Anything I can try to put IBS back into remission?

[JacqueslePeacock]

I've had such a good period with it since I got pregnant (2 and a half years ago) that I'd almost forgotten what an utter misery it can be when it's bad. In the last 2 months it has come back with a vengeance. It's almost all D with very little C, plus cramps, bloating etc. Is there any tried and tested method for making it Just Fuck Off?

The thing that got rid of it for me was Multibionta. It's horrible isn't it?

What is Multibionta? I googled it but found lots of products with that name.

Yep, it's vile. I've thoroughly had enough now.

Oh sorry Jacques. I have looked and they have brought more out since I last looked. It is this.

It took a month or so. I suddenly realised I hadn't had a bout. I don't know whether I was a fluke. I wanted to take vitamins and thought the probiotics wouldn't do any harm.

If you've had IBS for a while (ie pre pregnancy), suggest you go to your GP and ask about being referred to a dietitian who would help you go on a FODMAP diet.

I had IBS for 20 years, and have almost 95% recovered after being on that diet.

It does need to be supervised, though.

Pre and Pro biotics help hugely, as well.

Thank you Sparkling - I will check it out.

FODMAP diet looks interesting, Blue, but very tough to follow (I'm vegetarian). I need to do something though so I will definitely find out more about this. I've had such a good couple of years without doing anything to control it, that I'm now dreading the idea of needing to take such radical measures, but I do need to do something as the symptoms are currently dreadful.

I sympathise - I had many years of this and it's awful. However, going gluten free for other reasons seems to have fixed mine. It might be worth a try. There are often dietary triggers - it's just finding them.

Gluten free did it for me too. A real pain but worth it not to be in agony. Also a good quality probiotic as well is essential.

Strong pro biotics in tablet form are v good for me.

Peppermint tablets 4x daily helped me.

Peppermint capsules work for me too - but you need the enteric coated ones from Holland and Barrett so they dissolve in the right place IYSWIM.

Just had a hideous and prolonged relapse and stopped eating little tomatoes and grapes as I read that fruits with skins can cause a flare-up. Feel much better (touch wood).

I've had repeated testing for coeliac though, and it's all come back negative - wouldn't that show up something if I were intolerant to wheat/gluten?

Thanks for all the suggestions. Have tried peppermint capsules before without noticing any improvement, but might be worth another go. Haven't tried pro-biotics (except lots of live yoghurt, which according to the FODMAP stuff may be making me worse!) so will look into them.

It is so, so grim, and yet seems often to be more-or-less dismissed - which drives me mad as the symptoms can be so severe I struggle to leave the house. I hate IBS.

I have had a re-occurrence recently.
I have realised that it is from eating too much salad and green leaves!

I am gutted(!) as guess what is prolifically growing on the allotment!! I love lettuce! Why am I allergic tolettuce!!
I took buscopan and it has really helped but not eased it completely.

I hope you soon feel well; as you said, we put the reality of IBS out of our minds. Otherwise we would live in dread!!

Earthy the tomatoes \grapes thing made me realise that I almost always have a bad relapse in the summer. It's all that salad stuff! Back to stews and pies for me then!

I find good quality bio yogurt and linseeds help tremendously.

Too much fruit, chocolate and bread can cause flare ups for me.

Me and dh do 5-2 eating (dh still does but I'm preg so on a break). It's really helped his IBS

Yes, I meant to say acupuncture too. I'm not coeliac (had all the tests) but lots of wheat just doesn't agree with me,the same as milk. I used to have a bowl of shredded wheat with skimmed milk every morning, sandwich for lunch and then all afternoon I'd be bloated, and in agony. I switched between constipation and diarrhoea.

I then took gluten and lactose out of my diet, increased the quality of my probiotics and frequency of acupuncture and life is very different.

Im not crazily strict I.e. will still have a splash of milk in my tea (as all alternatives are awful in tea/coffee) and will have the odd piece of cake or pud when I'm out but generally I try to be good and it makes a big big difference. I have almond milk now on wheat free cereals I.e. cornflakes or oats (they may contain gluten but not wheat) and eat wheat free bread if I need to.

It's worth a try for a couple of weeks (a couple of days won't do it) and just see the difference. I resisted for ages as I love bread but worth being pain free!

Good luck

My DH was "cured" by hypnotherapy. He bought a tape himself - he can't remember which one it was (he doesn't think it was this person) however having suffered from IBS for many, many years and tried lots of treatments he's now been symptom free for about 10 years (just after the tape sessions) healthyaudio.com/healthy-audio/about-us/michael-mahoney/

I am now lactose free, wheat free and egg free.

I used to eat gluten free bread which helped, but never realised that it was the egg in it which was still setting me off.

I guess it depends on why you have IBS - if its stress induced, then relaxation/ hypnotherapy would help hugely.

If its food related and you get a 'feeling' during the afternoon or evening, then maybe its what you're eating.

Jacques - you can easily do FODMAP as a vegetarian, but only under a dietitian. I think you'll need a GP referral... and anyway, if it gets to the bottom of what you can tolerate, then your IBS will be a thing of the past!