Finally... Relief for IBS... For the first time I feel normal!

[mygoode]

I've been suffering from IBS since I was a child.  Back then, they didn't have a name for it but a few years ago, after several months of constant, severe and quite painful symptoms, I was diagnosed by a gastroenterologist.  He told me that I could take prescriptions for the rest of my life that may or may not help, or make the symptoms worse since I switched back and forth between constipation and diarrhea (IBS-A).  I thought I'd have to live with not being able to go to the bathroom for days, dealing with cramps as my body tried to work properly and then being forced to find a bathroom seconds after realizing I needed to go.  I'm not a person who feels comfortable going to the bathroom in public places, so I found that my life was going to have to be full of quite embarrassing moments.  

Then I got sick of it.  I started doing research on the causes of IBS and how they related to me.  This was difficult since the gastroenterologist told me absolutely nothing about my case and the only thing that the lab tech told me was that I had a high level of bacteria in my bowels.  How helpful... Fortunately, I read that one of the causes of IBS is a reduction in lactobacillus, a bacteria needed to properly break down food in the digestive tract.  One way this bacteria can be removed is by creating an overabundance of other bacterial strains that prevent the population of lactobacillus.  This may be a bad example, but I thought of weeds overpopulating a back yard.  Eventually, the good grass has nowhere to grow.  Therefore, I had to find a way to get lactobacillus back into my system.  There are yogurts and drinks with the active cultures needed but they sometimes don't work as most of the cultures are "killed" before they can settle in the bowel.  So a quick search on the web led me to a product called "Acidophilus Pearls".  They are specially coated probiotics and can pass through the majority of the digestive track in good condition to populate where they should.  After reading the 37 5-star reviews stating they were amazing for people with IBS of any kind, lactose intolerance and stomach upset due to travel (even when drinking the water in Mexico), I decided to try them.  They're smaller then the eraser on a pencil and very easy to take.  

THESE THINGS ARE FANTASTIC!!!  I no longer have ANY issues with IBS and I've only been taking them for 2 weeks.  No pain, no bloating, no constipation, no diarrhea, no discomfort in the slightest!!  They're about $25 for a 90 day supply on Amazon and also available in some health food stores.  I've yet to find them in a drug store but they may be in other areas.  I just had to let everyone know about this stuff.  No amount of diet, exercise, stress reduction or sleep could possibly ease my symptoms but these little guys erased them entirely.  Do a search on Amazon and pick up a pack of these things.  I finally know what "normal" feels like for the first time in my life.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[mich683]

I am taking the pearls as M Paterson said in the first thread also taking Active Digestive Enzymes,it said you have to take them for about 3 months to increase your good flora and good bacteria,then take a months course 2-3 times a year.So far so good.Great book to read is " Good Gut Healing " by Kathryn Marsden you can get it on Amazon

[boron]

What's behind IBS it is commonly fructose malabsorption and low-fructose diet helps in this case:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/21247?personal_page_id=801

Often, a sufferer has to identify a culprit food by him/herself by eliminating suspicious foods one by one.

[meyan]

Hi, thanks for the info. My gastroenterologist told me to eat 2 cups of yogurt a day. That seemed to  made it worse. Then I tried enteric coated peppermint, didn't work. Been taking Nexium  then  Rabeprazole they do not help this type of pain. The anti-spastic med Pinaverium  makes me so tired, I can take it only once in a while.
Willing to try anything.

[smoke610]

I am definately going to try this, dr has me on nexium but it doesnt seem to be enough help. Thanks for your info its worth a try.

[wintipooh]

Thanks for sharing.  I am certainly go and look this up.  

I did take Amitiza, but for all of three days.  The side affects were horrible - I thought I was having a heart attack.  Once I stopped the pills - the pain was gone.

[mygoode]

I've never suffered any joint or muscle pain with IBS.  One can experience moderate to severe abdominal cramping which can feel like your insides are twisting into knots and being pulled apart but nothing in the arms, legs or any joints.  I've never gotten headaches either that couldn't be associated with something else (ie stress or caffeine).  I would say your bowel issues may be a result of your underlying problem but not a cause.  However, I'm not a doctor and it sounds to me like you should seek a second opinion.

The one really irritating thing about IBS is that, from the research I've done, it seems to be a "catch all" diagnosis.  If you're suffering from constipation and/or diarrhea and you don't have any obvious illness... BAM... you have IBS.  I really disliked the way the specialist handled my situation and he could have prevented another year of living with this had he only told me that the build-up of bad bacteria was preventing the bacteria I needed from colonizing.  Again, I'm not a doctor, but the lab tech did tell me about the bacteria and since I've been taking the pearls, all my symptoms are completely gone.  My point is, it's possible that your doctor also lumped you into the IBS category because he couldn't find anything else wrong with you.  If I were you, I'd go to another doctor and emphasize the joint and muscle pain.  Good luck and I hope you start feeling better.

[mich683]

Wow you are so lucky to have found something that works for you.I'm going to get some,i will try the ones you take ,but i live in England so will see.I know they do other kinds over here.Thanks