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Thanks. That is quite a useful bit. I currently take Digestive Advantage Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactaid Pills, and I will try to have 2 cups of peppermint tea, does this cover the prebiotic?
I don't know a lot about Digestive Advantage, as it claims to be something that isn't even possible for people with IBS but if it helps you, that's great! That being said, I think that you would be wiser to get a good probiotic from a health food store. Make sure you can one without lactose. Some you have to keep in the fridge, others you don't.. check labels for this.
Lactaid pills aren't going to be a huge help. You should be avoiding all dairy products. Period. No dairy would mean you wouldn't need the lactaid pills.. If you are properly avoid dairy, a major trigger food, you don't need them.
Peppermint tea is great, drink it as often as you can. Fennel tea has been a real godsend for some people with bloating - Some people don't like the taste, but I love it. Mix it with peppermint if you don't like the taste.

I'd like to ask, how long will it take to stop the bloating and can long term curing of this occur? Nothing will drive me insane than having it where one day I feel no bloating, and then the next I feel pregnant, I can't stand the inconsistent, constant up and down nature of the bloating.
I know it's so frustrating for you, but there really is no schedule or way to know when your bloating will get better. You need to stick to the diet, you need to try lots of different things and you need to be patient. Bloating is one of the hardest symptoms to get a handle on and everyone is different. I'm afraid it will likely be a matter of waiting and seeing what happens.

I find it striking that you brought up how Irritable Bowel Syndrome can leave you this way, feeling alright one day and bad another. This is exactly what happens with me and drives me mad. I was told however that certain foods can trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome and noticed that when I do have foods I can get bloated.
I guess that the bloating can be partially stopped and blamed to certain foods but this is not the only reason and will not eliminate it?
Like we've said before, IBS symptoms are not always easy to map. Everyone has good days and bad days and sometimes it is impossible to tell what makes them different. I can eat the exact same thing one day and be really sick, and eat it again and be fine. Stress, activity, the amount of sleep you're getting, and other things you may not think about can all affect your body, and consequently your IBS.
You need to accept that although you will get a handle on it as best you can, you will still have bad days once in a while.
I thought after reading that it was the diet which caused the bloating and if I didn't have some foods I would no longer have it, now I hear differently.
See above. These things are all over the website. Controlling your IBS is a lifestyle change, not just a diet change.
I'd like to ask, if I diet, take the prebiotic, have water, exercise, and do yoga, how soon, how likely is it I can control and not get bloated?
That's not really possible to predict, like I said. It is different from person to person. If you keep a log of everything you are eating, activity level, etc and then your symptoms, you may be able to predict it somewhat more easily but there will still be things that throw it off. Nobody will be able to say "It will be this many days until you feel better", it's just not possible.
How much water should I drink a day, should it be an hour before and after I eat my food?
You should drink half an oz of water for every pound of body fat. Drinking it warm is easier for your body, taking small sips and not chugging it will be easier. You should be drinking water throughout the day, regardless of whether you are eating at that moment or not.
What about yoga, if I do all except yoga should I get where I want to have?
Why do you say all except yoga? Are you opposed to doing yoga? That really surprises me because as someone who finds himself so frustrated about being bloated, I would think that you would jump at the chance to do yoga as it is one of the most effective way for some people to control their symptoms. There are many yoga poses and exercises for our digestive tract which might be really, really beneficial to your bloating. Keep an open mind about yoga, and give it a try. If you really want to get better, you will try anything. If someone told me to hop around on one foot all day to make my stomach stop hurting and cramping, the D would go away, the nausea would stop, I would get my energy back.. I'd be a-hopping!
Is there any time table.
Nope, not really. Constipation and bloating time longer to stabilize than some other symptoms. Many people suffer with bloating even after they have controlled other symptoms. I wish I could tell you when you'll feel better, but I'm afraid I can't.

Good luck, I hope this helps!
--Steph

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Thanks. That is quite a useful bit. I currently take Digestive Advantage Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactaid Pills, and I will try to have 2 cups of peppermint tea, does this cover the prebiotic?
I don't know a lot about Digestive Advantage, as it claims to be something that isn't even possible for people with IBS but if it helps you, that's great! That being said, I think that you would be wiser to get a good probiotic from a health food store. Make sure you can one without lactose. Some you have to keep in the fridge, others you don't.. check labels for this.
Lactaid pills aren't going to be a huge help. You should be avoiding all dairy products. Period. No dairy would mean you wouldn't need the lactaid pills.. If you are properly avoid dairy, a major trigger food, you don't need them.
Peppermint tea is great, drink it as often as you can. Fennel tea has been a real godsend for some people with bloating - Some people don't like the taste, but I love it. Mix it with peppermint if you don't like the taste.
Yep. I agree. I love acacia and will recommend it to all. It defintely helped my bloating and is a prebiotic.
I'd like to ask, how long will it take to stop the bloating and can long term curing of this occur? Nothing will drive me insane than having it where one day I feel no bloating, and then the next I feel pregnant, I can't stand the inconsistent, constant up and down nature of the bloating.
I know it's so frustrating for you, but there really is no schedule or way to know when your bloating will get better. You need to stick to the diet, you need to try lots of different things and you need to be patient. Bloating is one of the hardest symptoms to get a handle on and everyone is different. I'm afraid it will likely be a matter of waiting and seeing what happens.

I find it striking that you brought up how Irritable Bowel Syndrome can leave you this way, feeling alright one day and bad another. This is exactly what happens with me and drives me mad. I was told however that certain foods can trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome and noticed that when I do have foods I can get bloated.
I guess that the bloating can be partially stopped and blamed to certain foods but this is not the only reason and will not eliminate it?
Like we've said before, IBS symptoms are not always easy to map. Everyone has good days and bad days and sometimes it is impossible to tell what makes them different. I can eat the exact same thing one day and be really sick, and eat it again and be fine. Stress, activity, the amount of sleep you're getting, and other things you may not think about can all affect your body, and consequently your IBS.
You need to accept that although you will get a handle on it as best you can, you will still have bad days once in a while. Yes, even Heather's diet/lifestyle plan is not a CURE. there is no cure for IBS unfortunately.
I thought after reading that it was the diet which caused the bloating and if I didn't have some foods I would no longer have it, now I hear differently.
See above. These things are all over the website. Controlling your IBS is a lifestyle change, not just a diet change.
I'd like to ask, if I diet, take the prebiotic, have water, exercise, and do yoga, how soon, how likely is it I can control and not get bloated?
That's not really possible to predict, like I said. It is different from person to person. If you keep a log of everything you are eating, activity level, etc and then your symptoms, you may be able to predict it somewhat more easily but there will still be things that throw it off. Nobody will be able to say "It will be this many days until you feel better", it's just not possible.
How much water should I drink a day, should it be an hour before and after I eat my food?
You should drink half an oz of water for every pound of body fat. Drinking it warm is easier for your body, taking small sips and not chugging it will be easier. You should be drinking water throughout the day, regardless of whether you are eating at that moment or not. Just to clarify, if you weigh 150 pounds that is 75 oz of liquid per day minimum. What about yoga, if I do all except yoga should I get where I want to have?
Why do you say all except yoga? Are you opposed to doing yoga? That really surprises me because as someone who finds himself so frustrated about being bloated, I would think that you would jump at the chance to do yoga as it is one of the most effective way for some people to control their symptoms. There are many yoga poses and exercises for our digestive tract which might be really, really beneficial to your bloating. Keep an open mind about yoga, and give it a try. If you really want to get better, you will try anything. If someone told me to hop around on one foot all day to make my stomach stop hurting and cramping, the D would go away, the nausea would stop, I would get my energy back.. I'd be a-hopping! I also don't do yoga as it is against my religion, but I do a lot of exercises and use an exercise ball. Meditation and hypnosis is also out of the question. Yet I do feel I have improved my bloating greatly!
Is there any time table.
Nope, not really. Constipation and bloating time longer to stabilize than some other symptoms. Many people suffer with bloating even after they have controlled other symptoms. I wish I could tell you when you'll feel better, but I'm afraid I can't. Also there might be some quick and wonderful benefits but relapses occur too.

Good luck, I hope this helps!
--Steph

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Is there any time table.

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I'm afraid not. Every person with IBS is different so everyone's 'road to stability' is going to be different. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but you just need to be patient and keep focussing on daily maintenance.

It doesn't seem like you're taking a prebiotic or a probiotic. Have you considered acidophilus (probiotic)?
Probiotics help to increase the good bacteria in your gut. As for PREbiotics, the only prebiotic fiber I know of is acacia but maybe someone else can suggest another one. (FYI acacia is available in stores now, but you may have to ask an HFS near you to start carrying it).

Also, since you're staying away from milk products there's no need to take Lactaid at all - all lactaid is is a digestive enzyme that only helps you digest lactase (milk products). So need to waste your money on that!

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I thought after reading that it was the diet which caused the bloating and if I didn't have some foods I would no longer have it, now I hear differently.

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I think it's really emphasized on this site that managing IBS is a combination of things - that includes as a big point diet but also a number of lifestyle changes (i.e. when you eat, how much you eat, exercise, drinking water, stress relief etc.). Diet is a big part of it but it's not the only part of it. So yep diet can really, really help with your bloating (staying away from triggers, always eating with SF etc.) but it's only part of the game, so to speak.

Can I ask why you're not interested in yoga at all? I'd highly recommend it, personally, both for stress relief and relief of IBS symptoms, and more generally for wellbeing.

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