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If you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you will know how difficult it is to treat. doctors can be dismissive of IBS symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and bloating, and when treatment is offered it may only help for a short while before the distressing symptoms return.

Sufferers often find that they have to deal with the symptoms themselves, through self-help methods and supplements, rather than by using conventional medicines. However, this does not mean that there is no hope of improvement. By sharing their experiences, sufferers can learn a lot about what really helps to ease IBS.

All the self-help tips in this article have come from IBS sufferers who have found a way to control their irritable bowels. Before trying any form of self-help, please make sure that you have your doctors approval, and do check that anything you try will not interfere with any medication you are taking.

Calcium tablets

Linda, who suffers from severe diarrhea, says: What has helped me for more than two years is calcium carbonate, an over-the-counter supplement. I take three tablets a day, one at each meal. The most success has come from using any formula of calcium supplement that is like Caltrate 600 Plus with vitamin D and minerals. The only side effect is at the beginning of taking the calcium you may have some gas or indigestion, but this usually goes away after taking a regular dose for a few days.

If you suffer from constipation rather than diarrhea, you could try magnesium supplements instead, as these can have a slight laxative effect.

Digestive enzymes and probiotics

Kim, who also suffers from bad diarrhea, says: I tried taking digestive enzymes with acidophilus and found significant relief within three days. I am not afraid to eat now, but find that I still cannot eat very much refined sugar or high fibre vegetables. I have also added a cup or two per day of peppermint and chamomile tea. When I do have an episode it occurs late in the day and by the next morning I am feeling back to normal.

Looking at your diet

Laura describes how a close examination of her diet helped her IBS: I was placed on every kind of medication, and sometimes they worked in the short term, sometimes they didn't work at all. The doctor finally suggested trying to alter my diet in cycles, and we discovered that eating meat was my problem. I became a vegetarian and no longer have constant problems. Sometimes I even go years without any pain at all. It's worth all the effort you put into it when you finally feel better.

Mina also found that dietary change helped control her symptoms, alongside traditional medication: I've made a number of changes to my diet. I've eliminated milk and mostly any dairy, fried foods, sugar for the most part, pop, alcohol, potato chips, spicy food, rice, pasta and bread. Most recently I'm eliminating flour. But my best friend for the last couple of years has been Imodium Quick Dissolve tablets. I don't ever leave home without them. I just have to make sure I don't overdo it. If I ever become immune to the wonder drug I am gonna be a real mess!

Flaxseed

Watching your diet is sometimes not enough to completely control the symptoms, and natural or herbal supplements can help, as Marion discovered: After about six months of a horrendously restrictive diet (ultra low-fat vegan with no raw veggies or fruit except banana) and a lot of Metamucil, I managed to get it sort of under control. But if I deviated from the diet, the chronic diarrhea would come back. Someone I met told me that she had helped her IBS by taking a tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseed with a glass of water or juice every morning.

I thought it was another crackpot cure, but eventually I decided to try it. She had told me that pre-ground flaxseed didn't work because flax seed starts to oxidize as soon as you grind it and that whole flax seeds are no good either, because they cannot be digested properly. After years of IBS, in about two weeks it just went away. I cannot believe that I now have perfectly normal, regular bowel movements.

Fiber, water and yoga

Pam, who struggles with constipation, has developed a combination of things which work for her: I drink Metamucil (psyllium fibre) every day and try to relax, pray or meditate, even do a little yoga. The more I make myself relax and take time to de-stress the better I can manage my problem. I know time for yourself is very hard to come by sometimes but I have to if I'm going to manage this. I try to drink at least three bottles of water a day. This is also hard sometimes but I have to take care of me the best I can. I also take a mild anti-depressant. This has helped a bunch in my stress department and in turn has helped my IBS.

stress and IBS

daniel believes that his symptoms are related to his emotions and stress: I thought that when I was stuck on the toilet, experiencing the most severe cramps, thinking I was about to pass out from the pain, feeling like I was about to throw up, I was the only one. I'm still trying to work it out but I believe it has a lot to do with my psychological state. I say this because although I don't get too stressed out at any one moment, I do have general worries about money and life. I tend to find when I'm not worrying about these things I don't get the pain as much, if at all.

It's easier said than done of course, I can't just stop worrying about money or my future, but being aware of these things seems to help - being optimistic and knowing that everything is only temporary. I have been taking Colpermin (peppermint capsules) as a preventative which often helps and for a while I took painkillers which I think helped.

Soluble versus insoluble fiber

Some nutritionists believe that IBS sufferers intestines react differently to soluble and insoluble fiber, and this has been Stus experience: After trying all kinds of drugs and healthy eating, my pains were still there. I found by accident that it wasn't so much what I ate but whether I ate it on a full stomach or not. My failsafe is pasta on an empty stomach, I get no reaction - it is soluble fibre that settles the colon apparently. I quickly searched on the internet for recipes high in soluble fibre and I have improved.

Most significantly though I am on no medication and this puts me in control of the IBS, not the other way around. I think this is important as stress certainly can trigger the symptoms off. I don't avoid insoluble fibre as it is essential for the body, but I recommend that you eat it on a full stomach.

Sophie Lee has suffered from IBS for more than 15 years. She runs the IBS Tales website at http://www.ibstales.com where you can read hundreds of personal experiences of IBS and self-help tips.

posted by 55208  # 9:43 PM 0 comments

Do you fall into the category of those who have lost weight only to watch that arrow slowly return closer to the dreaded right side of the scale.

Perhaps you are in a constant state of lose 1 pound gain 2 back?

Whatever your situation, the word frustrated probably describes you...

So why is it so hard to maintain your weight?

And what's all this stuff about ideal weight? We have this idea of our "younger years" when we looked and felt our best. We want desperately to get back to that weight, but we view those days as long gone.

So is there any hope for achieving your ideal weight again?

Or perhaps the question on the mind of most, "Is it possible to stay there if I achieve it?"

Yes on both accounts!

And it's not that difficult if you make a commitment, allow me to repeat...if you make a commitment. To what? To your diet!

Don't get confused with the word diet. We are not talking about diet as in "I'm going on a diet." In which case most people have this painstaking notion about starving themselves. Unfortunately, anyone who chooses to diet like this will find themselves in the exact same position as you...Struggling with weight management.

Diet, as in what you eat.

Sounds like advice from your doctor doesn't it? You have probably heard those famous words "watch what you eat" thousands of times. In fact, most people have heard it so much that they no longer pay any attention. It's almost as if those words have become boring?

Is this why so many people opt for fad diets, pills or other weight loss gimmicks? In case you haven't noticed, these methods do absolutely nothing for lasting results. They are quick weight loss fixes that provide fast results that don't last.

Perhaps you have tried one of these methods in the past? Maybe that is why you are still trying to manage your weight...?

Are you skeptical that a change in your diet would have much of an impact on your weight? It would be wise for you to keep an open mind just long enough to ask yourself, "have I ever actually followed this advice?"

The answer for most is NO!

When you make a habit of eating highly nutritious food for every meal your metabolism begins to operate at its most efficient level.

It may excite you to know that by changing your diet it is possible to achieve your ideal weight and stay there. You won't even have to think about managing anymore, your body will naturally take care of it for you.

Jason Clemens is a leading weight loss and nutrition coach.
"Learn how to burn fat fast, achieve your ideal weight and feel great?"
It's easier than you thought possible!
=>Visit naturally-lose-weight-fast.com

posted by 55208  # 3:27 AM 0 comments