Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Ibs Diarrhea

Question:
What can I do to help my IBS diarrhea? I am having a great deal of trouble controlling it and I just don’t know what to do next.

Answer:
I have had IBS Diarrhea for more than 24 years since having my gall bladder removed in 1976.  I tried the Bentyl and the fiber and many other things along the way but nothing ever gave me much relief. At age 48 I started to take a calcium supplement to help prevent bone loss in later years I am now 50 and at the very start I noticed I felt so much better.  The urgent diarrhea attacks, the bloating, the cramps, the spasms and gas seem to just go away.  I could not believe this was the result of the calcium.  I said nothing for 3 months to any one because I thought this could not be it.  In October 1998 I went to the IBS message board www.ibsgroup.org and began posting my story.  From that others wanted to give it a try and when they did many got the same results I did.  It is amazing.  It has been one person at a time through word of mouth (posts) that is has been helping I know hundreds of people with IBS Diarrhea. The thing to know is I have been using and calcium supplement called Caltrate Plus With Vitamin D and Minerals.  You can get other store brands with the same ingredients and it seems to be the one that works the best for most. Ingredients: Vitamin D 200 IU, Calcium 600 Mg (Calcium Carbonate) Magnesium 40 MG, Zinc 7.5 MG, Copper 1 MG, Manganese 1.8 MG and Boron 250 MCG.   I started taking 1 with each meal and I have been able to maintain control over this problem since July 1998. It can cause indigestion and gas at first but this goes away very soon as your body adjusts to the added calcium.  If it is a problem for some you just cut it to 1/2 tablet with each meal for a few days and if that is not enough to control the diarrhea the you increase it to 1 tablet with each meal. I think someone should investigate this because it has helped so many and without any side effects.  It is very safe to take and in most cases we are in need of the added calcium because of the things we avoid eating to try to keep from getting diarrhea attack.  I am a person who did not get much relief from the solutions given to my by my doctors.  Please feel free to email me if you want more info but if you go to the message board www.ibsgroup.org and do a search back to October 1998 late October you will see how this all came about and maybe it can help you also.  It is important to get tested to make sure you are not dealing with life threatening diseases like Crohns, of Ulcerative Colitis, or Colon Cancer to name a few.   Taking calcium in no way is a cure for this disease but I am able to keep it under control and live a normal life as long as I continue to take it.  If I stop the diarrhea returns.  It is important to keep taking it on a regular basis after you find out what the right amount is for yourself.  It is pretty amazing and it seems to work rather quickly.