The natural solution for tummy troubles
STOMACH problems don’t, at first, sound life changing. We think of them as something that a spoonful of medicine can sort out. And yet it’s not like that for many. And we rarely hear from many of those suffering because, often through embarrassment, it’s a condition we prefer to keep to ourselves. Chronic stomach problems aren’t simply a nuisance, they can take the fun out of life as we struggle to cope and keep them hidden. And they don’t just occur in later life. Joanne O’Brien, 51, was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disorder 10 years ago. Her symptoms left her uncomfortable for much of the time and embarrassed as she saw things crumble around her. “Basically everything and anything has been affected,” she says. “My lifestyle, my finances, my marriage and my hobbies. I was a chartered town planner but lost my job with Birmingham City Council as a direct result of my symptoms which led to frequent absences from work.
“My digestive discomfort has impacted on my relationships. I’ve been unable to go on long car journeys, go swimming with my son or walk the dog.
“I own a horse but I stopped riding due to the fear of suddenly feeling unwell.”
Joanne’s doctor prescribed codeine and she has also tried digestive aids such as cynara artichoke, chromium picolinate, and acidophilus with pectin.
Nothing really worked though and she was prescribed anti-depressants to help her cope.
Says Joanne, who lives near Bromsgrove in the West Midlands: “The antidepressants helped relieve anxiety attacks and depression as a result of the condition and its impact on my life.”
What they didn’t do, of course, was help sort out the digestive problems. And then a friend recommended Silicolgel, taken orally, which coats the stomach lining, trapping toxins and irritants, allowing them to be swept away naturally.
“I’ve tried natural products before and although they sometimes help initially, they haven’t worked for more than a week or two, so I was rather sceptical about Silicolgel. I have taken it for nearly three years now and it has alleviated all the symptoms… stomach pain, abdominal pain and flatulence.
“All aspects of my life have improved, with only the occasional bout of digestive disruption – but definitely not as drastic as previously experienced.”
Travelling was a problem before but now Joanne regularly makes cross-country trips to Hull to visit family, confident the trip won’t be a disaster.
She also now has a job as a stable yard manager and is learning to relax in the knowledge that Silicolgel has turned her life around.
INFORMATION: Silicolgel, £8.29 (200ml) or £18.49 (500ml), is available from LloydsPharmacy and Tesco.