Do you have a recommendation for reducing my bloating and flatulence due to my irritable bowel?

Question

Hi, I have had irritable bowel syndrome for a few years. It started as a generalized anxiety disorder that "irritated" my stomach/colon and now I am very sensitive to all types of food. Lately, it's been worse than ever and I'm starting to get fed up. I have a lot of bloating (my stomach gets very hard and it's unpleasant feeling), flatulence (smells very bad, it may sound weird, but it smells very acidic), loose stools... I also had vomiting a few times. Anyway, I take on a regular basis probiotics for gut flora, I also take sertraline to calm my anxiety (which works very well for me, I wouldn't say it's anxiety that affects my stomach this time of year), I try to be careful with anything legumes, FODMAP rich ingredients, gluten, lactose. I take a digestive tea every day. All of this was recommended by my doctor.

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello Madam, I'm sorry to read about your troubles! I think that you should try to find a specific cause or causes in order to choose the right product, if necessary. What I suggest for the next 4 to 6 weeks is to keep a journal where you will write down everything you consume and the quantities, but also the activities you undertake, and your state of mind (fatigue, stress, etc.). In the second column you could write down the occurrence and extent of the symptoms. We could then identify some possible causes. This may take several weeks so I suggest being diligent. If no cause can be suggested, I would suggest re-consulting a physician to get a thorough evaluation of the situation. Sincerely, Tom Samaha, pharmacist