ferrocalm

[Jess54]

Hi - is anyone else trying this probiotic? I have taken it now for 4 days & my IBS - D is much worse ! What are other people’s experiences with IBS - D . I am not keen to keep taking as it’s making my anxiety worse . I am not sure if it takes a bit of adjustment, whether to continue or just stop . Any advice I would be grateful,

[Hidden]

Hi Jess. Stick with it as you’re experiencing adjustment symptoms, which is a sure sign it’s working. Be encouraged by my own example- I have been taking it for 18 weeks and I’m still have adjustment symptoms. I hasten to add I was diagnosed with severe IBS-C and have had intractable symptoms since I developed the condition 8 years ago. Hence my preparedness to put up with adjustment symptoms for 18 weeks in the expectation that my IBS should improve vastly.

Again, stick with it!

[Hidden]

P.S. I don’t know whether you have tried Enterosgel but it can be very helpfu with IBS-D. It’s used to reduce the symptoms of infective diarrhoea, but has been shown to be useful in IBS-D. I recommended it to friend a few months ago who advised me that it has transformed her life!

[Jess54 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your advice. I don’t think I can keep taking it , I just won’t be able to travel with it , it just makes my anxiety so much worse . I will have a look at the gel you have mentioned. Like everyone I’m looking for that magic cure ! I just want to lead a normal life , where I can accept invitations & travel etc without the anxiety of needing a toilet near by !

[Tuscansun]

From my own IBS-D experience, when SIBO or SIFO is present, probiotics can make it worse.

I was eating “healthy” food such as lentils, broccoli, celery, pepper and salmon and my IBS was getting worse and worse. I added probiotics and it got quite bad - until I read about SIBO symptoms.

It might be not probiotics per se but rather bacteria “food” that probiotics contain that exacerbate SIBO. And starches - in my case lentils was the food that strongly “encouraged” SIBO or SIFO growth (actually, I believe I have both).

I switched to lean beef for few days and it helped to some extent, at least with symptoms.

[Jess54 in reply to Tuscansun]

That’s interesting. I’m not sure , something to look into . Thank you x

[Tuscansun in reply to Jess54]

Sure, carry out your research. And try to experiment with food to check what works for you.

[lizziedas]

Keep trying the Ferrocalm. I've now been using it for three months and my IBS -D is greatly improved. Enterosgel also worked for me but taking it three times a day I found inconvenient.

[Jess54 in reply to lizziedas]

Thank you . I feel I can’t use it , as it’s made it so much worse , which then makes my anxiety much worse. I have tried to contact ferrocalm for advice but I haven’t received a reply. I hadn’t heard of Enterosgel. I will have a look into it .

[irishwife93]

I have a combination of IBS-C/D but predominantly C. I tried some probiotics in the past and they made my symptoms so bad. Then I went on to symprove for 12 weeks and although there was a few days where I needed to be near a toilet around week 5, eventually my gut adjusted and I’m now completely fine. Been taking it for 4 years!

I second what Tuscansun said about healthy certain foodsI found a dietician on the HCPC register and after many sessions with her and keeping a food diary she said I was eating way too much fibre and cruciferous vegetables. She also pointed out my trigger foods - high fat foods like lamb and pepperoni and ripe bananas of all things. I would never have realised this myself as I was mainly focused on things like gluten/dairy. Consider seeing a dietitian if you can, it is very helpful! Or even take a food diary for a few weeks and track symptoms.

[Jess54 in reply to irishwife93]

Thank you . It would be good to see a dietitian again , it was over 20 years ago when I was first diagnosed I saw one & they just recommended a low fibre diet & food diary etc. I know fatty foods upset me for sure . Also alcohol . I have followed FODMap diet in the past as well . I might try & see if we have any IBS specialist clinics locally .

[Pollyboo]

Hi Jess, so sorry to hear about the problems you are having. It is not very positive at the moment, but you are only 4 days in. I know it is tough but try to stick with it for a bit longer.I myself am 5 days in today. I have experienced alot of wind and rumbling. Have taken Imodium and Buscopan, which is the norm for me. The imodium and the Buscopan normal for me but more rumbling but not bloating.

I know it is hard anxiety, mine is bad too.

Jess I think we both just want to lead a normal life, just to be able to go out and about, see friends and family without the worry of this awful IBS.

You have done 4days, they are in the passed, I think we should give it time to let our tummy adjust.

My previous GP said give everything 2/3 weeks trial and I understand this.

Keep going Jess, try to stay positive at least you can say you gave it your best shot.

Sending you best wishes, let me know how you are doing.

Take care Pollyboo

[Jess54 in reply to Pollyboo]

Thank you . We sound very similar, it’s so difficult isn’t it ! I understand I need to give it time for adjustment, but I need to live in the mean time , yesterday was awful ! I wonder if I take them at night ? Might try that today ( day 5) & see how I am . Keep in touch xxx

[Pollyboo in reply to Jess54]

Hi Jess, just hopeing you are feeling a bit more rested today.Take care Pollyboo x

[Jess54 in reply to Pollyboo]

Hi , thank you for checking in . I didn’t take a tablet yesterday, but decided to keep going this morning, after reading everyone’s comments , I need to give it more time , so I took loperamide as well . Let’s hope it’s going to be amazing after this adjustment period , fingers crossed.

[Pollyboo in reply to Jess54]

Hi, glad you kept going, thank goodness for Imodium. I am lucky and get the instants on prescription. Having some reflexology tonight, so hope for some calm. My reflexologist has now become a good friend as she has been coming home for about 12yrs.Take care Pollyboo x

[Jayjayvee]

I've just started taking Ferocalm but I note it only has streptococcus thermophilus whereas my usual probiotic multistrain from new leaf has the same amount plus several others as well. Is it just marketing hype? No chang in bowel habits yet but I'm only 2 days in. I did read somewhere that it is good to keep changing your prebiotic from time to time to make them more effective.

[Jess54 in reply to Jayjayvee]

Well , let see ! It’s just trial & error until we find something that suits us . Ferrocalm did sound hopeful!

[Pollyboo in reply to Jayjayvee]

Hi, just interestingly reading your post as I was replying to Jess. I am on day 5 of Ferrocalm. Just looked up new leaf and I can see your point interesting 🤔. What made you change to Ferrocalm?

We will all have to wait and see

Take care Pollyboo

[Jayjayvee in reply to Pollyboo]

Hi. I actually changed because of all the positive comments posted. But now I've read the contents, I don't see the advantage over others. I was told once you should change your prebiotic type from time to time as our systems get stimulated better by taking different ones

I'm IBSC but doing quite well. I drink a litre of liquid every day. Your system soon gets used to the extra amount. I also take lspaghula rusk twice a say which really helps I've kept a food diary and identified things I must not eat. I'm. on gluten free at the moment and feel well on it. I shall go back to gluten soon and see what happens.

[Pollyboo in reply to Jayjayvee]

Hi, thank you for replying. I have been looking this afternoon and I can see what you mean about the contents. The only thing I wasn't sure about was the Ferrocalm are specially coated to reach the bowel alive, do the probiotics you take have a special coating. Sorry if I appear to be a bit silly.I have suffered for the last 22yrs with IBSD and have tried so meny things in the past so thought I would take the 8wk trial.

Thanks once again Pollyboo

[Jayjayvee in reply to Pollyboo]

I looked them up and apparently they deliver live bacteria to the gut

[Pollyboo in reply to Jayjayvee]

Hi, thank you.

Pollyboo

[Hidden in reply to Jayjayvee]

Ferrocalm differs from all other probiotics in having the facility to utilise iron, released into the during period of stress, and antagonise and eliminate the pathogenic organisms which can also utilise iron. The standar probiotics do not ha e this property, and, therefore, are ineffective. Combining Ferrocalm with standard probiotics is a good idea, and recommend by the clinical department of the company making Ferrocalm. In addition, combining Ferrocalm with Enterosgel will reduce the adjustment symptoms .

But again, the message is that, if Ferrocalm is seemingly worsening the IBS , one should continue in the very likely prospect that the condition will be improved.

Very respectfully, remain patient !

[Jayjayvee in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou Pangea 56. I like the idea of taking both Fourth day in and no unwanted symptoms. Fingers crossed

[Liz1234ty]

Hi Jess, I take Symprove which is helpful but not a cure. They say that if the adjustment / bacterial die-off phase is too strong to reduce your dose until your system calms down and then increase it again. That way you are still getting some of the benefits of the product but by taking it only once a day not twice or a teaspoon not a tablespoon or taking it every other day etc etc it will reduce the unwanted side effects so maybe something to consider rather than stopping it altogether as an initial adverse reaction can indicate that the product will work as it is making changes and probably killing off bad gut bacteria hence the die-off symptoms. I think the advice from Symprove will apply to any probiotic or IBS treatment. Good luck!

[Jess54 in reply to Liz1234ty]

Thank you , great advice. I have decided to take a tablet every other day for the next week & then increase. I have taken loperamide to hopefully reduce my urgency. Fingers crossed xxx

[Boofers]

Hi Jess, sorry to hear you're having such a rough time! I've tried Optibac and Actimel - Actimel was very 'strong' so I stopped taking it, but I didn't know about adjustment/bacterial die off, so maybe that was what was happening. I've been taking Symprove for over 6 mths now, and I'm hopeful (like all of us, I think, we're constantly waiting for failure and the next flair up) but I do feel theres been an improvement. I did change my diet at the time to more fibre (mostly wholemeal bread, less veg and fruit - I know this is unhealthy but when you're in pain and desperate, anything that lessens the pain will do). What I noticed that made a big difference, for me, was aloe vera tablets. I know it's supposed to be good for your digestion but I'd never really taken it too seriously because, you know, I don't just have 'an upset stomach', but someone on here recommended it so I gave it a try. In the shop they said take it at night and it would work every morning (which it doesn't, but that's me). I suffer from both IBS c and d, and only have a bm every few days anyway, but now I go every two days, sometimes every day, and it's not so bad. It was even normal twice. (With me standing in the bathroom wondering if I was imagining things!). Also, I really noticed a difference for the few days after I'd run out of the aloe tablets. I'm not saying this would work for others - these things are different for everyone, but at the moment my gut is behaving well and I'm overjoyed. The pain I get is low level and I can live with it, and to me that's everything. Wishing you the best of luck, and hope things get better soon

[Jess54 in reply to Boofers]

Thank you for your support. I am going to continue with Ferocalm for at least two weeks & see if this helps , hopefully it is adjustment symptoms. I hope I can find what works for me eventually! Take care xx

[BabblingBrooks in reply to Jess54]

How did you get on, did your symptoms improve with it or did you stop taking it ?

[Jess54 in reply to BabblingBrooks]

Hi - I have stopped taking it , I tried for six weeks, but it really didn’t have any positive effectfor me . I am currently taking loperamide daily & gone back to my optibac probiotic & propanol, when I need it & I have to say I’m feeling really well at the moment.

[BabblingBrooks in reply to Boofers]

Did you take both Aloe Vera and probiotics? I have took the former in the past with decent results but wasn’t sure if you can combine both.

[Boofers in reply to BabblingBrooks]

I've still take both, and they seem fine together.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Just stop! I wouldn’t take any supplement that caused such a flare up. The D part isn’t good. I’ve never heard of “adjustment symptoms” before but if that’s what people are prepared to put up with, then fine, carry on. You do you! I’d just kick them to the kerb. Or better still, flush them down the loo. That’s where they’re ending up anyway. Just cut out the suffering bit in the middle!