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Crohns/IBS and herpes simplex 2 - are they all related?
I have recently been informed that I have suspected crohns disease and IBS. I have had 2 colonscopies and various blood and stool tests. I also have a diagnosis of Herpes simplex 2 and recently the episodes of IBS have increased as a result of my period, as have the herpes epsiodes- is there a direct link with herpes and IBS/Crohns and if so if I were to treat the herpes would this improve my bowel symptoms. Thanks
Hi Guys,
I see this is a really old thread, but I want to share the info I have on this matter as it 's a top very close to my heart and I want to help anyone I can who is also struggling with these health issues...
I have struggled with IBS-C since I was a little girl, and contracted HSV2 about 5 years ago. I have dealt with weekly, if not daily, herpes outbreaks since my contracting it. I found when my gut acted up (pain, distention, bloating, constipation etc), I would get an outbreak within hours. Even taking Valtex at 1G per day didn't stop it. I work out regularly, eat a whole foods diet and have seen a therapist regularly to manage stress. Nothing helped, if anything it got worse over the years.
I have only recently, in the past year, found out that the underlying cause of IBS is often a condition called SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). This is when bacteria that is only meant to be in the large intestine makes its way up in to the small intestine. This can cause damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine as well as create gas, blasting, constipation, diarrhea, food intolerances, chronic fatigue etc. The reason this happens is due to low stomach acid, pancreatic exocrine function, and/or malfunctioning ileocecal valve.Bascially stress from emotions, food, drugs (recreational or pharma) all contribute to this problem.
The overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine leads to a lot of endotoxins (waste) from the bacteria. This waste damages the nerves surrounding in the gut leading to issues with motility (constipation, diarrhea), and weakens the immune system. This is what lead to an opportunity for the herpes virus to express itself in me regularly. It took me years to find this out. I thought I was being punished and was always going to have this health situation, but luckily, I don't.
To heal SIBO, you need to have a doctor or nutritionist supervise and provide a healing protocol via a diet called 'Low FODMAP", and one, to several rounds of either pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotics to rebalance the microbiome. The low FODMAP's diet will reduce inflammation and help to starve the bacteria. Most find a huge relief in symptoms from cutting out high FODMAP foods alone, but that's only half the battle. You need the anti-microbials and re-inocculation.
Testing for SIBO is key. You can do so through a Naturopath or Nutritionist. It's important to know you have it for sure. Keep in mind, studies are now proving that SIBO is the underlying case of IBS, and can be cured with patience and diligence.
So, the link between IBS and herpes is real. IBS/SIBO severely weakens the immune system and creates the space of the virus to wreak havoc. When you get the gut micrbiome under control, the virus will not have the same opportunities to express itself.
I really hope this helps many of you struggling with this. I know it can seem like a hopeless issue and if I can add any other energy to this I'd say; please take self-judgement out of the mix. I know, easier said than done but at the end of the day it's just a virus. It doesn't define us. Self-judgment will only lead to more stress and we don't need more of that. And there is someone out there that will fully accept you the way you are. I promise you that. Stay positive, full of optimism and self-love and don't settle. You can heal these issues.
xo
I see this is a really old thread, but I want to share the info I have on this matter as it 's a top very close to my heart and I want to help anyone I can who is also struggling with these health issues...
I have struggled with IBS-C since I was a little girl, and contracted HSV2 about 5 years ago. I have dealt with weekly, if not daily, herpes outbreaks since my contracting it. I found when my gut acted up (pain, distention, bloating, constipation etc), I would get an outbreak within hours. Even taking Valtex at 1G per day didn't stop it. I work out regularly, eat a whole foods diet and have seen a therapist regularly to manage stress. Nothing helped, if anything it got worse over the years.
I have only recently, in the past year, found out that the underlying cause of IBS is often a condition called SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). This is when bacteria that is only meant to be in the large intestine makes its way up in to the small intestine. This can cause damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine as well as create gas, blasting, constipation, diarrhea, food intolerances, chronic fatigue etc. The reason this happens is due to low stomach acid, pancreatic exocrine function, and/or malfunctioning ileocecal valve.Bascially stress from emotions, food, drugs (recreational or pharma) all contribute to this problem.
The overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine leads to a lot of endotoxins (waste) from the bacteria. This waste damages the nerves surrounding in the gut leading to issues with motility (constipation, diarrhea), and weakens the immune system. This is what lead to an opportunity for the herpes virus to express itself in me regularly. It took me years to find this out. I thought I was being punished and was always going to have this health situation, but luckily, I don't.
To heal SIBO, you need to have a doctor or nutritionist supervise and provide a healing protocol via a diet called 'Low FODMAP", and one, to several rounds of either pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotics to rebalance the microbiome. The low FODMAP's diet will reduce inflammation and help to starve the bacteria. Most find a huge relief in symptoms from cutting out high FODMAP foods alone, but that's only half the battle. You need the anti-microbials and re-inocculation.
Testing for SIBO is key. You can do so through a Naturopath or Nutritionist. It's important to know you have it for sure. Keep in mind, studies are now proving that SIBO is the underlying case of IBS, and can be cured with patience and diligence.
So, the link between IBS and herpes is real. IBS/SIBO severely weakens the immune system and creates the space of the virus to wreak havoc. When you get the gut micrbiome under control, the virus will not have the same opportunities to express itself.
I really hope this helps many of you struggling with this. I know it can seem like a hopeless issue and if I can add any other energy to this I'd say; please take self-judgement out of the mix. I know, easier said than done but at the end of the day it's just a virus. It doesn't define us. Self-judgment will only lead to more stress and we don't need more of that. And there is someone out there that will fully accept you the way you are. I promise you that. Stay positive, full of optimism and self-love and don't settle. You can heal these issues.
xo
2 Comments
I hope this post finds being that it's somewhat old. I have been having diarrhea since I was diagnosed over a year ago. I have a few questions.
1)How long before you linked the two together and decided to get tested for SIBO?
2)How long was your herbal or medicine protocol and diet?
3)Did you have leaky gut? IF so, did you have to work on healing that?
I hope to hear back from you soon!
Thanks in advance
1)How long before you linked the two together and decided to get tested for SIBO?
2)How long was your herbal or medicine protocol and diet?
3)Did you have leaky gut? IF so, did you have to work on healing that?
I hope to hear back from you soon!
Thanks in advance
Hi there. I just posted this to IBS_Coach, and have some of the same questions as you. Did you ever hear back? Thanks, xxRobxx
IBS and Herpes
Sent by xxRobxx
Thanks so much for your posting from 2016. It is extremely helpful to me! I am experiencing this connection between IBS symptoms and herpes outbreaks (not full outbreaks but prodromes) and now feel even more sure of the connection. Could I ask a couple questions? I am taking a daily probiotic as recommended by my doctor to help with my bowel symptoms. Does this actually exacerbate the bacterial growth we are trying to suppress do you think? Also, do you know in your experience whether L lysine can help or hurt? I have started taking that daily as well, I recently added on daily stool softeners. I found that all three of these help but don't prevent the herpes and IBS outbreaks. When my doctor told me that she suspected I have IBS, I tried the low FODMAP diet, but it did not seem to make much of a difference, and I found it difficult to adhere to. However, if this is the only thing which will help in controlling the bad bacteria, best thing for me now is to give it another try. I was hoping it would not come back to this again, since I travel abroad a lot and eat lots of different kinds of foods. But solving this is so very important, and I worry most about contagiousness if the herpes is active, which seems to be the case. Thank you very very much, again, and any additional thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. [rob, gay male in early 60s]
IBS and Herpes
Sent by xxRobxx
Thanks so much for your posting from 2016. It is extremely helpful to me! I am experiencing this connection between IBS symptoms and herpes outbreaks (not full outbreaks but prodromes) and now feel even more sure of the connection. Could I ask a couple questions? I am taking a daily probiotic as recommended by my doctor to help with my bowel symptoms. Does this actually exacerbate the bacterial growth we are trying to suppress do you think? Also, do you know in your experience whether L lysine can help or hurt? I have started taking that daily as well, I recently added on daily stool softeners. I found that all three of these help but don't prevent the herpes and IBS outbreaks. When my doctor told me that she suspected I have IBS, I tried the low FODMAP diet, but it did not seem to make much of a difference, and I found it difficult to adhere to. However, if this is the only thing which will help in controlling the bad bacteria, best thing for me now is to give it another try. I was hoping it would not come back to this again, since I travel abroad a lot and eat lots of different kinds of foods. But solving this is so very important, and I worry most about contagiousness if the herpes is active, which seems to be the case. Thank you very very much, again, and any additional thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. [rob, gay male in early 60s]
Hey guys, if you have any questions that still need answers please post a new question so we can help you out.
Thank you!
Thank you!
I have been in a world of pain and discomfort for about a year now. I am a gay man that thought I was careful, but appearantly not enough. What I thought was an occasional 'bout' of hemmoroids, 'which runs in the family', turned out to not go away and become a major issue. The doctors were baffled by my symtoms and 'lightly' asked if I have stuck something up my ***. Of course I said 'no', but they said my symptoms looked like Crohn's disease. After a Colonocopy, they ruled that out., which supriesd me because all my symptoms were 'spot on' for Crohn's. My 'partner' recently tested positive for herpes, because he had an outbreak, and had to get a painful circumcision, as a result. So now, I have health insurance and the means to pay for treatment needed to get tested, 'which scares the **** out of me', to see if I have it, so I can get the right treatment. But my symptoms have progressed since my last visit...now I have 'hemmroid-like' protrusions around my anus that bleed, and burn lightly...on a good day, and I have dealt with this for a year, outta fear of doctors. I have lived my life as a straight man and was even married to a wonderful woman......be safe, no matter how much you trust someone...I feel like damaged goods now. Take care.
I have been in a world of pain and discomfort for about a year now. I am a gay man that thought I was careful, but appearantly not enough. What I thought was an occasional 'bout' of hemmoroids, 'which runs in the family', turned out to not go away and become a major issue. The doctors were baffled by my symtoms and 'lightly' asked if I have stuck something up my ***. Of course I said 'no', but they said my symptoms looked like Crohn's disease. After a Colonocopy, they ruled that out., which supriesd me because all my symptoms were 'spot on' for Crohn's. My 'partner' recently tested positive for herpes, because he had an outbreak, and had to get a painful circumcision, as a result. So now, I have health insurance and the means to pay for treatment needed to get tested, 'which scares the **** out of me', to see if I have it, so I can get the right treatment. But my symptoms have progressed since my last visit...now I have 'hemmroid-like' protrusions around my anus that bleed, and burn lightly...on a good day, and I have dealt with this for a year, outta fear of doctors. I have lived my life as a straight man and was even married to a wonderful woman......be safe, no matter how much you trust someone...I feel like damaged goods now. Take care.
1 Comments
hope you started on your antivirals. after many years of agony my herpes finally flared up sufficiently in my genitals and mouth so that it could be properly diagnosed and treated not that it can be cured. I believe that herpes is much much more prevalent and damaging then doctors are letting us know. I use a salve for my hemorrhoids that includes tea tree oil and Nystatin ointment which is for fungal infections. antibacterials of any kind are what you need to use because that's what's happening. bad microorganisms live in all of our orifices and when they take over they itch and they hurt and we don't want them taking over
I WANT TO KNOW CAN HERPES TYPE 2 BOTHER YOUR IBS?
1 Comments
definitely. but you won't find a doctor that will confirm it. after 4 years of suffering horribly with ulcerative colitis symptoms my herpes finally flared up in my genitals and mouth so that I could be officially started on antivirals and this was when my bowels began to heal
I just started a treatment regimen for the herpes i have cold sores. My doctor is doing a medical study to see if this medicine will work. He put me on acyclovir 800 mg 2 times a day and 15mg of meloxicam 1 x a day and gave me a sample pack of a pain medicine I can't remember the name of it. This is a surgeon in my area he is a very good doctor. He says my cold sores and my stress are directly related to my severe stomach/abdominal pain. I had gastric bypass surgery last June 2011 before this I never had much stomach pain or cold sores.
On your face is herpes simplex1, in the genitalia it is herpes simplex 2.
I too have Crohn's and have "cold sores" - herpes simplex1
I have only once or twice had a breakout while also severely ill and in the hospital from the disease.
I see no direct link to the illness except that as emg454 mentioned, herpes reacts to stress.
When you are in a "major" flare up verses the everyday things that come with this illness, and anything else in your life that can be compounding the "stress situation" ie..family, kids, work, fear of losing job/medical benefits, possible surgery, ect... it all adds to the stress your body is under while trying to fend off the attack on our immune systems, therefore you could be susceptible to further outbreaks. Hope this helps some.
Kim
I too have Crohn's and have "cold sores" - herpes simplex1
I have only once or twice had a breakout while also severely ill and in the hospital from the disease.
I see no direct link to the illness except that as emg454 mentioned, herpes reacts to stress.
When you are in a "major" flare up verses the everyday things that come with this illness, and anything else in your life that can be compounding the "stress situation" ie..family, kids, work, fear of losing job/medical benefits, possible surgery, ect... it all adds to the stress your body is under while trying to fend off the attack on our immune systems, therefore you could be susceptible to further outbreaks. Hope this helps some.
Kim
I have the same problem, but from the information I have gathered is that herpes flare ups happen when our bodies are under stress. I have to say having to go to the potty 5 to 7 times a day canker sores stomach cramps alternating constipation and loose/soft stools are very stressful .if I find out anything different I will be sure to share please do the same I would love to know of any connection
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