Ibs

Becles

Thanks for the tips.

Been to the doctors. The mebeverine hasn't been working over the weekend, so she has given me some Alverine Citrate to try instead. My last blood test was borderline low on blood count and iron, so I'm having another blood test in the morning to check everything. She's also going to test for coeleac (sp?) disease, but the results will take a month to come back for that one.

She also recommended keeping a food diary to see if I can spot anymore trigger foods, try to get enough rest and avoid stress.

Ria

Becles, I do hope you are feeling better today and that the new medication will work for you. With symptoms as bad as yours I should keep going back to the doctor until you get a result. All the best

mightymo_2

I don't think I suffer with IBS, but last weekend did have terrible cramps and a poorly tummy. A friend suggested chopped root ginger in apple juice, heated in the microwave. It tasted lovely and seemed to settle my tummy for a while.

Hope you are feeling better soon Becles.

Mo x

janlou

:j Hi, I've suffered from IBS for years and I've even been hospitalised on numerous occasions. I found that Calcichew, which my doctor prescribed for cramp made it worse and also gave me other nasty side effects which made me quite ill until I discovered that Calcichew contains the artificial sweetener 'ASPARTAME' - IT'S A KILLER, and it can be found in soft drinks as well as prescribed medicines. I also went on a lactose free diet and use Soya milk instead and I hardly notice my IBS anymore.

Ted_Hutchinson

janlou wrote: »

:j Hi, I've suffered from IBS for years and I've even been hospitalised on numerous occasions. I found that Calcichew, which my doctor prescribed for cramp made it worse and also gave me other nasty side effects which made me quite ill until I discovered that Calcichew contains the artificial sweetener 'ASPARTAME' - IT'S A KILLER, and it can be found in soft drinks as well as prescribed medicines. I also went on a lactose free diet and use Soya milk instead and I hardly notice my IBS anymore.

Calcichew contains Calcium carbonate 1250mg (equivalent to 500mg of elemental calcium). sorbitol, 390mg; isomalt, 62mg; and aspartame, 1mg.
[FONT=Geneva,Verdana]Calcichew D3 Forte Chewable Tablets [/FONT]
Contain Calcium carbonate 1250 mg (equivalent to 500 mg of elemental calcium) Colecalciferol 400 IU sorbitol, 390mg; isomalt, 49.90mg; aspartame, 1mg; sucrose, 1.52mg; and soya bean oil, hydrogenated, 0.30mg.

If you are unable to take the calcichew you should check up on your calcium intake from other sources these links may help.
Dietary Calcium Superior to Supplements for Protecting Bones

calcium: foodsources
How much calcium do I need? What are good food sources of calcium?: answer

The reason Calichewforte contains Cholecalciferol (Vit D3) is because vitamin D status controls calcium uptake from diet/supplements.

This paper The Vitamin D requirement in health and disease explains the issue but you don't have to read it all. Just look at the picture on page 2 and you will see that calcium absorption levels off once vitamin D satus has been raised to 80NMOL/L.

Each 400iu vit d raises 9nmol/l. so if you were prescribed Calcichew forte they would raise your status from 40 to 49nmol/l .
Not enough vitamin D Health consequences for Canadians
a clinical review written by and for Canadian doctors says.
To maintain a healthy blood level of 25(OH)D (80 to 100nmol/L), researchers have estimated that the oral dose of vitamin D3 to attain and maintain 25(OH)D levels above 80 nmol/L is 2200 IU/d if baseline levels are 20 to 40 nmol/L, 1800 IU/d if levels are 40 to 60 nmol/L, and 1160 IU/d if levels are between 60 and 80 nmol/L.

UK average adult status is lower than Canada (they have more sunshine, fortified milk and live slightly further south.) and is now at it's lowest 40nmol/l and by August will peak at 70nol/l

Sola

I've had diarrhoea-dominant IBS for 20-odd years but was only diagnosed 4 years ago after a colonoscopy. Wheat is the trigger for me, so I avoid it as much as possible (I've been checked for coeliac disease and know I don't have it). I think I have mild dairy intolerance too which doesn't help. When it's really bad, I pass blood, and the twisting cramps are the worst pain I've ever experienced.

When I saw a dietician for it, he put me on a 3-week elimination diet of steamed green veg, brown rice, steamed chicken, steamed fresh-water fish, and I felt wonderful on it.