IBS. Any suggestions for instant relief

I have every sympathy for you Lizbethann55.

I have had IBS(D) for years it started after a lost my Dad.

There are lots of helpful suggestions here, I think it is all about eliminating foods, keeping a diary, and seeing how it goes. I am just coming to the end of an episode that has lasted for weeks, it is exhausting and painful but I feel I am over the worst.

I hope you feel better soon x

Hi, medical check if worried. Adapt your food a bit....if this happens from time to time, you will know what foods aggravate. Aloe Vera juice (buy in health food shop) can be soothing. Plenty of water. Rest and relaxation. I know...easier said than done but we need to recognise what the body is telling us....Get well soon. (I am a homeopath and can recommend homeopathy if you want to address it long term).

It definitely sounds diet and anxiety related. You have to be prepared to work at it. Look at the type of fibre you eat. And other food. Keep a food diary.
I drink rooibos tea. Peppermint doesn't work for everyone.
And tackle anxiety / stress. Meditation yoga whatever will work for you.
As I say you need to do some work on it. There isn't an easy fix.

It’s unclear where the myth of aloe vera juice as a treatment for IBS symptoms originated, but scientific research does not support its use, and the few random control studies that have been undertaken have found no benefit.

In addition, the regular ingestion of aloe vera juice is not recommended due to the risk of significant side effects, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, allergic reactions, dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, low blood sugar, elevated cancer risk and interactions with other medications.

I'm sorry but doing things that have not been prescribed by your doctor could be dangerous. There is no miracle cure. Living with a chronic condition can leave you feeling stressed, anxious and exhausted. IBS can leave you with brain fog or feverishness. It is not a good idea not to treat it under a doctor.

After reading an article by Dr Rangan Chatterjee praising the product Symprove I started on it 2 years ago. I haven't looked back. Amazing stuff.

Thank you for all your help and advice. I know I must sound ungrateful and dismissive in not jumping on the fodmap diet, but I honestly don't know how it would help, although that isn't to say there might be a food trigger. My situation is that my attacks are few and far between. I can go for months with no problems at all. So if I tried cutting out food I would have no way of knowing if I was symptom free because I had cut out a particular food or because I was just not having an attack. That is why I originally asked if anyone had any suggestions as to what I could do to calm the pain and bloating of an attack. My last bad "do" was back in January/February, so I have had a reasonably good year with just a few minor bad days along the way. I am sure my IBS is stress and anxiety related. I did find a very interesting and informative webinar on line. I cannot imagine how awful it must be to suffer all the time. Thank you again for your help.

I have struggled with IBS symptoms for years which have become much worse, post menopause. I have always eaten a healthy vegetarian diet and am not overweight, but ultimately the only thing that really helped me ( in combination, not separately) is trying not to get anxious about things, regular relaxation such as yoga or pilates and regular walks in the fresh air, avoiding gluten and sugar like they are the plague, cutting down a bit on other carbohydrates ( i.e exercising proper portion control on the gluten free pasta, potatoes and rice) , and being careful with the amount fibre intake in the form of onions, garlic, beans and brassicas, as these are the main foods that trigger the worst of my stomach pain and bloating, followed by embarrassingly excessive wind, normally exactly two hours after consumption. I also aim to stick to a 10 hour eating day and fasting for 14 hours ( i.e nothing other than caffeine free tea after a 18.00 dinner (unless a special occasion, of course) - then breakfast at 8.00 am), with Peppermint tea if I feel bloating coming on. All of this is tedious, and I often fail my 10 hour eating rule, and eating out is not much fun but is do-able. This is the only 'regime' that seems to help me, and I'd rather be without the IBS symptoms than eat the triggers, and it is of course a drug free remedy.