[katza]

I started taking a herbal product I got online called Herb a Calm. It has Valarian, Ginger, Peppermint, Calamine. No gas, bloating, pains or frequent BS's. I was back to normal but the last three nights I have been having all the symptoms again. I can't understang this at all. My anxiety is very low, lower than it's been in yrs so that not the problem. Any suggestions?

 

[Isis5244]

I've never used it, but I've had other things quit on me suddenly like that, for no apparent reason. It happens a lot and it's important to have lots of tricks up your sleeve for the next time. I don't know if you're C, D or pain predominant, but keep reading here, there's a lot of good info.

 

[Jennifer7]

Most likely you were having the placebo effect.Jennifer

 

[katza]

I think it might have been the homemade chinese dinner a few nights ago. My main problems are bloating, gargling stomach, side pains, abdominal pains sometimes extremely painful and the occasional loose stool and making lots of BS like 5 times a day. With the herbal a calm I go 2 times a day on average and it makes me a little constipated but I don't mind at all being a little constipated then having the craps which I really hate. Along with the herbs I also increased my fiber. Eating bran bread for sandwiches and bran muffins. I also take Beano with every meal. That helps to but not nearly as well as it did the 1st month where it prevented all gas and IBS issues. When I have stomach issues it gives me the weirds and anxiety. No anxiety if no stomach issues. Used to be the other way around.

 

[Guest]

i think it probably was helping you, but in my experience my colon kind of likes to go back to what it knows. it hangs onto the pattern of dysfunction for some reason. i think the hardest part of ibs is getting it out of the pattern. i don't know what the mechanisms behind hypnotherapy and serotonin drugs are(its complex) but I think it is no coincidence that they are both used in habit control and both used in ibs control. when i was taking prozac it helped a little with my bowel function, but more than anything it helped me mentally let go of the pattern. I still had pretty bad bowels, but I wasn't paying as much attention to it and i think that helped a lot. There is something about how engrained the pattern gets. Both for our minds and for our bowels. I think this is also why people who have antiobiotic induced ibs take so long to get over it b/c the pattern of dysfunction can just stick there, even though the trigger is gone. does that make any sense?perhaps try going off of it, having your ibs symptoms for awhile, then going back on it. or combine it with hypnotherapy or paxil/prozac.

 

[artist]

Duckdive! Hey, despite your current symptoms, you sound SO much better! That's fantastic! I read your post and the RED FLAG that jumped out at me-BRAN! Did your problems return when you added this "healthy" food? If you have a problem with frequent BMs, you have to be VERY careful about insoluble fiber, ESPECIALLY bran. While everyone needs some insoluble fiber for good health, bran can be really tough on your gut! Can cause big time gas as well. Back off the bran for a week and see if you feel better. Get your insoluble fiber from well cooked vegetables and continue the Beano. You could also try a soluble fiber supplement like Benefiber if you aren't already. It helps regulate bowel funtion. Try the lowest dose to start. Hang in there! artist

 

[wlwoodma]

hey Duckdive,I have had the same exact same thing happen to me recently except I was using a slightly different form of herbal stuff. I am starting to believe that valerin (taken in my case in tea to help you sleep) can help at least short term. I think my problem stems from the fact I got sort of complacent due to lack of symptoms and now my IBS is back. i started drinking coffee again, started to eat higher fat food, let too much time pass between meal so I ate too much, etc. I also took some anti-maleria medication since my husband and I are going to Costa Rica later this week. So I don't know exactly what I did wrong but I am pretty sure it is one of those things. I guess in the future I will have to be more vigilant even when I feel better. Hope you (and I) can turn this around. I am hoping like joanofarc said that we just need to get in the habit of not having IBS.science girl

 

[julesishere]

I agree with artist. Insoluable fiber on an empty or nearly empty tummy spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r for IBSers. Check out www.eatingforibs.com. It's really worked for me.Soluable fiber on an empty tummy and with meals. I take FiberCon every day (2 tabs, 4x/day) with a lot of fennel tea and water, and I feel better than I have in months!