Alternative therapy for IBS - tell me your story

[Markal]

Hello all,

It's been a while since I posted last time.

I am always trying to keep a positive attitude about this weird condition that IBS is. When I look back at my life, I am not really surprised that IBS has been diagnosed to me as I have been through a really anxious and stressful upbringing, lots of traumas and mistreatment etc etc that lead me to be pretty much an anxious person.

That, I only discovered at the age of 33 (I am now 35, male) when I had to take a harder stance on my mental and started a therapy. All of this is IBS thing is still fairly new to me. I do believe there is a strong connection between guts and mind as researches show that IBS is triggered by the nervous system (or so they say). Not sure 100% of the credibility of this information but I do believe our minds can heavily influence are bodies, anxiety being is a strong factor of it, lots of people having anxiety issues complain about digestive troubles.

So to try to have a normal life, (whats really normal at this point), I do sport, I try new things, I use Headspace app, I meditate, I am careful with food, I try to just go with the flow. My symptoms would be a lots of bloating, too much gas (trying peppermint capsules, drinking so much ginger and turmeric herbal tea thankfully I like it) and lots of growling (taking probiotics Alflorex first and now switching to Bio kult to give it a try) when I wake up or a couple of hours after I eat. Not suffering from constipation or contrary, even though I can go to toilets two to four times per day depending the day. IBS is a rollercoaster, sometimes the mood is like damn I am so sick of it and sometimes the mood is like, ok, dont care today.

But I feel I reached a stage where nothing is really changing or improving. So it is time to try something new again. I noticed that a treatment that really helped me with IBS, was Reflexology. I have been doing it for a year now and my symptoms really slowed down. I had to stop when I moved to the UK 3month ago and IBS flared up immediately, along the new work, the new life, finding a flat etc, all those events made me be really anxious. Now that I am settled, I am about to give a try to Hypnotherapy.

I am wondering if anyone gave it a try, or if anyone gave a try to any other alternative therapy? Did it worked/helped or not? Anything you feel like sharing today, I ll read. Your story interests me.

Thanks you all

love and patience

Al

[marthaalice]

Hi Al

You sound very much like me. I too have tried every probiotic, tea etc etc. I haven’t tried any of the alternative therapies as yet but open minded to them. The one thing I have done which has made a massive difference is give up breakfast ! It took a bit of getting used to but now I am not hungry in the mornings, I think my stomach regularly having a fast or rest from my last meal in the evening until usually around midday the next day, which usually equates to around 18 hours has worked wonders for me. I do still get some bloating but it lasts for a few hours whereas previously once I got the dreaded bloat it would be 3 or 4 days before my stomach was anywhere near flat or comfortable again. It may not be for everyone but it has made such a difference I thought it worth sharing. In fact I may writ this as a post in itself.

Kind regards

Diane

[Neil119]

DO all you want - idea wise but STAY COFIDENT - 77 still trying!!

[Katerina1]

Hello, I tried hypnotherapy. Afraid it didn't make any difference at all. Also tried CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) which also didn't help at all. Very expensive as I had both privately. Many hypnotherapists and counsellors advertise that they help with IBS. It would be interesting to know if anyone on this site has been helped in this way.

[Maureen1958]

Hi, I went to a GP who did hypnotherapy about 27 years ago for my IBS but it did nothing for me. It taught me how to relax maybe but didn't stop me from wanting to go to the toilet. I was pregnant at the time (and was sick for the whole nine months) so I was triyng not to be sick over the ladies lounge carpet which was a cream colour. So I guess that didn't help. Some years later I purchased some CDs by a guy called Micheal Mahoney called "IBS Audio Program 100". (They are still available to buy I believe). They didn't help either. You had to listen to them on a daily basis but he kept telling me I was feeling better and I wasn't so it was just making me more strung up, so gave up with them. I think I tried them another time but again I got fed up with him telling me I was feeling better. I may try them again one day, I keep saying I will, I haven't got the same pressure on me these days, but I think deep down that it's something physically wrong with our bodies and can't be overcome with mind games.

[sweetsusie]

Yes..alternative therapy is: Welchol, Colestipol, or Questran. All 3 of these are miracle drugs in my humble opinion and they all stop diarrhea in its dirty little tracks. I take 6 tablets a day of Colestipol (3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon) and have not had an incident since I started these. There's a conditions called "bile acid malabsorption" and I do not know if I have it or not, but I think I probably do, and these pills stop that completely! Research it and see what you think. My doctor did not make me take the test to see if I had it, but just let me try these pills. Good luck...I know exactly how you feel....

[jalapeno1234]

I find its like a feeling; fleeting. Then active. Then fleeting. I've had to learn to just completely switch off my IBS head when I have a good day - seizing my constipation days haha as I thankfully dont suffer strain, bloating or pain when Im constipated - my issue has been d*..started last year as of Jan and Id go one day feeling great, the next TERRIBLE TERRIBLE cramps ...weirdly ALWAYS in the morning. It left me for around nine months where Id only get cramps after strong coffee...then I took some antibiotics exactly 3 months ago and my GOSH was my IBS noticeable. Have had to stick to bread, pasta, rice, water, dry cookies and weirdly cake. its like being pregnant but without a baby haha what a nightmare and a mental and physical MESS. ONLY thing thats helped me is being diligent with food - amazingly gluten is my best friend unlike other IBS sufferers and as long as I stick to gluten rich food I feel both energised and stodged up. I do believe its reversable though, I had my 9 month "good" phase from oct 2018-may 2019 and literally went ALL this year (til may) eating everything under the sun so its proof that its a yoyo syndrome. Meditation I find too time consuming if youre on the go so much..