Irritable bowel syndrome and Amitriptyline

I mentioned it to my Dad who has IBS(D) and he said he tried it years ago but found it made him too sleepy. He didn't remember if it helped or not, but he didn't want to feel dopey all day. He uses codeine and loperamide for his, and avoids fibre. He found symprove very good, which is a gut bacteria thing, but not like the yoghurts, it is designed to pass through the stomach without being damaged by acid as you have to take it on a very empty stomach. He had been having to avoid lactose and beer but then he could have them. But he has to pay for it.

Hi Triker - thanks for this reply - it’s really interesting. The side effects of Amitriptyline do look pretty unpleasant. I’m sure my family member would not like losing being alert. I haven’t heard of loperamide - thanks - I’ll have a look at that. Or Symprove - I’ll check that out too. My relative is allergic to dairy which means they can’t have all the yoghurt type products.

thanks for your help! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply :) 

Loperamide is the generic name of imodium. IBS is quite debilitating, I hope your family member gets some relief.

I wonder how hard it is to make? Cabbage is cheap...

Yes - I’d like to try sauerkraut- I’ve never had it but have been meaning to try it.. I’ve sometimes looked at it in a shop and been close to buying it - but then been tempted into spending the money on something more obviously nice (like a cake!).

These ‘health foods’ are so often really expensive. We’re on a budget so it’s hard to always give up the unhealthy treat for the more worthy offerings. 

I agree, on all points.

Fermented cabbage is supposed to be very good, proper sauerkraut, or kimchi, but it has to be the right stuff and properly fermented, not just with vinegar added to taste a bit similar.

I think it’s an area of science that is almost like a new frontier of understanding health. My relatives consultant mentioned the Gut Brain Axis Interface - googling it I thought - wow - it’s so important and yet a lot of people don’t have much understanding about it. 

Actually that’s really interesting! It makes sense that those sorts of foods would help - I hadn’t really thought about that. Not that they’re cheap either of course! Side issue I know but it does drive me mad that in western societies (especially the U.K.) poorer people end up having to eat the most dreadful processed foods that are full of junk. 
I might try some of those sorts of cheeses. My relative can’t because they have a dairy allergy unfortunately. But they could try including  other such ‘earthy’ unprocessed foods maybe. They eat meat (whereas I don’t eat much meat and was previously vegetarian until I was told I was very anaemic a couple of years ago). 

I like the disclaimer!

Actually that’s really interesting! It makes sense that those sorts of foods would help - I hadn’t really thought about that. Not that they’re cheap either of course! Side issue I know but it does drive me mad that in western societies (especially the U.K.) poorer people end up having to eat the most dreadful processed foods that are full of junk. 
I might try some of those sorts of cheeses. My relative can’t because they have a dairy allergy unfortunately. But they could try including  other such ‘earthy’ unprocessed foods maybe. They eat meat (whereas I don’t eat much meat and was previously vegetarian until I was told I was very anaemic a couple of years ago). 

I like the disclaimer!

I wonder how hard it is to make? Cabbage is cheap...

Yes - I’d like to try sauerkraut- I’ve never had it but have been meaning to try it.. I’ve sometimes looked at it in a shop and been close to buying it - but then been tempted into spending the money on something more obviously nice (like a cake!).

These ‘health foods’ are so often really expensive. We’re on a budget so it’s hard to always give up the unhealthy treat for the more worthy offerings. 

Fermented cabbage is supposed to be very good, proper sauerkraut, or kimchi, but it has to be the right stuff and properly fermented, not just with vinegar added to taste a bit similar.