Most effective treatments

[July]

I suspect I have IBS Alternating type (constipation and diahhrea). What have you all found as the most effective treatments for it? :hmm:

[gardengirl]

This is my recipe for getting rid of IBS. I had it for 30 years. What I hated most was cramps in my stomach and always looking for a bathroom whenever we went anywhere. When I started taking "probiotics" the cramps went away. Then I added a product called "fibersmart" by renew life (in capsules). A digestive enzyme called "Absorbaid" by natures sources. I also added "fish oil" and "flax oil". These were all recommended by my health foods store. I no longer have any IBS symptoms, this has worked for me, I feel normal at last! When I first started taking natural things this was what I took for a couple of months before adding even more things like MSM and many vitamins. After 30 years of cramps these products sure made a believer out of me. Anyone with IBS should be drinking lots of water and eating high fiber foods too. Good luck!

[Baba Yaga]

Gardengirl, I see frequent mention of probiotics on this board. Is this just the same as taking capsules with acidophilus and its cousins? Have you tried a variety of brands or are you referring to a specific brand?

Thank you July for posting the question, and gardengirl for your information.

[creatingkarma]

Probiotics have helped my IBS significantly. I also know what triggers my IBS & stay away from those foods, which are foods with MSG, processed meat, beans, bell peppers & anything that is a gas producing food.

[July]

Thank you all for responding to this post! I think I see a connection between my IBS type symptoms and vulvodynia. I'm guessing lately that cheese, dairy in general, may be a trigger food. Good question, Baba, about specific type of probiotic. :idea:

[steelerfan]

I have IBS, and have suffered with it for as long as i can remember, i have the constipation IBS, i was constantly with a belly ache from not being able to go to the bathroom, i ate alot of fiber, i took fiber pills, i drank alot of water, and nothing helped me go to the bathroom, finally i could not stand it any longer, and i went to my md and i told him i cant stand it any longer, it was also making my ic worse because i was so constipated, he gave me Zelnorm, it has been a life saver for me, i feel sooooo much better, i didn't know how good it felt to go to the bathroom like a normal person, i dont go one day without taking the Zelnorm. It might be something you want to ask your doctor about.

[gardengirl]

Baba Yaga... yep acidophilus and its cousins and probiotics are all the samething. I take the "Renew Life" brand. I think there are many brands that are very good as long as they are kept in the refrigerator.

Steelerfan... I'm glad Zelnorm worked for you. My Gastro gave me samples and a script. For me they were awful and made things worse, I only tried the samples. Plus I've had some bad experiences with perscriptions drugs and I also feel that they had something to do with my getting IC, especially one, which is a long story. Now I always search out info about perscriptions on the web. I want to know the side effects of drugs now before I take them. I read alot about Zelnorm's side effects and also the clinical trials. It scared me too much to take it. All the natural things I take has helped me so much that I swear by them. They have changed my life. I'm off 4 perscriptions since taking natural things. Every night it seems on the news you hear about deaths from one drug or another. For me natural is best. I suggest if you are using fiber and probiotics and they aren't working that you need to add some oils. Try the digestive enzyme too. Fish oil and flax oil are great, plus they are also good for your heart etc. I also take MSM which is suppose to keep things slippery inside. One of the biggest things with IBS is the build up on the colon walls. This causes constiption, not letting things move and then what squeezes thru is like diahhrea. My gastro told me IBS is basically constiptation and I always thought I just had diahhrea. BUT did he tell me I needed these natural things to help the "cause", NO he just wanted to give me a script. My health foods store is who helped me! (The owner is like a homopathic dr). My way of thinking now days is to treat the cause not the symptom. Drink lots of water, eat high fiber foods. Take FLAX fiber instead of pysilium fiber. Flax is better and on some thread I wrote about the differences of fibers from a health magazine. Let me know if you want more info. I wish I could copy whats in that magazine and post it but I don't have a scanner.
Did you take a good probiotic that is kept in the refrigerator? They are live bacteria and must be kept cold or they die. Good luck!

[BellaTutu]

I guess it really depends on what type of IBS you have - alternating, diahrea or just constipation. I have IBS-C along with spastic colon and diverticulosis -so what I do for treatment is probably different than someone that has alternating or diahrea.

I do take NuLev and Donnatal for spasing along with Zelnorm to help keep me regular. Diet is a big thing too....especially with having diverticulosis.