IBS

I've also had IBS on and off for as long as I can remember. Various symptoms at various times, but all consistent if you see what I mean. Had blood tests and ultra-sound scan about 12 years ago and everything was perfectly normal and my GP told me the next step would be more "invasive" investigation! Decided I could live with his diagnosis of IBS at that point!

But, no - I am still not sure what sets it off for me and I've gone down the Activia route with no effect at all. It's great that it's worked for you though

That's the problem with IBS - there is no one solution unfortunately. I've had it for about 10 years since I contracted C.Diff. For me the trigger is chocolate and cream and also anxiety about going somewhere at a particular time - especially if it's somewhere new - which can make life very difficult. Theatres and concerts are really difficult for me and I always have to have an aisle seat. Cognitive behavioural therapy helped and I always carry Imodium The IBS Network has a lot of useful information www.theibsnetwork.org.

Yes pammy there is no proof that Actimel has any specific benefits. I waded through the european regulatory site to see if there were any proven benefits to any specific probiotics and there were not. Probiotics is just a marketing term for natural yoghurt bacteria. There is a lot of interest in these bacteria though and they can help to prevent antibiotic related diarrhoea and reduce the duration of infectious diarrhoea.
I am fortunately not a sufferer - but I do know that anxiety has an effect on the gut and anxiety about IBS symptoms may well make them worse. So proven relaxation and anxiety reducing methods may well help - and sure as heck won't do any harm.

I suffered for years not realising what was wrong with me, and still have to sit on an aisle seat wherever I go [even had a slight panic waiting for the Olympic torch to come past the other day as it triggered the 'I'm somewhere that I can't move away from' feeling]. I always take imodium if I'm going somewhere where I might feel trapped or nervous. Small things like not eating fruit after protein [it tries to overtake it] helped me. Took probiotics and aloe vera and did a complete dettox. It actually blighted my life for years.

The IBS I suffered for several years cleared up after I ended my marriage. It returned about three years ago, definitely stress-related in my case. It started to subside since I began to take a lot more care of myself and watch that I manage stress.

I agree when, definitely got something to do with men!

Gastro consultant DH saw recently told him that Yakult is the same as some thing much more expensive which had preformed well in trials and recommended it for his UC (not instead of any medication he is on, just to help keep things quiescent). Again, no harm in giving it a try and I believe Actimel is the same thing. Obviously stress is a huge and often THE main factor, but if anything works for you, it is worth a try.

Crimson does sound like it might be worth trying a good hypnotherapist or similar for this anxiety.

Trials for what gracesmum - there is interest in probiotics in relation to:
ibs
inflammatory bowel conditions (the ones with clinical damage - colitis Chrone's etc)
antibiotic related diarrhoea
infectious diarrhoea
allergies
the general functioning of the immune system
and various etcs as well.

There is evidence emerging but it is early days.
Actimel and Yakult contain their own specific patented strains of yoghurt bacteria which they sell at premium price. They all contain a lot of sugar, even the "light" versions.
They are absolutely desperate to prove that their strains have some measurable benefit. They fund most of the research into this area. (as opposed to, say yeo valley, or rachels or one of the other yoghurt producers). However despite decades of research they have failed to demonstrate any such clear benefit.
The minute either of these products is clearly proved to have a health benefit we will certainly hear about it. They will be allowed to put a "health claim" on their packaging. Oat cereals for instance are allowed to put such a claim on their packaging. For the meantime these have to resort to very vague advertising that implies healthy people should consume it every day and uses vague phrases like "bring it on" and "listen to your gut" and "x our of y women say they feel better" Full marks for marketing I'd say.
I am sufficiently convinced that yoghurt bacteria probably help to keep the bacterial balance within in good shape that I do eat natural yoghurt several times a week. I vary the brand and thereby get various strains and not just the single strains mentioned above. They other way to keep gut bacteria happy is to find out what kind of fibre suits them and eat it every day.

I agree about natural yogurt. Also recently read a book called Romance, Riches and Restrooms by Tim Phelan who has IBS but didn't know what it was at first. It's funny and informative and also sad at times. He describes some excrutiatingly embarrassing situations and doesn't hold back on the detail which I found very comforting 'cos I've been in several similar situations as well. Recommend it.

There is a programme about The Gut on TV this evening that might be of interest

Is it 'The Men Who Made Us Fat' programme Jess? Can't find anything else except this one about which says it's about health foods.

No it is on BBC 4 if you have satellite and called Guts....
the other one looks interesting as well though, thanks.
DH off to look after MIL and I have put prigs to record - so can watch this stuff on TV instead of Tour de France - even if young Bradley Wiggins is winning, there is only so much... it goes on for 3 weeks!

Found it. 9pm and on freeview, too.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kpt6c just emailed this to a couple of friends!

Watched recording last night. Less interesting than the one he did on exercise. Heroic TV presentation - submitting to painful stimuli and to nasogastric tube in front of science museum onlookers - but I bet patients don't make that much fuss in hospitals when they have tubes removed.
The bits where he pretended not to know things - he's a doctor- were a bit forced.
The bit about the "brain in the gut" was the most interesting to me - as many neurones in the wall of the gut as there are in the brain of a cat... was that it?

I found a new product (to me) Kijimea which my French friends told me had solved the problem of IBS for a lot of people. It has not helped me unfortunately but it might be worth others trying it. You need at least two packets and they can be expensive. The cheapest I found was in Italy (28 Euros a packet) and chemists sell it over the counter there. You can buy it on Amazon for about £48 a packet I think (cheaper than flying to Italy!!). I am now going to follow the advice of Michael Moseley in his book about the gut, by doing Fodmap recipes and cutting out gluten and lactose for a month and gradually reintroducing them. I have benefitted from FODMAP recipes but not been systematic. I am dreading finding out that alcohol is a trigger as I love a glass of wine, but now I never have more than two very small glasses of it (only red wine). White wine is impossible for me. I'll let you know how I get on with the Michael Moseley plan!!

I have had IBS since I took some antibiotics for a chest infection 3 years ago.
If I have a bit of a flare up I take a Colpermin peppermint oil capsule, and find it settles it a bit.
I have cut out a lot of dairy and have soya yoghurt and soya spread for my gluten-free bread.
Anxiety is a big trigger with me,too.
I don't drink alcohol, now,

I've been taking Actimel for about three wks now. I am really happy to report a marked improvement in my IBS.

Stress is a factor for me. I also found orange juce/squash would set off the problem so don't touch them now.

I've just noticed how old this thread is

Should be interested to hear if anyone else has found reflexology to be useful for IBS. I had it for a while and found it quite helpful and am thinking of having a few more sessions.