Irritable bowel syndrome…a lifetime diagnosis?
Have you left doctors appointments looking for digestive relief only to be sent home with a handout on a diet you’ve tried in the past and a vague diagnosis, like IBS, with no answers as to why you’re symptoms are occurring?
If you have, you are definitely not alone. This happens way too often in the healthcare system. Someone struggling with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no exception.
I have talked to so many people that have had the same experience, especially after receiving a diagnosis of IBS. The conversation around IBS is usually limited and leaves you with more questions than answers.
You probably realized that medications are fine for temporary relief, but what about the long term solution? You don’t want to be tied down to rely on MiraLAX forever.
This is where I think naturopathic medicine SHINES.
As a naturopathic doctor, I see how much can be done for someone struggling with IBS. So much so, I hosted a webinar on IBS and the naturopathic targets, get the replay here. Just because you have this diagnosis, doesn’t mean it’s the end point. There is still a root cause that needs to be discovered through investigations like stool analysis or SIBO breath test. Want to learn more about SIBO? Check out the blog post here.
Lab Testing
I often go based on my patients symptoms, but a go-to is usually a stool test. What do we usually see on a stool test for someone with irritable bowel syndrome?
Dysbiosis is a big finding in a stool analysis when someone is having bloating and/or issues with bowel movements.
What is dysbiosis? This is a term used to describe an imbalance of the gut flora from the normal. There are a few different types of dysbiosis including:
Overgrowth: some of the normal flora grows in excess
Displacement: the normal flora moves away from where it should be (large intestine) and takes over in another place like the small intestine (SIBO)
Pathogenic: species that aren’t beneficial will come in and take over, stealing nutrients from the good flora and causing a depletion
Treating the dysbiosis is important because a lack of beneficial bacteria can cause a disruption in your gut barrier. The bacteria are also important for producing nutrients like vitamin K, B5, and B12. Dysbiosis has also been linked to cardiovascular disease and type 1 diabetes (Tang & Hazen, 2014, Scott, et. al., 2017).
Another area that I look at on stool analysis with my clients is inflammation. The proper balance of microbes is important for moderating inflammation. If there isn’t a balance, then chances are there is going to be more inflammation. Inflammation will cause an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or even leaky gut (Weiss, 2017). Leaky gut causes a whole other set of symptoms like headaches, joint pain, brain fog, asthma, autoimmune disease, and nutrient deficiencies.
Your Nervous System
I love checking in with my client’s nervous system because often times they’re having issues with sleep, anxiety, depression, or all the above. As a population, we have become so disconnected from what we eat that I like to teach my clients how to reconnect with their food and body. Once we master the basics, then moving through protocols that help decrease dysbiosis and calm down inflammation is important.
I like to take a look at the whole person. How are each of the systems (digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system, etc) functioning together? Your gut has more influence on your body than most people realize. Did you know that the gut produces 400x more melatonin than your pineal gland (thought once be the biggest producer of melatonin)? Your gut is also a center for the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin (Bubenik, 2002).
Most importantly, when it comes to treatment, I have found starting at the basics is ALWAYS helpful. If there are basic needs of the body that are not being met, then chances are we are going to have a hard time with any healing protocol. Sometimes your body may be missing some nutrients, feelings of safety, or has a little bit extra of something that is increasing stress on the body, causing symptoms. Removing the obstacles that are preventing you from healing is an important step in healing that brings us back to the basics of how your body functions.
talk soon,
Dr. Alyssa
Sources:
Bubenik GA. Gastrointestinal melatonin: localization, function, and clinical relevance. Dig Dis Sci. 2002 Oct;47(10):2336-48. doi: 10.1023/a:1020107915919. PMID: 12395907.
Scott FW et al (2017) Where genes meet environment-integrating the role of gut luminal contents, immunity and pancreas in type 1 diabetes. Transl Res 179:183–198
Tang WH, Hazen SL (2014) The contributory role of gut microbiota in cardiovascular disease. J Clin Invest 124(10):4204–4211
Weiss GA, Hennet T. Mechanisms and consequences of intestinal dysbiosis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2017 Aug;74(16):2959-2977. doi: 10.1007/s00018-017-2509-x. Epub 2017 Mar 28. PMID: 28352996.
