What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome

I.B.S. is a chronic, functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by alteration in bowel function, diarrhoea, constipation or a combination of both typically over months or years. it is not caused by structural, biochemical or infectious abnormalities but is instead a disregulation of brain/bowel interfunctioning.  This is a classic definition of I.B.S. for the sufferer I.B.S. means painful disruption in their life, not being able to journey without planning the location of toilets and that inevitable change of clothing.

The term Irritable Bowel Syndrome is generally used as a cover all term, however the illness is graded into four various types or variants, which are: - Spastic Colon Syndrome, Functional Diarrhoea, Primary Motility Disorder of the Foregut and Diarrhoea Predominant Spastic Colon Syndrome, the latter involving the symptoms of Spastic Colon Syndrome and Functional Diarrhoea.

I.B.S. is an illness, which provides a baffling and complex set of gastrointestinal symptoms that affects 1 in 5 people in the population. It is characterized by intermittent abdominal cramping, constipation, diarrhoea, a combination of both constipation and diarrhoea, pain and bloating. Some IBS sufferers report having both constipation and diarrhoea in the same day.

Two thirds of suffers are women. It is cited as a reason for missed work days. It accounts for approximately half of all visits to gastroenterologist. The causes of IBS are unknown. A diagnosis of IBS is actually a diagnosis of exclusion, that is you rule out everything else.

Since IBS symptoms overlap a number of other, potentially life-threatening conditions, it is imperative that the person sees his/her doctor or a gastroenterologist, to receive a proper diagnosis. While it is not clear what causes it, we know that people with IBS have changes in the way sensations are perceived in the colon. There are some anatomical changes in the lining of the colon and to the nervous system of the colon. What causes these changes is unknown.

Symptoms range in severity from an occasional mild episode to a debilitating, life-altering illness, which prevents the individual from working or from functioning normally. The symptoms are exacerbated by stress, changes in diet and changes in daily routine, among many other things. Some people are so sensitive they must eat virtually the same foods, in the same proportions, at the same times each day or suffer the consequences.

Until recently, IBS was thought to be simply a "nervous" disorder and was not taken as seriously as it deserved. While IBS will not kill you, it is far more than just a nuisance. Traditional treatment consists of fibre therapy, antispasmodic medications and antidepressants. Fibre is added to the diet both through the use of bulking type laxatives and a high fibre diet. These are just as important for those people whose chief complaint is diarrhoea as it is for constipation. It is very important that in the use of fibre in the diet of an I.B.S. sufferer that the difference between soluble fibre and insoluble fibre is fully appreciated.

Antispasmodic medications reduce the spasms in the gut. Antidepressants, in this case, actually function on the nervous system of the gut to reduce its sensitivity to pain and other sensations rather than acting as emotional antidepressants. It is suggested from statistical studies that approximately 25% of the people who suffer with IBS symptoms respond to traditional treatments. That means that 75% do not seem to improve with traditional treatments or do not improve enough to actually feel better. However, the evidence is overwhelming that IBS symptoms do respond to hypnosis and therapy. Further benefits are derived when therapy is carried out in conjunction with medication and diet treatment.

Although previously mentioned it cannot overemphasise that hypnotherapy is complimentary to the primary treatment provided by your doctor and therapy cannot be undertaken until the sufferer receives a confirmed diagnosis from his/her doctor or gastroenterologist. Because you are reading this document it can be assumed that you sufferer or are close to someone who does suffer from I.B.S. Should more information be required about the therapy approach to I.B.S. or the details of this particular therapy program please call and the matter can be discussed privately and confidentially.

Disclaimer

I am a clinical hypnotherapist and have no connection direct or indirectly with the medical profession. The information shown on these pages is for informational and educational purposes only.  Any person reading this material is fully responsible for obtaining professional medical advice, information and treatment.

For further information on appointments, or just to see if I can help then please contact me.   I am always available to listen.