Irritable Bowel and Inflammatory Bowel
Subjects covered in this section
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Proctitis)
| Diet | |||
Natural Therapies |
Steps to take for Healing | ||
Lifestyle Changes |
My Suggestions & Reading |
Irritable bowel is a very common disorder affecting perhaps 15% of all people in the industrialized world and is produced by a disturbance in the way the intestines function. It is reversible with changes in the diet and lifestyle and with the addition if a few dietary supplements. If not looked after, the condition can worsen and progress to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and proctitis).
For
most people, symptoms of Irritable Bowel are the early phase of what
may later develop into Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The goal is to "read" your
body's signals early and change course back to healthy. That is the goal
of this section.
- abdominal pain
- bloating and or cramping
- passing excess gas
- diarrhea or constipation, lumpy or loose stool
- feeling generally unwell
- occasionally passing mucus - although this is usually a symptom of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- stool urgency or straining
- anemia
- increase fibre i.e. psyllium ( good idea )
- prescribed antispasmodics (can relieve symptoms but doesn't fix the problem )
- anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants
- when inflammatory bowel disease develops, treatment focuses on reduction of inflammation with NSAIDS, aspirin or similar medications, steroids, occasionally, antibiotics
- surgery if the bowel is so badly damaged it cannot be saved
What is going on in the body with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Bloating is caused by gas produced in the intestine, or swallowed, either in carbonated drinks or unconsciously. A healthy person produces a small amount of only slightly noxious gas daily. Fermentation producing excess gas occurs in a number of different situations:
- when food sits in the intestine for too long because the intestine is sluggish
- when digestion is weakened i.e. with antacids or acid inhibitors
- by the consumption of excess food in general, and by sweets and carbs
- by eating foods which the body has difficulty combining (see food combining suggestions)
Cramping comes from several causes:
- constipated, hard stool
- excess food eaten too fast
- stress and tension
Diarrhea - loose watery stool means the intestine is irritated and trying to get its contents out in a hurry. This can occur in a number of situations:
- infection - viral gastroenteritis, bacterial infections, dysbiosis
- food intolerances (lactose or gluten) are frequent culprits
- stress
- laxative abuse
Irritable bowel is mostly based on your symptoms and is a diagnosis based on exclusions. You have some of the symptoms for a period of time - usually over six months. You get a referral from your primary care physician to a gastroententerologist who may elect to do gastroscopy (to look at your stomach and upper intestine), blood tests to rule out celiac disease, stool samples to rule out bacteria and parasites, and a colonoscopy to examine the lower bowel. With all of these tests normal, you'll be told you have an irritable bowel.
Lets first imagine the ideal setting for perfect digestion. You are hungry. You anticipate the meal, perhaps you help to prepare it, or you can see it in your imagination (on the menu). You are in a peaceful setting with friend(s) discussing items of interest. You have lots of time. The food is ready. It smells and looks wonderful. You take lots of time to chew well, stopping before you are over-full, finishing the meal in peace and go for a stroll afterwards. You have one, two, or even three easy, well formed "smiles" as bowel movements daily and very little gas.
Sound like your life? Is it any wonder that digestive aids are hot selling items?
So what are the factors that usually contribute to irritable bowel?
- rushing, not chewing well (aim for not fewer than 30 chews/mouthful)
- drinking liquids with meals esp. cold ones (dilutes your gastric juices and impairs digestion)
- disturbance in the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in the intestine, usually from a diet which habitually includes lots of carbs, sweets, alcohol, fruit or fruit juice, or perhaps had a recent course of antibiotics without replacing the good bacteria
- stress, emotional upset
- poor food choices - excess in general, too few vegetables and, to a lesser extent, fruit
- lots of refined flour products - bread, crackers, pizza, pasta
I'm sure you are clear that there is no magic bullet to take to cure irritable bowel or inflammatory bowel disease. There is however a way to make these conditions better in almost every case. But it involves change. Attitudes and habits. Hard to do. You will get support for these changes by working with a coach. Also, try choosing one of the activities in the lifestyle section. Make your eating more of a priority. Invest in some good quality digestive enzymes and probiotics.
Introduction |
Natural Therapies | ||
Diet |
Steps to take for Healing | ||
Lifestyle Changes |
My Suggestions & Reading |
Introduction
Inflammation of the bowel can take place in the small intestine where it can be caused by infection (viral or bacterial), parasites, dysbiosis, or celiac disease. Crohn's Disease also usually happens in the small intestine. Its cause is still not well understood. In the large intestine ( colon ), Colitis, is a serious inflammatory disease and may extend to the anal area where it is called Proctitis.
With inflammation, the symptoms of irritation intensify and can include:
- chills and fever
- bloody or mucousy stool
- stool urgency
- headaches, joint pains, skin rashes
- weight loss
This is an intolerable situation. It can be disabling and even lethal.
Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This can only be determined by a colonoscopy or X-rays of the small intestine. The issues described above (in irritable bowel ) will need to be ruled out.
Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
In my experience, there is usually an event which proceeds the onset of inflammation. For some people it may be an infection like gastroenteritis or food poisoning. For others, it could follow and infection treated with an antibiotic. For many people this will result in a disturbance in the healthy bacteria in the intestine leading to a condition called leaky gut - a condition which in my experience, proceeds inflammation.
What's Going on in the Body in Inflammatory Bowel?
Please look at the illustration in Leaky Gut. In Inflammatory Bowel Disease there is a major disaster taking place. Infection, swelling, thickening of the intestine wall have made the normal functions almost impossible. Gas forms because of food fermentation. The bowel oozes mucus which the intestine tries to hurry out giving rise to pain, urgency and diarrhea. Bacteria leak out of the bowel wall and the fight going on in the body gives rise to fever, joint pain, rashes, headache and overall weakness.
Medical Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The goal here is to suppress symptoms. Inflammation is handled with NSAIDS - the standard first line is to use an aspirin analog - 5'ASA. Steroids are added when the condition does not improve. A low residue diet is often prescribed with the goal of providing nutrients but which will not create the fibre to cause diarrhea. If no progress is made with these treatments, an immunosuppresant may be tried or the bowel may be 'rested' with intravenous feeding (TPN). The last resort is surgical removal of the affected part a (often lengths of the small intestine - sometimes the whole colon).
Overview of Healing Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Healing these conditions is very difficult. Often people with these conditions are very ill. Stopping medical treatment can only be safely done under close medical supervision. Sudden discontinuation of any medicines, especially steroids is dangerous.
With help, many determined people will make a major recovery by embracing a significant diet change, attitude and lifestyle shifts and starting a regime of natural supplements.
Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This diet has to be tough to be effective. You will need help preparing it in the beginning you are too weak to cook. You will need to start with a diet low in fibre ( fruit, raw vegetables and whole grain ). I recommend complwtely going off gluten grains
