So it seems I have developed a tinge of this in the past couple of months. Doc says I should keep up with what I already gravitated towards naturally, and that is fiber dosing.
It’s also becoming clear that coffee is gasoline on the fire of my gut.
Any other tips?
One ancient remedy is yogurt and rice. The yogurt to tweak the microbial balance, and the rice is fiber and goo.
I’ve been using the fiber for a while, though out of forgetfulness and laziness I now take a double dose twice a day instead of one dose twice a day, and this has really helped a lot.
Imodium. 2 or 3 in a 24 hour period keeps me normal for about a week.
The Atkins diet.
Cured me in 24 hours after 15 years of colonoscopies, endoscopies, barium meals, x-rays, and doctors scratching their heads.
Alcohol still gets me bad, though.
I’m brain dead today I can’t even think of the name of the fiber cookies they have out now you can take instead of the drink or the tablets. They are fairly good and great for a snack. Stress adds to the problem but not much you can do about that. I’ve pretty much learned the foods to avoid. So just keep a close check on your diet and keep up with the fiber. Best not to use meds if you can help it as they just tend to temporary solve the problem and usually makes it worse for a few days once they’ve worn off.
My mother-in-law has had great success with a combination of the Atkins Diet and probiotics (try to find ones with an enteric coating).
Beer, coffee, Coca Cola and some breakfast cereals (Weetabix and Sugerpuffs in particular) are my triggers.
I found out that mushy peas and mint sauce helped a lot. I think the mint and the bicarb used in the peas have something to do with it.
Wait, isn’t IBS alternating diarrhea and constipation? So wouldn’t the remedy vary depending on which part of the cycle that you’re currently in? I mean, if you’re having diarrhea, you wouldn’t want to take any fiber. Also, from my understanding, IBS always involves abdominal pain. So a remedy would also need to relieve the pain.
Mine was just the former - well, it oscillated on a minut-by-minute basis. Desperation, relief, but only delivering 50% of what I knew to be deliverable. Followed 20 minutes later by desperation. Thank God it’s over.
Low fat high fiber works really well. I started Weight Watchers in March and have only had a few mild attacks since then if I eat really badly. If you must have coffe try the lite stuff which is a 50/50 blend.
One small bowl of Kellogs All-Bran a day has done the trick for me. Not the little stick looking stuff but the stuff that looks like minature gerbal food. It sounds awful and I think it tastes like gritty cardboard but it works. If I have to I’ll eat two bowls a day, but I’m not going to give up my coffee or beer.
The cookies are Metamucil’s.
I generally try to have a high-fiber breakfast. When I was pregnant, I’d eat oatmeal every morning and snack on fresh fruit, so the IBS was basically in remission. I need to start doing that again. Also, if I eat a lot of processed sugar, it triggers an attack.
Robin
I found that I am sensitive to detergent. So using rinse agent in a new dishwasher plus careful rinsing of non-dishwasher items helps a lot.
Jackknifed Juggernaut
not always, it just depends on the person. Some people will have one or the other, or both.
You’re right about the pain though. Usually however, if it’s a food trigger, eliminating the trigger will stop your gut from playing up, therefore easing the pain.
Stoid
if you can do it, try an exclusion diet for a week: this should give you an idea if it’s food based. Mine showed up a lactose intolerance, but this was nearly 15 years ago. I believe today, there’s a blood test available for lactose intolerance.
Immodium is your friend. Ginger for nausea and peppermint in general, although I have to say that I find peppermint herbal tea absolutely vile. heh.
I appreciate all the contributions.
It’s interesting that my natural inclination when the problem arose was to suck down fiber. (And for me the problem is diarrhea exclusively. I’ve never had a constipated day in my life.)
I’m having a helluva time giving up the coffee. Every day I say to myself: “Self… this IBS thing sucks rotten eggs and toe jam. It’s a pretty sure bet you’ll see some relief if you don’t make that cup of coffee you’re in the process of boiling water and grinding beans for. Yes, I know you need a kickstart in the morning, but really, is it worth the drain of hitting the pot 6 times in the next three hours?” And the caffeine addict keeps winning. Story of my life, which I won’t go into telling.
I am on a high-protein-low-carb-except-for-Sundays eating regimen as it is, although I’ve been pretty lax the past couple of weeks between TDay and a Vegas vacation. (Vegas has amazing food these days.)
I’m trying not to use too much Immodium, maybe once a week or so. I’m committed to the fiber.
So, does anyone have an caffeine replacement suggestions that are not about acid and sugar? Maybe tea won’t be so brutal…
Apart from the constipation, diarrhea and the pain, does anyone else get a bloated stomach? Just one sip of coffee or a can of Coca Cola and within half an hour I look ready to go into labour.
Kal
yep. And clothes? heh. Two wardrobes, anyone? 
Stoid, I went off caffeine a while ago, although I’m slowly backsliding now. Drink decaf. Drink pots upon pots of decaf. It will give you a psychological boost even though you don’t get the physical kick. You’ll probably suck it down in vast quantities as your body tries to convince itself it’s getting the real thing, but in a week or two, you’ll be used to it.