December 2006 Archives

I've just finished doing a podcast recording of my Top 10 Stupid Things Said to IBS Sufferers, Plus the Reasons Why They're So Dumb. For anyone who hasn't read this in its current highly old-fashioned website/PDF version, it's basically a breakdown of some of the inane and bizarre things that people come out with when talking to us about IBS - you know, stuff like "It's all in your head" and "You should go to the loo before we leave so we don't have to stop on the way".

This is probably a rather appropriate time of year to be releasing this, because Christmas can be a time when we come into contact with all those aunts we haven't seen for decades who know we have IBS but get mortally offended if we don't eat our bodyweight in food.

If anyone does say anything hurtful or ignorant to you over Christmas regarding your IBS, I think the most important thing to remember is this - they don't know what they're talking about. If your long-lost relative is a gastroenterologist with 40 years' experience then fine; if they've read one article in the Daily Mail then they're the novice, and you're the expert, and that's final.

To download the podcast it's the same deal as last time. Either just click on the link below and it opens automatically in most browsers, or right-click on it and download it to your PC, where you can listen to it straight from your computer or transfer it to any MP3 player.

Download Top 10 Stupid Things Podcast (MP3, 2.6MB)

A new luxury loo called WC1 has opened in London, and for a mere five pounds a time you can experience the joys of a high-class toilet.

"A world away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street is WC1, the ultimate ladies' convenience. A glamorous urban sanctuary, WC1 is the world's first one-million-pound powder room. It has been designed with impeccable hygiene and the pursuit of beauty in mind.

A grand crystal chandelier is suspended over an elegant table. Vases are filled with beautiful blooms. The hand basins are luxurious; the air, fresh and pure. Individual air extractors preserve the perfect ambiance, and loos are sterilised and hygienically sealed after each visit."

What a complete load of old bollocks. In fact, all of the stupid taboos and euphemisms which surround toilet functions are utter rubbish.

All this restroom, bathroom, ladies' room, powder room NONSENSE just makes us think there's something wrong with us for having to poop - we mustn't talk about it, mustn't mention it in polite company. We must talk about relieving ourselves and washing our hands and spending a penny, because if we actually just said "I am now going off to take a crap" the whole world would fall apart.

We don't need any more ladies' loos that are pretending to be glamorous - what we need is a loo that is proud of its own earthy purpose.

"Welcome to the crapper", says the sign over the doorway. "Come in and have a poop, everyone welcome". The cubicles are private but not obsessively so, and patrons are actively encouraged to fart as loudly as possible, possibly to power some kind of wind turbine.

Prizes are given for the most spectacular crap, and anyone who spends more than 20 minutes in a cubicle emerges to the sound of automated applause and takes a bow.

In other words, we stop being so afraid of embarrassment, and start acting like adults about a bodily function that every single human being since the beginning of time has experienced. And we make sure that pooping is free!

I've had a reply from the makers of Digestive Advantage about the whole sucralose situation. Basically, they definitely have added sucralose to the chewable version of Digestive Advantage IBS, but only a small amount, and the non-chewable version does not contain any artificial sweeteners at all.

So, kudos to the company for getting back to me so quickly and being prepared to explain the change - but I have to say that from a personal point of view I'd still be inclined to avoid artificial sweeteners if at all possible, just because I can't bring myself to take the chance with things like that.

This is what the spokesman said:

"First, concerning the new formula, we want to assure you that based on our testing and our ingredient specialists, we are fully confident that our new IBS formula is highly efficacious and is actually a superior product. Our rational for the new formula was to take the sugar out to improve digestion, and remove the artificial dyes due to consumer concerns, while maintaining a chewable pill. To maintain an acceptable product taste, we added an extremely small amount of sucralose, just 0.77mg compared to a typical serving size (one packet of artificial sweetener), which contains 11.9mg of sucralose.

While we are confident in the new chewable formulation, we understand that some consumers have a concern with artificial sweeteners and we have another option for those IBS sufferers. Digestive Advantage IBS (non-chewable) Caplet version, with no added sugar or sweeteners, is available for sale in a 92-count box at Costco Wholesale Clubs and online at drugstore.com, CVS.com and other online retailers."

So, the situation's not as bad as it first seemed, and it may be that the amount of sucralose is too small too affect most IBS sufferers. However, the fact remains that many of us have very sensitive guts, and I wouldn't have have heard about the change if two people hadn't written to my IBS Treatment site saying that the new version of Digestive Advantage was not working as well as the old.

So, still something to bear in mind if you're thinking about trying the product, and remember that the non-chewable capsules are the ones without the sucralose.

If anyone does have any more concerns about this issue then you can call Ganeden Biotech (toll free in the US) at 1-866-777-0825 or email info@ganedenbiotech.com.