Heather's IBS Newsletter ~ For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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One of the best avenues for actually treating IBS through a mind-body approach is hypnotherapy, and we recently had an astonishing letter from a woman named Marilyn who had literally tried almost everything - all to no avail - to help her IBS. Thanks to gut-directed hypnotherapy she finally has her life back, and she's so grateful she now spends her time helping others with IBS.

Hypnotherapy is the ONLY current treatment for IBS that holds the potential of actually curing the underlying brain-gut dysfunction, and Marilyn's letter encouraged another reader, Stephanie, to share her story below. I hope Stephanie inspires you to explore this terrific therapy.

Heather,

I, too, am a testimony for the IBS Audio 100 Program for self-hypnosis. Like Marilyn, the letter writer in a previous newsletter, I tried it as a last resort - out of desperation.

The first thing I noticed was a change in my thought pattern and my reactions to stressful situations. Then I slowly began to see a change in my bowel movement. The changes went back and forth for me for a while because I'd just started a new job that was very stressful, along with the fact that I am a full time wife and mother who's taking a full course load in college. So I knew that if was to work for me, it had to be pretty good.

It was difficult for me to stay on track with the schedule at times, but I was persistent because I knew that this was something I had to do for myself. With such a busy schedule, I was always tired when I listened to it and would fall asleep every time. Thank goodness hypnotherapy works on the subconscious, allowing the subject to totally relax. I began to see a total healing in about 75 days.

For the first time in years, I have eaten a full tossed salad as a main course, ice cream and other things that I had sworn off because of IBS. My only concern now is keeping my weight down. I commend Michael Mahoney for a terrific, effective program. It works. It truly works. It is worth the money. There is no reason for people to suffer unnecessarily.

Thanks for all that you do. I hope that others will listen as well.

Stephanie Norton

Thank you, Stephanie! I am so thrilled to hear you're doing better! ~ Heather

Did you miss the last reader letter from Marilyn, whose journey and success with IBS hypnotherapy dramatically saved her life? Find it here...

The Best Gut-Directed Self-Hypnosis Program for All IBS Symptoms


Gives an average 85% reduction of pain and bowel dysfunction symptoms.
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New IBS-Diarrhea Drug in Development in Japan
Astellas Pharma, Japan's third-biggest drug maker, has said it would give highest development priority to three new medicines, including one for IBS. Newly appointed president Masafumi Nogimori told a news conference on the company's research and development that Astellas will aim for speedy development of YM060 to treat irritable bowel syndrome. YM060, which the company sees as more effective in diarrhea and lower bowel symptoms than competitors' products, is being filed for approval in Japan and is in phase II trials in Europe. Go here for comprehensive information about all available medications for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Go here for more information about this study...

Prevalence and Incidence of Chronic Constipation
Two studies presented during this year's Digestive Disease Week conference addressed the prevalence and incidence of chronic constipation. The first was a multinational study conducted by Wald and colleagues involving 13,958 persons from 7 different countries. The study authors demonstrated that constipation is highly prevalent worldwide, with rates ranging from 14% to 18% in France, Brazil, South Korea, and the United States. It is interesting to note that rates in 3 European countries were lower (5% in Germany and 8% in both Italy and the United Kingdom), although the investigators did not comment on why this may be. In all 7 countries, constipation was more prevalent in individuals aged 60 years and older. Go here for a review of the 5 Constipation Frustrations.

Go here for more information about this study...

Probiotics Help Chronic Constipation
The pathogenesis of constipation remains to be completely defined, although the condition is commonly categorized as normal-transit constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, and slow-transit constipation. The role of bacteria in the generation of constipation symptoms has begun to receive considerable attention. In an interesting study in Gastroenterology involving 22 patients with slow-transit constipation documented by radio-opaque markers, randomized subjects received either Lactobacillus casei or placebo for 4 weeks. Measurement of colonic transit time was repeated after 4 weeks. Patients in the Lactobacillus group had an objective improvement in colonic transit time from 95.6 hours to 77 hours, primarily due to more rapid transit through the rectosigmoid colon. The study authors did not report symptom response and did not report whether colonic transit time worsened after Lactobacillus treatment had stopped. Go here for information about prebiotic Acacia Tummy Fiber, which encourages the growth of probiotics in the gut.

Go here for more information about this study...

Biofeedback for Functional Constipation
In a recent study in Gastroenterology, patients meeting the Rome II criteria for chronic constipation were randomized to a usual care group (lifestyle and dietary recommendations along with general advice) or a biofeedback group (usual care and 6 sessions of biofeedback for presumed pelvic floor dysfunction every 2 weeks). Sixty patients entered the study and were randomly and equally assigned to 1 of the 2 treatment groups.

After treatment, the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements increased in both groups to similar frequencies. However, the biofeedback group had a significant reduction in straining, feelings of incomplete evacuation, bloating, and laxative use. The results of this study are intriguing because they support the view that pelvic floor dysfunction is a significant cause of constipation, either alone or in conjunction with normal-transit or slow-transit constipation. Thus, a treatment program for presumed pelvic floor dysfunction can yield significant benefits without the need to objectively measure patients using anorectal manometry. Go here for information about the brain-gut dysfunction that underlies functional constipation and diarrhea both.

Go here for more information about this study...

Looking for more IBS research and news? Check the IBS Research Library!

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The IBS Patient Symposium
"Are there any medical conferences about IBS that are for patients, not doctors?"

Yep - there is one, and it should be terrific. It's also coming up very quickly, so if you're in the Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, make plans to attend asap.

Every year, the UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders (quite literally one of the very best IBS research and treatment center in the US) hosts a patient symposium. This year, it's on Saturday, July 15, and the theme is "Understanding IBS." Douglas Drossman, MD and Bill Whitehead, PhD, two of the leading functional bowel disorder specialists in the country, are the founders of the symposium and active participants. Olaf Palsson, PsyD has done wonderful studies on hypnotherapy for IBS, and he is also one of the participants. I've met all three of these men, and they were kind, gracious, and genuinely interested in helping IBS patients.

The day-long event features multiple presentations on understanding and treating IBS, with topics as varied as low-dose antidepressants, how to talk to your doctor, and pediatric concerns. There will be in-depth sessions on functional GI disorders and what, exactly, an IBS diagnosis means. The symposium will also cover causes and risk factors for IBS, as well as IBS medications.

One of the most exciting elements is the coverage of behavioral and alternative treatments such as hypnotherapy and biofeedback. The UNC has helped pioneer gut-directed hypnosis treatments for IBS and fought to push this therapy into the mainstream. They have conducted research studies with the center's patients and they help to train hypnotherapists around the country in IBS protocols. I think their efforts in this area are going to do for IBS hypnotherapy in the US what Michael Mahoney has done for this treatment in the UK, and I'm thrilled that they've devoted symposium sessions to this subject. It is sure to be one of the most interesting presentations of the day.

Finally, there are also question and answer sessions so you can ask whatever you like!

If you're interested in attending, call Kirsten Nyrop at 919-966-0289 and tell her Heather's IBS Newsletter sent you!

~ Heather

Did you miss the last "Ask Heather" and an update to IBS diagnostic criteria? Find it here...

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