Hi All. I'm the partner of a person who is suffering with IBS, the last few days has been very bad for her with bloating, bad pains and the usual problems with IBS. what can I do to help(if anything) what is the best way to reduce the problems? I have looked at different foods/drinks to avoid but also looked at charcoal capsules, does charcoal work to relieve the symptoms? Or is there anything else that can be used to help?
Thanks all for your time and replies.
For me just having someone who cares and knows how bad it gets is help. Anything that can reduce her stress is good. Having a flare up is bad enough. Adding being stressed about the flare up makes it far worse. I final the mental issues worse than the physical.
FIND the mental issues I meant. Also, unless there is a diagnosed food intolerance, it's not worth ditching any types of food. It's a brain/gut chemical issue. Just eat easily digestible foods when in a flare up and keep the meals regular until it all calms down.
I don't know whether you check the bowel by the colonoscopy, low fodmap diet is very important, good lifestyle is more important than the medicines.
Try getting a microwaveable wheat bag to help with pain or even go to boots and get a tens machine this really helps me with the pain Gail
She has a heat pad which she uses and does help.
Try gluten free eating for a month then dairy free for a month and log food over these eight weeks and put down any pain during both months work out her trigger foods Gail
Thanks for the advice, what about the charcoal capsules?would these help or just another gimmick
I have tried activated charcoal to treat gas. I think it helps a little but with a lot of natural remedies, it's hard to say how much it actually helps. What helps one person might not help another, but it's important to try things out to see how they work for you!
Charcoal makes you constipated so I can't use these because I am already constipated but if diarrhea the s the problem then they might be quite helpful as they also absorb excess gas.
So lovely to hear how supportive you are being. She is lucky to have you!
I think what I needed the most was hope. You could tell her that I had chronic IBS for years and turned that around completely. I no longer have IBS symptoms, and can eat what I like, and I don't take meds of any kind. I did this by learning how IBS works and experimenting, and getting outside help when necessary (because we can't see what is in our blindspot and have been living with for years). She may find some articles on my blog SickofIBS.com gives her some inspiration.
Hope this helps,
Alison
1st and most important : stay away from any drugs. Doctors have no idea what IBS is nor what causes it nor how to cure it. Those very few in the UK who are highly specialised in IBS will admit that. I’ve tried many drugs and they all make things just much worse and it will take much longer to recover. Especially stay away from Omeprazole or other proton pump inhibitors. It gets often prescribed out of desperation. 2nd : and it took me years to find out : Stay totally away from any grains (wheat, rye, barley, tapioca, etc) .... vegetables, proteins, even fats are fine ..... just no grains ....(we have been misinformed on this subject for decades). Staying away from grains has REALLY helped me. 3rd: initially the low Fodmap diet may help reduce the bloating. It cuts out all foods which are fermenting ... thereby reducing the bloating. Once your partner is recovered she should not stay on it permanently but slowly reintroduce some of the other foods as they’re required to rebuild the microbiota in the intestines. But in addition to low Fodmap make sure to leave out all grains.
When cutting out all grains .... you also don’t want to buy any other ‘gluten free breads’ or similar stuff from the gluten free area in food shops as they contain other grains etc instead of wheat that are equally undesirable. The safest way is initially to stay away from bread, pasta etc. until you’ve read enough to understand how to make your own food. Also I forgot to say : stay away from processed foods/ready meals as they are many nasties in those foods. Homemade Vegetable soups etc maybe with a bit of chicken may initially help (without stock cubes as they contain MSG).
Most important I forgot to say : what you do is perfect : you care so much and your kindness will have a positive effect on her recovery. It will have a soothing effect on her. If you can keep stress away from her. Whilst stress doesn’t cause IBS it can definitely make it much worse as it would upset the Vagus Nerve which is already irritated during an IBS episode anyhow . (Sadly I don’t think charcoal will help much either)
Hello. I found that CBD oil helped me. I've been taking it for 2weeks and not had a flare up since. All my symptoms have eased since taking it. It's a natural food supplment.
Are you in the US or UK? I'm in Michigan. Been thinking of trying CBD oil for a while now to help my IBS and anxiety but not sure how to start.
Hello. I'm in the UK. I buy it from someone who I know gets it from a well known and genuine supplier. The link is m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid....
hI, Julie, may I ask what strength oil did you purchase & what dosage do you take per day? (I'm in the UK)
Hello. My oil is 800mg. I take about 9drops per night.
Thank you for prompt reply Julie, may I ask (last question I promise!) where could I purchase the oil from?
Any questions you have are welcome. I get mine from someone who sells it on eBay. I know the person and he buys it from a genuine and well known supplier. I will put the link on here and you can have a look. m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid...
I've clicked on the link you kindly sent me & the strongest oil appears to be only 400mg?
Thank You all for your help.
I will have a look at diet concerns and hopefully make up a meal routine that helps.
Thankyou.
Ginger tea
Probiotics
Bananas
Lot of water throughout the day.
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