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IBS

What exactly is IBS, and more importantly, have I got it.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a physical problem that many people have to put up with on a daily basis. There is no cure because it is not a disease, it’s a functional disorder, characterised by the medical world as a brain-gut dysfunction. However, it is still misunderstood by some trained medical practitioners and frequently treated as a psychological condition. IBS is very real and can be devastating to an individual’s enjoyment of life. IBS is also a more common problem than many might imagine.

Percentage of population suffering IBS symptoms

UK 10%

US 15%

Japan 10%

Canada 6%

Brazil 43%

But what exactly is it?

Well it turns out that the medical world has decided that what it is is not something else. By that I mean that when other possibilities for the symptoms have been eliminated – then the diagnosis is IBS. It is largely a diagnosis by exclusion. IBS is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms that suggest a lack of normal gut function, but the symptoms are not consistent from individual to individual. There is individual variation. However, the most significant aspect is abdominal pain/discomfort accompanied by change in defecation frequency and/or a change in stool consistency.

One important point that I cannot stress too highly.IBS cannot and should not be self-diagnosed. The reason for this is because some IBS symptoms are also symptoms of other more serious, and other less serious, problems that are medically treatable. If you suspect you have IBS then visit your medical practitioner for confirmation. If your suspicion is confirmed then you can consider what would be your best course of action.

Symptom Checklist

Doctors have been using the following ROME II criteria for diagnosis.

Rome II Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms that Cumulatively Support the Diagnosis of IBS:

  • Relieved with defecation; and/or
  • Change in frequency of stool; and/or
  • Change in appearance of stool.
  • Abnormal stool frequency
  • Lumpy/hard or loose/watery stool
  • Straining, urgency, or feeling of incomplete evacuation
  • Bloating or feeling of abdominal distension.

Supportive symptoms of IBS:

  • Fewer than three bowel movements a week
  • More than three bowel movements a day
  • Hard or lumpy stools
  • Loose (mushy) or watery stools
  • Straining during a bowel movement
  • Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
  • Feeling of incomplete bowel movement
  • Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement
  • Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling

But this then became simplified by ROME III to:

Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

At least 3 months, with onset at least 6 months previously of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with 2 or more of the following:

  • Improvement with defecation; and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

Some symptoms can be mistaken for IBS and must receive immediate medical treatment.

Red Flag symptoms which are not typical of IBS:

  • Pain that awakens or interferes with sleep
  • Diarrhea that awakens or interferes with sleep
  • Blood in the stool (visible or occult)
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Abnormal physical examination

If you have any of these symptoms see your doctor immediately. If you have blood in your stool, visit your nearest medical emergency treatment centre immediately.

Author: Michael J. Hadfield

Source: Hypnosisiseasy

Categories
hypnosis IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Relief is at Hand

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a strange problem. Strange because although it is defined as what it is by the Medical Profession, they define it as a non-disease. So what exactly is a non-disease? A non-disease is a physical problem that is common enough to warrant a label, but upon investigation shows no evidence of any physical abnormality. In other words, the gut of someone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) looks just the same as the gut of someone with a normal healthy digestive tract.

So how do doctors identify IBS as the problem?

What they do is look at all of the symptoms, and if the symptoms do not apply to any other disease in their list of diseases – then it is diagnosed as IBS.

To me this seems a little unscientific to say the least. Still at least it gives the sufferer a diagnosis and a label. And, after all, that is what most people want from their doctor.

Okay, so there is a diagnosis. Surely that is the precursor to a cure or at least to some medication that will remove the symptoms?

You would think!

Unfortunately there is no cure for IBS. Nor are there any drugs that effectively medicate the problem.

One of the problems that the medical world has with IBS is its inconsistency. Some people suffer a great deal of pain, others less so. Some have diarrhoea, some have constipation – my most recent client suffers from both. Some can go out, some end up virtually housebound because of the necessity to always be within running distance of a toilet.

IBS is a horribly, debilitating, quality-of-life destroying problem that affects over 10% of the western world. IBS is a very common problem.

A lot of people find IBS seems to be connected with their diet and that cutting down on certain foods brings alleviation of symptoms. Others would practically have to eat nothing and would still be suffering. But since it is foods like wheat or dairy that are most problematic, and since foods like wheat or dairy are in almost every manufactured food and, therefore, difficult to eliminate – sufferers frequently continue to eat and put up with the suffering. It seems easier to have some pleasure in life, that is food, and swallow laxatives or diarrhoea treatments to deal with the resultant problems.

One of the clear associations with IBS that has emerged is that of stress. Stress aggravates the bowel. A lot of work has been done that shows that, even if nothing else is attended to, that stress reduction alleviates IBS symptoms and provides relief. And by far the best techniques for stress reduction are hypnosis and meditation. Meditation takes some determination to learn and requires regular (daily) practice. Hypnosis is easier because all you have to do is listen. You can listen to a CD or to a hypnotherapist in a one-to-one session.

However, to just use hypnosis for stress-reduction would be a waste of a very powerful healing resource. Hypnosis can impact and relieve symptoms. Hypnosis has been known to cure (though significant relief from symptoms is a more likely outcome of treatment). To find out more about how hypnosis can quickly bring about relief from IBS symptoms – visit my website for more information.

Author: Michael J. Hadfield

Source: Hypnosisiseasy