My IBS is back in a big way and I have been very uncomfortable and in a lot of discomfort.

Has anyone had success with probiotics for treating it? I have changed my diet but there are SO MANY things I've had to give up. Most of the things I've removed from my diet are healthy, high fiber things. Also gone are acidic items like tomatoes, fruit, dairy, soda, etc.

Oddly, the other day I tried taking a Lactaid pill and it seemed to help. I might try it again. I want to be careful not to overdo it as I just started a one month probiotic regimen today. My fingers are crossed. I desperately need relief.

[lizardlady]

{*{*{*{*Unhappyguy*}*}*}*}

I would like to know if the probiotic treatment helps. I eat a cup of yoghurt every day. It doesn't seem to help when my IBS acts up. Are you taking a probiotic pill?

about the Lactaid pill... I found using Lactaid milk instead of regular milk helps.

And boy to I hear you about having to give up foods I like! May I ask why you gave up high fiber foods? My doctor recommended eating more high fiber! Last year she tried to get e to cut out pasta, rice and other starches because of cholesterol issues. I looked her in the eye and told her that I had to give up everything else I liked to eat. I was NOT giving up my starches. She seemed kind of taken aback, but dropped the subject.

I have had mixed results with Lactaid pills. I am going to try them again today. Yogurt has not helped me at all. I am taking probiotic pills by Schiff. I am supposed to cut back on simple starches because I am also glucose intolerant. But, those are some of the things, e.g., white rice, that I tolerate best. So, I am with you, no way am I giving them up!

[Perna]

The Lactaid helps me; don't know what you mean by "overdo" it; you take one before a meal you are going to have dairy in, it's an enzyme so doesn't do anything "magic" like an antacid or something might, it just does it's very particular job if it needs doing. I also take one at night before bed; I sometimes have a piece of chocolate candy or have meds I take that have lactose in them (milk chocolate isn't just a fun name :-) But most yogurts are fine without as they are very low lactose and the live cultures take care of what's left. At night, what I thought was indigestion/acid was actually the recent lactose so, while a Tum often helped, the Lactaid in there with my other vitamins/pills, etc. often did too, when the Tum wasn't as effective. Now I take the Tum too though, for the Calcium; it seems to help me sleep better and with less arthritis pain.

I just took a Lactaid pill with my lunch of spinach cheese raviolis. Last time it helped. The Lactaid milk does not help me. I've had mixed results with the Lactaid pills in the past.

I am in so much discomfort from the IBS. Some days the blandest of foods are fine. Others, even though bother me. I don't know what to do anymore.

[Sometimes psychotic]

My boss is a GI chief and consults for dannon...she says the data is strong for activia although it doesn't work for everyone. If it doesn't work you can get your money back.

[JadeAmethyst]

I switched to Lactose free milk, and that seemed to help me a lot.

[Travelinglady]

My doc recommended that I take a probiotic for my IBS. I take a probiotic pill every morning. I also eat yogurt most every day. I also drink Lactose-free milk, which she recommended. At any rate, my IBS went away and I have had few problems since--even without changing my diet much. I don't know if these things solved my problem, but there is a correlation there, anyway.

Hope you are getting better, unhappy guy.

I had a bad GI day yesterday even though I took a probiotics pill and lactose pill with my lunch. They also seem to have affected me physically as I was achy and my legs felt heavy when I walked. Still, I am going to give the probiotics at least a week and have already taken a dose for today.

I have cut out so many foods. I loathe my body.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by unhappyguy

I have cut out so many foods. I loathe my body.

I can soooo relate to that! I don't loathe my body on a daily basis, afterall it's the only one I have. But there are days I'd like to trade it in for a new one!

After 3 days, I had to stop taking the probiotics. The package says to give them a week to ten days. But, the IBS symptoms are worse. These were brand name probiotics and the manufacturer claimed the product was designed specifically for people suffering from IBS. I guess I will have to see a specialist. That means finding a new GI doc as my last one did nothing.

[Jan1212]

Why did you remove healthy, high fiber food? it softens up hard stools, and bulks it up helps with diarrhea. Were you diagnosed with IBS? What did your doctor advise you?

If it's not helping, you may need more treatment, it could be infections, you may need breath tests for lactose yogurt has dairy (too much of something is never good), stool tests, scopes.

Keep doing the process of elimination with different food groups one at a time to see what you are specifically intolerant to, by writing in a food journal, stress managemtn is also one of the biggest things with ibs

[Inedible]

Probiotics work better in combination with prebiotics. The only prebiotic I know of is the fiber in apples, though.

[optimize990h]

some other prebiotics are bananas, chicory root, onions, leeks, fruits, soybeans, sweet potatoes, endive, garlic. (some positive thinking anecdote-"The earthworm must have a poop every 50 seconds!). metamucil(psyllium)also may help with diarrhea from ibs

This week I am trying something new. For years and years, all I have drunk are cold beverages. No more. I will try a week with nothing but hot tea. The heat means fewer germs. I hope this helps my GI system. Hot tea will also permit me to drink herbal tea, which I do not like cold. The chances of this working are slim but it's a change worth trying. It won't be easy, I LOVE my iced tea (plain with no sugar, thank you).

[planejane13]

I took acidophilus (probiotic) for a while and it helped tremendously. Unfortunately it seems once something works it then stops working. I started taking Linzess, its a prescription which I hate taking but it was my last option. Hope you feel better:-)