If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that you, or someone you love, is suffering from a case of severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS can be an extremely painful and debilitating disease, but only the sufferers know just how bad it can be. Severe IBS pain also keeps some from enjoying any quality of life, keeping them close to home.
What Causes Severe IBS?
Doctors still have no idea exactly what causes IBS. At this point, they only really know its symptoms and some of the treatments that help to relieve those symptoms. There are cases where the disease seems to run in families, so sometimes it can be inherited.
There are some professionals who believe that the nerves in the colon are much more sensitive than normal in some people, which causes the pain and other symptoms that go along with IBS.
While there are no definitive answers about what causes severe IBS symptoms, there are treatments and diets that can help to relieve the symptoms. The severe IBS pain that goes along with these symptoms will be somewhat relieved once the symptoms are dealt with.
What are the Symptoms of Severe IBS?
There are several symptoms that go along with severe IBS. People who suffer from the disease will most likely suffer from diarrhea and constipation. Severe IBS pain includes cramping, sharp and stabbing pains in the stomach. This pain can be extremely debilitating for sufferers, and the symptom of diarrhea keeps many at home, close to the bathroom.
Depression can be another symptom of IBS, for sufferers many times find that they feel isolated from others because of the need to remain at home. They often find that planned activities have to be cancelled because flair-ups of severe IBS make it necessary to stay home.
Severe IBS pain keeps its sufferers from being able to work or go to college to earn that degree they always wanted. All of these issues can contribute to the feeling of isolation and loneliness that aggravate depression.
The stress of dealing with symptoms and severe IBS pain associated with the disease can make the symptoms worse, thus increasing the amount of pain. It can seem like you are on an endless carousel with no way to get off.
Treatment
Even though the doctors do not know what actually causes severe IBS, they do have some treatments that can help to alleviate the symptoms. You must remember, though, that there is no cure. If we do not know what causes a disease, there is no way to find a cure, so the best that we can hope at this time is to find ways to decrease the pain and symptoms of severe IBS.
Natural Treatments
The first place for any sufferer to begin is to change what they are doing at home. For example, change your diet. If you are not eating a proper diet, that can contribute to severe IBS pain. Start by looking at what you are eating and make some significant changes. Eat less sugar and fatty foods, adding more fiber to your daily food intake. Eat more nutritious foods that are rich in vitamins. Try taking at least one yogurt a week, as the good bacteria in yogurt will help to destroy the bad bacteria in your colon that might be causing your severe IBS symptoms.
If you are not exercising, it is important that you begin a daily exercise regimen, but remember to always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Your body needs good diet and exercise if it is to be able to function properly.
Drink plenty of water each day, since your body needs the water to be at its’ peak performance. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. Eight glasses of water daily has long been the recommended water intake to help the human body function properly.
Try using probiotics and other vitamins to cover the gaps in your diet where you are not getting all of the right vitamins and nutrients you need each day.
Over-The-Counter Medicines
There are medicines that you can buy at your local drug store to help with your severe IBS pain and symptoms. Try using a fiber powder that you can put in your drink or sprinkle on your food each day, to add more fiber to your diet. There are also fiber pills that you can buy. If you suffer from diarrhea, you can buy some over-the-counter medicines that will help to relieve diarrhea bulk up your stool.
Prescription Medicines
If your severe IBS pain is really bad and you can get little relief with the available over-the-counter medicines, you will probably need to see a specialist, who can analyze your situation and provide the proper treatments and medications for your severe IBS symptoms and pain.
Depression
Don’t ignore your depression, because that must be addressed, as well. See a counselor and get some antidepressants to help ease the lonely feelings. You may just need to take this medicine for a while, at least, until your severe IBS pain and symptoms have decreased enough to allow you to return to normal activates.
Stress
Relieve as much stress in your life as possible by putting a stop on things that you do not really need to do. What activities were you involved in before your severe IBS pain got so bad? Cut out anything that is not really necessary. Stress can make your severe IBS symptoms worse, plus, it affects every other part of your life.
Conclusion
The symptoms and pain of severe IBS really takes a huge toll on your life, so be proactive. Do as much as you can on your end to handle the situation. Eat right, exercise, drinking plenty of water and reducing as much stress as you can will help every aspect of your life.
Next, see the professionals, such as a specialist in IBS, and a counselor. Cover all aspects of the disease, working at healing your whole body.