Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: They say there's no cure for IBS, but...

I saw this post a while back, and have been meaning to reply to it ever since.

What I want to say is: Ain't that the truth?!! In fact, let's even say, "If stress is AN underlying stimulant . . ." Which we all know it to be.

I believe I have actually witnessed this to occur both in my daughter's case and in the cases of several people w/ibs who have shared their stories with me. The thing is . . . those other people did NOT notice that this had happened to them. I mean that they weren't aware that restricting their diets increased their stress which increased their ibs which increased their diet restrictions which . . ., even though it seemed pretty clear to me, listening to their tales. My daughter wasn't aware of it for herself either, though she could see it in the other people. I think it's VERY difficult to recognize that this is happening if it's YOU who is experiencing it; it's more recognizable to others that happen to know you and are paying attention. I really think the importance of this can not be overstated. And it's something that I found isn't discussed openly.

In fact, knowing this now makes sense of a particular odd conversation that I had with the one good gastro doc that we worked with. There was one conversation that I had with her in which she sort of cryptically implied that she had 'reasons' for NOT recommending restricting diet, including EFI, for ibs patients, even tho' she KNEW that it could be helpful. She was not against my working w/EFI, per se, (and she understood my desperation, considering my daughter's situation) but she still could/did not recommend it. She did not elaborate. This did not make sense to me at the time, but now it does.

I now believe that the reason she would not elaborate was that she did not want to draw our attention to the fact that it was actually possible for my daughter's situation to get worse than it already was (and it already was hellish). I witnessed my daughter at one point (quite understandably) begin to develop OCD-like symptoms that were stemming from her concern over diet and growing, conscious FEAR of particular foods and . . . those OCD-like symptoms ultimately exacerbate the ibs. As you all can easily imagine, or perhaps have even experienced as well. It's such a knife edge!

Any way, my daughter is well enough now that I can reflect back on what I have observed and this is one of those areas that I see as a major factor, so I've been wanting to share it in case it could help anyone else to be aware of.

[P.S. Keep in mind that I also observed and am grateful for my daughter's very real relief from EFI, too!]
kem (daughter w/ibs-d dx)

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator