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IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Bonnie Lloyd

It seems that living in the 21st century is becoming a health hazard. With the busy, high-powered lifestyle that we all have these days, everyone is suffering from stress at one time or another. You may be wondering what stress has to do with IBS? The answer is lots! IBS is a stress related disorder, which is affecting at least 1 in 4 people. It is rapidly becoming the No 1 reason for taking a day off sick. It is a painful and irreversible condition. As both my partner and me suffer with this condition, I decided to look into it further. It seems that most people are only diagnosed with IBS when they have undergone various gastric tests, which come back as normal. The cause is often unknown and I was offered no further medical advice after diagnosis.

IBS is a disorder of the muscular walls of the bowel. It affects the rate at which the content of the bowel is pushed along to the rectum. Symptoms can vary and IBS is often characterised by abdominal pain or discomfort, constipation and diarrhoea (often in alternate bouts). There are many other symptoms that are dependant on the cause of the problem. Therefore, symptoms of an IBS sufferer whose cause is milk intolerance could be very different from someone who's IBS is caused by stress. Treatment is dependant on how someone's bowel is behaving.

There are usually 3 types of behaviour:

1. The sluggish bowel. This is when the common symptom is constipation.
2. The hyperactive bowel. The common symptom is diarrhoea.
3. The confused bowel. This is alternate bouts of constipation and diarrhoea.

• Abdominal pain, aching, heaviness
• Excessive wind
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Incontinence
• Mucus in the stool
• Small ribbon or pebble-like bowel movements
• Rectal discomfort, never feeling the rectum is completely cleared
• Poor appetite, weight loss
• Wanting to eat frequently, weight gain
• Tightness around the waist
• Headaches, backache
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Painful periods, painful intercourse
• Difficulty bending down

• Sore mouth, stinging tongue, swollen lips
• Raw feeling in gullet
• Breathing problems
• Restlessness
• Sleeping problems
• Rapid pulse
• Flushing after food
• Fluid retention
• Aching joints
• Rashes
• Fatigue
• Panic attack or depression after eating

If you suffer from any of these symptoms then please seek medical advice from your GP.

Anything which affects our immune system or anything which effects the balance of the gut 'flora', allowing bad bacteria to take over can cause IBS. Examples of this could be:

• When we are physically run down. This could be after an illness or infection, after childbirth, surgery or during hormonal upsets.
• When we are emotionally low. Coping with any difficult or stressful life situation.
• When we have an overgrowth of Candida (Thrush) in our gut. Often characterised by a craving for sweet food.
• When we have a food allergy or intolerance. Often associated with Candida.
• When prescribed drugs have affected the bowel. It has been known for some time that some antibiotics can cause long-term damage to the bowel.
• When we are lacking in essential nutrients. Certain B vitamins are essential for a healthy bowel.
• When our blood sugar levels are unstable. This can cause carbohydrate cravings and colon disorders.

The first thing to do is go to your doctor and get it properly diagnosed. I do not condone turning your back on western medicine. There are very good doctors out there who use complimentary therapies alongside their own. The doctor will give you advice on how to cope.

• The Sluggish Bowel
  
  
  • The one thing that the sluggish bowel needs is water. This can help to flush through the system and ease constipation. I would suggest drinking at least 2 litres of water a day. Cutting down on tea and coffee is also suggested as this can dehydrate the system and aggravate constipation. For every cup of tea or coffee drunk, an extra cup of water on top of the 2 litres can help. It is also suggested to eat fruit and vegetables with a high water content.
  • Try eating more fibre. This does not mean that you need to start eating bran. Try and eat wholemeal foods such as wholemeal bread and pasta.
  • Avoid laxatives! In a sense, the sluggish bowel has forgotten how to work. Therefore laxatives wont help it remember! If you absolutely must take something then try massaging a blend of sweet almond oil and fennel into your abdomen. This will help you when you are very constipated. I would not suggest this as a regular treatment.
  • Exercise. The sluggish bowel can be helped with regular exercise. Find a sport that you like, it can be anything at all as long as you enjoy it (this will stop it feeling like a chore!) I have found yoga to be particularly useful with my own condition. Yoga is an internal massage and also reduces stress.
  
  
• The Overactive Bowel
  
  
  • Rest! Diarrhoea is the body's way of getting rid of anything yucky. It can also be the body's reaction to stress. If you are stressed out then the body will be releasing adrenalin, which has an effect on the digestive system. All of your body systems will speed up including your digestive system. If this is the case then diet alone will not help. You need to relax. Slow down or at least take some time for yourself once in a while.
  • Rest and take plenty of fluids. Avoid milk and citrus drinks as this could aggravate the problem further. Drink filtered or bottled water or apple juice.
  • Try to avoid taking medication as this can lead you into a vicious cycle of diarreaoh, medication and constipation. The body is getting rid of something and it may not be good to interrupt the cycle. If this is a persistent problem and you are not under any stress, it may be worth looking at the possibility of a food intolerance. Consult your doctor.
  
  
• The Confused Bowel
  
  If you suffer from the confused bowel the first, go back and read the section on the sluggish bowel. The constipation is the first thing we must look at with this variation of IBS. The lining of a dirty constipated colon can be irritated by the toxins produced and uses watery stool (diarreah) in an attempt to wash this away. Changing your diet to include less processed and more fresh and wholegrain foods could be the answer to your problem.
  

Whichever type of bowel you have, there are many things in our everyday lives which can aggravate the condition:

• Caffeine. As with most things, Tea and Coffee in moderation is fine. A healthy amount is 3 cups per day. It is also useful to drink an extra glass of water per cup of tea or coffee that you drink. If you are drinking more than 3 cups of tea or coffee per day, it is worth considering cutting down or switching to decaffeinated brands. You may experience mild withdrawal symptoms while 'detoxing' from caffeine. Symptoms may include headaches, nausea and sweating. A good way to avoid this problem is to mix normal and decaffeinated coffee together. If you are a tea drinker, alternate each cup between normal and decaffeinated tea and gradually cut down on caffeine.
  
  
• Smoking. Smoking can really irritate the stomach and may be a contributing factor to your condition. However, I also understand that smoking is a powerful addiction and many have tried and sadly failed to quit. If you can manage to give up smoking completely then all the better! If not, just try to cut down.
  
  
• Alcohol. As with Caffeine, Alcohol in moderation will not affect your stomach that much. A good amount is 1 glass of wine or beer per day.
  
  
• Stress. As we have repeated throughout this article, Stress is the largest contributory factor for this condition. Many of us lead busy lives and often have no time for ourselves. Try to find something which you enjoy and make the time to do it.

This has been a brief overview of a condition which is becoming more and more common in people of all ages from all walks of life. It is by no means exhaustive and I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking medical advice in this matter.