I have this horrid tummy problem and wondered if anyone else suffers with the sae thing and can recommend anything that I have not already tried.

Buscopan
Colpermin (Peppermint capsules)
Aloe Vera Juice

I am having a terrible day with it today and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have IBS :( I have to take Colofac 3 times a day, they do help as long as i take them :)

Sorry to hear you have this debilitating problem :(

I realise you are asking for medication really but, have you tried doing an exclusion diet for about 3-4 weeks? That is how I solved my IBS problem
as it found the cause for me :)

Lindsay
x

Colonic hydrotheraphy is supposed to be very good for IBS.  Might be worth looking into.

Hope you find something that helps soon. :)

Thanks for everyones support, suggestions and well wishes :)

I was thinking of a homeopathic remedy in the first instance.

Regarding Colofac it didn't work hence the Buscopan.

I haven't tried an exclusion diet, although I do seem better when I cut out bread.  I ate pizza and garlic bread last night though.  How would I go about doing this properly?  I have bought lots of the Gillian McKeith books to maybe try her ideas out.

Re collonics - I wasn't sure where to get it done - would the yellow pages have a list of local places online?  I did ask my GP who refused to comment! LOL

Hi Chi-Chi

If you go to the bottom of this page there's a link to find a therapist in your area.

http://www.colonic-association.org/hydrotherapy.html

If you'd like any advice regarding this then PM me and I'll see if I can help.  It's not as bad as it sounds, honest!

Simone

Hi, regarding the exclusion diet:

Make a list of all foods which are generally suspected to cause a reaction - so wine, yeasty things, (so that's marmite, mushrooms, etc), stimulants such as coffee, chocolate and tea, bread, dairy; all of the things which are considered to be generally a possible cause of a reaction. I did have this written down in a book but can't lay my hands on it just now, shame as if I had the title I could let you know :)

Basically stick to this for at least 3 weeks with NO slip ups!! :D

I found that for the first week there was a small change and then the second week I had a tiny bit of IBS and then nothing the third week. What you then do is slowly introduce ONE of the possible problem foods - I introduced stimulants such as coffee, later chocolate and boy did that start off my IBS again.

What I discovered was that coffee was my main problem (well, presumably the caffeine as tea and chocolate all set me off). I would never in a million years have thought of it as i drank 5 or 6 cups a day, often decaffeinated, and only had the problem at night after a main meal, so I suspected it was something linked to the main meal.

Once I realised what it was, I stopped having coffee and tea and chocolate for ages, about a year, and now I can have them in small amounts as a "treat", eg I have coffee if I go out and chocolate every so often :)

Hth and gives some food for thought - not saying it will "cure" you but I'm a great one for getting to the bottom of things (no pun intended :P ) rather than covering them up if at all possible :) I do believe stress can also have a big effect, my experience was that the caffeine caused the initial problem and then because my gut was sensitised, any stress did make it far worse.

Just my experience, good luck :)

Lindsay
xx

Thanks, Lindsay - that was very interesting :) I have a mildish version - morning problems :) and also stress related at other times :) Had it for years without realising what it was. I don't drink as much coffee as I used to which has helped. Did you stop having decaffeinated coffee as well ??

Daisy

Hi Chi-Chi. If you have an irritable bowel why would you want to irritate it even more with colonic irrigation? Surely that would cause more spasm? Have a look at this website, it may be helpful: www.ibsnetwork.org.uk

Totally agree with Hamster.  Take a look at the book The Truth about Food.  There's a good bit in there about exclusion diets, the food we eat and the reasons that colonic irrigation is a waste of time.  My gastroenterologist is firmly against it too and I had a long conversation with her about it once; she said she could give up NHS medicine and go into that given the price my friend pays for it!  It all futile.  Sorry Earl - if it works for you all well and good but I'd recommend other options.

Diet is the way to go.  It's more likely what goes into your gut that causes the problem.  Try excluding wheat and dairy and you should get some results.  No cheating mind!

Diet is the way to go.

Yep.  And learning about stress control too! ;)

Thanks, Lindsay - that was very interesting  I have a mildish version - morning problems  and also stress related at other times  Had it for years without realising what it was. I don't drink as much coffee as I used to which has helped. Did you stop having decaffeinated coffee as well ??

Daisy

Yes, oh yes - I did wonder about that but it was made clear "coffee" included decaffeinated too :)

It's nice that i can have it now in small amounts, the book did say it may take about one year or more for the system to be able to cope with the problem food and then perhaps only in small quantities. I had 2 small cups yesterday when out for a meal - and had no problem. If I go shopping and meet friends, I usually have a latte or cappuccino. I think if I drank it a lot , each day, the problem would return and I don't want that, so am careful and watch myself :)

Lindsay
x