IBS Getting Worse

Hi Linda, sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time. Ibs really is awful. A few years ago during a really bad flare up someone suggested taking a calcium supplement. Calcium with vit D. Calcium is constipating so helps with the diarrhoea. I started by taking half a tablet 3 times a day then after a few days increased to full tablets. I was amazed at how quick it worked. Once under control I dropped to 2 tablets then down to just one daily 😃 make sure you don’t get calcium with magnesium as magnesium has the opposite effect and will make you go to the toilet 😃

Try an antispasmodic such as Buscopan and nurofen for your pain and avoid your food triggers.   Take antispasmodics and nurofen immediately when the pain starts so that the pain does not become severe. This is how I treat my IBS pain and it works for me. Try a food diary to see what other foods may be causing symptoms.   Imodium is great for stopping diarrhoea and so is rice or bananas.  Treat your symptoms just like any IBS flare up you have had.

The other possibility is Bile acid Malabsorption.  Ask your doctor for a SECHAT scan to look for this condition which causes diarrhoea and is a complication of gallbladder removal.  It can be treated successfully with medication.  Avoid greasy, fried and spicy foods since you now have no gallbladder.

Hi Linda, I empathise with you, I was diagnosed with IBS over 30 years ago, and more recently with Coeliac disease. I mistakenly thought that the IBS would go after removing gluten from my diet, but my stomach cramps returned etc., a lot of food intolerances started to surface once I’d been off gluten for about a year, and every now and then another food, decides to give me problems. (I was keeping a food diary to work out what they were). I was asked by a dietitian to go on a low FODMAP diet, at the time I was reluctant as I had already cut out so many foods, but each time I think I have got it sussed, something else sets off the cramps, so I have now gone on the FODMAP diet, and although it is early days, I have noticed an improvement.  Perhaps you might like to give it a go.  There’s lots of information on line to start you off, including books that you can buy.  I do hope this helps you, as I’ve had similar problems and I know how hard it can be.  

isabgol........ read online. 1 tsp soak in 1/4 cup water, let it turn into jelly, add roza syrup or cranberry juice. have it everyday no perticular timing but just everyday once!