Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: SO damn confused...!

Oh, Claire, please stop being so hard on yourself.

1 Have you read all the info on this site about what IBS is and how it affects you? Have you read all the dietary advice? If not, then do so. I just don't believe IBS has been caused by abusing your body with anorexia. I suffer from IBS C&D and I've always enjoyed eating everything wholeheartedly without ever worrying about my weight.

2 Colonics/enemas - if you think about it there is nothing natural about them and certainly a way to punish yourself, if that's what you're looking for. What's natural about sticking a tube up your ass and blasting away?! You don't need to scrub your insides out after menstruation each month, or having a baby. Think of all the medical advice to avoid douching - it's actually damaging because it removes all the GOOD bacteria that we need inside us to survive. You don't need to sterilise your colon in that way either.

3 You talk about feeling dirty and unclean inside. I suspect this may have more to do with your body image or self-esteem than any physical condition. Have you been under pressure recently? If you have IBS, all that is wrong with you is that your gut is much more sensitive than other peoples. For me that makes sense. I have over sensitive skin, an over sensitive gut and, well, I'm a sensitive soul generally. I'm emotionally sensitive. Your body is NOT punishing you for who you are and what you have done. Your body is asking you to avoid punishing or abusing yourself - it's asking you to treat yourself as gently and as well as you can in this life. In some ways, you can learn to think of this as a blessing. I (or my body) just won't tolerate the kind of abuse that others throw at theirs on a daily basis. With the right lifestyle and by listening to yourself (instead of paying to listen to other 'experts') and your body, you can learn to feel so much better - inside and out.

4 Candida - this is such an easy cop-out for people to say. I was told by someone who gave me 'food-intolerance tests' that this was my problem. Eventually, after loads of blood tests and a stool test it was confirmed by the leading medical experts in the UK there was no way I had candida overgrowth, or anything other than IBS.

If you have been properly diagnosed as IBS, please trust this and learn what IBS is and how to deal with it. I have lots of info now from official health web sites in the UK that support the information Heather provides on this site.

I hope this is not too ranting and is, in some way helpful to you. Take care
Shellsbells

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator