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Living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.A positive attitude makes living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome less a problem. |
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Living with IBS.Fortunately the majority of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have predominantly mild symptoms with exacerbations, which last a while then settle back to the usual level. There are, however, people who, as a result of their Irritable Bowel Syndrome, live a very restricted life. Things that others do as a regular routine during their day, cause anxiety, and for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferer to do them calls for significant planning.For an IBS sufferers shopping can be a big problem especially if it is too far from the nearest toilet. If there is a pub nearby, Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients most likely will shop when the pub is open because they know where the nearest toilet is. Simple things such as a car or bus journeys, walks in the park, going out with friends, pose a problem for a person with IBS. It may restrict the IBS patient to a limited choice of jobs. It can also cause insecurity as Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers are absent from work very often when their symptoms are really bad. There is always the risk of faecal incontinence with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Bloating and abdominal pains also cause problems for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Sufferers. They may suddenly have to stop what they are doing because of the sudden pain. Bloatedness makes sufferers very conscious that people are looking at them. If wind and rumbling tummy from their Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a problem, the IBS patients will avoid meeting people in enclosed areas, and often opt for wide-open spaces. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, however, creates a big problem in the minds of patients. Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are worrying, yet there is no cause, no treatment that works for everyone, and no cure, and in only a few cases it goes away on its own. If the patients are lucky they will find a caring and understanding GP but as a rule most Doctors see Irritable Bowel Syndrome as a disease that will not cause any long-term harm. They also feel that if Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients have stress and they have a flare up, then it is the stress that is the problem and that the patients should learn to control their stress. Often with patients, it is the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome that cause the stress. Doctors are likely to say to a patient, "Sort your stress out and your Irritable Bowel Syndrome will improve". In addition, friends and family do not really understand Irritable Bowel Syndrome and what the IBS patients are really going through. Often they feel that sufferers bring on their problem themselves, and that they should do something about it. Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers need good support and understanding. It is not surprising that Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients develop psychological problems as their Illness continues relentlessly. The best thing that can happen to an Irritable Bowel Syndrome patient is to stumble on to someone who understands IBS or better still have a special interest. This is why IBS support group are so popular. Individuals know they are in contact with others who have experienced the same or similar problems with their IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers find great comfort in IBS Self Help Groups. In USA, a survey in 1989 found 6.25 million people in Self Help Groups. These IBS groups help patients to come to terms and understand the psychological and social effects of their Illness. Advice from someone who has personal experience of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very weighty, and most people (80%) feel better from sharing thoughts in IBS Self Help Groups. However, because of the way Irritable Bowel Syndrome presents itself and is perceived, patients can develop associated problems. For example, if a patient with diarrhoea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome is in the town centre, she knows where her old faithful toilet is. Suppose that on that day, the toilet is closed because of flooding caused by vandals. When she arrives at the public convenience and finds out what has happened, what do you think will happen? She will start to become panicky. Her first thought will be about her Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Her biggest fear is that she could soil herself. Her heart will speed up, her breathing will become short and rapid, beads of perspiration will start running down her body, and she will feel sick and faint. She knows there is a real chance that because of her Irritable Bowel Syndrome, she can become incontinent. To her this is perhaps one of the most frightening and embarrassing thing she will ever experience. She will feel helpless. She will rush for the nearest taxi to get home. This experience will have a psychological effect on her. She could become apprehensive about going back into the town centre. She may even avoid going again. The biggest worry for Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients is faecal incontinence because of the enormous embarrassment. It is socially unacceptable. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome can go to extreme lengths to guard against accidents. They may wear special padded underwear in case of an accident. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can leave a sufferer housebound. Isolation is not an uncommon outcome in IBS. When Irritable Bowel Syndrome becomes refractory or persistent, patients often develop anxiety and depression. They develop fatigue and tiredness, and disturbed sleep. Most severely affected sufferers do not see a time when their Irritable Bowel Syndrome will be better. The picture in the mind of such a sufferer is very bleak. This resignation often leads to isolation. On the rare occasion suicidal ideation can develop in severe or refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dr.Phil Hariram.
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Caraway.
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Copyright www.healingibs.com. A website for
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS).
Copyright www.healingibs.com. A website for
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS).