Anxiety and bowel disease....how to deal with it

Of course you can also get probiotic without cranberry. Only trying to help. I hope you find what works for you soon, I know how miserable IBS can be.

For those of you with bowel problems which don't seem to respond in any respect to diet, Google BAM (Bile Acid Malapsorbtion) and BAD (Bile Acid Diorhea). It's only recently been recognised. There is a test now available in the UK for it, but it hasn't yet been passed for use in the States and some other countries, and there is a medication which helps.

Loperamide works with me after having a hemi colectomy last year, my bowls are u predictable too and I take loperamide before I go out .i

I wouldn't like to tell you what cranberry would do to me Rahrah, and that's part of the problem isn't it; what works for one doesn't always work for others. It is interesting to see just how many gransneters have IBD or IBS.

A probiotic (Boots do a great one with cranberry in a sachet) and a couple of Slippery Elm calms things down for me. Also Melissa Dream (Holland and Barret) to help you stay asleep which eases the mind. Nice gentle but effective measures but also find yoga breathing helps too.

It has in my area because pieces of rubber were found in it.

No

Hasn't this product just been removed from the shelves because of contamination?

But excellent for everyone without.

Although I do like a nice fruit flavour, and sod the sugar/aspartame.

Not good for anyone with a lactose problem gononsuch

Just try this, its natural and Sainsbury sells it, and it works

Wonderful replies - THANK YOU so much everyone and I'm now looking forward to the wedding! .

Yes, I do know about the low-Fodmap diet and I"m much better for avoiding onions, garlic, broccoli and wheat. It's great for IBS but not always so good for IBD patients (apparently). If you have IBS or IBD I would recommend Googling it and seeing if it works for you. (There is a great phone app called the Low Fodmap diet from Monash University)

Apologies for all the abbreviations:
IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome - is less serious than IBDbut still unpleasant- basically the digestive system doesn't work very well and certain foods can cause bloating, gas, upset tummy.
IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease - covers diseases like Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease where the bowel has become inflamed through ulcers or other damage. (In my case I've had my colon removed. had an ileostomy which was replaced with an internal reservoir (a pouch) made up from my intestines. (It's amazing what doctors can do!! Interestingly I used to take loperamide daily following my ops but now even half a capsule can bung me up. The only problem for me is I get rather anxious especially when visiting peoples houses as I go to the loo at least 10 times a day and it can be a bit noisy.

Finally - on the issue of probiotics - the best one is VSL3 (recommended by my hospital) alternatively Optibac do a great range of probiotics and are available online. ooh I've rambled on... .Apologies -- but thanks again.

Holdthetonic I feel the thread has been somewhat led astray by my FODMAP crusade but I do hope you have the most wonderful wedding.

Tegan I reckon I have had the IBS for about 15 years! The problem is the actual 'episodes' that could keep me in (and out of) bed for about three days don't happen often enough to warrant - after an upbringing of 'just get on with it' example and instruction - going to the doctors [grim smile].

One of the good things is about having it diagnosed is that so many things have to be eliminated first so you feel good that you don't have things which is where Morgana's son seems to be at now.

I am sure there is some connection between the low thyroid and the IBS too fjw2009. We found out about my IBS because I was still exhausted even when the bloods showed I was on the right level of Levothyroxine and I whimpered to my doctor that I was still so tired. She went back over my medical history and I imagine what had happened to me has happened to others - symptoms had been treated rather than cause.

I would love to be able to take immodium for IBS, but find it ( and antiinflammatories) upset my hiatus hernia. Caught between
a rock and a hard place ? In a social situation I take charcoal tablets.

I suffered from IBS for years until I started doing yoga and it has transformed the problem! Obviously would only work in some cases but I have found it amazing.

My digestion problems go back to my thirties and I'm sure that wholemeal bread was the biggest culprit. I just wish that I'd been more knowledgeable back then about the part that diet plays with our health. I never dreamt of seeing a doctor about it but was made miserable for years with needing the loo at short notice.Fatty food is probably high protein so doesn't result in much waste; I know I did a high protein diet when it was popular at the time and had less tummy trouble than when I tried to be healthy by eating lots of fruit and veg. Then, of course, when we think we've cracked it our body changes again.

Have read this thread with great interest especially Gracesgran's comments. I ,too, have suffered with IBS-like symptoms for years( also an underactive thyroid sufferer on levothyroxine -am sure there's a connection) and this year have had colonoscopy, endoscopy, and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to -excuse the pun- get to the bottom of it once and for all!All relatively OK so have been referred to dietician who is going to get me tested for coeliac's and then ,if not that, put me on the FODMAP diet . I have found that the probiotic, SYMPROVE, helps a lot too.
Hope holdthetonic has an amazing time at the wedding! :-)

read above comments with interest. Thanks ladies. My son (now in his mid thirties)has some sort of bowel problems, still awaiting a diagnosis (he has to wait 6 months for next appointment to see specialist!) But he has cut out fibre (but ok with white bread) fruit, carrots, ssweet corn, sauces, spicy foods, salad items are also a no no. He is ok to eat very fatty food! and so we are a bit worried about his nutrition. Just wondering if anyone out there has the same problems with food?

A couple of Codis at night have a similar but slower and gentler effect than loperamide/Imodium, you might like to give it a try..

When I was explaining to my son that I can't have onions Tegan he said it sounded as if I couldn't eat any of the things they wouldn't put in their compost bin as they don't decompose for eons. I imagine there is some truth in that

Dr Ali thinks that yeast is the food of the devil and it's hard to disagree with him. Although, like Gillian McKeef[sp] I think he was discredited awhile back I still believe in what he writes [and she also talked a lot of sense, just a pity her 'ologies seemed to be figments of her imagination] He's also a great believer in turmeric.

I agree Tegan, that it seems to be more about what you don't eat (because you will not be able to digest it properly) rather than what you do.

'Probiotics, literally, “pro life, are increasingly being looked at as more than just a living flora in the digestive tract. After surgery, probiotics can be used to;
1.promote healing,
2.shorten hospital stays,
3.restore balance to the digestive tract,
4.and help stave-off postoperative infections.

They are known to stimulate the recovery process of many clinical conditions including diarrhea, lactose intolerance, colon cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure, immune function and infections, helicobacter pylori infections, inflammation, bacterial growth under stress, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as well as enhance vitamin production.

Since probiotics are not closely regulated by the FDA and different types of probiotics provide different therapeutic benefits, your medical professional should be consulted concerning what type and how much should be used. If taken as a supplement, a reputable brand should be selected with a known track-record of providing safe and reliable products'.....I felt a 'google' coming on!

I guess that makes sense, as you don't want to introduce different kinds of bacteria to an area that's been operated on.