What helps you manage IBS ?

[Hec8te]

I have had IBS for 45 years now: started when I was very young, first medically diagnosed through tests as IBS when I was 19/20. It was a regular visitor on a come- and-go basis for a long time, got worse more recently and I think that is in part due to being older. I have found that some things like Enteric-coated peppermint oil and Slippery Elm really help, and in fact only started trying Slippery Elm recently.

I sometimes have no trouble for a few days, then a flare up (onions, tomatoes where skin and seeds are left in, some alchohols -especially red wine make it worse.)

I like to use a lot of natural supps to help, and have recently been using ACV, slippery elm, psyillium husk, turmeric and peppermint oil to fairly good effect, along with digestive enzymes when needed.Also about to try 'Align' probiotic which is designed for us !

I would really like to hear from others who use natural supps as a support regime - what do you use that has worked well for you ??

[asbayford]

A low fodmap diet, coupled with a 12 week course of Symprove probiotics, fibre supplement and Senocalm

[Hec8te in reply to asbayford]

I tried Senocalm years ago and it didn't help but tried it AGAIN recently & seemed quite good, seems our condition doesn't always stay exactly the same ... I hadn't heard of Symprove but will look it up for future reference

Knowledge is power - and especially with our condition

[Cardiacphysiologist]

I’ve recently started taking peppermint oil which really helps when I take it after dinner. I also take probiotics every morning as well as having probiotic food and drink like sauerkraut, kombucha and kefir. I’m just about to start l-glutamine too as apparently it helps with inflammation!

As for diarrhoea, I’ve recently had success with enterosgel as I really don’t like relying on loperamide!

[KnitEatCrochetRepeat]

Sorry, I can't help, but I'd really like to know if you do find something! I personally find the flare up situation particularly distressing, because I find it really hard to explain to others why sometimes I feel like rubbish and other days are fine. I've not found anything that works on the bad days (tried peppermint oil, more fibre (including fybogel...

yuck!) and mebeverine), so if you do find something I can take without another long wait for a doctors appointment, would be super interested!

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

More information here theibsnetwork.org/therapies/

[london81]

i suppose it depends what type of IBS you are suffering? i treated my ibs-d with probiotic foods which made it worse. after that i looked at what is shown to help specifically for loose stool boosting gas and urgency.

i was in this situation for years- from my pregnancy at 19 til i was 35. i went multiple times a day, needed to carry wipes and a can’t wait card in case of emergency, change of underwear even although thankfully only had 2 accidents.

things that helped me( i would now say it’s reduced by 70-80 percent only flaring up a day or two at time of the month):

i did a version of fodmap and realised i was intolerant to loads of things- garlic, onion, chillies, wheat, dairy, etc. i cut them out and reintroduced ones i could tolerate in small amounts after gut healing (see below)

i looked up studies on probiotics for my particular symptoms- in my case bloating ,gas and diahorrea - i started taking probio7 which really helped

then i started taking glutamine to heal my stomach and drinking aloe vera with digestive enzymes

i started working on my stress levels and meditating ( i’m bad at it i just put on a meditation at night and fall asleep)

i left my stressful job for a less stressful job and part time i started working with animals - less pay more joy.

i also addressed my deficiencies such as magnesium, vitamin D, b12 and other b’s by taking a super b complex, iron, tumeric , selenium, omega 3

i use the thriva finger prick test to check my levels around once a year - i get a code so i usually pay half price around £42 instead of £84. it’s worth it as i have autoimmune disease and need to keep on top of this stuff

[Hec8te in reply to london81]

Glutamine seems to help me too and I have also read that collagen is of similar benefit: it is true that the type of IBS - C or D - will effect what we need to react to and some of the meds and supps we might take, but the sensitivity, inflammation and spasms are suffered in both camps, I think . Again, I am finding old-fashioned slippery elm helps quite a bit, too (and I am a C): just very interested to hear what helps others, too

[london81 in reply to Hec8te]

yes very true. i found chia seeds helped a lot with the loose stools, i need to buy some more. i find it the worst around my time of the month which indicates the hormones or cramps are playing a part at least.