not wanting to talk with physician re: IBS...needing OTC.

Which IBS do you have, IBSC or IBSD? I have the later and have for 15 years. First, get yourself some Citrucel and start every day by drinking a glass. Don't get anything else but Citrucel. Those other fiber supplements can make things worse. Next, cut out caffiene and soda for a while. Next, try going with easy to digest food for a while, like white breads, boiled chicken and rice, etc... Also, don't be afraid to take Immodium daily. Immodium is pretty similar to the prescription drugs that are given for IBS, like Bentle and Levbid. Also, every strong peppermint tea works great...as long as you don't have issues with GERD as well. I use the tea all the time. Good luck!

You might check on our Vitamin & Supplements forum for some natural/nutritional/supplements that might help.

Have you been able to figure out anything that sets it off?
stress ?
I tend internalize my stress and it affects my digestion quite a bit, but it's controllable. More like mild IBS tendencies.
Oh and it probably was mostly caused by high Motrin/Advil use while I was trying to stay working when I was developing severe RSI. {became TOS}

Hi Nuby,
I am the queen of IBS and it took me 8 years to finally cure it. Gluten was the big culprit and when I cut it out, 4 weeks later the IBS stopped. Cut out any and all alcohol and I started feeling like I was young again. Any food or drink that is acid forming bothers me but I still drink coffee just watch it. Also a naturopath put me on to "Gastrogest", best digestive aid I have ever found, now my friends who have been diagnosed with diverticulitis take it and find that symptoms stop. The Gastrogest before you eat and Betaine Hydrochloride (hydrochloric acid) after you eat. Now that I have my digestive system working, I am hopeful my PN will improve. I hope you try it. It worked for me. Jelly Bean

Just like with RSD everyone reacts differently to different treatments for IBS so please try different things to see what works for you. For instance taking Imodium is ok for those who only swing to the Diarrhea side but not if you either swing between both (this is what I have had for the last 20 years) or mainly get constipated. Personally I like benefiber the best and will take it twice daily if I am having a flare up. I also avoid all the trigger foods and alcohol. I can't give up coffee but limit it. I also eat a bland diet until it passes (I had to do this for 6 months once after a pain med did me in). There are also many probiotics on the market just hit the digestive aisle. I like the pearls best and ideally would take it everyday but I am lazy and only dose when I am either very stressed or having a flare. At my last doctor visit she mentioned Flax seed as something that has been seen as helpful. You just sprinkle it on food and it is kind of yummy. That has seemed to help and I take travel packets with me when I go abroad. Unfortunately there isn't really a cure all but there are many products and supplements that help.

Of course many of the meds prescribed to treat the RSD also can trigger IBS symptoms so it is a bit of a balancing act.
Good luck!