topic Re: What Helps Most for IBS? in Wellness

What Helps Most for IBS?

fortune — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:03:00 GMT

What helps the most to relieve symptoms of IBS?

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

ennui1 — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:33:31 GMT

Google will probably give you better information. Lots of websites devoted to it.

Avoid eggs. That's all I got.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

sylviahomeatlast — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:34:50 GMT

see your GI doctor

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

AnnMarie-1 — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:38:54 GMT

Google fodmap diet or fodmap food, helped me when I started getting IBS symptoms, once it calmed down I could add back in my regular food

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

tiamaria — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:45:07 GMT

Have you seen a gastro? There are different types of IBS. IBS-D, IBS-C. Mine seems to be a combo of both. I have tried many medications from my gastro...bella donna, hycosomine...nothing works. Do you know what your triggers are? Mine is stress. I do not have a problem with any foods unless I am in the middle of a flare up, then everything bothers me. I have even tried probiotics. I cannot say they helped much.

A few months ago I was suffering real bad and I went into a health food store and found a line called Heather's IBS line. I read online about taking fennel tea for cramping. The lady in the store showed me the line and so I bought Heather's Fennel Tummy Tea, as well as her peppermint capsules. Peppermint is suppose to relax the stomach but you have to be careful if you are prone to any upper GI problems like heartburn or acid. Peppermint can make it worse. Between the peppermint capsules, fennel tea a few times a day, NO coffee to make it all worse, and my stress calming down a bit I got through it. It is all natural so i figured it couldn't hurt. Until I can figure out how to control that brain/gut connection that causes my problems, I just have to deal with these products.

Good luck.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

fortune — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 08:34:05 GMT

Thank you so much, ladies! This is a weird illness. They really don't know what causes it, but there is a lot of advice on what to do and what not to do.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

Citychic — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:20:01 GMT

Tiamaria, great advice. I have dealt with IBS for many years too. I have been through many meds some of which you mentioned, but none of them has done as much good as the fennel tea. I have been ordering this for years, won't go anywhere without it. Honestly nothing stops the cramping and discomfort like the fennel does. The peppermint caps are ok, but like you said if you have GERD hard to take them. My Gastro recently talked to me briefly about amitriptyline low dose, apparently there is a study out there that's supports the use of this drug for IBS. I have not tried it, but we discussed it. I also find Heathers website "help for IBS" very helpful. There are some good articles there. I also find that I cannot pinpoint certain foods as I can eat them one time and the next time I can't. However, I do watch my diary intake as that can trigger some symptoms for me. Probiotics have helped me for the most part, but there is only one brand I can tolerate, Align. IBS is so frustrating as it is very hard to keep it in check, besides the fennel tea one other thing I have learned is to not go too long before you eat, and I always lay down some bread or crackers before I eat my meal. Fortune I hope this has been some help to you. I would have swore I wrote Tiamaria's post, because it sounds like my story as well. BTW, I just read recently read CVS will be/or is carrying Heather's products. City

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

Bird — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:28:58 GMT

Rather than looking at relief for the symptoms, consider the cause. That would most likely be the food you ingest.

Likely culprit(s): dairy, wheat, corn, any GMO (good luck with that, avoid canola, corn oil, soy oils, etc.)

Eat all organic, omitting the GMO, wheat, corn, dairy...then add back in, one by one to see what causes your symptoms. Also, corn syrup is made from GMO corn. Bye bye sodas and most other food industry products!

The problem with eggs may be the croap the chickens are being fed, which is likely a lot of GMO agribusiness scraps and sweepings. Not good for the chickens, not good for those who eat their eggs. So avoid eggs as well, and when you add them back in, only consume eggs from truly non-soy organically-fed chickens. "Organic" and "cage free" mean nothing!

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

Big Sister — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 13:14:21 GMT

On 2/17/2014 Citychic said: Tiamaria, great advice. I have dealt with IBS for many years too. I have been through many meds some of which you mentioned, but none of them has done as much good as the fennel tea. I have been ordering this for years, won't go anywhere without it. Honestly nothing stops the cramping and discomfort like the fennel does. The peppermint caps are ok, but like you said if you have GERD hard to take them. My Gastro recently talked to me briefly about amitriptyline low dose, apparently there is a study out there that's supports the use of this drug for IBS. I have not tried it, but we discussed it. I also find Heathers website "help for IBS" very helpful. There are some good articles there. I also find that I cannot pinpoint certain foods as I can eat them one time and the next time I can't. However, I do watch my diary intake as that can trigger some symptoms for me. Probiotics have helped me for the most part, but there is only one brand I can tolerate, Align. IBS is so frustrating as it is very hard to keep it in check, besides the fennel tea one other thing I have learned is to not go too long before you eat, and I always lay down some bread or crackers before I eat my meal. Fortune I hope this has been some help to you. I would have swore I wrote Tiamaria's post, because it sounds like my story as well. BTW, I just read recently read CVS will be/or is carrying Heather's products. City

Citychic, about the amitriptyline, it did not help me at all and I was on it for two years.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:06:05 GMT

I have had this forever. Whenever I'm particularly stressed, it seems to get worse. Drink a lot of water. Stay away from carbonated beverages, alcohol, caffeine and the usual -- heavy, greasy foods. Do not eat late in the evening. I also seem to have a problem with eating much dairy. I starting taking pill before I eat any dairy (you can buy them at the drug store) and this has cut down a lot on the cramping and gas. Also, avoid if possible artificial sweeteners. Nothing the gastro dr. has prescribed for me has worked. They either had too many horrible side affects and made me feel worse or they just did not work for me at all.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

vac — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:10:48 GMT

I suffered from IBS years ago (not sure if it just resolved or is in remission) and I was told to eat lots and lots of fiber and take antacids. That did help. I take a probiotic now and that definitely helps my stomach issues.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

fortune — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:18:24 GMT

On 2/17/2014 vaccinia said:
I suffered from IBS years ago (not sure if it just resolved or is in remission) and I was told to eat lots and lots of fiber and take antacids. That did help. I take a probiotic now and that definitely helps my stomach issues.

Do you recommend any particular probiotic, vaccinia?

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

vac — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:21:01 GMT

On 2/17/2014 Fortune said:
On 2/17/2014 vaccinia said:
I suffered from IBS years ago (not sure if it just resolved or is in remission) and I was told to eat lots and lots of fiber and take antacids. That did help. I take a probiotic now and that definitely helps my stomach issues.

Do you recommend any particular probiotic, vaccinia?

I take Phillips Colon Health. Hope you feel better soon!

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

tiamaria — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:50:07 GMT

Not to be repetitive but it is important to know what kind of IBS you have because the treatments can vary. IBS-C and IBS-D differ with the use of fiber. It is good for one and not for another.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

hyacinth003 — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:51:57 GMT

I was diagnosed with this in the mid 1990's. I was under enormous stress at the time. But, now it comes and goes at will!

I haven't found ANYTHING that makes it better or worse, other than not eating and Imodium!

Hyacinth

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

SandGirl — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 23:48:14 GMT

Let me try and say this w/out SCREAMING it............***PROBIOTICS***!!! Start slow (or you will hate them) work up to 2am and 2pm after about 3 weeks of 1am and 1pm

Seriously, can be life changing!!

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

gazelle77 — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 23:51:48 GMT

Enteric coated peppermint soft gels.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

twinkies — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 16:18:30 GMT

I would like to suggest red rooiboossp] tea . It is made by tetly and celestial seasonings in specialty teas . Comes in teabags 24 to pkg. There is no caffeine in it and it will relieve spasms and gas . It will also help you sleep . It has no caffeine and comes in pear vanilla and pomegranate flavors . Or you can buy plain online . I don't like the taste of the plain . . It

can be drunk icred or hot . I prefer hot . .give it a try. cathy from ma

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

havanesecutie — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:07:40 GMT

I found this in some information that I saved regarding IBS & Chrones treatment

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

“CLA represents a promising new supportive intervention for gut inflammation,” researchers from the Virginia Tech study said.

For me, staying away from conventional wheat and eating organic & non-GMO. Also, decrease stress as much as possible. My DNA shows that I have an increased risk for these bowl disorders so I try to watch my diet, avoiding those things that are the usual suspects. Try Einkorn wheat and wheat and wheat products by Jovial to see if you can tolerate that type of wheat (ancient variety). Read the book "Wheat Belly" and this recommendation will make sense.

Re: What Helps Most for IBS?

My3fatcats — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:22:53 GMT

My sympathies, Fortune. This can be an insidious disease. I was diagnosed in my 30's while undergoing a lot of stress. It went basically into remission until last year. It was horrible, with constant diarrhea. It started interfering with my social life and work.

I finally saw my gastro p.a. who said to eat a clean diet as much as I can. She also tested me for food allergies, thinking I was allergic to wheat or dairy (I'm not). She gave me Enterel, which I used once, and recommended Probiotics.

I decided to eat cleanly as much as I could stand, and within two weeks I was completely normal. When I stray too much from that diet, though, I go back to bad cramps and diarrhea.

Try it, you might be surprised at its effectiveness. I know I was.