Sponsored Ads
A New Free Report - What Is Fibromyalgia?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What's the medical definition of Fibromyalgia?
- What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
- What are tender points and what are trigger points? What's the difference?
- What are the known causes of Fibromyalgia?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
Fibromyalgia and Other Medical Conditions
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
For fibromyalgia patients, it sometimes feels as though there’s no end to their fibromyalgia symptoms. Just when one is under control another seems to pop up. Unfortunately, those with fibromyalgia are generally forced to deal with a plethora of symptoms, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
According to the world-renown Mayo Clinic, as many as one in five Americans are dealing with irritable bowel syndrome. And, for those with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome frequently goes hand-in-hand with their illness.
Essentially, those with IBS experience their food moving through their body, from their stomach to their intestines, much faster than those without irritable bowel syndrome. The result is often gas, bloating, and diarrhoea. However, in some cases of IBS, the food digests much slower, causing painful constipation. For those with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome can be a painful side effect of their illness.
And, similar to fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome’s symptoms vary depending on the patient. However, if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may want to talk to your doctor: constipation, diarrhoea, gas, bloating, pain in the abdomen, cramping, and mucus in your stools.
Unfortunately, much like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome is generally a
chronic condition for those who have it, with the same peaks and valleys of
symptoms subsiding and flare-ups reoccurring. And, while there is no known
cause for irritable bowel syndrome, there are several theories in the medical
community.
Some in the medical community believe irritable bowel syndrome occurs because
of a problem with the central nervous system that directly affects the colon.
Still others feel there is a change in the body’s nerves, particularly those
that cause the bowel’s muscles to contract. For those with fibromyalgia,
irritable bowel syndrome can be a painful illness, if treatment is not sought.
Evidence suggests that, just as with fibromyalgia, IBS predominately affects women. Additionally, most who are diagnosed with IBS are in their early twenties. However, that is not to say that if you’re older, you are immune to irritable bowel syndrome. It’s also believed that IBS can also be a genetic condition.
Painful bouts of irritable bowel syndrome can be triggered by certain outside factors, including stress, food, and other illnesses. Like fibromyalgia, IBS is often aggravated by stress. When you’re stressed, you’ll likely experience a flare-up of symptoms much more often than when you aren’t stressed.
Diet is extremely important in both fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. However, certain foods – including chocolate – may trigger an onset of symptoms. Finally, IBS may be directly linked to other illnesses like fibromyalgia and gastroenteritis. Talk with your doctor about what may trigger the onset of your IBS.
If you’re experiencing what you believe are symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, talk to you doctor. Unfortunately, as with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome is difficult to diagnose, which means your doctor is going to have to rule out other illnesses to come to his diagnosis.
In addition to thoroughly examining you and going over your medical history, your doctor will initiate several tests to work toward a diagnosis, including a blood test, a colonoscopy, or a computerized tomography (CT) test. Additionally, the doctor will test to see if you’re lactose intolerant. Like fibromyalgia, IBS can take time to be diagnosed.
Both fibromyalgia and IBS have specific criteria that must be met for diagnosis. To be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, you must: have suffered from either diarrhoea or constipation for three months and have endured abdominal pain for three months. Additionally, you must experience bloating, mucus in your stools, difficulty emptying your bowel, and an increase or decrease in your bowel movements.
Fortunately, just like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome can generally be controlled by adjusting your lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet. Your doctor may instruct you to start taking fibre supplements, such as Metamucil, and to avoid foods (cabbage, broccoli, etc.) that are known for causing gas. You may also be prescribed medication – the most commonly prescribed medications for IBS are Alosetron and Tegaserod.
For those having difficulty dealing with their illness – either fibromyalgia, IBS, or both – doctors often prescribe antidepressants to help cope with the illnesses. Unfortunately, many with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome fail to seek medical attention.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
