Lumping and Splitting. IBS and IBD; when does irritable become inflammatory?
As a medical student, I learnt that Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, now lumped together as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) were serious, life threatening, long term conditions affecting the bowel. … Continue reading
‘Sick and tired’ of rigid attitudes and flawed science.
‘The worst days, many hundreds of them, saw me so ill that I was unable to move my arms and legs, open my eyes or speak. For those hundreds … Continue reading
Can self stimulation of the vagus nerve in the neck suppress symptoms of IBS?
Vagal stimulation has been shown to reduce the prevalence of seizures in patients with epilepsy and abort migraine attacks, but until recently this has involved an operation with a significant … Continue reading
Trumping: just another bad smell.
This month, The New Scientist reported that when it comes to trumping, macho, muscle building protein generates the most noxious smell. Farts, as journalist Alice Klein explains, are mostly … Continue reading
Buscopan; one tablet, two prices, but does it work for you?
Buscopan is licenced by Boehringer Ingleheim, a large multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in Germany. It is the trade name for Hyoscine Butylbromide, a powerful antispasmodic, registered in 1956, that relieves … Continue reading
Faecal Calprotectin: a simple stool test to rule out colitis?
This is not so much a test for IBS but a test for not-IBS. Faecal Calprotectin (FC) is a marker released from white blood cells (leukocytes) that are exuded … Continue reading
Could you run an IBS Self Help Group?
According to patient testimony, IBS is not well managed by the NHS. Patients complain that they are not listened to, treated as if they are a nuisance, discharged as soon as … Continue reading
In Hertfordshire, IBS hardly merits follow up.
Recently, Robin Whittaker, one of the members of The IBS Network, told us of a letter he wrote to the Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). In it, he queried … Continue reading
Diarrhoea; the stress and meaning of it.
We have all experienced it; an important interview, the fear of being out of control, an unfair accusation, shocking news; they can all trigger an urge to evacuate our bowels. … Continue reading
When fat intolerance becomes Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.
Mary has had constipation-predominant IBS for most of her adult life. She also has severe intolerance to fats and more recently a lot of other foods, which give her … Continue reading
The Sensitive Gut 