[sdnewt]

My 15 year old son was diagnosed with IBS five years ago. Doctors suggested he stay away from bothersome foods...and this was the only help we received. The last few years have gotten worse. I recently took him to a chiropractor who tested him for food allergies and we found he is either allergic or sensitive to dairy, beef, wheat, gluten, peanuts and soy. We all went on an allergen free diet for about a month. It seemed to be the answer for the first week. Then the chronic diarrhea returned (3 diarrhea BMs before school, and usually once every hour (class) through at least lunch). Perhaps we didn't give the new diet enough time, but it didn't seem to matter; the diarrhea still controlled his life.I talked his doctor in testing him for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, hopefully next week. I don't know much about this, but I think he should be tested for lactose, fructose and sucrose intolerance.I'd also like to try VSL #3 or S. boulardii...any recommendations?Any and all advise/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kathleen M.]

Sucrose intolerance is usually quite rare and often the person with it will develop a pretty strong aversion to anything that tastes even a little sweet (I think my Mom may have had this, she actually was a fabulous baker but wouldn't eat anything she made and wouldn't put sugar in any drink).Lactose (lactase enzyme not being made) and inability to fully absorb fructose are more common, but sometimes cause symptoms and sometimes don't. Depends on how well you tolerate the gas from that (and people with IBS don't tolerate gas well).Both of those probiotics can be good, but there isn't any really good head to head research or any way to predict which (if either) will be helpful.

 

[Jakora]

I think it's time to go to a GI specialist. He might be able to help out better than the doctor as per medications to control it. Also, changing diets CAN cause diarrhea too some times. I'm not sure if that was his case, but i think you should think about seeing a GI specialist and a nutritionist to see about this.