IBS Information Archives - Page 2 of 3

Prevention Tips For IBS

For sufferers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), staying as far away from a flare-up is the goal because the time it takes to recover from an episode is usually not an insignificant period of time. However there are hands-on strategies that really can make a difference in helping you, and we have outlined these tips below.

Embracing Fiber In Your Life

Fiber is one of those words that may be the last one you want to hear as much as it’s mentioned for people with IBS, but it really is key in every aspect of what it is. Fiber feeds billions of bacteria that can be found in our gut and the positive impact on our bodies to keep our intestines in good stead is vast. Foods with high amounts of fiber that will not typically have adverse reactions include lentils, raspberries, blackberries, pears, avocados, bran, barley, and oatmeal. Other sources of fiber to add to your life include flax and chia.

Stay Away From Certain Foods

Some foods are tough on your system and they should be on your list of foods to avoid. They include chocolate, cabbage, sugar-free sweeteners, broccoli and cauliflower, corn, beans, dairy, highly fatty foods, spicy foods, coffee, and pizza. However you will know your own body the best, and therefore the list of foods that trigger a flare-up should be really defined by your own experience with knowing what foods to stay away from.

Stay Hydrated With Water

There is no question that drinking tons of water is key as a general rule of thumb for good health, but the importance of water cannot be emphasized enough for IBS. Unfortunately, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and even coffee and tea can cause a flare-up, so deliberate carefully what fluids you want to ingest. Water at the end of the day is the safest bet.

Alternative Therapies

Alternative medical options including biofeedback can have a positive effect on IBS. Using both relaxation techniques and guided imagery with the aid of computer technologies which monitor your body’s arousal and response rate, the use of biofeedback has been shown to reduce symptoms significantly and should be considered.

Managing Stress

It is no secret that stress and anxiety can trigger a flare-up and so how you can stay out of extraordinarily stressful situations is something to consider. How to make this into effect is harder said than done, but should be acknowledged as a top priority. There are many options for pursuing stress management including yoga. The goal is to relax your abdominal muscles with the goal of ensuring that your gastrointestinal tract stays functional and regular.

Support Groups and Counseling

With so many millions affected by IBS, finding a support group that meets regularly around IBS is no longer hard to find. Or you may start a group yourself. Groups are available online as well as an option to help support and feel supported by others who have similar goals. It’s key to get support from a group or a counselor one-on-one if you find yourself overwhelmed in a fairly day-to-day way. Best not to avoid whatever it is you may be feeling – because there are others too and hearing about those shared experiences or even other experiences can really have a powerful impact on not feeling so alone.

Treating IBS-M

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects millions of Americans and is classified by three types: IBS-C which is with constipation, IBS-D which is with diarrhea, and IBS-M (sometimes referred to as IBS-A which is mixed or alternating diarrhea and constipation. All three types are prevalent, although IBS-M is the most common type of the three. Research shows that most individuals who suffer from IBS will exhibit symptoms of all types at various points over any period of time.

IBS-M is characterized by sharing the symptoms of constipation and diarrhea – that is, feeling both an inability to empty your bowels and then also an urgency to use the bathroom. Symptoms may be experienced in the same day, week or month. With these alternating symptoms, the paramount effect on the IBS patient’s life can be truly disruptive.

To be diagnosed with IBS-M:

See your doctor if you’ve has IBS-M symptoms for at 3 days per month for at least 3 months.
Bring a food and stool journal to review with your physician
Expect stool tests, lab work, and possibly other more invasive tests such as a colonoscopy or endoscopy to rule out others medical problems.

After a diagnosis, you will want to pay attention to the following:

Watch your water intake and keep track of how much you are drinking throughout the day.
Research which foods are typically considered to be trigger foods such as dairy products, greasy foods, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine.
Identify any trigger foods that appear to contribute to an episode of constipation or diarrhea, and avoid those foods going forward to see if it makes a marked difference.
Consider how stress may or may not play a factor for you with IBS-M and consider ways to reduce stress and anxiety.

Medications or alternative treatment options may also be recommended as part of addressing IBS-M:

Antibiotics to positively change the bacteria in your gut
Antispasmodics to reduce spasms and cramping that may occur with both diarrhea and constipation
Antidepressants to help reduce stress and anxiety
Gluten-free diet by eliminating wheat, barley, and rye which is shown to offer relief.
Probiotics which contain live bacteria which alters the balance of bacteria in your intestines and improve digestion

All types of IBS are anything but straightforward and working with your physician to come up with a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan is important. There is no go-to solution for every person who has IBS and so the importance of documenting your own experience in a permanent journal will help you to identify what may or may not be contributing to having an episode.

Most commonly, IBS patients talk about the benefits of combinations of treatment plans and being open to alternative therapies. A careful balance of treatments is needed to be sure that the addressing one symptom in IBS-M is not a contributing factor in alternating between constipation and diarrhea.

Aiming for regularity is the goal for IBS-M so that your meals, sleep, and entire rhythm of the day are on some type of schedule to set up the optimum circumstances of regulating your bowel movements.

IBS and Diet

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, and it is a disorder that affects the large intestine. It causes uncomfortable disturbances in the gut. Some symptoms of IBS include diarrhea, constipation, gas, and stomach cramps. Although it is not typical for IBS to cause weight loss, your diet can set off IBS symptoms, and changes in your nutrition intake can lead to weight fluctuations.

Weight gain can be linked to IBS when you consume a lot of low-fiber foods which are water-soluble. Weight loss can also occur if your stomach pain is so bad that you can’t stand to eat anything at all. However, weight loss and stomach pain is often a sign of other conditions, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Why A Nutritious Diet Decreases IBS Symptoms

There is no recorded cause for IBS. Instead, all of the common symptoms of IBS are evaluated and diagnosed after ensuring they fall within IBS symptoms and not other diseases. Indications for IBS include prolonged bowel discomfort with no added symptoms of fever, vomiting, or blood in the stool. If you have any of those symptoms, please see your doctor.

There are no hard and set rules for IBS because it results in both diarrhea from a bowel that digests food quickly, or constipation from slow digestion. For this reason, both weight loss and weight gain are added symptoms of IBS. The goal is here is not to regain weight or lose weight but to maintain a healthy body weight. Weight loss occurs due to the extreme pain you may experience from the gas in your stomach, leading you to eat less. Weight gain may be caused by eating too many calories of a specific food that doesn’t cause stomach pain

To treat both symptoms of diarrhea and constipation, you must stick to a nutritious diet. THere is no rule of what kind of diet is best for IBS patients; there are actually a few suggested diets that are completely different. Each body is different and your needs are unique.

How Does Fiber Relieves IBS Symptoms?

A specific diet that is commonly suggested to people with IBS is the FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols. This means that sugars in certain foods are harder to digest and often make IBS symptoms worse.

Several foods on the FODMAP list are:

wheat
onions
garlic
apples
beans
lentils
milk
beef
artificial sweeteners like sorbitol

To keep your gut functioning normally, it is important to drink plenty of water to urge your digestive processes along, as well as eat a large amount of fiber, which can be found in fruits and vegetables. Adding these elements to your diet can help regulate your digestive tract and eliminate any pain you usually experience.

IBS: What We Learned

IBS is unfortunately extremely common and is hard to pinpoint what exactly is wrong with your digestion. It has many painful and uncomfortable symptoms, like stomach gas, cramps, diarrhea, and constipation. A healthy diet full of fiber while avoiding fatty foods is a great way to maintain a healthy digestive tract and keep you at a healthy weight.

What Is IBS-D?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder known as IBS-D, cannot be wholly generalized as each person experiences the symptoms differently. Affecting 10-15% of the people around the world, triggers for all forms of IBS-D often include eating certain foods which that may aggravate your system; these foods include wheat, dairy products, red wine, and caffeine.

There are some commonalities with the symptoms and diagnosis, as well as strategies with living with IBS-D and the treatment options. A clearer understanding of IBS-D will help individuals who are affected directly by the group of symptoms.

Symptoms of IBS-D

IBS-D symptoms include an urgent and sudden need to have bowel movements usually accompanied by loose and frequent stools, and abdominal pain. It is not uncommon for individuals to lose control of their bowels and soil their clothing, which makes living with IBS-D extraordinarily challenging and difficult. Most people change their lifestyles so that they always are near bathrooms and often will refrain from doing anything that will require the risk of having an accident.

Diagnosis of IBS-D

Although it is easy and one might be self-inclined to self-diagnose IBS-D, it is best for your gastroenterologist to make the official diagnosis after doing a health history, examining you, ordering a blood workup, and requesting a stool sample. It will be important for you to know if others in your family have had Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, and colon cancer. An official diagnosis for IBS-D is only given if you experience diarrhea about a quarter of the time and also have constipation than a quarter of the time.

Living with IBS-D

Eliminating Trigger Foods and Drinks. You will begin to recognize which foods are your trigger foods which give you an adverse reaction. Understand the relation between your diet and the severity of your symptoms is key, and you should plan to keep food journals until you can identify definitively what you’ll want to avoid if possible, whether that be dairy products, artificial sweeteners, highly fatty foods, vegetables that cause gassiness, caffeine, and alcohol.
Finding the Right Treatment Plan. You will want to work with GI to find the best treatment plan for your symptoms, which may include taking antidiarrheal medications or prescription medications that may be recommended.
Exercise Regularly. You will want to stay physically fit and get regular exercise which will help reduce stress and can significantly alleviate symptoms.
Reduce Stress and Address Depression. In whatever way is possible, be sure to work to ease any stressors as anxious feelings and depression may negatively impact your gut. Many individuals practice relaxation techniques including yoga, and or try biofeedback as well as treat depression. You will want to be sure to address whatever it is that troubles you head on.

There is no known cure for IBS, and it is likely that you will have episodic periods which will be challenging. Be sure you have an excellent GI following your case and who advises you accordingly.

What Is IBS-C?

With over 13 million adults across the United States suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it is the most common gastrointestinal disorder. There are different types of IBS, and we are addressing here more about Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation (IBS-C), which is also referred to as constipation-predominant IBS.

Symptoms

The most prevalent symptoms of IBS-C is discomfort and pain in the abdomen, constipation, straining, and bowel movements that are both small and hard that look like pellets. Many women share that their symptoms are more prominent while menstruating. In general, IBS-C affects more women than men and is more common in adults who are under 50 years of age.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of IBS-C is individualized, but many individuals suffer from constipation having less than 3 bowel movements a week coupled with abdominal discomfort over the course of a few months. The diagnosis of IBS-C will be made by a general physician or gastroenterologist (GI), to be sure that there is not something more serious going on. A rule of thumb is that IBS is diagnosed by ruling out other potential issues.

Bring a complete medical history including a record of your bowel movements to your appointment with your doctor. It is also useful to provide a food history and a list of any medications you have taken. Providing as much information to your doctor, preferably in journal form, about your symptoms and what you were eating and drinking before and around that period will allow for the best opportunity to understand what is happening and which foods may be triggering your symptoms.

Treatment

A first step for treating IBS-C usually includes taking a serious look at your diet to be sure it is balanced and strategic in terms of everything you eat. Significantly increasing your fiber intake with the goal of getting anywhere between 25-35 grams of fiber. Typically a GI will provide lists of the most fibrous fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans to help you build a diet designed to keep you symptom-free. There is no question that cutting out highly refined foods and avoiding white bread and carbohydrates is key; carefully planning what you eat with your doctor will help you be sure that you get relief from constipation without causing cramping and gas. Since not drinking enough water will often be a factor in constipation, you will want to prioritize monitoring your water intake to help move the food through your intestines.

Most individuals with IBS-C are encouraged to exercise and look into stress management programs to address any external factors that may be adversely affecting your gastrointestinal tract.

Medications

Taking medications is commonly prescribed for individuals with IBS-C because they usually provide fairly quick relief from the discomfort you may be feeling. Common medications include laxatives, Linaclotide, and Lubiprostone and you will need to plan for the best medication to find the best treatment options for you to follow. Many individuals also will take fiber supplements to help supplement their daily intake of fiber.

Summary

IBS-C is individualized and is the experience of constipation may manifest itself differently for each person. There is no cure for IBS, but the symptoms can be mitigated with a well-planned treatment strategy that continues to be tweaked and adjusted until optimum results are achieved.

IBS & Medical Help

There is not one way to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for the millions of Americans affected and struggling with treating the symptoms of the disease each and every day. As the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition, gastroenterologists (GIs) struggle to be sure to look at their patient’s entire medical history to help build a treatment plan that will address them with hopefully the most success.

Below is a list of priorities and reminders that your GI will want you to know and internalize well.

IBS Treatment Is Individualized

There is no one winning treatment plan for IBS because the symptoms that each person experiences with IBS are different. Additionally, IBS can change from day to day and you may find yourself in a particularly symptom-free period which can change overnight, unfortunately. Because the circumstances are varying, with one person, for example, struggling with constipation and another person who has non stop diarrhea or bloating, individualized treatments plans are key. Moreover, the treatment plans will need to be tweaked and adjusted accordingly so that each person can be sure to be addressing whatever is most aggravating the IBS at whatever moment in time it is happening.

Keep Yourself As Stress-Free As Possible

There is a direct link between stress and IBS and so it’s important to eliminate or tone down as many stresses as possible so that you do not make the physical symptoms of stress worsen. Many gastroenterologists encourage IBS patients to find ways to manage their stress using natural techniques to help relax them. Talking to a counselor or psychologist may also be recommended as well as prescription medications if needed.

Control IBS With Diet

Although each person’s experience with IBS is different, it is important to figure out what foods and drinks may trigger an outbreak of the IBS; common triggers are artificial sweeteners and heavily spiced foods.You may choose to eliminate foods that may cause excess gas such as broccoli, onions, and beans and address your total IBS intake because you need to carefully balance getting enough fiber but not too much fiber. Finally, many people will begin introducing foods rich in probiotics such as yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, pickles, and sauerkraut.

Follow Up Regularly With Your GI

It’s good to schedule regular appointments with your GI to be sure that you are being regularly monitored and the treatment plan that was designed for you is still the best one going forward. Typically, keeping a food diary that also includes a history of bowel movements or accompanying pains is useful to bring in to your next appointment as well as a summary of any medications or supplements you may be taking.

Discuss All New Treatments With Your GI

Although you may be anxious to try a new supplement that promises to solve all your IBS symptoms, you should be cautious and sure to discuss whatever it is that you are considering with your GI to be sure that it is the best option for you. Do your research, but allow your doctor to use his or her knowledge to guide you through the best combinations of treatments for you. There is no one best solution for every person with IBS.

IBS – Tips for Your Travels

Even with the excitement of an upcoming trip, those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) know that traveling is not easy and can cause lots of challenges that are far from straightforward. Planning and strategizing to help you be sure that your IBS is not aggravated over the course of the vacation is key because being in a new place, on a different schedule, and far away from your kitchen, can present difficulties and anxiety too. But don’t let that delay planning your trip; instead, consider the following tips.

Carefully Plan Food and Meals

While traveling, if you are not staying in a place with kitchen facilities, planning your own food is key for individuals with IBS. This will include making the best food choices off a menu in a restaurant and/or piecing together parts of the menu with side dishes you can always order separately. Especially if you are aware that certain foods that you eat such as greasy foods or not eating enough fiber will cause you difficulties, you will want to order carefully.

One tip is to carry around smart and healthy snacks that will carry you over until you get to a restaurant where you can choose your meals wisely. Also be sure to carry around a reusable water bottle so you are sure to get enough fluid intake through the trip from the very moment you leave your home.

Maintain a Schedule

Being sure to keep a good routine even while you are enjoying your travels is key. If you are in a different time zone, this always presents challenges to get your sleep and meal schedule in sync with your new location so that your gastrointestinal system does not get out of whack. Continue to eat your regular meals just as you would if you were not traveling. Be sure to get enough sleep and plan extra time for jetlag at the beginning of your trip.

Planning Bathroom Stops

It is a careful balance between sightseeing and running non-stop while also ensuring to able to plan time adequately for bathroom breaks. Check with tours to be sure how much flexibility there is with taking breaks and be sure to carry around small pocket-change in case you visit a country which charges for bathroom use. And most importantly, be aware of your body and do not ignore any symptoms that may arise. Be sure to address them immediately.

Leave as Much Worrying as Possible at Home

There is a lot of stuff around vacationing that is simply out of your control and with IBS, those pieces may become anxiety producing. Because there is a link between stress triggering episodes of IBS, it will be to your advantage to plan accordingly for your trip, but also recognize that it’s almost impossible to plan for everything. Be sure to talk honestly about IBS with the people you are traveling with so that they will understand what may be happening at any given time. Most importantly, enjoy the trip and the upcoming adventure and making new memories.

Digestive Enzymes & IBS

IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and it is difficult to diagnose. Although there is no known cure, there are many ways to appease your sensitive bowels. Symptoms of IBS alternate between both diarrhea and constipation, accompanied by pain from bloating, gas, and stomach cramps. This is not just caused by the stomach flu; symptoms occur for 6 months or more. If you have prolonged symptoms of anything on this list, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Because IBS is located in the large intestine, a healthy diet and frequent exercise are not the only treatments needed for this disorder. An enzyme supplement should be added to your diet. Digestive enzymes have proved to appease nasty IBS symptoms by helping your digestive tract back to its normalized state. More about how these enzymes work is written below.

Medication vs. Enzymes: What You Need To Know

Your doctor has probably outlined the kinds of medications you can take to help treat your IBS. However, many clinical studies have not concluded that medications help IBS at all.

That’s where enzymes come in. Enzymes designed to be easily digested are actually complex proteins. They work by breaking down foods so your body can use the nutrition for energy. Your pancreas has the job of creating these types of enzymes, but sometimes it needs an extra amount if your bowel is having severe problems.

Just like you should be well-versed on the medications you take, so, too should you be on the quality of the digestive enzymes you may take. Anti-inflammatory ingredients like peppermint oil and turmeric help soothe irritated abdominal organs, while the enzymes work to relieve unpleasant symptoms like uncomfortable bowel movements, gas and bloating.

3 Ways Digestive Enzymes Help Your Digestion

IBS is triggered by your diet. If you eat something that causes a flare-up or have a poor diet that is causing intestinal distress, taking a digestive enzyme can treat both your pain and stabilize the enzymes in your gut to prevent further troubles in the future.

Three things digestive enzymes help you are:

maintain a healthy digestive tract
break down fats, protein, and carbs for nutrient absorption
reduce bloating, gas and cramping after eating

All three of these functions do not function normally if you suffer from IBS or any of its symptoms. And all three of these can be assisted by an influx of enzymes. If you eat some food and get food poisoning, your digestive tract may be out of commission for a few days, but then go back to normal. However, this doesn’t happen with IBS: flare-ups and painful cramps happen all the time and do not go away.

The same thing is to be said of nutrient absorption. If your stomach doesn’t have the correct amount and type of enzymes, nutrients will not be efficiently absorbed and used by your body. That’s where digestive enzymes come in: they can maintain a healthy balance of enzymes while reducing IBS symptoms like bloating.

Can Yoga Help Soothe IBS?

IBS is a bowel syndrome located in your large intestine. Symptoms include stomach cramps, gas, diarrhea and constipation. It actually affects 25 to 45 million Americans, a much higher number than you’d think. It is most commonly found in women, especially those between their 20’s to 40’s. Although it is not life-threatening, it is a painful condition and has no known cure. IBS also increases the likelihood of getting colon disorders such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or even colon cancer. This disorder can be managed by a healthy diet, exercise and medication.

Fast cardio and weight lifting are great forms of exercise, but not if you have an upset stomach to think about. Instead, light cardio is preferred, including aerobics and of course yoga.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a kind of exercise that originated in ancient India. It involves many different poses and holds to stretch your body, speed up your heart rate, and increase your blood flow to your internal organs. Therefore, many poses help ease digestion, diminish cramps and bloating, and even help relieve constipation.

Yoga is especially useful in decreasing IBS symptoms: it is a light aerobic exercise that doesn’t include jarring poses and sweat-soaked workouts. It doesn’t push you past your limit and allows you to center yourself with special breathing techniques, which help both relieve stress that IBS brings with it while easing IBS symptoms. Please note that some poses are not beneficial to you if you have loose bowels, so if you have diarrhea, you can skip those poses.

Pose 1: Half Seated Twist

This pose is also known as the Half Lord of the Fishes. Twists bend the spine and help blood reach the intestines, helping digestions. It also assists liver and kidney function. If you are experiencing loose bowels, do not go into the twist as deeply.

Pose 2: Wind-Relieving Pose

Yes, this is an actual pose, and you may consider doing this pose in your own privacy. By clutching your knees to your stomach, gasses stored in your intestines are helped to be released. This pose is especially helpful with stomach cramps and pain associated with IBS. It also can reduce bloating after holding this pose for several minutes. Lying on your back helps deliver blood to the kidneys, increasing their functionality. This can lead to relief in reduction of stomach acid and indigestion.

Pose 3: Cobra

This pose does two things: it tones the muscles of your stomach while relieving any stress that you keep in your back and shoulder blades. Lying on your stomach is said to stimulate the blood flow in your abdominal organs.

Pose 4: Gate Pose

Get on your feet and try your hand at the Gate Pose. This pose stretches your abdominal muscles as well as concentrating your weight on your hips, which doesn’t strain your stomach too badly.

Using Turmeric To Treat IBS

IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a common disorder in the large intestine. Symptoms of IBS are diarrhea, constipation, bloating and stomach cramps. IBS can be treated but so far there is no cure for it. IBS can be maintained by a healthy diet and certain medications. A supplement of turmeric is a great way to diminish pain symptoms and other digestive issues that crop up with IBS. Keep in mind that a supplement is just that – a supplement – and in no way can replace a full treatment for IBS. However, there are so many benefits that turmeric provides to the body that it is hard to find any negatives to say about it.

What’s So Great About Turmeric?

Turmeric has been used a supplement for a long time, especially in Indian and Chinese cultures, used both as a spice and as a medicine. Its rich yellow color and pungent smell are easy to recognize. A supplement can be added to your daily nutrition intake to help ease pain and quicken digestion. Studies have shown turmeric can appease unpleasant IBS symptoms such as diarrhea, because it assists the bowel is working well and not be inflamed due to illness.

Turmeric was tested to see if it helps mitigate mood disorders or mental illnesses, like depression, stress, and anxiety. Although this has only been tested on animals, rats who took turmeric showed improvement in their mood and acted much less stressed than the control group. There are strong links from the conclusion of these studies to show that turmeric increases the function of neurotransmitters.

How Do I Know If I Have IBS?

Diagnosing IBS is difficult because there are various symptoms that are sometimes complete opposites. For instance, IBS symptoms include diarrhea and constipation, or a combination of both. The difference between having just one of these symptoms during the bout of the flu and having IBS is the continuation of symptoms over a long period of time, from 6 months to a year. IBS luckily does not do any lasting damage to the organs, but it can cause so much pain and discomfort that can seriously impact your quality of life.

How Much Tumeric Is Too Much?

Turmeric capsules that are high quality should have at least 1,000 mg and should also contain BioPerine, or piperine, which helps your digestive system process turmeric faster. Piperine is an extract made from black pepper, and a turmeric supplement must contain at least 20 mg of BioPerine in order to work properly.

You should not take more than 2,000 mg of turmeric a day. There are many side effects to turmeric, like nausea, dizziness, and hematoma. Ask your doctor to see how turmeric can help in your digestive system.

Turmeric Summed Up

IBS is a difficult disorder to live with, making your life unpleasant and sometimes unmanageable when trying to plan trips. However, there are many ways to help treat this condition to make your digestive system work normally again. IBS can be treated with certain medications, a healthy, balanced diet, and some studies have shown turmeric is a great supplement to decrease unpleasant symptoms.