New, Frustrated & Distraught

dhouts · Post by **dhouts** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:58 pm

Has anyone ever tried "Heather's Peppermint Oil"? It's a capsule that contains peppermint, ginger, and fennel. The label says that it is for Irritable Bowel Syndrome that is supposed to sooth the gut. I figured that it couldn't really hurt and decided to give it a try to help reduce the pain. I searched their website when I returned home and found a coupon for a 50% rebate (with receipt)! I've only been taking it for 24 hours but I was wondering if anyone else has tried it. I had read about this on another site and then accidentally found it at CVS. I was prescribed a low dose of an antidepressant, for pain, that left me dizzy and affected my brain in such a way that it was difficult to think. I stopped taking it and I am so happy to be clear-headed again. My Dr left me a message that he was calling in a prescription for an even lower dose of the antidepressant, 10 mg, but I'm not sure that I want to try it. Has anyone had any success using Nortriptyline for pain?

I also stopped taking the incorrect magnesium after reading about it here on this site. So, thank you for that information...I don't think I would have known otherwise; and...the flares have stopped, as well. I'm taking a multi vitamin for bones that has magnesium in it so I think I'm good.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon May 09, 2016 11:16 pm

Diana
how much elemental magnesium is in the multi?
the daily RDI for magnesium is 400mg of ELEMENTAL magnesium per day.

if you are supplementing with calcium and taking medications this depletes magnesium so you may need more than the 400mg per day.

Re the Oil, our experience has been that items advertised to help IBS do not necessarily work that well for MC. the best way to sooth the gut is to avoid the items that are causing the inflammation.
additionally oil blend in a capsule is likely to have other ingredients like Soy.
I do know a few people here did use raw ginger to help nausea.

Has anyone had any success using Nortriptyline for pain?

in looking at the info about prescribing this med for pain, neuropathic pain is generally due to deficiencies in key nutrients/vitamins such as Magnesium, B Group vitamins, etc.
Many here have had fantastic results with resolving /reducing those pain issues when the digestion is happy and deficiencies are resolved.

hope this helps

dhouts · Post by **dhouts** » Tue May 10, 2016 7:16 am

Thank you, Gabes. There's only 58% magnesium so I guess I will need to supplement. I don't really want to take the antidepressant so thank you for your answer. I would rather resolve the pain with something directly suited for the gut and something more natural and holistic rather than something that induces other side affects. To me, adding meds that cause other problems seems counter productive.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Tue May 10, 2016 8:25 am

Hi,

Not telling you not to take the prescription anti-depressants....if you need it you need it. But there are studies out there that 30 minutes running on treadmill or fast on exercise bike 3 or 4 times a week are as effective as anti depressants. Also 30 minutes of jogging or fast walk out in the sunshine.

Welcome to the forum. Brandy

Post by **tex** » Tue May 10, 2016 9:24 am

with Brandy. Also, depression is commonly caused by unresolved gluten sensitivity. And many patients have successfully resolved depression symptoms by supplementing with significant doses of magnesium. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with depression.

Tex

Bketler1 · Post by **Bketler1** » Sun May 15, 2016 10:10 am

Hi guys! Sorry I was MIA for a bit, baseball is in full swing here.

You are gonna love my latest story ....

So I go to an MD I use that is on the natural side which is more my thing. I tell him about my new diagnosis and that I can't do the fiber and what not and that I need to reduce my sugar more, blah, blah, blah. He already understands "my" diet, the old one, the oatmeal for breakfast, chicken and fruit for lunch or salad w/ chicken and the meat w/ vegetables for dinner. The same things I've been eating for years.

I tell him I quit my fiber supplement and that I absolutely have a gluten sensitivity and that I now need to check all my sauces and what not, etc. He agrees. Which I expected. He has always wanted me to cut my sugar so I knew he'd like that I am trying to do that more readily now.

Now, I am on the Budesonide taper right now. I am down to 6 mg QD right now. He wants to do a few natural anti inflammatory gastro supplements so we are chatting about which ones to use and when to start them and the such. We decide and I head out with my new products. Now, I don't usually start ANYTHING without thoroughly researching every single ingredient but like I said, BASEBALL season is upon us lol. I have 2 kids that play baseball

Just to remind you that means 1 practices every day and 1 practices 3 days a week and we have like 6 games a week. The younger one's practices are 45 mins to an hour from home depending on traffic and most games are that far as well.

So ... I start slow ... I take 1 pill in the morning on Fri and 1 on Sat ... and here comes the straight water D!!! Ugh!!! I don't have time for this!!! I immediately grab the bottle of stuff I started b/c I haven't changed a dang thing in the last week!!! I look up the ingredient I don't know off the top of my head and has the highest mg and guess what ??? IT'S FIBER!!!!! What the heck did I just tell this guy lol ?!?! So here I am on Sunday, my son has a double header on a high school field 50 minutes from my house and I am scared to attend b/c there probably isn't a bathroom on or near the field.

I quit the oatmeal in the morning and replaced it with a vegan protein shake and 2 rice cakes. I'm still eating chicken for lunch every day although I miss the salads a bit. Then dinner is still the same, meat and veggies and sometimes some rice. I've never been a fan of rice so this is an interesting venture. I am trying to expand my horizons but it's also expensive. All 3 of my kids are in private school and we have a few pets lol. Plus I do rescue

It's a good thing I don't eat much lol You'd think I'd be thinner!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

P.S. This pigtail chick is perfect since I have red hair lol

gac · Post by **gac** » Sun May 15, 2016 11:44 am

I had a real problem with the protein shakes. I tried it with coconut water and with almond milk and it just flew thru me so just a note.

If you hate rice, try write potatoes. Don't eat the skins until you know you can digest them. I can't digest white rice so potatoes are working for me. My only other veggie is over-cooked peeled carrots. My meats are dark meat chicken (I can't tolerate white in any form) and beef (such as chuck roast which has a lot of fat in it as we need that fat) and it is working.

Just a suggestion from someone who has really struggled for 10 months.

gail

Bketler1 · Post by **Bketler1** » Sun May 15, 2016 2:42 pm

Thanks Gail ... I quit potatoes years ago

I used to love mashed potatoes and french fries but I don't see the health benefit from a potato so I don't eat them anymore. I eat them like 2-3 times a year on holidays or special occs.

Looks like I'm stuck with the jasmine rice lol Now if I can find some sauces for the rice I'll be good to go. I want a sauce I can put on my chicken and rice ... or beef or whatever. I eat mostly chicken :)

The shakes seem to work well for me. I get them from one of my doctor's. They are a vegan protein shake and are GF, DF, SF, SF, free of GMO's, yeast, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish or shellfish or preservatives.

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Mon May 16, 2016 3:42 pm

Hi Becky,

Google ' Coconut Amino Teriyaki sauce ' I get it from Vitacost.com because I can't find it in my rural home area. It isn't the most cheapest thing but it and the coconut amino soy sauce have safe ingredients for the most part and adds enough flavor to keep things from being to bland.

If you are still in the beginning stages of healing then I'm afraid good old sea salt is your best friend right now.

I'm starting to learn to make a scratch gravy with Earthbalance butter soy free and cashew or coconut milk and a gluten free flour blend of choice. Ya it takes a bit to feel out the consistency that I like to have on things but I'm teaching myself so I'll get there. So will you :-)

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:16 pm

The best--old school pan drippings gravy. Roast a chicken then when done use one of the alternative flours to whisk into pan drippings. I usually use arrowroot but any of the alternative flours should work. You may need to add a little water, salt and pepper.

Coconut aminos can be drizzled on rice. This is like soy sauce but safe for us. Get from health food store.

Extra Virgin olive oil can be drizzled on rice.

Gluten free chicken broth.

jessica329 · Post by **jessica329** » Sat May 21, 2016 8:27 pm

Welcome! I just wanted to chime in. In the beginning, I made homemade chicken soup from scratch and ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Soup was healing and didn't fly out my system. It's still my go-to when I have a flare-up. As I saw in a previous post, almond milk also flies right through me. Sugar is a HUGE no-no (so not worth spending the whole morning on the pot and in pain) and I've noticed that many of the protein shakes have a lot of sugar, sometimes passed off as "healthy" because it's agave or honey. Sugar is sugar, anyway you cut it.

gac · Post by **gac** » Sun May 22, 2016 3:00 pm

I agree with Jessica. There is "stuff" in those protein drinks that newbies just do not need until their guts are healed and regular diarrhea is no longer a problem, I don't care what gastro doc or nutritionist or anyone says. Go to basic foods that you prepare yourself and you will know exactly what is in them, like Jessica's chicken soup. Mine is beef broth and white potatoes. Maybe white potatoes don't have as much nutrition as all the other vegetables in the world but when your gut is sick and you are in pain and you are in the bathroom 12 to 30 times a day, you want comfort foods that don't make you sick. And you cannot trust anything that someone else makes, that comes out of a can or box or bag, that is labeled GF/DF/whatever. Go back to basic foods that can't be contaminated. A piece of meat or a potato with no seasoning (maybe salt) can't be contaminated. And avoid sugar in every form as it is hidden in prepared foods and protein drinks and gatorade, etc.

Being sick for months and months and months and months and months and feeling like you cannot leave your house even wearing a diaper makes you a believer in simple foods and a very strict diet. Later, when we feel better, other things can be added very carefully one at a time, looking for responses. But just one food/beverage can set you back months. It just isn't worth it.