Q: I just found out I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I go from diarrhea to constipation and it’s been happening for the last month. It’s hard to leave the house!
My doctor said to take Imodium when it happens, but I don’t want to live like that. Any suggestions?
A: Unfortunately, Imodium is only taking care of the symptom of diarrhea—not the cause of your IBS.
The prevalence of IBS has increased dramatically over the last decade. There can be many causes of IBS. Here are just a few:
Candida overgrowth: Poor diet, stress and use of antibiotics causes the overgrowth of candida in the gut. Candida normally resides in the GI tract but it’s the overgrowth that’s problematic. Often gas, bloating, and alternating diarrhea with constipation are the main symptoms.
Antibiotics also wipe out beneficial bacteria which is part of our microbiome. Probiotics are necessary to reinoculate the gut with good bacteria during and after the use of antibiotics. A qualified practitioner can advise you on their best use for your personal situation.
Dysbiosis/SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Antibiotic use can cause further dysbiosis in the gut but more and more people are being diagnosed with acid reflux (GERD) and put on acid blockers and inhibitors such as Prilosec, Nexium and Dexilant. These drugs are only intended for short term use (a few weeks) but doctors are increasingly putting their patients on them indefinitely to manage their GERD.
The long term use of these drugs causes pH changes farther down in the gut that favor the growth of undesirable bacteria. Once they flourish they can populate the large intestine and cause symptoms of IBS.
Food allergies/intolerances: Eating foods that you’re allergic to or otherwise intolerant of can cause your gut to be “irritable.” Proper testing and elimination of problematic foods will bring much relief to those suffering with IBS.
Your best bet is to go to an integrative practitioner who can search for the root cause of your IBS so you can cure it with the right therapies.You can listen to an in-depth Intelligent Medicine podcast with Dr. Hoffman about IBS here.
To your health!
Leyla Muedin, MS, RD, CDN
Email your questions to [email protected].
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Low dose naltrexone (LDN) will work. Google: naltrexone ibs Origin of this use was Jill Smith, MD’s published article in J of Gastroenterology on Chron’s Disease. See also http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org It works in all the use cases mentioned in reply. (low dose naltrexone is 4.5 mg and below as opposed to dose of 50 mg for addiction.)
Genova test can be for allergies/vitamins/hormones. Hair test for good minerals/heavy metals. Zyto scan shows infections/how organs/glands are working. Electrodermal testing helps pinpoint problems and where they are and how to help. Dark field microscope may help a person see parasites/infections/low Vit B12 and more. Blood tests may not work to diagnose Celiac/gluten issues and more.
IBS can be due to gluten. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO/food with a label…taking vitamins/good oils/minerals/herbs…probiotic…LDN…detoxing helps me. Gluten is wheat/barley/rye..oats/corn/rice. Rice is low in gluten. Allergies can be due to leaky gut due to gluten/GMO/Lyme/antibiotics which may hurt the gut lining. Food leaks into the blood and then the blood makes an antibody to it which is an allergy. 3-4.5 mg of LDN may help heal the gut lining from gluten which stimulates opioid receptor sites in the brain like Heroin. LDN and gluten enzymes may help hidden gluten. LDN helps what is eaten/breathed/on the skin etc.. LDN doesn’t help GMO etc.. I didn’t have diarrhea until I was high in heavy metals. Hair test shows good minerals/heavy metals. If good minerals are low intestines may be hurt. If heavy metals are high, gluten may have hurt how the liver detoxes. Heavy metals may block chemical reactions. Once gluten is 100% stopped…then Vit A/aloe/green tea/glutamine/slippery elm/LDN may help heal the gut lining.