Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Coping With IBS

What Is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a “syndrome,” meaning a group of symptoms. The symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, gas, constipation or diarrhea and general discomfort in the bowel.

No one really knows for sure what causes IBS and the trigger for IBS pain varies with different people. If you have IBS you must try and work out what makes your bowel react. This is not an easy task because it can be a combination of factors.

Food sensitivity is the most common reason for the pain of IBS but there is more to IBS than food sensitivity. Sometimes you may eat a perfectly bland meal very similar to one that you have eaten in the past without problems and this time you get symptoms from it. This can be very frustrating when you are trying to track down your IBS triggers.

Recent Research on Causes of IBS

Recent research has reported that serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages from one part of your body to another.

Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the GI tract, and the other 5 percent is found in the brain. Cells that line the inside of the bowel work as transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI tract.

People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in the GI tract. As a result, they experience problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation—having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract.

Other studies have shown that IBS may be caused by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies show that people who have had gastroenteritis sometimes develop IBS.

Foods That May Trigger IBS

Some of the foods that frequently cause reactions in IBS are:

• fatty foods,
• dairy products such as cheese or ice cream
• chocolate
• alcohol
• caffeinated drinks, like coffee and some sodas
• carbonated drinks

There may well be other foods that trigger your IBS but you will only discover them by keeping a record of what you ate and how it affected you. You may also wish to ask your doctor to order a food intolerance test for you to detect any food sensitivities you may have.

Some people with symptoms similar to IBS have mild celiac disease. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease is present.

Other Factors in IBS

Just when you think you are getting a handle on what you can eat and what you can't you may find that a previously friendly food or meal triggers your IBS pain. What is going on here? IBS can be triggered by:

• stress,
• large meals
• fatty foods

So you not only need to record what you eat but also how large the meal was and whether you were feeling stressed or calm at the time. If anything has upset you during the day write that down too, it may help you sort out what is going on. We don't always realize we are stressed that is why you may need to think about it carefully.

Adding Fiber To Your Diet

One of the things that you should try if constipation is a symptom of your IBS is adding fiber to your diet. This is usually the first thing that your doctor will recommend. Aim to increase the fiber in your diet to 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. Check the nutrition label on foods as your buy them to get to know which foods contain the most fiber. Here are some high fiber foods to try:

Medication That Can Is Used For IBS

If your IBS causes diarrhea your doctor may prescribe medication such as Lomotil or loperamide (Imodium). You may also be prescribed an antispasmodic to reduce abdominal pain.

Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to relieve symptoms. Since these can worsen constipation you may also be prescribed medications that relax muscles in the intestines, such as Donnapine and Librax. These drugs have a slightly sedative effect.
 A drug that is prescribed specifically to treat IBS is Alosetron Hydrochloride (Lotronex). Lotronex is approved by the FDA for women with severe IBS whose main symptom is diarrhea. However, even in these patients, Lotronex should be used with great caution because it can have serious side effects such as severe constipation or decreased blood flow to the colon. (This Information is from NIH)

Complementary Therapies For IBS

Peppermint Oil  Peppermint oil is a traditional remedy for stomach and bowel discomfort. Several studies show evidence that peppermint oil may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is definitely worth trying it.

Peppermint is taken as essential oil which you take in small quantities from a spoon or dissolved in water. You can also get peppermint oil capsules.

Probiotics  The word is the opposite of antibiotics. The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has defined probiotics as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."

There has been some evidence that probiotics work for diarrhea especially that caused by rotovirus. But probiotics often cause gas and bloating. For this reason it is better not to use them for IBS since gas and bloating is something you are trying to banish.

In November 2005, a conference funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and convened by the American Society for Microbiology stated that in studies of probiotics as cures, any beneficial effect was usually low and that there was often strong placebo effect.

Overcoming Stress as Treatment for IBS

Since stress is thought to be a big factor in IBS it is worth paying some attention to it. There are several ways in which stress can be tackled and many are discussed on this site. Have a look at them and choose the ones that you like the sound of and can fit into your life.

Here are some of the best stress reducers:

• exercise -both energetic aerobic exercise to increase end0orphins and gentler more meditative exercises like tai chi and yoga
• meditation- has been shown to be very calming and the longer you practice the calmer you become. Creative visualization is a similar practice with similar results.
• biofeedback- can help you to learn how to calm yourself quickly when you are feeling a bit stressed out.
• brainwave entrainment is another little known way to become calm.
• Hynosis- IBS can be helped by hypnosis and this is a pain free natural process. All you need to do is devote a short time each day to relaxing and listening.

Resources for IBS

IBS 100 Self Hypnosis Program

This self hypnosis audio program is given incredibly good feedback by most customers who have used it for their IBS. There were some who didn't like it of course. Out of 17 reviews the average was 4 stars. Here is an example:

"Why oh why didn't I try this program first? This program helps not only with IBS symptoms - all of them - but also with the anxiety and frustration that goes along with the disorder. The program has an informational booklet that is easy to understand and completely explains in a clear way, what the program does for the patient and answers many questions about not only IBS but the process as well. Very cost effective - would have cost me a fortune if I went to an in-office therapist - Well worth the money, and it does work! " 

IBS Stress Kit for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is the same audio program as above but as well as the audios you get:
"The First Year: IBS An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed ", a book by Heather Van Vorous, gives you the information you need to take control of IBS. Reader reviews are very positive.

The IBS Stress Kit also includes 2 Techni Ice Hot/Cold Packs. Intense heat calms the colon and offers quick relief from IBS symptoms. Each pack will generously cover the entire abdomen or lower back and will retain heat for hours.