Colonista: One Woman's Search for the World's Best Colon Cleansing

IBS is Actually in the Brain!

 

I came across a fascinating article this morning that approaches the idea that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is actually a disorder of the brain.

It's common for those suffering from IBS to experience depression and anxiety. Emeran Mayer, MD, professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, stated, "Discovering structural changes in the brain ... demonstrates an 'organic' component to IBS and supports the concept of a brain-gut disorder. The finding removes the idea once and for all that IBS symptoms are not real and are 'only psychological.' The findings will give us more insight into better understanding IBS."

Mayer, along with colleagues at the University of California and McGill University used scans to compare the brain anatomy of over 50 women with IBS with just under 50 women who did not suffer from IBS. The comparison found thinning grey matter, which is the part of the organ that retains nutrients, in specific areas of the organ.

Check out the article for the specifics. I'm sure you'll find them as fascinating as I did!

(Picture Credit: Helen Jaques)

Colon Cleansing Helps IBS--But How?

Colon cleansing is a great way to soothe the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It helps out in the following ways:

• Gets rid of built-up toxins and harmful bacteria
• Helps to relieve anxiety and stress
• Calms the overactive and irritated nerves in the intestinal tract
• Decreases bowel transit time
• Relieves abdominal cramping, gas, pain and bloating

So what's keeping you from trying colon cleansing to treat and sooth your IBS?

(Picture Credit: Steady Health)

IBS: An Overview

I've talked a lot about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But I think it's time for an overview of exactly what it is and what symptoms are associated with the disorder.

IBS is also referred to as "spastic colon," and it affects approximately 14% of American adults. Most of the time, the symptoms and triggers of IBS can be relieved by a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes, along with consistent colon cleansing.

But what symptoms are associated with IBS?

• Abdominal discomfort
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Depression and anxiety, which can worsen IBS symptoms

What makes IBS flare up? Most patients report that stress, parasites, large meals, certain foods, dairy, alcohol and coffee trigger IBS.

How has IBS affected your life?

(Picture Credit: UMPA)

Great Taste, No Pain – Treating IBS

I was recently doing some research on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and came across Sherry Brescia’s website for her “Great Taste, No Pain” program. I have to say, I was impressed. Now, keep in mind that the free offer only lasts until Thursday (February 18^th), so if you’re at all interested in the program after reading this blog post, get over to the website and take advantage ASAP.

 The program promises to take away all pain related to IBS, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and other digestive conditions in just one day. The report offers information about a four-day eating plan (including snacks) that will rid you of digestive pain. You also receive 13 recipes and daily tips from Brescia.

 Because I’m a thorough researcher, I wanted to see what others thought about “Great Taste, No Pain.” This article on PoopReport.com made me a believer.

Living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

So, I think I’ve made it pretty clear that having IBS sucks.  It’s definitely not something that you would want to happen, even to your enemies.  But the good news is that you can live with it and cope without allowing it to alter the quality of life that you enjoy.

 

The first step you need to take is to see your doctor.  Your doc can help you figure out which treatment or treatments will help your particular IBS. 

 

Learn about your disease.  Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power.  Read as much as you can about IBS and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor any and all questions you have, no matter how stupid or embarrassing they seem.  The more you know, the better you can cope with your condition.

 

Keep a journal of your symptoms and triggers.  Also, be sure to keep track of what you eat.  This way, you can figure out what your individual triggers are and learn to avoid them. 

 

Don’t be embarrassed!  Talk to friends, family members, and co-workers to help cope with this disease.  Your peers are great support for you, and you deserve and need all the support you can get.  There are also IBS support groups online such as www.ibsgroup.org.  Sometimes, it can help to just talk to others who are dealing with IBS and to know that you’re not alone in what you’re dealing with.

 

Be prepared.  We’ve all heard of embarrassing situations where people have literally lost their crap due to a bowel issue.  Acknowledge that you have a disease, and always know where the nearest restroom is.  Trust me—preparation is half the battle.

 

Do what you can to stay stress-free.  Exercise on a regular basis—this is a great stress reliever.  If you need to, go see a therapist or stress manager to help cope with your illness and stress.

 

What do you do to cope with your IBS?

Controlling IBS with What You Eat

That’s right—another post on altering your diet to better control your bowel issues!  The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome aren’t fun.  But the good news is that something as little as modifying your diet can help to control these symptoms and keep them from occurring…or at least keep them from occurring as often.

 Follow these tips to improve your diet:

• If you experience constipation, make sure to add fiber to your diet, get regular exercise, and drink tons of water.  It’ll make you poo—I swear!
• If you’re having issues with diarrhea, limit the foods that can make it worse such as alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, high sugar foods, gas-producing foods, fatty foods, and artificial sweeteners.
• Take your time when eating, and eat in a calm environment.  It sounds weird, but it can definitely help your digestive tract to operate more efficiently.
• Keep a food diary.  Keep track of what you eat and how what you eat affects your body.  This way, you can learn which foods you need to avoid and which you can indulge in.

 How have you altered your diet to control your IBS symptoms?

IBS Patients! Look Out for These Signs

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, there are some signs that you need to keep an eye out for.  These can be tipping you off that your condition is taking a turn for the worst and it’s time to talk to your doctor.  Call your physician if any of the following occur:

 

• Your symptoms worsen, or you aren’t responding as you usually do to your treatment methods
• Your symptoms wake you up in the night
• You’re more tired than you usually are
• You are experiencing unexplained weight loss
• You have abdominal pain that isn’t relieved after passing gas or passing a stool
• Your appetite has decreased
• You see blood in your stool

 

The following are referred to as “alarm symptoms,” which can be signs of a serious problem.  If any of these occur, it is IMPERATIVE that you see a doctor as soon as possible.

 

• You experience unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• You see blood in your stools
• Anemia is found

 

This isn’t meant to freak you out!  It’s just meant to educate and inform you.  Because without being properly informed, how are you going to manage your IBS?

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is a chronic condition, which equals no fun at all.  But the good news is that there are ways to treat this disease so that it doesn’t severely affect your daily life.

 There’s no one type of treatment that works for everyone who’s affected by IBS.  But there are several things you can try to lessen your symptoms and successfully treat this condition.

 The first step is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and what is actually triggering them.  Prepare yourself to alter your lifestyle to better deal with your symptoms and help to prevent them.  This is unavoidable.  It’s a bummer, but it’s something that must be done if you want to live with IBS without being completely miserable.

 The following are some treatments used for IBS:

• Altering your diet (Look for a post about this in the future—I’ve got some great tips for you)
• Exercise!  If you’re like me, you hate exercising.  You’d much rather sit on the couch and watch TV.  But we all know that that’s no way to lead a healthy life!  When you have IBS, it’s even more imperative that you exercise regularly to reduce your body’s tension and promote a healthy digestion.
• Medicine is sometimes employed to help you manage the symptoms of IBS.
• Stress management or psychological therapy.  No, we don’t think you’re crazy!  But stress can be a huge factor of your IBS, and managing your stress can help you feel better.

 Keep in mind that your treatment will be on-going, as your IBS is on-going.  It’s also important for you to keep an eye out on your symptoms and make note of any changes to bring up with your doctor.

 IBS, while being a chronic condition, can be controlled so that your life isn’t affected.  Take the steps to control your IBS now!

How Do I Tell if I Have IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no laughing matter.  If there’s any sort of chance that you may have the disease, it’s important that you talk to your doctor and undergo the tests needed to diagnose or rule out IBS. 

 

Most of the time, minimal testing is required, which is definitely a good thing.  No one likes to spend hours at the doctor’s office or hospital undergoing uncomfortable exams.  The amount of tests needed to diagnose IBS depends on a few factors:  how severe your symptoms are and how they come on, your age, and how your body reacts to initial treatment.

 

Most of the time, a blood test is the first step to diagnosing this condition.  Further tests that may be needed can include:

 

• Physical exam and discussion of medical history
• Stool analysis to look for blood, infection and/or parasites (hey—at least you’re not the one who will be playing with your poop)
• Complete blood count, which gives info regarding the number of platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells in your body
• Yucky colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Thyroid function test
• Upper gastrointestinal series
• Upper endoscopy
• Barium enema, an X-ray exam
• Gallbladder ultrasound

 

Fun, fun, fun!  But at least you’ll know what’s going on with your body!

Reducing the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in IBD Patients

So you know that I’ve talked about both colorectal cancer and irritable bowel disorder (IBD), and you may remember that I’ve even mentioned how IBD patients have a higher risk for colorectal cancer than people without IBD.

 There’s hope on the horizon for those of you affected by IBD.

According to an article on Doctor’s Guide online, “patients with IBD receiving thiopurines have a 3-fold decrease in the risk of developing colorectal advanced neoplasias.”  This is fancy talk for:  IBD patients taking thiopurines have a decrease risk of getting colorectal cancer.

This conclusion is due to a study that took place in  France between May of 2004 and May of 2005.

This is great news, and I’m excited to hear that there’s one more way that those dealing with IBD can decrease their individual risk of becoming diagnosed with colorectal cancer.  However, I can’t help but wonder why we’re just now hearing about this.  Couldn’t the results of this study been helping people across the world for the past three or four years?