IBS symptoms, can anyone give me some helpful advice ?

[C70rol]

Approximately 2 weeks ago I had an upset stomach /diarrhoea from something I'd eaten, and since that time it has brought back my IBS. Could anyone suggest things that would help my bowel to be normal again. -

[StitchFairy]

I personally am feeling the benefit of drinking kefir daily. After years of thyroid related IBS, things are greatly improving. Put kefir into your favourite search engine and you should find lots of info, but here's something to start you off

chriskresser.com/kefir-the-...

chucklinggoat.co.uk/what-is...

[C70rol in reply to StitchFairy]

Thank you stitchFairy for coming back to me so quickly. I do take a probiotic called 'Bionutri ecodophilus' which contains Kefir, but maybe I might be better on the actual Kefir on its own. i like the chuckling goat product. Is it easy to get hold of. Do you buy it from a health food shop?

[StitchFairy in reply to C70rol]

As far as I know, the Chuckling Goat Kefir is only available directly from them through their website. You get a three week course delivered to your door and I think it's delicious

If you don't want to commit to that though, I would try local health food shops. Or if you have any Polish Deli shops within reach, they sometimes stock kefir.

[ajs100uk]

I always found peppermint oil capsules very soothing and when really bad I took mebeverine.

Not taken either for years though.

Hope you feel better soon

[C70rol in reply to ajs100uk]

Thank you, never tried peppermint oil capsules. Does that work well when just the bowels are irritable. I thought peppermint was more for the stomach?

[ajs100uk in reply to C70rol]

It seemed to calm everything down for me and I preferred trying that first rather than taking prescribed meds, although sometimes I had to.

A couple of gastros I work for also recommend them and peppermint tea/probiotics.

You have some good suggestions here with kefir for probiotics. In my opinion, kefir is much better than probiotic capsules (unless yiu can afford the really expensive VSL#3), and kefir is easy to make at home for a daily dose.

[StitchFairy in reply to ajs100uk]

I found peppermint oil capsules and mebeverine very useful for temporary relief. But they didn't cure the root problem for me. Kefir is doing a much better job!

[C70rol in reply to StitchFairy]

Thanks. I'm going to contact the chuckling goat tomorrow.

[StitchFairy in reply to C70rol]

I tried several brands/types of probiotic capsules but none were helpful for me and some actually made things worse.

Kefir is not usually an instant cure so you may need to be patient, but hopefully before the course is finished it will have worked for you.

[C70rol in reply to StitchFairy]

Hi StitchFairy, I was given some home made Kefir by a neighbour, it's smell was awful and was very slimy. It tended to make gag before swallowing it. And it wasn't a pleasant experience. Did you get used to that or is the one you get not so bad?

[ajs100uk in reply to C70rol]

I also make viili yoghurt at home. Very easy to do.

[C70rol in reply to ajs100uk]

I usually have sheeps milk, goats or coconut yogurts to avoid dairy. So I guess they wouldn't be so easy to make at home

[ajs100uk in reply to C70rol]

For viili, cows milk is recommended to make a thick yoghurt. You can use goat milk but the end result would be thinner. Sheep milk results would be sweeter and thicker. Once you have a culture it is easy to make on your kitchen worktop and no yoghurt maker is required.

[StitchFairy in reply to C70rol]

Oh that does not sound very nice kefir. The goats milk kefir from Chuckling Goat doesn't smell awful at all. It can take a while to get used to the taste, but I love it now and look forward to my daily dose! Maybe the stuff you were given was made in a different way or something.

[jimh111]

Magnesium deficiency plays a role in IBS. With diarrhoea you lose electolytes including magnesium. I would supplement with magnesium citrate. This advice is somewhat counter intuitative as magnesium salts are used to cure constipation. Just be careful you don't take too much, if you start to get diarrhoea back off the magnesium a touch. It may take a few weeks to restore your levels.

[C70rol in reply to jimh111]

Thank you jimh111, but I take a good dose of magnesium on a regular basis anyway, and I don't want to make my bowels any more loose, by increasing it just yet. But thanks, it's so good to have thoughtful, helpful responses, - always an encouragement when you're low and thinking you're on your own with wretched thyroid illness !!!!

[ajs100uk in reply to jimh111]

I wish magnesium citrate would cure my constipation

[Marz]

Have you considered being gluten free ? Also keep San Pellegrino mineral water to hand as the high silica binds things in the bowel naturally. Also toxins are bound up in the silica.

I had Crohns diagnosed over 43 years ago ..... 😊

[C70rol in reply to Marz]

Thanks Marz, I am gluten free, but 2 weeks ago,(when this IBS flared up), I had a meal at a friends house and there was gluten (in the sauce), in that meal . - it could just have been some food poisoning, but the fact that there was also gluten in it, I don't think has helped!!!

However I'm very interested in the San Pellegrino mineral water, definitely going to get some in. - thanks.

[Marz in reply to C70rol]

Google - Camelford disaster - Keele University - aluminium - and you will find the Professor behind the research. Cannot remember his name and am away from home ..... 😊

There are other waters mentioned with a high silica content - I just like the SP bottle !!!

[ajs100uk in reply to Marz]

Very interesting Marz, I am going to take a look at that

[Marz in reply to ajs100uk]

Professor Chris Exley is his name ... 😴

[ajs100uk in reply to Marz]

Just ordered six bottles of Volvic

[StitchFairy in reply to Marz]

Wow I didn't know that about San Pelligrino, I love their fizzy water. Haven't had any for ages, so might have to get some in now

[5858]

I was really having trouble with IBS-D......Kind of controlling my day. At least 5 days a week several times a day. I have tried several things. I got this stuff called Restore for life I got it at a health food store. But I think you can get it on amazon. I am not sure how it is working but I have been taking it for a month. So far I have maybe had diarrhea maybe 3 times. And I was having it daily. Just take a look at it. I keep thinking it's in my head LOL but it has been working for me for some reason. Anyway all the best to you xo Susita

[marin5]

Metamucil I swear by, but since I now have COPD It’s not recommended for me!