Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is generally classified as a "functional" disorder. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or blood test.
Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.
Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-20% of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.
Not surprisingly, the IBS symptoms of abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating and constipation (and many times diarrhea as well) are associated with impaired quality of life and are the second most common cause of work-related absenteeism, behind the common cold. Consistent treatment of irritable bowel syndrome IBS helps improve quality of life, cuts worker absenteeism, and improves work productivity.
There are several treatments available for IBS. Several prescription medications are available, including Dicyclomine (a muscle relaxant) and Lomotil. Unfortunately, the FDA approved applications of these prescriptions are incredibly limited and there are many associated risks and side effects associated with their use. Common side effects common to both medications include dehydration, dry mouth, dizziness, and tiredness. Lomotil, in particular, acts like a narcotic- so care should be taken with its use, particularly for children.
A popular alternative solution is natural herbal remedies (such as Bowtrol) and diet management. This combination allows an individual to treat the underlying potential triggers of the condition and not just the symptoms. As an individual learns to identify various foods that may trigger or aggravate the IBS symptoms, they can then move to eliminate or reduce the consumption of those foods. At the same time, the herbal remedy is working to restore natural order to the digestive tract. This is a very effective combination.
Fiber can also be quite helpful to individuals that suffer from IBS. There are two main types of fiber that can be used to treat the different symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The first type of fiber is called soluble fiber. This helps with both diarrhea and constipation. Some of the foods that contain soluble fiber are apples, beans, citrus fruits, and many garden vegetables. You can also buy supplements to enhance your intake of soluble fiber. Some popular brands are Fiberall, Metamucil, and Perdiem.
The second type of fiber is called insoluble fiber. This helps with constipation by bulking up the stool and adding more material to allow for easier passage through the digestive tract. You can find soluble fiber in many whole grain and wheat based products, as well as many vegetables.
Try to increase your daily fiber intake very slowly so to make sure your system can adjust. You will notice gas and bloating gradually decrease as you make these dietary changes. Try to eat a wide variety of foods so you can sample how each affects your symptoms.
The client must have time to practice the suggestions contained in both the hypnotic state and those given to the conscious mind outside a hypnotic state. It should be stressed to the client from the very beginning that this is a process and therefore, requires multiple sessions to achieve long lasting results. In addition, you should know that both conventional medicine and adjunctive therapy are an art form rather than the science it is thought to be.
Although there are many expensive and sophisticated tests available for the evaluation of IBS symptoms, these are generally not needed for patients with typical symptoms and no features suggestive of organic diseases. An integrated diagnostic and treatment approach first requires an effective physician-patient relationship.
A careful history will also identify the need for diagnostic studies and treatments as determined by the nature and severity of the predominant symptoms, and the degree and extent of influencing psychosocial and other factors. The fact that definite structural or biochemical abnormalities for these disorders cannot be detected with conventional diagnostic techniques does not rule out the possibility that neurobiological alterations will eventually be identified to explain fully the symptoms of most functional disorders.
Since conventional medicine has not been able to provide you with adequate symptom relief, you must take charge and be a fully participating member of your own healing process. You are in charge! A hypnotherapist is a great tour guide but he/she must have your cooperation for this to be successful.
You will not get relief if you think a hypnotherapist or anyone else can do something to "heal" you. Hypnosis is not like taking a pill and symptoms magically going away. It may take as many as four sessions before you start to notice symptom relief. It may take only one session. However, results will not be long lasting unless you listen to the tapes on a daily basis and participate fully in the suggestions. No less than six sessions are necessary to produce long lasting symptom alleviation.
Number of Sessions: Six to twelve
Length of Session: First session lasts 1 to 1 1/2 hours
All subsequent sessions last 50 minutes to one hour Routine appointments must be kept within a couple of days of the two-week period for success. An erratic schedule for therapy sessions produces erratic results in symptom alleviation.
Tapes: First CD is approximately 30 minutes in length.
Subsequent CDs are between 20 ? 25 minutes in length. CDs MUST be played daily to be effective. The optimal time to play the CDs is first thing in the morning or at night when going to bed.
Charting Symptoms: Symptoms are to be charted daily. Symptom logs are to be turned in at every session and new ones received from the therapist.
Food Diary: Sometimes asked of the client. This helps determine if food sensitivities are interfering with progress.
Medications: All current medications should be continued until symptoms start to abate. Then, only upon consultation with their physician, they can start to taper medications based on symptom severity.
The hypnotherapy program I use was modified from the research done by gastroenterologist P. J. Whorwell, MD, in Manchester, England, and Dr. Olafur Palsson's research done at Eastern Virginia Medical Center.
The clients came for six to eight sessions spaced two weeks apart. The hypnosis portion of their session was offered to them at the end of the session on a CD and they were instructed to play the CD for themselves daily until the next session. All suggestions and imagery was "gut specific" and incorporated information on how a normal gastrointestinal system functions.
Suggestions were made about the intestines being coated with a special protective coating to insulate it from irritants, etc. At the last session, subjects were taught self-hypnosis techniques and given instructions on how to formulate their own self-hypnotic suggestions.
Both Mike Lee & Bunny Vreeland, Ph.d are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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