Question:
Just curious if anyone has tried (1) colonic irrigation and/or (2) fasting
for dealing with IBS, and what results you obtained. Fasting is great but
should be carefully planned. I was thinking that gradual re-introduction of
foods can help in determining food allergies. One week's worth of colonic
irrigation coupled with a juice fast is a more intense approach. It is
uncomfortable, but not painful. From what I understand it may be beneficial.
I tried it a long time ago, and was thinking of giving it another go.
Actually I have been finding that my IBS has diminished in intensity over
the last 3 years, but I can't figure out why. I notice that I have developed
other stress-induced reactions. Instead of constant pain in the gut, I now
get "flu" like symptoms that space me out, make me dizzy and nauseous.
Weird! But I guess the body has many creative ways of dealing with extreme
stress!
Answer:
you are not alone. I have had IBS for 30 or so years and
occasionally (sometimes 'often') get just those symptoms -tired, shaky,
light-headed and often sweating. If I lie down I'll fall asleep and wake up
a couple of hours later feeling very weak for the rest of the day. (known in
our house as 'one of Daddy's turns'). These bouts are always associated with
the IBS being particularly active. I've no idea what causes it other than my
IBS is exacerbated by stress and this is when it happens.
I recently sailed a yacht from the Azores to UK -11 days at sea - and it had
a miraculous effect on the IBS. After a few days constipation (common when I
travel away from home) I passed a 'twice round the bowl and pointed at both
ends' for the first time in about 20 years, no IBS and felt great. I suspect
it was a combination of no tea or coffee, no alcohol, steady but continuous
exercise, a reduction in food intake (3 days I didn't feel like eating when
it was rough) and being away from the usual stresses of home/job. Sadly, it
didn't last when I fell into old ways at home - but maybe I need another sea
cure . . .
Colonic irrigation may be much more problematic now with
the IBS than the mild discomfort you experienced before.
It is quite common for people with IBS to experience extreme
often unendurable pain with the same amount of distension in
the colon that makes normal people feel mild and quite
endurable discomfort. I did some tests for this before and
after participating in a clinical trial during which my symptoms
greatly diminished. During the first set of tests I could not
complete a 10 minute constant dilation, where afterwards
it really wasn't that bad.
One of the things that can trigger IBS in people is an infection (like
food poisoning or gastroenteritis). The inflamation of the gut wall
during these infections may be damaging the nerves in the gut
wall that are necessary for proper movement of digested food
through the gut. Depending on what nerves and what kind of
damage were disrupted there can be some healing of the nerves,
and thus a reduction in symptoms. Remission of symptoms is
seen in IBS. While it is a chronic problem, it may or may not
be a life-long problem
The most recent research into the causes and treatments for
IBS have focused on these nerves in the gut (the Enteric
Nervous System or ENS) and has led to the development of
the first drugs specificly designed to treat IBS.
If you are experiencing extreme stress in your life, you might
want to pursue any of the assorted stress reduction techniques
that are available. Many hospitals have some sort of wellness
center, or center for living kind of thing that can design a program
for you. Long term stress that is upsetting the body's system
is likely to create a number of chronic and life-shortening
problems. I've done biofeedback for migranes, and that
clinical trial was for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the IBS.
While I'm scientifically trained, and much more likely to believe
in and expect results from drug treatments, I have gotten
a great deal of benefit from these mind-body approaches.
