[Guest]

I was so happy to find this BB. I was diagnosed with ibs in February of this year. I have had "problems" for 4 years but I was in the Navy and they passed it off as "stress" (everything is labeled "stress" in the Navy) Anyway, I am ibs-d and tried Bentyl which did nothing. I am now on Librax and it is working great! I have been able to eat most anything and have not had the cramping or D. Ok, finally my question. I'm not sure if I should just thank my lucky stars and continue with the librax or try the Caltrate+ that I've read about here. I'm nervous about giving up something that works but I don't like being on a prescription medication if there is something out there that may work just as good or better. I just don't like the thought of being on a prescription med for the rest of my life! I want you all to know I've been reading this bb for over a month and you have really helped me- just knowing that I'm not alone out there!

 

[NewForMe]

The caltrate plus does work so I would give it a try. Stay with the Rx and take the caltrate at the same time and wean yourself off of the Rx. If the caltrate doesn't help alone then take the Rx again. I am going to move a topic to the top of the list for you to read about caltrate, because I am sure it's somewhere way down on the bottom because it has been around for months - but you will be amazed. The post will be from LNAPE. Read it. Welcome to the board. The support here is wonderful.

 

[Guest]

Just a personal suggestion in dealing with IBS. . ."If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Most people, myself included, have tried many different things over a period of several years. I would give anything to finally find something that actually works.

 

[Guest]

justa, Welcome to the board.....

I don't see why you couldn't use the Caltrate + along with the meds. It is just calcium which we all need anyhow. You could try it instead of the Librax for a time to see if it alone would work. Can always go back to your meds. if it don't.

------------------ Don't make ME come down there!!. GOD

 

[Guest]

Justa,Hi - I'm new to this board too, and can identify with your feelings about not wanting to be on Librax for the rest of your life.I was diagnosed with IBS over 20 years ago, and was initially prescribed Librax and Sinequan. I too decided that I did not want to be drugged for the rest of my life. Consequently, I have lived with IBS (for the most part) without drugs. It hasn't been easy!I am able to control it most of the time with diet: avoid dairy (since I am lactose intolerant), avoid greasy foods, too MUCH fiber, and eat small portions. For me, that seems to work best. I take lactase when I eat any dairy, along with digestive enzymes - you may have seen another post on the board from me about that. Calcium supplements, which others have mentioned, also help.Unfortunately, there is a mental component which I am less able to "control" or predict. When I travel (or am places where there is no bathroom close), I often find myself in trouble. Those are the times that I have relied on OTC things like Immodium or Pepto Bismol. (However, as anyone knows who has suffered severe symptoms of IBS, these are often unequal to the task).For that reason, I am anxious to try the new drug that is out: Lotronex. If you have been reading posts about it, you will have noted that one person wrote that her doctor told her that it will not cause a dry mouth or "drugged" feeling. Hopefully, it can be taken as needed, rather than daily, to be effective.I am anxious to try it, and wish resources like this board would have been available years ago (when I had never even heard of IBS).I hope you will find the best way to manage it in your life, and keep in mind that while it is a terrible affliction, at least it is not life-threatening (which is small consolation, I know.)After all these years, I could probably write a book about it.- Connie