Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) in Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME

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Why do they go together??

Most often fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) go together, no one really knows the reason behind this, but we do know that all the three conditions can include, imbalances of the chemical serotonin, although in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome the imbalance is in brain while in IBS the imbalance is in the gut.

Like Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome itself is very debilitating and can cause a lot of restrictions on your diet and your lifestyle.

It is so important to treat your irritable bowel syndrome as any pain or stress can aggravate your symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Some effort is needed to treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

What is irritable bowel syndrome??
Irritable bowel syndrome can lead to urgent diarrhea and constipation or can have alternating bouts of each. While most of people suffering from fibromyalgia do not have abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome pain is similar to the pain of fibromyalgia.

Your intestines do not function properly in irritable bowel syndrome. The intestine itself is fine, but when it comes to intestinal stretching and movement some people may have a lower pain tolerance or it may b possible that they have disordered intestinal muscles.

Researchers do not know the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome but they do know that it starts after severe gastroentritis (so called stomach flu) or after an extremely stressful event. Researchers are currently working out on brain gut relation in order to find the link between stress and irritable bowel syndrome.

Why do these illnesses go together??

The precise answer to why these conditions go together is nobody knows the reason. The long answer is, at this stage, speculative. Similarities that bear looking at include:

>>All three conditions may involve serotonin imbalances.

>>irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome can begin after another illness.

>>Fibromylagia and irritable bowel syndrome are both strongly linked to stress.

Right know we do not know the exact cause of all these conditions, after knowing the exact cause and mechanism we can understand the link between them. However based on research the emerging umbrella term is central senstivity syndromes.

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

Any unpleasant abdominal symptoms you can think of include irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Besides constipation and diarrhea major symptoms include:

>>Nausea and vomiting

>>Gas

>>Bloating

>>Abdominal distention

Symptoms not associated with Irritable bowel syndrome include

>>Bloody stool

>>Anemia

>>Pain and cramping that keeps you awake and wakes you up

>>significant, unintentional weight loss

Talk to your doctor, anytime you have a marked change in bowel function.

Diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome

It is a diagnosis of exclusion; this is the only thing common with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it means it has to be based on symptoms rather than test.

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition but there are a lot of options that can make you feel better.

Drug treatment for irritable bowel syndrome generally include

>>Prescription diarrhea medications

>>Prescription constipation medications

>>over-the-counter medications

>>dietary changes

>>stress management techniques

If you strictly follow the treatment plan it can minimize your symptoms, which means they will have much less impact on your fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Having irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome

Make sure all your doctors and pharmacists know the medications, supplements, and dietary limitations you face when you are dealing with multiple conditions.

The good news is that irritable bowel syndrome treatment does not conflict with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome treatment. Focus on healthy diet that can be beneficial to your overall health.

Although we have all learned to keep” bathroom talks” private, there is no need be embarrassed about your digestive symptoms, that can keep you from getting the help and support that you need to get your irritable bowel syndrome under better control. Talk openly about your symptoms to your doctor, so you can come up with a better treatment plan. Seek out irritable bowel syndrome groups online so that you will not feel like you are alone in dealing with this frustrating problem. Taking a matter of fact approach to your irritable bowel syndrome will help to lower your stress level and serve to protect your self esteem.

For reference: By Adrienne Dellwo via Verywell

For support and Discussion join the group “Living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness”

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