IBS relief

[rbrowne42]

can anyone recommend a good way of helping with IBS? i get terrible stomach aches and seem to get incredibly bloated after i eat anything at all. The doctor prescribed mebeverine but it doesnt seem to help. This is really affecting my life - please help!

[khana]

I'm so sorry that you are suffering. I've heard that those yoghurt drinks with all that "good" bacteria can help with IBS.

Might be worth giving them a try if you have not already.

[shaneystar2]

I do sympathise.As a fellow sufferer it can be very miserable.
Have you tried eliminating certain foods?,Dairy food triggers it off with me ..in others it is wheat and gluten.I no longer drink milk and although I love cheese ..I just know it will upset me.I still eat it though !! But..it is mainly milk that triggers my attacks.
I use soya milk or Oatley as a substitute.
Peppermint or Camomile tea is nice and helps to settle the stomach.Also milk thistle which you can get in any health shop. If you suffer from gassiness, eliminate beans, cabbages, and other "gassy" vegetables from your diet.
Try to avoid stress.A hot water bottle on your tum will ease the cramping and aching. Regular exercise, such as walking, can reduce stress and encourage bowel movements if you are constipated.I hope you feel better soon..Good luck.

[shaneystar2]

P.S. Drink plenty of water.This will help to flush out the bowels and ease the bloating.

[woofgang]

good advice from shaneystar 2. I use colpermin (peppermint oil) and buscopan (low dose hyoscine) together when I get a bout which relaxes the spasm and also seems to regulate the constipation/runs cycle

[lady_p_gold]

Do you eat meat ? A friend with the condition said it was considerably better when she stopped eating meat and ate little and often .. the sort of grazing effect.

[Peghead]

My auntie suffered badly from bloating to the point where she almost looked pregnant. She now takes soya tablets, as shaneystar2 suggested, and they've really helped reduce the bloating.

[Robinia]

You've had some good advice here already. For me I think the little and often definitely helps - I can't believe the size of the dinners I used to be able to put away! I only have wholemeal bread & I've cut out meat except for a little chicken now and then. (I've never been happy about eating animals anyway)
I hate all these restrictions but I hate the pain & bloating etc more.

[Reenie29]

I find that lots of water and cuploads of peppermint tea really help. I also try to avoid caffine and cheese - as these seem to cause cramping.

[rbrowne42]

Thank you all for the suggestions so far! Im glad you said abou dairy, coz I suggested this but everyone kept telling me id know about it if I was dairy intolerant. I also find eating lots of fibre helps loads with cramps but fruit makes me even more bloated! any way round that one?

[mandy5775]

I to have the dreaded IBS - it's a nightmare!! I find that the bloated feeling can be got rid of using Windease, but as for the cramps I have no idea. My cramps are always very painful and I haven't as yet found a solution. I've tried Colofac, Merbentyl and the Peppermint capsules, but none of them seem to do anything. The only thing that makes a difference is doing exercise - usually a gentle walk is enough to get relief for a while. I really hope that you manage to find something that works for you - I know how you feel if it's any consolation. Good luck.

[frizzytwig]

I suffer from this condition and up til last week had'nt had an attack for a couple of months. All last week I had a vegetarian diet, plenty of veg and beans etc. OMG agony, never again. Although I have to say my youngest child was at her absolute worst this week, behaviour from hell, so I don't know if its stress or veg that started it. Hope its the veg as I can't very well get rid of the daughter!

[Nickynoodles]

I know how awful this must be for you, I am 35 and have suffered from IBS since I was a teenager - It got to the stage where I could not go out of the house until the afternoon. I was put on mebeverine - when I went back to the doctor saying they didnt work, he admitted they were more of a mind thing!! - I am now on Codeine Phosphate and I have never been so happy, I have absolutely no symptoms anymore - Yipee!! - GOOD LUCK

[Samedibee]

I was about to post a question basically word for word the same as you! I take peppermint capsules which do seem to help a little. I am also about to start an elimination diet. However, what is weird about my bloating is that even water sets it off, I can be completely normal, drink a glass of water and I immediately start to look pregnant. Mebeverine is rubbish, so glad NickyNoodles said about the mind thing!