Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi all,
I just wanted to share a success story with you, of a friend of mine who has suffered from IBS-D since early in highschool, most likely as a result of extensive antibiotic use as a child. She has finally gotten some relief in her late 20's. This is her success story. I hope it is inspiring for you!
Cheers, Kris

I remember when my intestinal problems were at their worse. It was terrible. I was nervous to leave home. Luckily, I've been great for the last three years. I'm knocking on wood as I say this. It was either 3 or 4 years ago that I decided to go to a naturopath because of my skin actually. For a few years prior to this I was getting these eczema-like patches on my face. I went to so many dermatologists and they just kept prescribing cortizone, which I didn't like putting on my face daily because it thins your skin. So, I finally decided to go see a naturopath. That changed my life. Without telling him anything about my stomach problems (because I didn't think there was a connection) he knew by looking at my face and knowing my blood type that I was lactose intolerant, I couldn't eat corn, and that I had intestinal problems. When I told him I had IBS and diverticulitis, he asked my if I had been on a lot of antibiotics as a young child. I said yes because of my heart surgery. The antibiotics were the initial cause of my stomach problems and my stomach problems were manifesting themselves on my face! Amazing!

Anyway, he put me on a strict cleansing diet. This lasted for 2 or 3 months - no juice or pop or caffiene, drinking only bottled water, plain rye bread as my only bread. The no juice was the biggy. Because I couldn't drink milk and I didn't like water, juice was all I had been drinking up to then. To this day, I mostly drink just water, but no longer bottled water. He had me on some health store stuff - some vitamin to cleanse the liver, as well as flax seed capsules which I took daily for a number of years, and for about 1 year I (like you) took that "healthy" bacteria probiotics stuff - I can't remember what it was called - mine was a powder that I mixed with water.

Anyway, I saw this naturopath only 3 or 4 times and what a change in my life. My face has been great ever since, as has my stomach (which wasn't even why I went to see him!). He also had me go on Calcium Citrate which I still take daily. And about a year ago I started trying dairy again and I seem to be fine. I think my lactose intolerance has gone away, which I know can happen. I have cheese and ice cream all the time. I no longer suffer from diahrea. I drink lots of water, never eat heavy foods on an empty stomach, have raisin bran with soya milk for breakfast, and have no corn. That's it!

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