Lurker here w/suggestions for IBS

Avatar for lucky30605
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Lurker here w/suggestions for IBS
6
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 3:25pm

Hi. I have lurked here in the past when my stomach was giving me lots of problems. Someone suggested calcium for IBS w/D. Well, here's what I do and it might help some of you, too.

I take a Caltrate 600+D at breakfast and Citracal 400+D at dinner (I wanted to get both kinds of calcium). This worked ok but I had some of what I would call breakthrough d. I have added on dose of Metamucil after lunch and this combination seems to have almost cured me. I no longer have pain but I still have urgency in the morning. But it's no longer d and I have very few bouts of nausea anymore.

Now, if I have been religious about this regimen for a while and then miss a dose of calcium or Meta I usually don't have a problem. But I must take it the next day.

Also, I have cut way back on my alcohol and caffeine. The alcohol was quite a culprit.

I hope this helps one of you. It's healthy stuff so even if it doesn't work for you like it does for me there is no harm in trying.

Lucky

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 12:10pm

Hey Lucky!


Glad you came out of Lurkdom and posted this wonderful info for us.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2005
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 1:20pm

Just a note on taking Calcium. I took those calcium chews during college since I wasn't eating breakfast and that was the only time I'd drink milk during the day. I developed a kidney stone from it! Just to let you know that if you're taking that much calcium drink plenty of fluids to flush it out of your kidneys!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 2:20pm

Make sure the Citracal does not countain much magnesium this will add to the diarrhea. You can take 3 600 mg of calcium a day and this may give you better control.

Linda

Avatar for lucky30605
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 3:29pm

I hope I'm not taking too much. I'm taking just the recommended amount so it shouldn't be a problem. I will definetley ask my doctor.

Thanks,

Lucky

Avatar for lucky30605
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 3:34pm

Thank you. I'm confused now, though. Post #2 said to add magnesium.

How much is too much? Actually, I am doing ok right now so I may have found the right mix for myself.

Lucky

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 10:39pm

Some can not tolerate any magensium but because calcium carbonate is so constipating the 40 or 50 mg of magnesium in a tablet can help you from getting constipated on the calcium carbonate. If you do use the calcium with small amount of magnesium do not take the tablets too close together or you may get diarreha from that. 4 or 5 hours apart seems to be a good rule of thumb on the timing of that.

Linda