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Cheapest IBS relieving medication

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I have been diagnosed with IBS - though waiting for an US for potential problems with gallbladder. As experiencing pain in that area. Also got a blood test next week

GP will not prescribe me with anything yet until results with the two above.

Is there anything cheaper than Buscopan? £3 for a box for a week's tablets is costly.

BTW I am 31, 5ft 8, 14st 5 - trying to lose 15-20lb but the IBS plays up with my weight.

Comments

  • Dogger69
    Dogger69 Posts: 1,183 Forumite
    You need to wait until your doctor has the test results - you cannot ask for medical advice on the forum.
  • paulofessex
    paulofessex Posts: 1,728 Forumite
    If l was you l wouldn't take anything at this time, not until all tests are undertaken otherwise you may mask the symptoms making the tests pointless.
  • Pink-Angel
    Pink-Angel Posts: 290 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Hi, I'd agree with the other posters. If the doc was sure your symptoms were 'just' IBS they would prescribe you something. Sometimes symptoms can have many explanations and the doc obviously wants to make sure they're doing the right by you.

    I appreciate how awful IBS symptoms can be, but it's also worth bearing in mind the cheapest meds you're looking at buying may not be the right ones to help you, as there are several products with different drugs in them and I don't believe they're all available over the counter.

    Best to wait for the test results as you could be making things worse rather than better, and masking the real problem.

    All the best for your tests.
  • beluga
    beluga Posts: 877 Forumite
    I have IBS too, so I totally sympathise! It took a long time to get a diagnosis and like you, no one would prescribe anything without one.
    The only thing that I've found that helped with my IBS is probiotic yogurt. I did try those little yogurt drink pots, but wasn't too keen so now I just buy any yogurt labelled "probiotic". It was suggested by one of the nurses at the hospital and at that point I was ready to try anything! It did take a few weeks to work, and I won't say it's cured me or anything, but it has helped a huge amount.
    Otherwise peppermint tea helped a little.
    Best of luck with your tests x
  • lazer
    lazer Posts: 3,402 Forumite
    I have IBS too, and the things I have found to help mainly are


    Peppermint tea - just when i need it

    Stay away from bread and pasta (especially white)
    Look for foods which trigger it - with me it's a few strange things - turnip, and too much fruit mainly.

    I know what you mean about losing wieght -it is hard, but i found that less bread and pasta helped with that too.

    I also found eating less more often also helped as it was better than big meals!
    Weight loss challenge, lose 15lb in 6 weeks before Christmas.
  • Lara44
    Lara44 Posts: 2,961 Forumite
    Hope this does not constitute medical advice - feel free to mod / edit. Just my experiences of my own ways of managing IBS through lifestyle choices.

    Agree with what Lazer ^^^ And the other posters, if your IBS is not yet diagnosed.

    Some interesting new research is on the Kings College website. The GPs I have had don't really seem to know much about IBS so I have ended up doing my own research / trial and error approaches to managing things.

    Like Lazer I have found specific trigger foods that I can tolerate at low levels, but eating many at the same time is problematic. These tend to be very greasy foods, vegetables with lots of insoluble fibre such as beans, onions etc. Red wine too, unfortunately. This is not a recommendation to avoid those foods, but to observe if any foods are causing you trouble.

    Some online sources that are not scientifically confirmed recommend eating these foods in small pieces or pureed to minimise the digestive work to be done. Not sure about this but certainly I eat small meals regularly, chew properly. For me overeating can upset my system.

    Stress, specifically panicking is also connected for me. Handling anxiety has been really important. At one time I had hypnotherapy which helped a lot with this. Also preserving alone time and down time. Exercise is very important too.

    IBS symptoms were also linked to my cycle. Implanon suspended my periods and led to a big drop in symptoms.
    :A :heartpuls June 2014 / £2014 in 2014 / £735.97 / 36.5%
  • AndyPK
    AndyPK Posts: 4,360 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I got some pepermint tea thanks.

    But while looking in Sainsburys I couldn't find any probiotic yogurt. Any idea what Brands etc I should be looking out for to help me find it.

    Thanks.
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