What IBS means:   ----- Irritable bowel syndrome is understood as a multi-faceted disorder. In people with IBS, symptoms result from what appears to be a disturbance in the interaction between the gut or intestines, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function) or sensory function. \n\nIrritable bowel syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms in which abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with a change in bowel pattern, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation.
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People with IBS either have IBS with constipation or IBS with diarrhea. With constipation - try Zelnorm. \n\nFor diarrhea - if you're a younger female and have had this for a while, talk to your doctor about Lotronex. it's not on the market but it's extremely effective.
395721
You should go to your doctor, you may have IBS or some other bowel condition.
640786
Its pretty good for IBS, particularly if you have been suffering from the condition for less than 10 years or so.  In chinese medicine IBS is belived to be caused by a disharmony between the liver and spleen.  You should idealy look for an acupuncturist who is qualified in traditional chinese medicine to degree level at least, and who is registered to an appropriate regulating body (in the UK that is either the BaCC, the ATCM or the CMH, if you are in another country you will need to find out who your regulating bodies are).  This way you can be sure that the practitioner will be competent and will use the correct techniques i.e sterile needles etc... , Acupuncture does not really hurt, but you will feel a numb or tingling sensation around the needle, most patients acutally find this pleasent, it will probably be about 12 needles and the practitioner may recomend that you take a herbal formual (a very good one for most ibs cases is xiao yao wan, and it is likely that this is what you will be prescribed, however if you are given the option to brew raw herbs or to take the formula as a pill, i would reccomend brewing the raw herbs as this always gives better results.)  Another thing that you may wish to consider is ear acupuncture, this is a combination therapy devised by a french doctor about 50 years ago, it is based on theories derived from acupunture, reflexology and orthodox medicine.  it is so effective it has been completely adopted by most chinese medicine practitioners, if you are not keen on needles this is especially good as the practitioner can put acupressure seeds or magnets onto the ear in the appropriate places, which do not pierce the skin, these are left on for up to a week at a time and you will press them throughout each day, at the end of the week they will be applied again to the other ear and the process continues, this is usually a cheaper option than acupuncture, but i think in IBS it may be equally as effective.  Another thing that is good for IBS is to eat a piece of fruit imediately before having a meal , as this helps to stimulate the digestion, also you should drink a glass of warm water with honey in it every morning before you eat anything.  A really good tablet to take is colpramin (you may have already tried this) which contains peppermint oil and is in a thick capsule that does not break down until it gets to the large intestine, it stops the spasms that cause the pain and bloating, it can be brought from any high street pharmacy. \nI think that Chinese medicine will be a goood choice of treatment for you because you also suffer from anxiety and phobias, these are also symptoms that chinese medicine relates to the liver, so if you recieve treatment for IBS all of these problems will be treated at the same time, so you will feel much better.  good luck\n If you want to find out more about traditional chinese medicine you could log on to tcmcentral.com.
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Have you been tested for Celiac Disease?  Studies show that as many as 60% of people labeled with IBS (I say labeled because IBS is not a diagnosis, that is, it does not define the source/cause of the symptoms) actually have Celiac Disease.\n\nCeliac disease is an autoimmune disease that damages the lining of the small intestine.  It is caused by an allergy to certain proteins in wheat, rye and barley called glutens/gliadins.\n\nDoctors in the U.S. are so 'unknowledgeable' that they only diagnose this disorder in 3% of the patients with the disease.  It is a common disease, occurring in about 1 person in 100, but is only diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 3500 in the U.S.\n\nAnother possibility is food allergies/intolerances which are common causes of IBS-labeled symptoms.  The gold-standard for diagnosing food allergies is an elimination diet.  You may need to find a nutritional food allergy specialist to help you evaluate this possibility.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
8440
IBS is similar to ulcarative colitis in that you may have periods of constipation and bouts of bloody diarrhea. Sometimes diet can affect it, sometimes lactose can aggravate it. IT can be cyclical in nature. THe best way to manage this condition is by lifestyle changes. If you are having constipation, increase the amount of fiber you are eating. If you are having diarrhea, eat low fiber foots like meat and potatoes. Sometimes medications like Asacol or Sulfasalazine can help. THese are anti-inflammatory drugs specifically made for GI problems. I hope this helps you. A GOOD gastroenterologist and a sympathetic friend will get you through this condition. It may improve with age.
197652
I have had luck treating my IBS and a friend that has Chrons tried the same approach and has been feeling much better. Diagnosing auto immune disorders can be difficult.
18557
u mean IBS or IBD like chrohns?\n\nTreatment for Crohn's disease depends on the location and severity of disease, complications, and response to previous treatment. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. At this time, treatment can help control the disease, but there is no cure. \n\nPlz consult ur Dr for the suitable treatment modality.
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I'm not familiar with your medication, but I do know that they're starting to suggest that people with IBS be tested for Celiac Disease.  \n\nTake a look at this informational site from the National Institutes of Health  about celiac - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/\n\nIf that starts ringing bells, there are some message boards to take a look at regarding celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance - \n\nwww.glutenfreeforum.com\nwww.celiacforums.com\n\nHope you feel better soon.\n\nNancy
445935
I get the same problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is one of the symptoms for Irritable bowel syndrome. If its real bad  go to a doctor. I was diagnosed with coeliac. maybe ask for a blood test\nAll the best hun' x
106918
There is no known cure for Irritable bowel syndrome,but there are many treatments out there which really help.finding your trigger foods,and foods which you are sensitive is really important.\n\nSome soothers\npeppermint and ginger tea\nfennel seeds,\nIsbacol From enzymatic therapy,(german product,clinically proven to soothe IBS)\nprobiotic supplementation,and digestive enzymes with meals\nreducing stress,stress has been scientifically proven to make IBS worse.\navoid wheat,dairy,raw vegetables and fatty foods during a flair up of Ibs,stick to pureed steamed vegetables in a blender,or smoothies.\nL-glutamine helps heal an inflamed gut,and the product seacure,is fish peptides high in l-glutamine helps heal the gut lining,clinical evidence of improvement.
327291
Have you been tested for Celiac Disease?  Medical studies indicate that anywhere from 10% to 60% of patient's given the IBS label actually have undiagnosed Celiac Disease.\n\nCeliac Disease (CD) occurs in about 1 person in 100, yet in the U.S. it is only diagnosed in about 1 person in 3500, which means 97% of people with the disease go undiagnosed!\n\nCD is an allergic reaction to certain proteins in wheat, rye and barley called gluten/gliadins.  The allergic reaction causes an autoimmune disease that damages the lining of the small intestine.  Pain, diarrhea, and even vomiting are common.  It can usually be diagnosed with simple blood tests, although occassionally special tests of a stool sample are needed to make the diagnosis.\n\nThere is a good chance your physicians are not very knowledgeable about this common condition.  You can find an excellent series of medical review articles on this subject in the April 2005 supplement of the medical journal "Gastroenterology".  You might want to check out these papers on their website and even download some for your doctor to read.  Again, physicians tend to be uneducated on Celiac Disease.  Many leading medical journals in the last 2 years have written large review papers on this disease in an effort to educate the medical profession.  Sadly, physicians often lack the time (or interest) to read their own journals.\n\nTreatment is simple and straight forward.  Treatment consists of total avoidance of all sources of glutens/gliadins in the diet for life.  The necessary nutritional modifications are well worth the improvement in health and wellbeing.\n\nI have this disease.  After 40 years of suffering, seeing many 'specialists' and carrying the useless 'diagnosis' of IBS, I figured it out for myself, had the testing done and now avoid all gluten in my diet.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
81020
IBS can be very uncomfortable but can be controlled with a few easy food choices.. I would suggest that you eat 5 to 6 small meals per day.. add fiber to your diet.. and stay away from trigger foods.. ie: spicy food and acid type foods.. there are a few good medications on the market today to help slow your digestive track and calm the syptoms.. See your doctor for further treatments if you can not control with food modifications.. I also suggest that you try eating foods like Carrots and salads.. more fruit and drink plenty of water.  Do not fall for the many rip off adds on the market.. Get your information from a qualified doctor... You can also go to www.webmd.com for other helpful information.. Hope this helps :)
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anxiety is commonly seen with disorders such as depression, substance abuse or eating disorders. Anxiety may be a reaction to a traumatic event, or may also arise from emotional distress. Recent research on the structure and chemistry of the human brain point out that varying forms of anxiety are probably genetic. Having an anxiety disorder does NOT make you a weaker person - any individual can develop anxiety, given the right "mix" of genetics and life circumstances.\n\nWhat are the symptoms of anxiety?\nIndividuals who are feeling anxious report many physical symptoms, such as:\n\nstomach tribulations (gnawing feeling, "butterflies," diarrhea, irritated bowel syndrome) \nbreaking out in a sweat, or feeling cold and clammy \nhasty or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)) \nheadaches, feeling faint or dizziness \nfatigue \naches or bodily cramps \nAdditional symptoms of anxiety can be more emotional, such as: \na general sense of apprehension and dread \njumpiness \nirritation \ntrouble going asleep or staying asleep
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Yes, completely normal.  Stress wreaks havoc with food intake, certainly.  Some people can't stop eating, and others can't even look at food.  The diarrhea is normal, too, as stress really messes with the digestive tract.  This is especially common with women; we're much more likely to get IBS.  Fun, eh?  And stress does crazy stuff with your menstrual cycle, too, birth control or no.\n\nIt really sounds as if you're having a bad time of it.  What you should do is concentrate on getting yourself through this and managing your stress as best as possible.  With fiance problems, I'm not going to say that you should calm down, but you should pamper yourself a bit.  Do some yoga, take some walks, get a manicure, have a nice long chat with your best friend, whatever you usually do when you're stressed.  Keep drinking that water and keep trying foods.  What do you usually eat when you've got a stomach flu?  Maybe you'll be able to keep down crackers.  Or maybe you can go with comfort foods that make you feel happy.  Don't worry too much about it, though.  Bodies are very resilient.  If it does worry you, try drinking juices and Gatorade and anything with calories and try to take a multivitamin.  That way, at least you won't get scurvy.
360900
good question.  my mom had chronic diarreah for years, sprinkled with occasional constipation.  it was terrible to live with even for the family. every time we started to go somewhere she ended up in the bathroom, and many times had to forgo the destination.  We thought it was related to severe food allergies.  Well years later after she mellowed out, after several tests, doctors, and near surgry. the episodes ceased.  she does have some food allergies and now only has very occasional dirreah.  The  determined cause.....stress, and anxiety.  Once she managed to learn to deal with life better she began to digest better.  guess what when i got about 22 years old the same thing happend to me.  now that i am on meds and in therapy, my bowels are more controlled. but i have noticed that stress, and life events bring on a bout of bowel trouble, usually dirreah.  my advice....seek mental health care...and chill out.
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Digestive problems, stomach pain, and appetite changes are caused by many things. They can be signs of serious problems such as ulcers, gallbladder problems, and reflux disease. They can also be caused by dietary problems and too little exercise. Often, they occur when we're under stress. But they may also be symptoms of depression.\n\nWhen people are depressed, they sometimes develop digestive problems, including nausea and constipation. Partly it's because the gut has the same serotonin and norepinephrine receptors as the brain. Worry, anxiety, and stress can therefore lead to intestinal difficulties. Also, depressed people often don't take good care of themselves. They may not eat enough, they may eat too much, and they may get very little exercise. All this can make the intestinal tract slow down, which can cause stomach problems.
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IBS rarely causes weight loss.  I was diagnosed over 20 years ago, and believe me, I have fought my weight the entire time.  He desperately needs physical activity.  I find the more active I am and the more water I drink, the less my IBS bothers me.  He also needs to be eating high fiber foods, or take a fiber supplement.  he should avoid candy and high fat stuff like burgers and fries.  He also needs to avoid seeds, like sesame and sunflower.  Get him into soccer, or scate boarding, something that will keep him active and moving.  The fact that he carries most of his weight around his middle is setting him up for heart disease.  Men especially are dying in their twenties now from sudden cardiac arrest from obesity and lack of aerobic exercise.  Good luck to you.