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What Is The Cause And Treatment For IBS?
Question: I am a 68 year old male who works out regularly, not overweight, never smoked. However, for years, I have had what has been alternately described as "nervous" stomach and IBS. Over the past 6 weeks, I have been having 3-6 bowel movements each day--progressively smaller, generally loose though not diarrhea. I had a colonoscopy last year and it was fine (as were the ones I have had in the past). My gastroenterologist has prescribed hyoscamine, which I take on days when the aggravation of frequent bowel movements is particularly bothersome; it helps, but when it wears off, the problem resumes. Within the past few days, I have tried a probiotic, which I thought was helping...until today, when I had 4 movements this morning. I took hyoscomine, went to a meeting (I work part-time as a consultant), and then when I came home, it was back to the bathroom. I would appreciate any suggestions about how to get this under better control. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
IBS try stress reduction
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
You have been diagnosed with IBS with frequent bowel movements. This is a very difficult problem to correct. Your gastroenterologist has already tried the hyoscamine which is a medication to reduce colonic spasms and slow gastric movement.
To also help reduce the irritable colon I have my patients start a relaxation program. I good portion of my patients with IBS are also troubled by severe stress and anxiety. Their lives are hectic and stressful. To help reduce the stress I have them work on stress management. I recommend to my patients a work boo called "The anxiety and phobia workbook" by Dr. Bourne. Through relaxation exercises, light exercise and meditation a good portion of my patients have learned to control their IBS. There is no quick cure of IBS there is only control of IBS and stress reduction is helpful.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
IBS try stress reduction
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
You have been diagnosed with IBS with frequent bowel movements. This is a very difficult problem to correct. Your gastroenterologist has already tried the hyoscamine which is a medication to reduce colonic spasms and slow gastric movement.
To also help reduce the irritable colon I have my patients start a relaxation program. I good portion of my patients with IBS are also troubled by severe stress and anxiety. Their lives are hectic and stressful. To help reduce the stress I have them work on stress management. I recommend to my patients a work boo called "The anxiety and phobia workbook" by Dr. Bourne. Through relaxation exercises, light exercise and meditation a good portion of my patients have learned to control their IBS. There is no quick cure of IBS there is only control of IBS and stress reduction is helpful.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you, doctor. I will read that book. Can you give me some advice about certain foods? For example, I have always heard that bananas are helpful for binding, but recently some friends (and info online) indicates that bananas can actually exacerbate an IBS problem. Same is true of eggs, which I eat almost every morning (along with a banana). Any thoughts on this and other suggestions would be appreciated, as well as your thoughts on probiotics. Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Trial and error
Detailed Answer:
The best way to find which food fiber that is best for you is by experimenting with foods. Foods that are high in fiber are fruits and vegetables. Bananas are good source but some people do not tolerate them well. If you are eating them and not having problems then it is Okay to continue. Green leafy vegetables like XXXXXXX are also a good source of fiber. You will need to experiment with different food to see which one works best for you. I would also recommend trying fiber supplements like Metamucil, citracel, or Perdiem. These though can cause excess gas which is bothersome. I have tried using a medication called Questran which helps with diarrhea and at the same time reduces cholesterol levels. It may help give you regular bowel movements. It is prescription though and you will need to ask your doctor for a prescription.
Probiotics may or may not help. The probiotic is better used when you are taking antibiotics becaue as the antibiotic kills bacteria it also kills the good bacteria in your colon. Killing off the good bacteria causes diarrhea and sometimes superinfections in the GI tract. Taking probiotics helps keep the GI bacterial flora in check. It may help with IBS but of limited use.
As I mentioned earlier reducing caffeine and alcohol will help.
Trial and error
Detailed Answer:
The best way to find which food fiber that is best for you is by experimenting with foods. Foods that are high in fiber are fruits and vegetables. Bananas are good source but some people do not tolerate them well. If you are eating them and not having problems then it is Okay to continue. Green leafy vegetables like XXXXXXX are also a good source of fiber. You will need to experiment with different food to see which one works best for you. I would also recommend trying fiber supplements like Metamucil, citracel, or Perdiem. These though can cause excess gas which is bothersome. I have tried using a medication called Questran which helps with diarrhea and at the same time reduces cholesterol levels. It may help give you regular bowel movements. It is prescription though and you will need to ask your doctor for a prescription.
Probiotics may or may not help. The probiotic is better used when you are taking antibiotics becaue as the antibiotic kills bacteria it also kills the good bacteria in your colon. Killing off the good bacteria causes diarrhea and sometimes superinfections in the GI tract. Taking probiotics helps keep the GI bacterial flora in check. It may help with IBS but of limited use.
As I mentioned earlier reducing caffeine and alcohol will help.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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