“If you have been diagnosed with IBS and develop a "new" abdominal pain, possibly more severe or in a different location from your usual area of discomfort, this may lead to surgery i.e. appendix, gallbladder, hysterectomy, or laparoscopy. If the indication for surgery is not in this setting crystal clear, it is always reasonable to first attempt a serious therapeutic trial of IBS medication and treatment to see if this "new pain" resolves or improves thus avoiding unnecessary surgery.”
"Acceptance of the diagnosis of IBS and understanding how the symptoms affect your life are key to being able to control the severity of these same symptoms"
"IBS patients frequently have good and bad days. Avoiding symptom producing foods such as fried greasy meals, cruciferous vegetables and salads as well as reducing stress can help to ensure more good days.”
“The goal in the treatment of IBS is to reduce the severity and frequency of the most debilitating symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, as this is not a disease it cannot be cured. This is important because most IBS patients have the false expectation of cure.”
“One of the greatest unmet needs in gastroenterology today is a universal practical approach to the treatment of IBS as well as a consensus for providing these patients the support needed to help them understand, cope, and stabilize their symptoms in order to regain the best possible quality of life.”
“Many people obtain and use Probiotics, however without knowing if a specific Probiotic supplement meets the rigorous guidelines to be effective in the human G.I. tract- results may be inadequate. Some of the "Best of Breed" Probiotics that meet this criteria are listed in the supplement, Probiotics: A simplified approach.”
“Just as the cause of stomach ulcers is now linked to a bacteria, it is likely that a bacterial imbalance (Dysbiosis) created in the GI tract by such factors such as frequent antibiotic use, stress, sudden onset of diarrheal illnesses by viruses or bacteria, poor eating habits may in the future be linked to the onset of IBS symptoms. Unfortunately no simple universally accepted testing is available to identify this bacterial imbalance.”
“In helping make a diagnosis of IBS the answer is frequently in the history. Upon reflection the onset of IBS symptoms can frequently be linked to the timing of certain specific life events. Some of the most common include surgery (gallbladder and hysterejobctomy being the most common) , motor vehicle accident, divorce or separation, death or illness of a loved one, stress from natural disasters, financial stress, job stress, or positive stressful events such as getting married.”
“Traditionally, frequent abdominal pain is attributed to Diverticulosis, especially if it is localized in the left lower abdomen. In the absence of infection of the Diverticulosis, referred to as Diverticulitis, which requires antibiotics and close monitoring. IBS may be the underlying cause.”
“According to a consensus of international experts at a meeting in Rome, Italy, a definition of the typical symptoms of IBS was published called the Rome Criteria.”
“Bladder spasms can be associated with IBS causing an irregular pattern of urination.”
“Many patients who present with a “burning” feeling in their lower mid-abdominal area are frequently given medications for heartburn with no relief. This is because this symptom is very typical in IBS and has nothing to do with a stomach problem or reflux.” It must be treated and addressed as IBS.”
“Some IBS patients due to their “hyper” sensitive intestinal state may experience more discomfort after colonoscopy due to the air used to inflate the colon, Insertion and maneuvering of the scope which may irritate an already irritable bowel.”
“If someone develops a sudden onset of abdominal pain/discomfort associated with a change in the bowel moment frequency and or consistency, with or without a new gas and bloating feeling that occurred around the same time of a major stressful life event, the cause of this pain may be the irritable bowel Syndrome.”
“Patients with IBS may have the occasional feeling that there is a “blockage” in the colon. After a normal colonoscopy and cat scans showing no evidence of blockage, I explain that “colonic spasms” may be the underlying cause of this “feeling” and should be treated and addressed as IBS."
"Some patients with IBS have localized pain or discomfort in the Left Upper Quadrant, this is referred to as the Splenic Flexure Syndrome and should be treated as a typical IBS symptom and presentation."
"Today, Treatment for IBS may include a combination of medications and treatments such as:
Anti-spasm medication
Antibiotics, Probiotics
Anti-Diarrhea Medication
Anti-Flatulent Medication
Anti-Anxiety Medications
Anti-Depression Medications
Laxatives
Medications for Sleep
Herbs, Hypnosis, Acupuncture, and Others
"It is the fine tuning and continued adjustment of the patient's medications that are frequently required to minimize symptoms and maximize quality of life."
"The inability to fall
asleep or initiate sleep, as well as, interrupted
sleep has been associated with IBS symptoms that are
more difficult to control. Therefore, using sleep
agents that successfully improve
the sleep pattern, may also improve the overall IBS
picture."
"Any patient with diagnosed
IBS who has persistent and intractable symptoms
despite maximal therapeutic intervention with anti-spasmodics,
antibiotics, and Probiotics should be tested for
Celiac Disease as approximately 5 % of those
patients with typical IBS have Celiac Disease."
" Our current use for
Probiotics is analogous to the "Shotgun Approach",
as we are using many different strains, rather than
being strain-specific. We know these beneficial
organisms improve IBS symptoms in some individuals.
We know that each Probiotic Strain/Organism talks to
us through our DNA/Genes and as a result produces
beneficial actions such as:
1. Crowding out bad bacteria in the gut
2. Secreting substance that kill or inhibit bad bacteria (Bactericidal)
3. Secrets substances that suppress inflammation at the level of the GI tract lining
4. Stimulates the immune
system
These above actions and
others then in turn may result in improved IBS
symptoms. What we don't know is how each Probiotic
strain/organism interacts at the intestinal cellular
level with our individual genetic DNA. For this
reason it may be necessary to try different "Best of
Breed" Probiotics supplements, as each has a
different strain(s) in order to maximize the
efficacy of a therapeutic trial of Probiotics."
"It is not uncommon for someone with IBS to experience and exacerbation of symptoms associated with a viral infection of the GI tract causing diarrhea. In this setting Probiotic treatment may also be very beneficial."
