Medicines verses natural.

Do people mainly use medication from their doctor or have any of you been able to control their ibs with alternative medicines or certain foods?

[janetmtt]

Take a look at homeopathy - acupunture

[antitaank]

I have tried homeopathy which i found to be a waste of money. I am now trying something called Symprove which i researched on internet also a cup of dandelion coffee , is it helping ? Not sure yet only been on it for 5 weeks of 12 week course for Symprove and only been drinking dandelion coffee for 2 weeks. But I was going toilet upto 10 times before I left house for work now only 3 to 4 times , so there is improvement. Hope that helps.

[Ralphy38]

I have tried umpteen alternative therapies having suffered with IBS since I was 18yrs old. I have done everything from Homeopathy, Herbalists, Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncture etc but nothing has helped. I am currently taking buscopan to try and help with gut spasms & constant bowel movements but this causes its own problems as I end up with constipation(so its just one extreme to another). Its very frustrating. I am currently researching gut health and the gut microbiome and have read a lot of interesting information but whether it is the key to being free of IBS I am not yet sure. What I do know is medication just masks the problem it doesnt get to the cause but if it makes things more bareable for you then its worth trying.

[JBaird1952]

Hi there, my doctor is not very sympathetic about ibs, I’ve suffered for over 15 years, so I take Silcolgel, buscopan for the cramps, and cyclizine for nausea. I went for hypnotherapy to help with stress and it helped a great deal. I still get episodes but there’s a vast improvement, I can deal with it better. Good luck, you just have to find what suits you best .

[keithfre]

I have IBS-C and found a strict FODMAP (exclusion) diet helped. I particularly noticed the difference when I did the wheat challenge.

A week on holiday when I relaxed the restrictions on wheat, onions and coffee undid a lot of the good work, though, with constipation, wind, bloating and discomfort returning (but I always seem to get constipated from travel). So I'm now trying to get back to where I was before the holiday.

The only medicine I take is macrogol (prescribed by GP) as required to deal with constipation.

I've completed two months of the three-month Symprove course. So far it doesn't seem to have made any dramatic change, so I need to complete the third month and see what happens.

[Lulububs]

Natural. I take a good probiotic, digestive enzyme and i also eat totally wheat and dairy free.

I only eat food that easy to digest through colon to, the less work it got to do the less pain. I make sure i poop as i have ibs c and notice pain get alot worse when start getting bunged up.

I take a good peppermint capsule to for trapped wind and indigestion.

All in all mine kinda better

[Elaina51]

Hi Jimmyjimmy

I have been a bit poorly with my tummy not able to eat much. Everything I ate or drank gave constant tummy ache. I have had no diagnosis as of yet for ibs but i am 99 percent sure it must b. There is so much to consider diet wise with how much info there is and how to impliment it. I had been been eating chicken and rice for about 1 week no coffee tea cakes, feeling a lot for it, so though i can have my usual coffee, tea etc then the tummy rebelled. i have read fodmap diet is good, but also seen a programme on hypnosis recently and evidence suggested it helps IBS. Worth a try

[Robinrenae]

Hi Jimmy, Both of my sons and I have ibs-c. The only meds I use from the doctor is levsin occasionally for my son's colon spasms.

Probiotics, digestive enzymes, magnesium ( magnesium deficiency can cause constipation), vit d and vit c daily. I also use mag07 for cleaning out, if needed. Some other things that have helped is having soluble fiber with every meal and cutting back on insoluble fiber.

Also check for food allergies or intolerances. My son is gluten, dairy, and soy free, this has helped him a lot. Though raw fruits and veggies are good for you, they are hard to digest so we cook everything most of the time. Room temp or warm water, I add lemon, in the morning can help get things moving. Hope this helps.

[Luccas4]

I have been referred to a bowel nurse who gave me a machine called peristeen . Not the most glamorous of procedures and takes half hour out of your day . It's basically a colonic irrigation system on prescription . I also take phsillium husk in tablet and acidophilus tablets ( better than yoghurts ) which is important to put the good bacteria back form from holland and Barrett and like with everything I try, works a dream for two weeks and then have to rotate onto something else . Sleeping on your left is also good apparently . I now have a small hot water bottle in work. None of these things have cured the problem but do manage it a little . Hope this helps

[IBSSue]

Hi, I'm in the UK and suffer with IBS-C (constipation)I take a daily prescribed dose of Mebeverine. I've just had a 'flare up' and had just read about the B.R.A.T. diet (bananas,rice,apple sauce,toast) so ate very small portions of these,as my IBS got better and it really helped.I have trapped wind and during a flare up,I am usually sick which helps clear the wind build up.My favourite 'go to' alternative medicines are ..Windaway (holland and Barrat) Colpermin (peppermint capsules) and I have just started taking 300mg of Magnesium citrate daily (so I can't reccomend that as yet,but have read some good reports on it ) I find lactose free milk much kinder on my tum and I try to stay away from proccessed foods.Small amounts of food ,often, rather than 3 big meals a day has helped too.