Hi, I am new to this site and have been suffering with IBS for a while, but I have only just found this forum after recently buying a laptop!
The main problem I have is with constipation, diarrhea and acid reflux. Does anyone mind sharing their main problems and how they deal with these symptoms? I have tried over the counter remedies but they don’t always work. Thanks.
Hi, have you been diagnosed by your doc as having IBS, or diagnosed yourself? If you've been diagnosed by the doc he/she should really be offering you help with this.
If you've diagnosed yourself you should go to your gp and get it verified. Then you will be able to get appropriate medications to help you.
As a rule you would be offered a PPI, Proton Pump Inhibitor such as Lansoprazole (or similar), to help calm down and coat your stomach and stop the acid refux .The diarrhea and constipation is also usually responsive to medication and dietry advice. Also anti-spasmodics are helpful to calm down the symptoms.
Lots of people find they take too much bran and eat harsh indigestable foods without realising it.
As you now have a new laptop I'm sure you will find many websites with advice of diets and forums to ask questions of other sufferers.
Really though a trip to the doctor or even Nurse Practitioner to have a chat and start the ball rolling is needed.
Hope you get some answers and feel better soon. Fanny Jane.
Hi , having been battling ibs and gastritis since april this year , i think i may have finally got the better of it , I am an holistic therapist , so have done much research into alternative methods of curing the ibs /or improving it , i couldnt take omeprazole , it made me feel so ill , went on to colpermin for the ibs , and ranitidine for the acid problem , not so many side effects . Then studied much on diet , and am happy to say if you are prepared to do a bit od study , you may find much relief can be had from this awull condition by following the Hay Diet , this is food combining , please dont be put off , its not at all hard to do , certain foods when mixed together can cause awfull problems in the gut . Your local library may have books available , try the hay diet made easy , by Jackie Habgood , also many books by Kathryn Marsden on the subject . I have given up cows milk /coffee , and a few other things its worth it and there are substitutes , I hope you find this helpfull , please leave a reply if I can be of any further help to you
Best wishes for a speedy solution to this terrible affliction
Helem
thanks Fanny Jane and Helen for your helpful replies. Fanny Jane, i have been diagnosed with IBS after having many tests and doctor actually suggested visting help forums! I live in the UK and sadly the doctors here are not very forthcoming with information and hence the reason why he suggested forums. At the time when I was diagnosed I was suffering with diarrohea and he suggested Imodium which kinda like helps, but doesn't solve all my problems. As I am now having alternating bowel habits and also acid reflux, I will go back to my doctor and ask for the PPI you have suggested. It's kinda like a double edge sword, with wanting to visit the doctor and not being able to get out the front door, without the need to go to the toliet. I have also tried prunes for constipation and that seems to help. And thank you Helen, I will look into the Hay Diet as suggested and see how I go.
THanks again and I'm sure I will be doing a lot more research on my mew laptop and hopefully I can crack this! Tessa
That's ok, I wasn't sure if you'd been to the gp, as lots of people don't.
It's a real minefield IBS. When I get a real bad flare up I take Motillium. it's really good but can't be taken all the time.Your gp can give you Movicol for the constipation, it's very gentle and very good. Good old Cream of Magnesium from the chemist can get you moving too.
As said before the acid problem is usally treated by either a PPI or something like Ranitidine or Gaviscon. The PPI's are stonger and more tailored for the problem.
I have been on PPI's for years. Some people get side effects but so far I am ok.
A light diet is always best for IBS. Avoid fried and fatty foods and wheat products that are high in fibre, it can actually make things worse. In a flare up white toast is better than bread of any kind.
Rice,oats and oat bread are the best cereals to eat.
Some people find Fructose indigestable, I am one of them, also I just can't eat sweets they give me the gripes. Also some vegs like beans and brocolli and fruit juices that are acidic should be given a miss too. Full cream milk is harder to digest than you think, so skimmed is best, cheese and ice cream are very hard on us too. Then there's alcohol... lucky for me I'm not keen anyway. I also gave up meat and have been a lot better for it.
There are lots of web sites out there giving specific advice, so have a go with your new laptop.
My poor old computer is on it's last legs so I'm quite jealous!
The trick is to be kind to your digestion and try not to overload it. It does mean having to give up some favourite foods but if it helps then it's worth it.
The Hay diet is very good as Helen has said.
Good luck, IBS is a miserable thing to live with I'm afraid. Fanny Jane.