A Story Of Life: --IBS and ME--

Sunday, June 1, 2008

--IBS and ME--

IBS - irritable bowel syndrome. is a term used to describe discomfort in the bowel (the colon, or large intestine). Symptoms of IBS may include crampy pain, bloating, gas, mucus in the stool, and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation—infrequent stools that may be hard, dry, and painful. Others have diarrhea—frequent loose stools. Some people have alternating constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes a person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the bowels but cannot do so.

Although it is not clearly understood what causes IBS, there are many clues in the scientific literature. For some people it begins in childhood with a ‘sensitive stomach’ that develops into more intense symptoms in adulthood; while for others, the IBS symptoms start suddenly during a period of stress or persist after a bout of gastroenteritis, a condition known as Post-infective IBS. However there are underlying vulnerabilities that may cause IBS and that may be common causes to all sufferers of IBS.

In simple terms, we believe that there is ample evidence to suggest that IBS is the result of a dysfunctional interaction between genetic vulnerability, a lack of certain specific nutrients and disordered gut bacteria, leading to a dysfunctional gut and less than optimum brain function.

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Symptoms associated with IBS-

There are also recent scientific findings that may also explain why 70 to 90% of people with IBS also suffer from anxiety, depression and sleep difficulties.

Frequently people with IBS also report chronic tiredness or fatigue, cognitive deficits, foggy head and difficulties concentrating. Treating these suspected causes of IBS often resolves or significantly reduces the cognitive, psychiatric, fatigue and sleep problems. Psychological techniques can then be more effective at treating psychological factors that may contribute to stress, depression and anxiety.

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