Having an attack of IBS, bad one this time, can anyone advise?

[mountainboo]

I've had really bloated intestine for about a week now and without being to blunt, have had a really upset stomach all day (other sufferers will know what I mean). I've also got terrible wind aswell. What do you take for bloating and what do you cut out of your diets? I was diagnosed about 8 months ago and because it was relatively mild I stupidly changed nothing in my diet! I am a sucker for spicy foods. I drink milk like its water and love tea and coffee. I really hope I dont need to cut out dairy products because they are my life blood. Anyway, any advice greatly appreciated.

[swansgal]

I have the same problem. If i eat chinese food i have a bad and bloated stomach for about four days. I dont cut things out of my diet. Doesn't matter what i eat i still get bloated. As for tea and coffee i drink peppermint tea, which does help sometimes. And i've just started taking peppermint capsules. Somethings work for some people but not for others.

[shaneystar2]

Ooooh poor you .You really ought to do a little experiment to see what foods are upsetting you .I used to love milk but I had to cut it out and also spicy food.
It's hard but try cutting things like milk and dairy for a couple of weeks and see if there is any improvement . It can't hurt and if it makes you feel better then all well and good.
It could be any number of foods which don't agree.
Peppermint or camomile tea is good as swansgal says and have a look here for some more info.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/irri tablecolon.htm
Scroll down and it gives some tips on what you should aviod and what will help relieve it
Hope you soon feel better.

[carjack]

I used to suffer really bad IBS. But I do wonder if all this hype about food intolerances is overdone.

I went to one of those "Food testing sevices" where you put your finger against a box and when a certain food is introduced to it , if harmful to your body it will give a reading. I paid �40 for this , buit in my defence I was desperate. I was told I was intolerant to all my favourite foods. Most fruit, wheat, dairy, toms. I lasted 3 days, I was so miserable drinking soya milk and not being able to eat normally. I personally believe my IBS was down to stress and eating when I was stressed, eating too fast and taking in too much air.

I now don't get IBS at all and am eating all the food I was supposedly intolerant to.

That said, if you think it may be something you are eating, try cutting it out to see if it makes a difference. The widely held belief is that wheat causes bloating.

[mountainboo]

Thank you everyone, valuable advice on all accounts. Am feeling a wee bit better today.

[chazza]

I suffer as well and found a bit of a cure in aloe vera tablets.

I take an aloe vera tablet, 2 peppermint capsules and 2 charcoal tablets every day and it stops the cramps in the morning.

The aloe vera and peppermint help with the upset tummy and the charcoal helps prevent wind and bloating

[beryllium]

Hi moutainboo :-)
I have had crohns disease on and off for years, resulting in my being hospitalised for a while and taking mezalazine.

I had food intolerance testing, the real thing, and milk was a big no no, but, surprisingly to my doctor, goats milk was tolerable.

I can have all vegetables and most fruit except citrus.

Wheat is another severe intolerance.

and I do have a severe allergy to chillies lol.... the stop breathing type allergy.....

I am now very well balanced in my diet, I now dont drink gallons of cows milk as I used too, like you.

You are not going to starve, the idea is to get well, and you are far from that by the sounds of it.

Don't go for the 'off the shelf' type testing. Get on the waiting list for NHS or go private. It's more than worth it!!!!

You'll probably find your local hospital offers a private service. Should be between �140 and �300....

Get better!!! and look after and help yourself.

B.

[MiniN]

it may be obvious but imodium tablets work quiet well. if you can tell the beginnings of a bad stomach you can take em before it gets full blown (if you know what i mean).

mine is caused by stress and tension.. also i can't eat spicy/rich/greasy food. but thats ok coz i dont like spicy /greasy food.also tend to get bad belly around my period and when i'm gettin over a bug.

do you guys take the peppermint/aloe vera capsules all the time or just when your unwell?

[chazza]

I try to take them every morning, but then i get cramps every day so its the same thing really! But i quite often forget to take them in the morning

[beryllium]

There is a good anti spasmodic called Merbentyl 20. On prescription. Ask for it as it really does help.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001618 .html

[mountainboo]

Thanks again peeps. I will try the aloe vera and charcoal capsules Chazza, thanks. And I will look into the food intolerance testing B, thanks. It sounds like you've suffered a great deal more than I have B. I'm glad yours is better. A healthy diet sounds good, and definately the way to get better.

[twinny_15]

My husband had IBS for years nothing worked,then he had to go in hospital and they gave him lactulose solution and after two weeks he was much better.After a month he only takes it now and again and he swears by it. twinny

[mountainboo]

Thanks twinny, I'm glad your husband's has improved. I have taken the advice of some of the above ab'rs and started taking aloe vera juice and charcoal tablets. This seems to be working very well. But I will definately bear in mind that lactulose so thanks