CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

A Pain in the Gut? Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the perfect name for the condition! Anyone who has lived with IBS will be familiar with the feeling that you are living with an unpredictable monster in your belly: symptoms of diarrhoea, cramps, bloating and constipation seem to come and go at will. When symptoms are severe it can be difficult to plan ahead and lead your life because you just don't know when you might have a bad day. However there are some things you can do for yourself. First of all, make sure that you really have IBS - there are other conditions that share some of the symptoms, so be sure about the diagnosis. After that, keep a diary to work out what sparks your 'good' and 'bad' days: note down what you eat and what you do and how you feel. Use a 10-point scale to measure the differences from one day to another. You might find a correlation with some foods, but the triggers are very often in the emotions. There are some foods that are well worth avoiding because they irritate the intestine: a healthy system can cope with a certain amount of irritation but if yours is already over-reacting, try to avoid all stimulants (tea, coffee, caffeine), alcohol, artificial sweeteners & spices. Wheat contains a protein that is irritating to the gut lining; to check your tolerance level try to cut it out completely for a minimum of 14 days and see if your symptoms change. When you reintroduce it do so slowly, and keep a track of your symptoms. Drink plenty of water! We all know we should be drinking a minimum of 1½ litres a day but I meet plenty of people who don't. Drink it warm when you can, as it is absorbed into the body more quickly. Apply the same principle to your foods - they should be moist and well-hydrated so soak your muesli overnight, stew dried fruits gently and make sure any pasta or grains are thoroughly cooked. When you have a bad day, find the tender spot on the right side of your lower abdomen, just above the hip bone. Maintain gentle pressure there till the tenderness lessens: this relates to the ICV, a valve that helps balance the pressure and flow through the large intestine. Do this after eating and opening the bowels, and see if it helps. And for diarrhoea, run your fingers UP the side of the thigh; for constipation, run them DOWN. HK is great for helping to deal with the symptoms of IBS and getting to grips with the things that 'we can't stomach' in our lives. If you want more help, call me, Deborah Moss, for an appointment on 07866 427690. Some useful links for you: Netdoctor. UK based. Good explanation & self-help stuff AboutIBS Good background info; typical clinical/medical perspective, limited self-help info IBS Network UK based support group. Costs £24 pa for membership. Some good ideas. BUPA Good simple info. Practical self-help

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