Irritable bowel syndrome advice

click image to enlarge

Save Print E-mail

Living with irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t mean you can’t live life to the fullest. The first step is a healthy diet, avoiding foods that aggravate it.

Tilting her chin to the sky, she lets loose a throaty laugh. Rosanna Mendez is in the midst of discussing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), not generally the funniest of topics, but the
47-year-old singer and mum of one finds the humour all the same.

“It’s one of those things,” she says with a grin. “You just have to learn how to deal with it and get on with life.”

It’s a strong statement, but when it comes to IBS, Rosanna knows more about dealing than most – after all, she’s lived with the syndrome for the past two decades, having been diagnosed not long after the birth of her daughter, Jessica, now 20.

“I guess it is a long time to have a condition like this,” Rosanna muses, her tone turning serious. “But I’ve seen so much in my life… physically, mentally and emotionally. IBS is a scratch on the hand compared to many things.”

Her attitude towards IBS is a practical one, but back when she first developed the syndrome, she panicked, spending hours worrying about her symptoms and what they could mean. “I was very concerned,” she says. “I went from feeling okay to being bloated and in pain. I was always having to ‘go’ and I felt terrible. Then I got it into my head that maybe I had bowel cancer.”

Rosanna booked in to see a gastroenterologist for a full examination. Given her fears, she was relieved when the doctor said she had IBS, not cancer. But, her relief turned to dismay when he added that there was no cure and no particular treatment, either. “He didn’t seem too concerned,” she says. “He basically said there was nothing anyone could do and to accept it.”

And that’s pretty much what Rosanna has been doing ever since. “In some ways, I guess I have become used to having IBS,” she says. “It’s become a part of my life.”

But while Rosanna may have adjusted to IBS, her symptoms have not eased. Like the majority of people with IBS, she suffers uncomfortable bloating and belly pain and has diarrhoea much of the time. She also occasionally experiences an IBS-related condition known as spastic colon, which involves intense spasms.

“It doesn’t happen very often and only lasts a few minutes, but that is a long time when you’re in agony,” she says. “I’m not joking when I compare it to the pain of childbirth. It’s horrific.”

When Rosanna feels such a spasm coming on, she does her best to relax and not fight the pain. It’s a struggle, but she’s convinced the calmer she is, the quicker the episode will pass. She also practises positive visualisation. “I picture my colon untwisting and, sometimes, that helps,” she explains.

Rosanna leads a generally healthy life, which she believes helps to keep her IBS symptoms in check. She starts each day with a yoga workout and she eats well – her diet being mainly made up of wholefoods, such as leafy greens, fruit and grains.

“I like to eat healthily, which is a good thing because I’m sure my IBS would be a lot worse if I didn’t,” says Rosanna. “Nothing too faddish or extreme is what I recommend.”

She tries to keep stress at a minimum and advises other sufferers to do the same, as she believes IBS symptoms are related to stress and how it’s managed. “In my case, IBS is definitely related to how I handle stress, and I think that’s the case for many IBS sufferers,” she says. “I could definitely learn to relax more. We’d probably all benefit if we stopped and took a few deep breaths once in a while.”

Of course, knowing what‘s good for you and actually doing it are two different things. For example, she’s well aware that caffeine exacerbates her IBS, but she refuses to stop drinking coffee. “I’m Italian – I’ve been drinking coffee since I was three and I’m going to keep doing it. You can’t be perfect, after all.” 

Could you have IBS?

If you suffer any or a combination of the following symptoms for a period of three months or more, have a chat with your GP or health practitioner. They will be able to advise you as to whether you might have IBS and, if so, what to do about it. And try not to feel embarrassed. With 10 to 20 per cent of the Western population estimated to suffer from IBS, it’s likely your doctor has already treated patients who have the syndrome.

• Abdominal pain or cramping that is relieved by a trip to the toilet.
• Belly bloating.
• Irregular bowel habits, such as constipation and diarrhoea.
• Rumbling in the tummy.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• A feeling that the bowels are not fully emptied, despite having used the toilet.

Taking it easy

There’s no doubt emotional stress can exacerbate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Accordingly, those who have it need to try to keep their stress levels as low as possible. Research conducted by the University of Texas, Austin, has shown one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that is by keeping a journal.

There aren‘t any rules and regulations when it comes to journal writing. You don’t even have to limit yourself to words. Pictures, doodles and scribbles all count. All you need to do to make journal writing effective is to get those feelings out and on to the page. Choose a journal that appeals to all of your senses – one that looks good, feels good and even smells good. And use a pen or pencil that brings you pleasure, too – think beautiful ballpoints or super-sharp 2Bs.

Everything you need to know about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is what‘s known as a gastrointestinal functional disorder, in that, when patients are given blood tests or undergo a bowel colonoscopy, everything appears normal, but despite this, patients do suffer from a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms.

“IBS most often presents as abdominal pain, distention, rumbling and irregular bowel habits, such as diarrhoea and constipation,” says Dr Kajsa Kajander, an IBS specialist and researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland. “It’s not life-threatening and does not dispose to other serious diseases. It can, at times, reduce the quality of life of sufferers.”

It’s not known what causes IBS, but research shows sufferers may have a lower threshold to visceral pain, or pain involving the internal organs. It’s also thought those with IBS may have a problem within their gastrointestinal tract, or that the communication between their brains and their guts isn’t operating as it should. There‘s also a theory that the intestinal microbiota (the normal bacteria present in the gut) may be out of balance or there is a very low grade of inflammation present.

Whatever the cause, the result is still the same – an  uncomfortable syndrome that causes pain for many. And when it comes to cures, the news is not good.

“There is no magic cure for IBS,” says Dr Kajander. “But it is worth seeing your physician if you have IBS-like symptoms.”

While a GP, health practitioner, or even a gastroenterologist may not be able to heal you, they may be able to ease your fears, which could improve your quality of life, says Dr Kajander.

“Many people with IBS are worried they might have something more serious,” she says. “A physician’s investigation ruling out other gastrointestinal disorders such as cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases and coeliac disease can help.”

While incurable, IBS can be managed by something as simple as watching what you eat. Dr Kajander recommends sufferers go easy on known trigger foods, such as alcohol, coffee, beans, onions and fatty foods in general. It’s a good idea to increase fibre, especially those who suffer from constipation, and to eat regular meals. She also advises remaining as stress-free as possible. “Stress increases IBS symptoms, so making life less hectic can help,” she says. 

Words: Kelly Baker. Still-life photography: Scott Hawkins.