Hi friends, I've heard a couple of you were concerned about me, well that's awfully sweet! It's been a crazy summer, been in and out of town, had family and friends in to visit, kids of course keep me hopping every second of the day. Wanted to first of all say I'm doing better, managing things better and overall just can tell I'm ... doign better! Have not had gyno appt yet to follow up on the ct scan, yet, that's the end of month. Have managed not to lose any more weight and put a few pounds on, not "there" yet but again, doing better.
I did want to share a couple things that I believe are helping my IBS. I told you my neighbor loaned me her Nutritional Healing book, I've incorporated some of what it suggests, plus of course following Heather's guidelines. First thing I can see helping is the daily intake of ground flax seed, but what's important is that I put 2 heaping tablespoons in my bowl of oatmeal every morning, so that it's in a soluble fiber base, as Heather emphasizes. If I just get tired of oatmeal, then I might mix it in with Rice Chex and some soy yogurt or milk. The main benefit I see from the flax seed is it keeps the stools much softer and easier to pass, and does not produce the gas I got from some other fibers.
I'm also giving Aloe another try, ordered some of George's Aloe Water a while back and tried it, didn't see it doing anything so just quit. But this nutritional healing book says specifically to drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day on an empty stomach. I would not recommend this for D but it seems to help C, 2 days in a row I've had a bm once a day! Big deal for me! No cramping, either. Again, keeping all else of diet stable as per Heather's guidelines. I don't want to go as far as to SUGGEST this, because I don't know what it would do for anyone else, I just think it may be helping me. I'm also taking a probiotic once a day with a meal, that may be contributing to the relief from C, but I'd been doing that a couple weeks and the regular bm's didn't really start until added in the aloe. Who knows which is doing the trick but I'm sticking with both, not rocking the boat now! 
I'm also taking a calcium/magnesium supplement with a meal 3x a day. It's supposed to be good for your "nerves" as well as digest better in combo form like that. I don't know if it's just all the prayer or if this is really helping, but I honestly feel calmer and more at ease, less frantic or "pent up" inside. Who knows! Can't be hurting me anyway.
I'm not saying I don't still deal with IBS, I do, I get bloated sometimes after a small meal and have spasms over in the left side of my colon sometimes still, but on whole these things have been less severe and frequent than in recent months. When I feel like that I have some hot tea (herbal, fennel, ginger, take your pick I have a variety!) and then go for one of my walks. If that doesn't do the trick I tell myself to let the housework and chores go (usually kids are in bed by this point)and take a hot bath, then lie down on my heating pad and get some REST. Then start fresh the next day, giving it all to the Lord and doing my part by being diligent about the diet, water intake, and exercise.
So there's my very long update! Hope I can pass on something that is helpful to someone. Take care!
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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)
Edited by ecmmbm (07/10/03 04:24 AM)
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Some things that are helping me
