Probiotics was one of the first things my gastroenterologist recommended (I have IBS-C), but unfortunately it made my symptoms worse. He said it works for about half his patients.
I ended up controlling symptoms with a low FODMAP diet, plus eliminating corn, soy, wheat, mired meat, raw vegetables. I was down to less than 10 foods I could eat without major issues. It took about two years and a lot of trial and error to get it under control.
Needless to say, I’m like a kid at Christmas now. I am most excited about being able to eat red meat again!
I first got IBS in my young twenties. At that time the doctor put me on tranquilizers. I tried that for awhile, but got tired of it so quit. I just learned what foods aggravated it. In my case, eating too much pastas, sweets and other heavy carbs caused problems.
When I heard about probiotics I started taking some cheap ones and didn’t notice any difference. I got sick during COVID and couldn’t get in to see my doctor, so my nurse friend said it sounded like Cdiff and I’d need antibiotics. I did some research, found that always taking acid prevention pills caused problems, and that probiotics needed to have 11 strains and live colonies. Those two permanent changes worked and I still am good as long as I don’t eat a bunch of food that doesn’t set well. And I rarely get acid indigestion now!