Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Brain-Gut Connection and Diagnosis

I'm sorry to hear you feel like giving up. If you really want to get some control over your IBS then you should really learn all you can about it. First, you should have properly been diagnosed: this means getting a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and stool samples done. Tests to rule out other health problems.

You should also know that there IS a connection between the mind/brain and your gut. Brain-Gut Dysfunction. This is why anti-depressants help treat certain IBS symptoms. Those of us who take them aren't always on a high enough dose where it affects your mood, but they can (as with tricyclics) raise your pain threshold and regulate gut motility. This doesn't mean it's not real or that we have psychological problems, it just means the brain-gut interaction is not functioning correctly.

I hope you don't give up. Is your doctor willing to work with you to get better? Does he/she have the latest IBS information?

Edited by Maria!Maria! (06/27/07 07:31 PM)

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