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Newsletter Archive - Early Spring 2001

  
 
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  IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and chronic pain often seem to go hand-in-hand.  Here is some help and hope for those of us who have this debilitating condition.

  
 

Living With IBS by Diane Parkes

Approximately one person in ten suffers from the symptoms of IBS – some more severely than others.  During the winter, our diet tends to be richer, and we also tend to overeat.  If your IBS is getting you down try these hints and tips for, almost instant, relief.

When trying a new food or supplement, monitor your condition carefully.  Think about keeping a food diary which includes any reactions, it will help you to discover if there are any particular triggers for your IBS.

  1. Try taking two peppermint capsules before meals.  These can help with both bowel spasm and wind pain.  Or try a cup of peppermint tea after food.  Available from chemists and health food stores.

  2. Try to reduce your intake of caffeine – this includes tea, coffee and cola drinks, and, unfortunately, chocolate!  Caffeine tends to irritate IBS symptoms.

  3. If you need extra fibre – not all IBS sufferers find this helps – try the humble kiwi fruit, these contain large amounts of fibre and contain only 25 calories each.

  4. NB some IBS sufferers find kiwis are an irritant, along with other members of the tomato family, such as tomatoes, aubergines and potatoes, so make a note when you eat these foods and check whether you have a reaction to them.

  5. Try not to rush your meals, eat slowly and chew each mouthful thoroughly – try to make mealtimes leisurely affairs, this will aid digestion.

  6. Stress does not help IBS symptoms, try to reduce the stress in your life, if need be take expert advice.

  7. Enjoy a relaxation session every day, use a tape or suitably relaxing music.  Then visualise your gut working smoothly and happily, and say to it, "Be calm.  Work gently and smoothly."  Sounds crazy, but with practice it really does help.

  8. Keep your intestinal tract healthy with Acidophilus capsules, available from health food stores and chemists.  This helps to rid your bowel of unhealthy material, replacing it with healthy bacteria.  WARNING: This does not suit everyone – if adverse symptoms occur stop immediately.

  9. If excess wind is causing problems or embarrassment, try adding some caraway seeds to vegetables such as cabbage and Brussels sprouts.  An alternative to this would be to crush the seeds and infuse into a tea.  Try fennel seeds if you have painful spasms.

  10. To regulate bowel movements try Fybogel or Regulan sachets – available from chemists or on prescription from your doctor.

  11. Try to keep your intake of animal fats to a minimum.

  12. Aim to be drinking a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water each day.

  13. If constipation is a problem try to avoid using strong laxatives, they will only compound the problem in the long run.

  14. Many IBS sufferers find alternative therapies helpful - try massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, medical hypnosis, nutritional therapy.

  15. Above all do not suffer in silence, try not to be embarrassed by the problem, and seek help from your GP or pharmacist.


Useful Addresses

IBS Network
An excellent organisation for support and advice, quarterly newsletter. Tel: 0114 261 531 (answerphone)
Website: www.ibsnetwork.org.uk

Advice on food safety and nutrition from the British Nutrition Foundation.
Website: www.nutrition.org.uk

ION - Institute of Optimum Nutrition.  An excellent organisation for information and fully qualified therapists around the country who will treat your IBS with natural supplements.  Find a therapist in your area by ringing 0208 877 9993.

An ION therapist in Sussex, UK has her own website which will give you a good idea of what the therapy entails:
Website: www.susx.ac.uk/Users/ccfd9/dmills.html

Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are useful tools for relieving pain and helping to speed healing in the body.  Data base of practitioners from the National College of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists.  Find a therapist near you by phone or on their website, ask for one that specialises in gut therapy:Tel: 01282 716 839
Website: www.nrhp.co.uk

  
  Very many thanks to Diane for writing this article.  IBS is very relevant to many people with pain and if you have any tips or hints for dealing with IBS, do let painSupport know.  Contact Us.

  
 

 
 

Sales Fever by Vicky

(A lesson for us all!)

I never go shopping as it always flares my neck up.  So what was I doing sitting on a bus going to the sales?  I had been trying to talk myself out of it all week but the lure of half-price clothes had been too strong.  I'd told myself, "Just one lightweight top, then home".

The place was packed but I wasn't going to let that stop me.  'HALF-PRICE JUMPERS' the notice read.  I was across that floor at a speed my physiotherapist would have been proud of.  It was all so exciting, rows and rows of half-price jumpers in every colour you could think of.  I was searching through them when I saw it!  My jumper, just the right colour to go with my new trousers.  A woman at the next rack had it, she was holding it up trying to decide whether or not to have it.  I moved closer.  There were another two jumpers the same as that one but they weren't in my size.  I looked away trying to look disinterested.  She put it back.  Much to my shame I scooped it up like a greedy child - it was my size!  I can't tell you how thrilled I felt at getting such a bargain.  Reduced from £20 to £10.  My neck was giving me quite a bit of pain at this point but I had to try it on as you couldn't return sale goods.  As I set off for the changing rooms I spotted another notice, '70% OFF ALL MEN'S WEAR'!  Well, it was on the way, wasn't it?  I rummaged through the shirts and found a lovely one for my husband.  When I got into the changing rooms I could hardly lift my arm I was in so much pain but there was no way that bargain jumper was going back.  It fitted beautifully.  By the time I got home I was in agony and spent the next three days mostly in bed, using ice and heat.  And to top it all, the shirt didn't fit my husband and he won't pay me AND I've had to spend £25.00 at the chiropractor to treat my neck!  The jumper's nice though and the moments of independence were even better.  Whether or not it was worth it is another matter.

Thanks so much, Vicky, for this heartfelt tale - we've all 'been there, done that', haven't we?

  
 

Note from painSupport

This story just shows how important Pacing is, doesn't it!  However, sometimes we just seem to have to 'go for it', even knowing what the consequences will be, it's only human nature.  If this happens to you, the key to coping afterwards is to concentrate on restoring yourself.  This means an even greater input of your 'Survival Skills' (see the relevant page on this website - go the Site Map and follow the buttons) especially pacing, relaxation and positive thinking.  Don't beat yourself up and give yourself a hard time, be kind to yourself.  Concentrate instead on the good aspects of what you did and let go thoughts such as "I shouldn't have done that", "Now I'll pay for it", "What have I done to myself", etc.  It's done and in the past.  Try to learn from the lesson and in future make sure you plan your expedition very carefully.  The key to successful pacing is:

  1. Planning and preparation.
  2. Pace yourself - break up the activity into sensible sections that you know you can cope with.
  3. Perseverance and sticking to your plan.
If you need help with Pacing you can look at the pacing section on this website or buy my Pacing for Pain Relief booklet (Books and Tapes page - £3.50) - it might help with future temptation!

Jan at painSupport


Remember - send in your own story about your way of coping with pain.  Your views and stories are always welcome.  Send to Contact Us.


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