Zelnorm IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is perhaps one of the most common ailments in the doctor's office. How do you know if you have IBS? No real easy answers to this one. I've read and heard about so many people suffereing from IBS that have been misdiagnosed or simply told to see another doctor. It's hard to nail down, yet let's look at a few clues to the syndrome. One primary clue is a 3 month alteration in bowel movements -- diarrhea, constipation, or constipation alternating with diarrhea. Yet another clue is abdominal pain. After a bowel movement, the pain often gets better. Yet another clue is rectal passage of mucus. And, finally, bloating and gaseousness are very common issues. Why do doctors have such a devil of a time diagnosing IBS? Well, one reason could be the fact that no X-ray, no scan, no blood test, and no scope exam show that anything is wrong. Believe me, if you suffer from the above symptoms, something is definetly wrong. It could be that the coordinated contractions of the digestive tract muscles are in disarray.

If indeed you find yourself with IBS, there are myriad ways of managing it, including zelnorm for Ibs Sadly, there really isn't a single approach to mangement that will work with all of us. Experimentation will become your best friend. For many people, medications, diet ,and lifestyle changes might have to be combined for effectiveness. With irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), there are many options to manage symptoms --- but, unfortunately, no single best approach that will work for everyone. You'll need to experiment to determine what might work better than your current strategy.

Diet: Most doctors who have experience with IBS will tell you that first and foremost that diet if a big factor in IBS. They might suggest that you begin with a healthy, well-balanced diet. The doctor I see, to wit, doesn't recommend extreme elimination diets. That said, watch what you eat because certain foods will create issues including sugary drinks, sugar-free gums and candies, anything with caffeine

First and foremost, we know that diet affects IBS symptoms. Start with a healthy, well-balanced diet. I don't recommend extreme elimination diets. That said, certain foods and drinks deserve some caution, including sugary drinks, sugar-free gums and candies, and anything with caffeine, particularly when consumed in greater than modest amounts. Any of these may worsen IBS symptoms for some individuals.

Those are just the obvious ones. There are other food triggers that may not be quite so obvious. After you eat a potential trigger food, symptoms may not appear for quite some time -- hours to a day. My point is that the delay time is directly related to one's anatomy, the amount of food eaten, and the digestion process. Add to the list dairy products, and some high-gas foods such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. You just have to eliminate one trigger at a time to see which ones are at fault. Give each trial a couple of days. Keeping a food and symptom journal could help identify trigger foods.

Keep in mind that sometimes, it's not the food per se, but what is in the food or what else you eat with it. Ice cream, for example, can be a trigger because it contains lactose, which is a natural sugar. High-fat ice cream could make symptoms worse, while low-fat may be a bit more tolerable. What really confounds the search is the fact that you may react to the same foods differently on different days, possibly because of other variations in your diet.

And, of course, a high-fiber diet is worth a try. High-fiber will help you produce larger, bulkier stools less frquently. You might want to slowly increase fiber until you reach 26 to 36 grams per day. Whole grains, vegetables, beans, and fruits are a good idea at first. If you find it difficult to reach this goal through diet alone, you may want to try an over the counter fiber supplement. Just keep in mind that a gradual increase in the supplement is suggested because fiber can increase gas and creamping.

Routine: You may want to strive for a less stressful routine to reduce symtoms, also. I know some people who wake up and eat the same meals at the same time every day, because it helps with bowel regularity. Add to that routine time to pass bowel movements without being rushed. You simply have to find ways to reduce stress in your life; stress, remember, is a trigger.

Medications: Zelnorm, if you can get it, and you can get it here, works for some people. Others may want to try Librax, which is helpful for cramping. Other antispasmodics are include dicyclomine or hyoscyamine.

Nerve modulators may be worth a try also. They appear to make nerve endings less sensitive, which may relieve the cramping and redcue bowel movement frequency. Nortriptyline for example, has been shown to decrease colonic sensitivity.

Psychological interventions: Other triggers, such as stress, depressed mood, and anxiety should also be reduced in some people. Stress management classes are a pretty good idea and seem to work for me. And, of course, there are medications that we can try to reduce stress or depression and anxiety.

In conclusion, IBS management is a lifelong process because it is a cronic condition. You will find that your symptoms wax and wane. What's key here is learning to recognize triggers and avoid them.

Well, I'll write more later. My fingers are tired! Just remember, zelnorm for IBS is what works for me. Maybe it will work for you, too? Pam.

UPDATE: ---- Best of health to us all!!

Pam.