IBS?

[Sailorsong]

As i stated in my post "Not Sure", my IBS seems to be getting better. As I have been thinking about this I am wonder if there is a clue in this as to what is going on inside my body.  I am hoping the Quix will have some thoughts on this.

Prior to going on Prednisone and Azathioprine my IBS flared up after almost every meal (no correlation to what I had eaten), Plus at other times for no appearent reason. In the last month I think I have probably only had maybe 8 or 9 flare ups of my IBS. This is a very significant improvement!

In reading about IBS I found that there are some things that seem to trigger flare up of the symptoms.

1) Stress ----------------- If anything my stress levels have been higher in this last month.
2) Food intolerance --  I have not changed any of my eating habits.
3) Gut Flora / immune system problems.  
4) Brain - gut axis. (MS, Depression, Fibromyalgia, etc).

There were also some other things mentioned but I could not figure them out due to technical terms.

As pointed out above I have had a lot of stress so the should not be the source of my flareups. But even though I have been eating the same the Azathioprine could be reducing any intolerance to foods that my body has been experiencing. Also since I do know that I have Sjogrens syndrome (an auto immune illness) the gut flora / immune system effect could also be reduced. I have also been feeling pretty depressed at times during this last month which should have increased my symptoms. This is also true for the other possable gut brain axis as my other symptoms (cognitive, pain, numbness, etc) have all increased which probably means the IBS is not effected by the brain gut axis.

In conclusion it therefore seems to me the IBS is a result of my immune system being messed up. It can be one or both of the folowing.

1) Immune system is making me  intolerant of some foods
2) Immune system is killing off the benifical bacteria in my intestines.

So does this make sense to anyone else? I should be getting an appointment with a urologist soon and if this makes sense I would like to bring this up at the appointment.

Dennis

[keeleyzinc0100]

I know this post is old. but I think mine has been triggered from stress and depression (not for no reason) and im a little iffy on taking antidepressents at 16 yrs old. but I cant stand feeling like im going to vomit all the time... im on Prilosec once a day to help with stomach acid and eating a bland diet but other than that what else can I do?

[Ufrustrated2]

>> ...probably means the IBS is not effected by the brain gut axis.

did you mean [not effected] or [is effected] ?

i had a colonoscopy recently and the gastro doctor stated that indeed such illnesses such as MS, other autoimmune diseases, depression, can and will effect the gut. there are ALOT of wirings between the gut and brain. Quix can explain this better.


the VA diagnosised me years ago with IBS -- lack of any other explanation , and wouldn't test for MS back then.

i asked my local neuro about it, he didn't want to discuss it, said that was a gastro issue. he won't touch any subject because the VA mandates if he wan'ts to keep his job, then he has to be as vague and general as possible do no diagnosis is made -- until you die that is.

i've spent what seems like thousands of dollars on IBS remedies. none help. there is no rhyme or reason as to most flares. sure some food i avoid, but even on a chicken and rice diet, i will have issues.

i would be willing to bet that many people with immune diseases have some sort of "out of whack gut".

in 1986, that was one of the first oddities in my otherwise normal systme that started to act up. then the balance and taste issues, then the sensory issues.

[summerluvr]

Hi I have IBS.

None of those "triggers" affect me.

for me IBS came and never really went.  I just generally have issues all the time since I was 25.  

I am now quite sick and my IBS morphed from numerous trips to the bathroom most of the time to not being able to go at all!  This is so much worse I think :|  My stomach is so bloated it really feels awful. (also Chemo is making me worse!)

I have seen gastro specialist in the past.  What she told me is IBS is its own entity it comes and goes and some things like stress play a role, but usually foods (other then the obvious one like greasy and spicey and dairy) don't really play a role. They don't really know what it is.  

Have you had a colonscopy? If it was your immune system it would probably be something more like crohn's or colitis.  IBS is more related to the peristalsis of the gut and not something inside the gut. So you move food too fast, or too slow the muscles can also have spasms.

I've taken probiotics off and on I think they help some.  If your concerned about balance you can take some for a few months and see if it helps (acidopholus).  For me a big trigger is wheat. My body can't seem to break down carbs well (bread, sugar, pasta etc)  I got tested for celiac disease but I don't have it, just a sensitivty!

Also out menstrual cycles hormonal fluctuations really affect It, but I'm not sure if same is true for men ;)

[Sailorsong]

BUMP

I sure wish someone would comment on this.. I really don't trust my logic right now and am not sure if it was working corrrectly on this.

Dennis