3 ms·

I've tried eliminating wheat, sugar (in case it was fructose malabsorption), dairy, etc. I've tried tons of supplements like fish oil or vitamin D. Interesting

by jmhain 12y ago

I've tried eliminating wheat, sugar (in case it was fructose malabsorption), dairy, etc. I've tried tons of supplements like fish oil or vitamin D. Interestingly, each of those except dairy had very positive effects on my health in general (weight loss, clearer skin, elimination of seasonal depression) but had little effect on IBS symptoms. What did improve it (but not eliminate it) was taking an SSRI, which isn't surprising since they have been shown to help in trials. My mother also has both IBS and an anxiety disorder, which is consistent with research showing that there is a genetic factor. I wouldn't be surprised if there are multiple possible underlying causes, but I really think IBS is a legitimate diagnosis.

erichmond 12y ago
First, it's great to hear taking the SSRI helped! Regarding the diagnosis of IBS, What I'm saying is, I've yet to have had (or seen) a test that definitively states "yes, you have IBS". During my time with stomach issues I've been tested for UC, Crohns disease, Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. All the bloodwork and whatever else came back with definitive nos. Once all of those were ruled out, then the diagnosis became "IBS". Meaning, I didn't take a test that said I had IBS, I was symptomatic and all the actual tests they could run were negative, and hence, I had IBS by default. What that meant to me was, something is wrong, they just don't know what it is, I should keep searching and trying things to figure out what they don't understand. I've read so many posts where people get diagnosed with IBS, take the prescribed drugs, and just suffer for the rest of their lives. I just want people to understand they should feel empowered not to settle for the IBS diagnosis and explore options to try and solve the issue for themselves (like you did via SSRI).
- jmhain 12y ago
  What do you think about the possibility that the etiology is neurological? Here's my reasoning: * There's also no simple yes/no test for most mental illnesses * It explains why it correlates so heavily with anxiety disorders * It explains why it is treatable with psychotropic drugs * Falls in line with the increasing evidence that the enteric nervous system plays a role in both IBS and anxiety
  - erichmond 12y ago
    Absolutely! The other wonky thing with my health is that I have had Vagal Atrial Fibrillation (VAF) in the past (which is rare for someone in their 30s). One trigger for VAF is indigestion in the stomach, which irritates the vagal nerve, which messes with the heart. The vagal nerve also runs into the brain, so I bet there is some form of two way conversation happening between the stomach and brain being facilitated by something like the vagal nerve. To your point, when I was heavily symptomatic, I felt depressed (deeper then just being sad about my situation), and changing my eating habits cleared that up, and in your case, fixing the brain chemicals seemed to have benefitted your stomach. Its just a guess on my part, but this is really all fascinating stuff.
    - defen 12y ago
      > fixing the brain chemicals seemed to have benefitted your stomach. How do we know the drugs didn't fix the stomach chemicals (enteric nervous system) directly, resulting in better brain function?
  - calinet6 12y ago
    To bring this full-circle, this goes real well with the original article's idea that the GE system is highly coupled with the nervous system and psychological condition—it's very likely in both directions.
  - junto 12y ago
    There was recently a post here on HN that relates to this. As a UC sufferer I found it very interesting. > How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being (2010) (scientificamerican.com) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7957057 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7957057 It has often been noted that "stress or feelings of anxiety, guilt or resentment seem to trigger the symptoms": http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/irritable_bowel_syndrome/irritable_bowel_syndrome.html http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/irritable_bowel_sy...
ar4s 12y ago
Have you considered doing a fecal transplant?
- visakanv 12y ago
  I knew people were talking shit on Hacker News, but I didn't realize that it was such a literal thing! :P On a serious note, yes, this. I have a cousin who had really bad problems until he did such a transplant, and he said it pretty much gave him a new life.
- jmhain 12y ago
  I'm willing to try anything safe and shown to be effective scientifically. However, at the moment I have poor health insurance and little disposable income, and my GI doc wants me to do a CT scan that would cost me $1600 out of pocket to rule out IBD and a few other things before continuing. So basically I've hit a brick wall for the time being.
abcd_f 12y ago
Have you tried fasting?
- jmhain 12y ago
  Multiple times and not just for IBS but many reasons ranging from breaking a weight loss plateau to preventing anxiety attacks after the probiotics. It definitely reduces IBS symptoms while I'm not eating, but the hunger makes me unable to think about anything but food.

by jmhain 12y ago

erichmond 12y ago

First, it's great to hear taking the SSRI helped! Regarding the diagnosis of IBS, What I'm saying is, I've yet to have had (or seen) a test that definitively states "yes, you have IBS". During my time with stomach issues I've been tested for UC, Crohns disease, Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. All the bloodwork and whatever else came back with definitive nos. Once all of those were ruled out, then the diagnosis became "IBS". Meaning, I didn't take a test that said I had IBS, I was symptomatic and all the actual tests they could run were negative, and hence, I had IBS by default. What that meant to me was, something is wrong, they just don't know what it is, I should keep searching and trying things to figure out what they don't understand. I've read so many posts where people get diagnosed with IBS, take the prescribed drugs, and just suffer for the rest of their lives. I just want people to understand they should feel empowered not to settle for the IBS diagnosis and explore options to try and solve the issue for themselves (like you did via SSRI).

jmhain 12y ago
What do you think about the possibility that the etiology is neurological? Here's my reasoning: * There's also no simple yes/no test for most mental illnesses * It explains why it correlates so heavily with anxiety disorders * It explains why it is treatable with psychotropic drugs * Falls in line with the increasing evidence that the enteric nervous system plays a role in both IBS and anxiety
- erichmond 12y ago
  Absolutely! The other wonky thing with my health is that I have had Vagal Atrial Fibrillation (VAF) in the past (which is rare for someone in their 30s). One trigger for VAF is indigestion in the stomach, which irritates the vagal nerve, which messes with the heart. The vagal nerve also runs into the brain, so I bet there is some form of two way conversation happening between the stomach and brain being facilitated by something like the vagal nerve. To your point, when I was heavily symptomatic, I felt depressed (deeper then just being sad about my situation), and changing my eating habits cleared that up, and in your case, fixing the brain chemicals seemed to have benefitted your stomach. Its just a guess on my part, but this is really all fascinating stuff.
  - defen 12y ago
    > fixing the brain chemicals seemed to have benefitted your stomach. How do we know the drugs didn't fix the stomach chemicals (enteric nervous system) directly, resulting in better brain function?
- calinet6 12y ago
  To bring this full-circle, this goes real well with the original article's idea that the GE system is highly coupled with the nervous system and psychological condition—it's very likely in both directions.
- junto 12y ago
  There was recently a post here on HN that relates to this. As a UC sufferer I found it very interesting. > How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being (2010) (scientificamerican.com) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7957057 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7957057 It has often been noted that "stress or feelings of anxiety, guilt or resentment seem to trigger the symptoms": http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/irritable_bowel_syndrome/irritable_bowel_syndrome.html http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/irritable_bowel_sy...

ar4s 12y ago

Have you considered doing a fecal transplant?

visakanv 12y ago
I knew people were talking shit on Hacker News, but I didn't realize that it was such a literal thing! :P On a serious note, yes, this. I have a cousin who had really bad problems until he did such a transplant, and he said it pretty much gave him a new life.
jmhain 12y ago
I'm willing to try anything safe and shown to be effective scientifically. However, at the moment I have poor health insurance and little disposable income, and my GI doc wants me to do a CT scan that would cost me $1600 out of pocket to rule out IBD and a few other things before continuing. So basically I've hit a brick wall for the time being.

abcd_f 12y ago

Have you tried fasting?

jmhain 12y ago
Multiple times and not just for IBS but many reasons ranging from breaking a weight loss plateau to preventing anxiety attacks after the probiotics. It definitely reduces IBS symptoms while I'm not eating, but the hunger makes me unable to think about anything but food.