide controls this after a while.

It takes a long time to learn how to manage this horrible 'syndrome' but over time you will discover what works for you.
Unfortunately you probably will have to keep going back to the doctors as you try different treatments but hang in there, things do get better.

Interesting thread!
I used to suffer from IBS.....until i discovered 'the Harcombe Diet'!
It backs up what BIWI says above, about eating low-carb, and natural foods.
It's changed my life (plus I've lost 3 stone doing it!)

I have IBS and have found that the only thing that helps is avoiding my triggers where possible ie: my triggers are raw onions and peppers (curses, damn and darn it, because I could eat raw onions all day long), tomatoes (ok in small cooked doses, terrible in large doses either raw or cooked) coffee and stress (ha! fat chance!)

I also try where possible to avoid constipation, by drinking lots of water and trying to at least do some bending and stretching during the day, even if I can't do any intense exercise.

It took me about ten years to work out which foods were triggering my IBS; lots of trial and error was involved. I've just cut down dramatically on wheat and this has really helped me as well.

Another vote from me too for peppermint tea, and I've also found that aloe vera gel capsules help during a bad patch. Watch out though as the latter have a mild but distinctly laxative effect!

Sorry you're suffering, OP, I know how you feel though.

x

Hello OP, how are you getting on?
I have similar symptoms and if you can spare a minute from your newly wed life could you update us?
Congrats and hope your day went well.

Wedding went really well. Felt awful in the morning and had cramps in the evening. As soon as I got out of my dress I was there with my hot water bottle lol!!! Things have seemed to calm down a little so was probably stress that was the main trigger! Been trying to eat a balanced diet and have been keeping a food diary. So far it seems to be either pasta, onions or peppers :( my fav!!!

Pleased to hear it all went ok. Stress is a factor for me too, and I already know I can't cope with wheat but I'm looking into the possibilities that I have more foods I can't tolerate. Onions is one of them!
Hope all your symptoms settle down now the pressure is off.