Handling IBS Without Zelnorm
Well Olly, It's happened again! The sale of an oft prescribed medication, Zelnorm, was temporarily suspended (by the Swiss manufacturer Novartis) after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked for more discussion about a statistically significant imbalance in events (such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina pectoris) in patients taking the medication compared to people taking a placebo. The data came from more than 18,000 patients that were part of a clinical trial.
While the experts at the pharmaceutical company and the government sort through this, I thought you might want some tips on what you can do to ease your symptoms of constipation IBS without medication. These come from my book, TELL ME WHAT TO EAT IF I HAVE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (now being distributed in other parts of the world in Spanish and several other languages):
Constipation predominant IBS often starts in adolescence and may result from excessive colon contractions, which lead to stool dehydration (hard, stiff stools).
HIGH FIBER
People with this type of IBS seem to improve with a high fiber eating plan. The goal is to consume around 30 grams of fiber a day, so many people have to use fiber supplements. If you increase your fiber too fast, you might suffer from bloating and gas. To prevent this, you can use warm tap water enemas along with the fiber supplement (talk to your doctor about this first). Don't forget to drink plenty of water. (Such as 8 or more 8-ounce glasses every day.) Keep in mind one study found that 55% of patients reported that wheat bran made their IBS worse. So keep notes on what is helping you and what doesn't seem to be helping.
SOLUBLE FIBER
Soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and keeps water in the stools, helps prevent hard, difficult-to-pass stools. I personally think of soluble fiber as the gentler fiber. While in your intestines, it holds on to water and forms a gel. Generally people with constipation need both types of fiber, soluble and the rougher tougher insoluble fiber (that has more of a scrubbing action while going through the large intestines).
FIBER TIPS
* Don't have most of your fiber all at once, spread your fiber foods/supplements throughout the day.
* It takes the intestinal tract up to 6 weeks to adapt to a new, higher fiber food plan. But your intestines might never adjust to some foods, such as cabbage or certain beans.
EXTRA HELP
Your physician may add osmotic laxatives (glycerine suppositories for example) or stool softeners if fiber along isn't doing the trick. The use of stimulant laxatives is definitely discouraged.
ABDOMINAL BLOATING
This is a common symptom in IBS, especially if you are constipated. The bloating usually worsens as the day goes on and improves after sleeping. If you are better able to manage your constipation, the bloating may well subside. Reducing the amount of gassy foods in your diet may also help relieve abdominal pain and bloating. Many gas producing foods contain carbohydrates that are not completely digested in the small intestine. By the time they get to the end of the large intestine, bacteria (normally present in the intestines) have digested these carbohydrates and produced gas as a breakdown byproduct.
Beans, peas, cabbage, and some fruits give many people gas. Milk products can cause trouble in people with lactose intolerance or lactose maldigestion. Alcohol and high-sugar foods trigger symptoms for some. The alternative sweetener, sorbitol, can cause gas in some people too. In general... vegetables should be cooked to reduce potential gas production and fruits should be canned in juice or eaten RIPE, when the fruit and skin are soft.
* Avoid gassy foods: Certain fruits and vegetables and dried beans and peas are particular offenders.
* Avoid raw vegetables (including cucumber and lettuce)
* The following vegetables can cause trouble even when cooked: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, corn, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, red/green peppers, pimentos, radishes, rutabaga, sauerkraut, scallions, shallots, turnips, chili peppers
* Dried peas, beans and lentils
* The following fruits can cause trouble in some people: Apple, honeydew melon, avocados, prunes, cantaloupe, watermelon
* Other foods/drinks that may cause trouble: Beer, seeds, hard-boiled eggs, soft drinks, nuts, wheat germ, popcorn, spices like chili powder, garlic, hot sauce, curry, and ginger, spicy BBQ sauce.
DON'T FORGET THE POWER OF EXERCISE
Exercise can help those who tend to have bouts of constipation. Exercise stimulates the colon and moving around and using muscles seems to help get things moving in your GI tract. It's a powerful stress reducer too!
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Video: IBS and Fat, Stress, Anxiety and IBS
Technorati Tags: IBS, zelnorm, constipation, fiber, diet, exercise, fda
While the experts at the pharmaceutical company and the government sort through this, I thought you might want some tips on what you can do to ease your symptoms of constipation IBS without medication. These come from my book, TELL ME WHAT TO EAT IF I HAVE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (now being distributed in other parts of the world in Spanish and several other languages):
Constipation predominant IBS often starts in adolescence and may result from excessive colon contractions, which lead to stool dehydration (hard, stiff stools).
HIGH FIBER
People with this type of IBS seem to improve with a high fiber eating plan. The goal is to consume around 30 grams of fiber a day, so many people have to use fiber supplements. If you increase your fiber too fast, you might suffer from bloating and gas. To prevent this, you can use warm tap water enemas along with the fiber supplement (talk to your doctor about this first). Don't forget to drink plenty of water. (Such as 8 or more 8-ounce glasses every day.) Keep in mind one study found that 55% of patients reported that wheat bran made their IBS worse. So keep notes on what is helping you and what doesn't seem to be helping.
SOLUBLE FIBER
Soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and keeps water in the stools, helps prevent hard, difficult-to-pass stools. I personally think of soluble fiber as the gentler fiber. While in your intestines, it holds on to water and forms a gel. Generally people with constipation need both types of fiber, soluble and the rougher tougher insoluble fiber (that has more of a scrubbing action while going through the large intestines).
FIBER TIPS
* Don't have most of your fiber all at once, spread your fiber foods/supplements throughout the day.
* It takes the intestinal tract up to 6 weeks to adapt to a new, higher fiber food plan. But your intestines might never adjust to some foods, such as cabbage or certain beans.
EXTRA HELP
Your physician may add osmotic laxatives (glycerine suppositories for example) or stool softeners if fiber along isn't doing the trick. The use of stimulant laxatives is definitely discouraged.
ABDOMINAL BLOATING
This is a common symptom in IBS, especially if you are constipated. The bloating usually worsens as the day goes on and improves after sleeping. If you are better able to manage your constipation, the bloating may well subside. Reducing the amount of gassy foods in your diet may also help relieve abdominal pain and bloating. Many gas producing foods contain carbohydrates that are not completely digested in the small intestine. By the time they get to the end of the large intestine, bacteria (normally present in the intestines) have digested these carbohydrates and produced gas as a breakdown byproduct.
Beans, peas, cabbage, and some fruits give many people gas. Milk products can cause trouble in people with lactose intolerance or lactose maldigestion. Alcohol and high-sugar foods trigger symptoms for some. The alternative sweetener, sorbitol, can cause gas in some people too. In general... vegetables should be cooked to reduce potential gas production and fruits should be canned in juice or eaten RIPE, when the fruit and skin are soft.
* Avoid gassy foods: Certain fruits and vegetables and dried beans and peas are particular offenders.
* Avoid raw vegetables (including cucumber and lettuce)
* The following vegetables can cause trouble even when cooked: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, corn, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, red/green peppers, pimentos, radishes, rutabaga, sauerkraut, scallions, shallots, turnips, chili peppers
* Dried peas, beans and lentils
* The following fruits can cause trouble in some people: Apple, honeydew melon, avocados, prunes, cantaloupe, watermelon
* Other foods/drinks that may cause trouble: Beer, seeds, hard-boiled eggs, soft drinks, nuts, wheat germ, popcorn, spices like chili powder, garlic, hot sauce, curry, and ginger, spicy BBQ sauce.
DON'T FORGET THE POWER OF EXERCISE
Exercise can help those who tend to have bouts of constipation. Exercise stimulates the colon and moving around and using muscles seems to help get things moving in your GI tract. It's a powerful stress reducer too!
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Video: IBS and Fat, Stress, Anxiety and IBS
Technorati Tags: IBS, zelnorm, constipation, fiber, diet, exercise, fda
