IBS: There’s More To It Than You Think
Most of the posts I publish on this website are related to problems I keep seeing in my acupuncture practice, or questions I often receive. Since one of the focuses of my practice is digestive health, I see many patients who come in with complaints of IBS, short for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
What is IBS?
First, let’s start by making some distinctions. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, shows actual structural changes in the bowel. On the other hand, IBS does not. It is often a label that is slapped onto people who have digestive issues outside of IBD. It’s generally seen as an issue that affects the colon.
People are often grouped into sub-categories of IBS based on their symptoms. Those who see mainly constipation as a result of their digestive issues may be given the label of IBS-C. IBS-D is a label given to those with more diarrhea. Some experience both, and are labeled as IBS-M (mixed).
Symptoms may include gas, bloating, cramping, and mucus in stools.
What’s really hiding behind IBS?
The issue with the label of IBS is that it is a bit of a “catch-all” term. It is given to anyone whose digestive problems cannot be helped with drugs, or where the root cause can’t be identified. People are then told that they’re stuck with their condition.
The truth is that there is often something hiding behind Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Bowels don’t just defect for no reason. Thankfully, more and more doctors are advising their patients to test for Celiac Disease, which can cause many of the same symptoms.
But what to do when your symptoms aren’t a result of Celiac Disease either? The investigation is actually not over! Some people with symptoms similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome are actually dealing with an issue in the small intestine called Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO for short. A Naturopathic Doctor may be able to diagnose you in that case. Undiscovered food sensitivities can also cause these symptoms.
How to manage your symptoms
If your digestion is struggling, I highly recommend working with a few experts to make sure you don’t spin your wheels while trying to feel better. An Acupuncturist can help you see improvements right away. I also suggest working with a Naturopathic Doctor who can recommend the right course of action to re-establish the balance in your gut.
Many people see their symptoms improve by making some dietary changes. For some, it may be as easy as switching from raw vegetables to only steamed vegetables. Unfortunately, most people need to do a bit more work.
For some, a complete diet change can do the trick to relieve their symptoms short term. A diet that seems to work is the FODMAP diet.
One thing to keep in mind is that most diets will manage symptoms without getting to the root cause of the issue. Taking care of your gut health is crucial to saying goodbye to IBS for good.
