Showing posts with label crohns and colitis UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crohns and colitis UK. Show all posts
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Former Miss Scotland finalist on the battle with ulcerative colitis that changed her life
A FORMER model and Miss Scotland finalist claims her looks have been ravaged by a debilitating medical condition.
Paula O’Neill was one of Scotland’s most beautiful women until her stunning looks were dealt a blow by a debilitating disease which affects around 146,000 people in the UK.
She has developed ulcerative colitis, a condition which has no cure.
She was prescribed steroids to help, but they have a host of side-effects, including giving her a “moon face” appearance.
Paula says side-effects are the least of her worries, as she just wants to be well again.
With regards her changed appearance, the Dundee 25-year-old says: “People who know me didn’t know what to think. I’m sure some of them thought, ‘Paula’s really let herself go!’
“One minute I’m far too thin and the next I’m a big girl, but it’s the medication that caused it and, believe me, it’s a price well worth paying.”
PaulaPaula had enjoyed a glamorous career as a model, taking part in exciting assignments and swimwear photo-shoots.
Her striking looks and slim frame made her a Miss Scotland candidate.
Five years ago she took her place in the beauty pageant’s glittering finale in Glasgow and things couldn’t have looked better.
The former Emirates cabin crew worker had just landed a place to train as a nurse in Dundee when the disease hit.
Paula was in severe pain off and on for two years, with stomach cramps, vomiting, cold sweats, and weight loss.
“At one point I lost a stone in just four weeks,” she said.
“I was so ill my weight plummeted from 8st 9lb to 7st 9lb.
“I couldn’t eat. The most I could manage sometimes was an ice pole or some jelly.
“I was going to the toilet 30 to 40 times a day and the stomach pains were unbearable. I was so frail and ill.
“This had been going on for two years. No one knew what was wrong with me.”
She added: “I was always told it was irritable bowel syndrome and I shouldn’t eat spicy food or have fizzy drinks.
“I was so ill.
“I went to my GP again who got me an appointment at Ninewells Hospital for a colonoscopy, – where they put a camera inside you to see what’s happening.
“I was in hospital for nine days and was given steroids by IV.
But these weren’t working so I was put on a drug called Infliximab and, within a day, we knew this was working for me.
“Instead of going to the toilet 20 times a day – I was going five times. It was great.”
Model Paula O’Neill has suffered from a mystery illness. The medicine she needs has made her increase weight But she had to continue the steroids and gradually reduce the dose from 40mg to 5mg, and that’s what changed her appearance.
Paula said: “They have side effects such as ‘moon face’, ‘camel back’ and ‘apple belly’ but that’s the least of my worries. I just wanted to be well again.
“My face was all bloated and I do have a hump of retained fluid between my shoulder blades.
“Everything puffs up but that will go when I stop the steroids.
“I feel ulcerative colitis –inflammatory bowel disease – is such a taboo subject. It’s like an invisible illness and some people just think you’re lazy or being over-dramatic.”
For someone who used to work in an industry dominated by looks, it’s no doubt been difficult.
But, thankfully, Paula says people have been kind.
“I was never trolled or bullied about my changing looks, but I know people were curious,” she said.
“I heard comments through the grapevine, but I also heard that people I don’t really know we’re messaging people I do know, asking what was wrong with me.”
Paula O’Neill (Andrew Cawley/Sunday Post)Fortunately Paula knows the benefits of good make-up and a visit to the hairdresser.
“When I’ve got my hair done and my make-up on I look fine,” she added.
“I don’t look as though I have a chronic lifelong illness where day-to-day tasks, journeys or outings take a lot of preparation.”
There is no known cause, and no known cure, but with treatment it can be kept under control.
UC is one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, the other is Crohn’s disease.
Paula says it can easily “take over a sufferer’s life”.
“They don’t know what causes it and although it can be treated with medication, finding something that works for you can be a bit hit-or-miss.
“Hopefully I’m now much better and should be able to control this with an IV drip every eight weeks at hospital for at least a year.
“It seems to have taken over my life. I’ve been off work now for 14 weeks and I’ve been in and out of hospital.
“After my weight went down to 7st 9lb, I was put on steroids and it shot up to 9st 9lb.”
Paula modelling Throughout her fight, Paula has felt indebted to the NHS.
“The drugs I’ve been given cost thousands and thousands of pounds in other countries,” she added.
“And the care and attention I’ve had from the medical staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee has been fantastic.
“I’m now working in healthcare at Ninewells and the first time I was admitted was into my own ward.
“It should have felt strange knowing everyone, but I was just so grateful to be in hospital.”
With her symptoms now coming under control, fun-loving Paula says she’s greatly looking forward to her first summer sun holiday in ages.
“Next week, I’m going off to Ibiza on holiday and for the first time in my life I’m having to think about wearing a swimsuit,” she said.
“I’ve never given that a second thought before as I’ve always been a slim girl, a size six or maybe an eight.
“I just want to get better and live my life as normal and, thankfully, that might happen now.”
There is no cure for colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) causes inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine, where tiny ulcers develop which may bleed and produce pus.
There is no known cause, and no known cure, but with treatment, it can be kept under control.
UC is one of the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, the other is Crohn’s disease.
UC is a chronic condition which means it’s ongoing and lifelong.
Symptoms include painful stomach cramps, diarrhoea, tiredness and fatigue, feeling feverish or unwell, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Around 146,000 people in the UK – one in 420 – have this. It can start at any age but most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 to 25. It affects men and women equally.
It is often compared to Crohn’s disease but they are completely different.
Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract. UC only affects the colon and rectum.
For most sufferers the most important part of organising a day out, is to know where the nearest toilets are.
Mesalazine - the most well known brand of which is Asacol is the first line of attack in both the treatment and maintenance of Ulcerative Colitis. It is part of a family of drugs called aminosalicylates - and can be delivered either orally or as an enema (know as topically - to the "outside" surface of the bowel). The drug is not effective immediately - and it is usually 2-3 weeks before the full benefits are seen.
Oral Mesalazine/Asacol
Oral mesalazine tablets used to treat Ulcerative Colitis are coated with an enteric coating. This coating protects the drug through the stomach and small intestine - and releases it when it reaches the less acid environment of the Colon. This form of mesalazine works best when the stools are reasonably solid - as when there is severe diarrhea the drug often passes through the colon with the enteric coating intact - so the drug isn't released.
Mesalazine Enemas
Mesalazine enemas are used to get the mesalazine directly in contact with both the rectum and descending colon. The best are probably Asacol foam enemas - capable of reaching nearly the whole of the descending colon. So long as these enemas can be retained for a reasonable time before you pass them they are extremely effective. They are particularly useful in the case of diarrhea - where oral mesalazine can become less effective
Colazide
Colazide is a more precise way of delivering mesalazine to the colon than enteric coated tablets. The enteric tablets rely upon change of acidity to release the drug - meaning that it can often be released in the small intestine. Colazide is mesalazine chemically bound to prevent it's absorption. Bacteria only found in the colon attack this chemical bond - and release the mesalazine.
There is fairly high confidence that there is little connection between poor diet and Ulcerative Colitis/Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This should not be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - caused almost entirely by a poor diet high in processed foods and low in dietary fibre.
In spite of this diet has a large part to play in minimizing the effects of Ulcerative Colitis - and in the treatment of flare-ups. Care must be taken though with Colitis - as a good diet for a person with colitis differs slightly from that of a person without colitis.
There is much confusion in the advice given to people about dietary fibre and ulcerative colitis. To understand this properly it is important to appreciate there are two distinct types of fibre. One - soluble fibre should be encouraged when suffering from colitis - the other - insoluble fibre tends to inflame colitis and should be avoided.
Insoluble Fibre - Detrimental for Colitis
Insoluble fibre is generally bad for ulcerative colitis/IBD sufferers. This is the type of fibre that most people would associate with a high fibre diet. Examples of this type of fibre include -
Wheat bran/wholemeal bread/bran flakes etc.
Cabbage
Broccoli
Sweet corn
Skins peel of vegetables such as apples and grapes
This type of fibre passes through the whole of the digestive tract without being digested - and hence has a tenancy to adhere to the wall of the colon when it is inflamed. This irritates the colon - and hence will aggravate any colitis. As a rough guide if you can see particles/undigested matter in the stool this is insoluble fibre.
Soluble Fibre - Beneficial for Colitis
Soluble fibre is very helpful for colitis and differs from insoluble fibre in that it is broken down/digested in the large intestine/colon. This produces a soft stool and good motions - but does not produce the type of particles that adhere to the bowel wall and cause inflammation. Good examples of soluble fibre include
The body of fruits - e.g. peeled apples, peeled pears
Peeled Vegetables - e.g. peeled potatoes and carrots
Oat bran - e.g. porridge/Ready Brek
White rice
Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis
Fish oils - especially from oily fish such as sardines and sild have been shown to have a beneficial effect on colitis. This is because they help to reduce inflammation generally - and they also have a topical effect on the bowel as they pass through. In order to include fish oils in the diet it is recommended that actual fish be used rather than dietary supplements. Sardines especially are very cheap, nutritional - and contain large amounts of the required oils.
Dairy products and Ulcerative Colitis
Those that suffer from ulcerative colitis should avoid excessive amounts of dairy products such as cheese/cream etc. This doesn't mean that they have to be avoided totally - just some common sense used. I would suggest that probably about 2-3 ounces in a day is about the limit. Quantities beyond this are likely to lead to lactose in the colon - which will encourage unhelpful bacteria and inflammation.
Foods to Avoid when you have active Ulcerative Colitis (Flare Up)
There are a number of foods which are best avoided during a flare up of Ulcerative Colitis - or when Colitis is active (i.e. blood or mucous in the stools). These are mainly foods that either include a high amount of insoluble fibre - or very high amounts of dairy fats-
Cabbage/sprouts
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Sweet Corn
Mushrooms
High Bran fibre items - such as wholemeal bread, and high fibre cereal
Raw onions
Tomatoes - especially the seeds
Soya Protein (TVP)
Onions - Especially raw onions
Cheese/cream (tends to cause excess acid/irritation in the gut)
It's interesting to me that this suggests one of the environmental factors that can predispose someone to having Crohn's is antibiotics.
I believe my Ulcerative Colitis was triggered by strong antibiotics. Bizarrely, I am now on antibiotics for life having developed bronchiectasis, following my colectomy.
Have you any of you felt a connection to your illness being caused by antibiotics?
Monday, 9 January 2017
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, you'll be hearing a lot of new words that might sound like a different language.
Crohn's and Colitis UK have a great 'A-Z' listing that will explain all the main medical terms used in the diagnosis and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Click here.
When I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, I was in my thirties, married with a young family. I slowly deteriorated and drifted in and out of depression - why me...why now...will I be healthy enough to enjoy life with my kids as they grow up? I'm pretty positive on the whole, but inside, I didn't manage those feelings very well.
I'm not sure if meditation or music like this would have helped, but I wish I had tried it. They are certainly helping life taste sweet now!
Have you any stories about how you cope or have coped with similar 'Why me?' feelings?
Can turmeric prevent or treat cancer?
This page is about turmeric and cancer. There is information about
Turmeric is a spice that is often used as a food flavouring in Asian dishes. It belongs to the ginger family. It is also known as Indian saffron, jiang huang, haridra, haldi, as the major ingredient of curry powder 2, and as a bright yellow orange food colouring agent (E100).
Turmeric grows in many Asian countries such as India. It has been used for many years in some herbal remedies. The main active ingredient is curcumin or diferuloyl methane.
Currently there is no research evidence to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer but early trials have shown some promising results.
Research into preventing cancer
A phase I clinical trial looked at giving curcumin to 25 patients with pre cancerous changes in different organs. This study seemed to show that curcumin could stop the precancerous changes becoming cancer.
Research has also shown that there are low rates of certain types of cancer in countries where people eat curcumin at levels of about 100 to 200 mg a day over long periods of time.
Research into treating cancer
A number of laboratory studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin does have anticancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cells.
A 2007 American study that combined curcumin with chemotherapy to treat bowel cancer cells in a laboratory showed that the combined treatment killed more cancer cells than the chemotherapy alone.
A 2007 American study in mice seemed to show that curcumin helped to stop the spread of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body.
Doctors think that curcumin stays in the digestive system and is absorbed by the cells in the bowel. To find out more, a small study in the UK looked at how curcumin is absorbed from the human gut into liver cells. This study looked at how much of the curcumin is absorbed into both cancer cells and normal cells. This was a very small study of people with bowel cancer that had spread to the liver. They were given curcumin for 7 days before surgery.
During the surgery doctors removed liver tissue and they then then measured the levels of curcumin in the tissue. The results showed that the level of curcumin absorbed into the liver was not high enough to have any anticancer effect. The researchers suggested that future clinical trials of curcumin should focus on preventing bowel tumours. Several studies have shown that curcumin taken as capsules does get absorbed by the gut and is present in the blood. But the amount in the blood is small.
An American phase 2 study reported in 2008. 25 patients had curcumin treatment and 21 had tumours that could be measured. In 2 patients their tumours shrank or remained stable. In some patients their levels of particular immune system chemicals that destroy cancer cells went up. But the researchers found that blood levels of curcumin were very low because it is not well absorbed from the gut. Scientists have since developed injectable, fat soluble forms of curcumin which may improve the results.
These studies look promising but we need to do more clinical trials in humans before we will know if curcumin has any potential to treat cancer in people.
A trial is currently under way in Puerto Rico to find out whether curcumin can shrink precancerous growths in patients with a genetic disorder that greatly increases their risk of bowel cancer.
It is important to remember that turmeric used in cooking is very safe. But we don't know how safe curcumin is when used for medical reasons. So far, research studies seem to show that it causes few or no side effects. But we don't know much about the side effects of taking it in large amounts to treat or prevent cancer.
There have been some reports of stomach pain if too much turmeric is swallowed and skin problems if it is taken for a long time. For these reasons we recommend that if you use curcumin for reasons other than in cooking, you should talk to your doctor first.
Risks of turmeric supplements
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning about the turmeric based food supplement Fortodol (also sold as Miradin). Fortodol has been found to contain the strong anti inflammatory drug nimesulide. Nimesulide can cause serious damage to the liver and is not licensed as a medicine in the UK. The Food Standards Agency in the USA states that taking products that contain unknown amounts of nimesulide could be very harmful.
Fortodol and Miradin are sold in the UK and on the internet as food supplements. The FSA advises anyone taking these products to stop doing so immediately, and contact their doctor if they have any signs of liver disease. The signs include jaundice, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness, stomach or abdominal pain, or loss of appetite.
Interesting article on turmeric! My Mum swore it had healing powers when I was a kid and it was always the 'go to' first aid product for cuts and grazes! Have you any experience of being treated with curcumin - good or bad?
The uncomfortable and distressing condition known as IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is something that affects about a third of the population at some time.
IBS is so disturbing for around 10 per cent of the population that they are forced to seek medical assistance.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the name given to a collection of uncomfortable and often distressing conditions that cause disruption of the digestive system - the gut. Symptoms include stomach cramps, spasms, pain, diarrhoea and constipation, bloating, swelling, and trapped wind.
Though it can affect anyone at any age, it most often affects those below the age of fifty. It also affects women more than it affects men.
IBS can cause such disempowering and distressing feelings that it has been linked to increased suicidal behaviour.
CAUSES OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
IBS is provoked when the nerves and muscles of the bowel fail to function as they should.
Medical researchers and doctors are unsure of the actual cause of IBS. It is acknowledged that stress and anxiety play a role, and also hormonal imbalances can play a part. Certain foods can also trigger a sensitivity that aggravates this condition.
When consulting your doctor with symptoms of IBS, he or she may recommend a variety of different tests. These could include tests such as those for lactose intolerance, and food sensitivities. Other laboratory tests and examinations might include - X-rays, CT scans, colonoscopies, and lower GI tests.
While the medical approach focuses on the symptoms themselves, there is little or no emphasis on the cause of those symptoms.
One 2011 study conducted by the Mayo Clinic found that the effects of psychological and emotional traumas may contribute to IBS in adults. Further, researchers from London's Holloway University confirmed that stress, anxiety and emotional upset worsens the symptoms of IBS.
HYPNOTHERAPY FOR IBS
There seems little doubt that the mind plays an important role in IBS - and so the mind must be involved in any solution to the problem.
Research has demonstrated that hypnosis therapy - hypnotherapy - is an effective means of managing and treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Using advanced hypnotherapy techniques and strategies, IBS can be successfully treated and the discomfort greatly eased. The hypnosis therapy process usually involves four to six sessions, depending on how you respond, with perhaps one or two follow-up sessions a few months later.
The good news is that if you, or someone you care about, have been experiencing Irritable Bowel Syndrome - IBS, then advanced hypnosis therapy can provide real help.
I found this fascinating. I was on various medical treatments for about 4 years trying to get my UC under long term control. I wish this had been around to help me understand what was going on then and before my colectomy/reversal.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
I found this article interesting:
Majid Ali M.D.
The Human Bowel - Seed, Feed, and Occasionally Weed Your Way Back to Health
What does your bowel have to do with arthritis, chronic disease, immune disorders, and other maladies? In my view, the most remarkable phenomenon in the entire field of human biology is this: A vast number of clinical problems that are seemingly unrelated to the bowel spontaneously resolve when the focus of clinical management turns to managing the bowel back to health!
In my experience I have found problems of extreme fatigue, mood swings, arthralgia (pain and stiffness in joints with or without joint swelling) resolve when the bowel issues are addressed? How often do we successfully prevent chronic headache; anxiety; palpitations; incapacitating PMS; recurrent attacks of vaginitis; asthma and skin lesions by correcting the abnormalities in the internal environment of the bowel?
Physicians who have learned to respect the bowel - as the ancients did - and care for their patients with a sharp focus on bowel issues will readily validate my personal (and fairly extensive) clinical experience.
The Bowel and the Immune System
Our immune defenses exist as plants in the soil of the bowel contents. The ancients seemed to have known this intuitively. I remember that the hakim (folk-doctor) in my village always prescribed laxatives for a headache. He prescribed remedies that seemed to work on the bowel for problems of the skin, joints, liver and other organs. Of course, I, then a medical school student, found it very amusing. It never occurred to me then why these folk-doctors would prescribe year after year remedies that couldn't work.
More important, from my present perspective, I never wondered why people accepted those remedies year after year if they afforded no relief. I was into the science of medicine then. I wasn't into finding out what worked and what didn't. Nor did I ever doubt the science of my professors who doled out prescriptions for drugs by the dozens for sheer symptom suppression.
That was then. And that was poor Pakistan.
Now I question the science of an average American family practitioner when he prescribes drugs for chronic bowel symptoms. How scientific is his use of antacids for symptoms of burning or pain in the pit of the stomach? How scientific is his use of antispasmodic drugs for abdominal cramps?
How scientific is his use of antidiarrheal drugs for diarrhea? How scientific is his use of steroids for inflammatory bowel disorders? Steroids suppress the immune system.
How scientific is it to further suppress the immune system for problems caused by an errant immune system in the first place?
How scientific is the use of anti-inflammatory agents, anxiolytic drugs, antidepressants, antispastic agents, antihistamines, and, of course, broad-spectrum antibiotics for treating various types of bowel disorders that we - by our own admission - do not understand the causes of?
The Universe of the Bowel
For many years I have studied a host of clinical syndromes in which the symptom- complexes can be related to events occurring in the bowel. As a hospital pathologist, I have had the opportunity to examine more than 11,000 bowel biopsies.
Every time I peered at a bit of bowel through a microscope and saw inflammation - colitis in common jargon - I wondered where and how it might have started. We pathologists know quite a bit about how a damaged bowel looks, but we know little, if anything, about the initial energetic-molecular events that set the stage for tissue damage. What is the cause of ulcerative colitis? Pathologists will tell you it is not known. What is the cause of Crohn's colitis? The answer: unknown. What is the cause of irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colitis? Unknown. What is the cause of microscopic colitis and collagenous colitis? The answer is the same.
Why is it that we do not know the cause of any of these types of colitis? The reason is we search for answers in the damaged structure after the fact rather than in the events preceding the damage. None of these "diseases" can be understood except with ecologic thinking - a Bowel Ecosystem - Bowel Ecology.
LAPs AND TAPs: THE GOOD AND BAD GUYS OF THE BOWEL
LAPs and TAPs are my abbreviations for lactic acid-producing and toxic agents- producing microbes in the bowel. LAPs preserve the normal bowel ecosystem, TAPs disrupt it.
LAPs confer many important host defenses upon the bowel. TAPs are equally versatile in their functions and produce a very large number of noxious substances in the bowel. Not unexpectedly, LAPs-TAPs dynamics are profoundly influenced by food choices.
Bacteria are living beings capable of executing an enormous number of biochemical reactions. Farmers used bacteria and fungi to turn compost into fertilizer long before biologists understood the metabolism of these single-celled bodies. A partial list of such reactions brought about by the normal bowel flora includes production of ammonia, conversion of amino acids into amines and phenols, inactivation of digestive enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin and other enzymes located on the surface of cells lining the gut, deconjugation of hormones such as estrogen and bile acids, denaturation of bile steroids, breakdown of food flavonoids, hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in food, utilization of certain amino acids such as B12, conversion of some compounds into carcinogens, and many other enzymatic reactions.
LAPs:
First and foremost, LAPs keep TAPs out. It appears that this essential role is played through different mechanisms that include simple physical crowding out of the potential pathogens as well as production of antimicrobial substances. L. acidophilus produces acidophilin, acidolin and bacterlocin; L. plantartium produces lactolin; L. bulgaricus produces bulgarican; and L. brevis secretes lactobacillin.
Second, they produce many life span molecules. Notable among them are members of the vitamin B complex, especially folic acid and biotin and vitamin K. Lactobacillic acid is an important fatty acid that is produced by some lactic-acid producers and is then converted into essential fatty acids.
Another notable molecule in this context is tryptophan - this is likely to be one of the mechanisms by which yogurt has been reported to be beneficial in cases of chronic anxiety and other conditions.
Third, they play a pivotal role in digestion. Lactose intolerance is a very common clinical problem. It is often not fully appreciated that a major portion of lactose ingested in dairy products is actually broken down to simpler sugar by lactase enzymes produced by lactic acid producers. Lactic acid and lactase producers also play important roles in protein digestion. This is one of the primary reasons protein intolerance is so common among individuals with altered states of bowel ecology.
Fourth, LAPs actively break down some toxins produced during metabolism such as ammonia, free phenols and polypeptides.
Fifth, LAPs normalize bowel transit time and are effective in controlling infant and adult diarrhea.
Sixth, the antiviral and antifungal roles played by LAPs, having long been empirically suspected by nutritionists and holistic physicians, have recently been documented with research studies.
Seventh, the cholesterol-lowering effects of fermented milk have been attributed, among other mechanisms, to orotic acid, which facilitates fat metabolism in the liver.
RESTORATION OF BOWEL ECOLOGY
Disruptions of bowel ecology can be arrested and reversed only with a gardener's sense of tending to the soil, nurturing the plants, and respect for the sunshine. That, of course, is the theme of this chapter. The sun-related factors - chronic anger, hostility, conflict, and a sense of being a victim - both slow down the bowel transit time and significantly reduce perfusion in different parts of the alimentary tract. Those anatomically-mediated responses, of course, form the core of the so-called stress response
The Seed-Feed-and-Occasionally-Weed Approach to Restoration of Bowel Ecology
Seeding is the repopulation of the gut with microflora that have been destroyed by indiscriminate use of antibiotics or crowded out by the unrestrained proliferation of yeast and bacterial organisms such as the Proteus and Pseudomonas species.
The "guardian angel bacteria" for bowel ecology belong to the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species. Some other species also play protective roles. In health, these organisms provide the necessary counterbalance to the growth of yeast and pathogenic bacterial organisms. Beyond this, these organisms produce several molecules that play critical roles in our molecular defense systems.
Feeding is the use of some growth factors that the normal bowel flora require to flourish. These include biotin, pantetheine, Vitamin B12 and others. We clinicians have used Vitamin B12 for decades with good clinical results. One of the principal mechanisms by which vitamin B12 exerts its myriad beneficial effects is by serving as a "growth hormone" for health-preserving bowel flora
Occasional weeding is the use of several natural substances that are known to suppress the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and yeasts. During initial treatment, I frequently use oral nystatin or fluoconazole (Diflucan) for short periods of two to three weeks, partly for diagnostic and partly for therapeutic reasons (how a person with one of the ABE states responds to these agents is useful in assessing the degree of damage to bowel ecology). Extensive clinical experience has convinced me that long-term clinical results are far superior when the use of drugs is kept to a minimum.
Simple-minded efforts to "get rid of the yeast" with nystatin and "yeast- free diets" usually yield poor long-term results. Cold hands are associated with "cold bowel." Cold hands and cold bowel are the result of oxidatively-damaged thyroid enzymes (underactive thyroid gland), oxidatively-damaged autonomic nerve cells and fibers (dysautonomia) or an oxidatively-overdriven adrenalin gland. None of these problems can be effectively managed with yeast-free diets and Nystatin. Of course, there are other essential issues of nutrition, environment, food and mold allergy, and fitness. In the management of battered bowel ecosystems, it is essential to consider the biologic individuality of the patient. It is necessary to adopt an integrated, long-term approach that addresses all relevant issues of bowel flora and parasites, bowel transit time, bowel ischemic patterns, IgE-mediated disorders related to candida and other yeast antigens, malabsorptive dysfunctions, and secondary systemic consequences.
Physicians who are not familiar with natural therapies for managing chronic bowel and gastric disorders are in for a pleasant surprise. A very large number of effective natural agents are available to them. Extensive clinical experience has convinced me that for nonlife-threatening, chronic disorders, natural therapies are far superior to the huge array of drugs that are foisted upon us.
Following are important consideration in integrative management of chronic gastric and bowel disorders:
First, all patients should be offered standard drug therapies for acute disorders when any question exists about impending clinical crises or risk of serious complications.
Second, all patients managed with natural agents should be prepared for slow and sustained recovery over weeks and months. It is my practice not to wean my patients off drugs prescribed by other physicians. Rather, my clinical strategy is to go for gentle restoration of bowel and gastric ecologies. The patients sense clinical improvement within several days or some weeks. It is at this time that they ask me if they should begin to reduce the dose of drugs they are taking, and I am only too happy to provide guidance on how to do so gradually.
Third, all patients are required to attend a full-day workshop in which I give detailed information about the devastating impact of internal and external environments on our biology. In addition, nutrition and exercise classes are given by the nursing staff at the institute.
Fourth, all patients must be managed with an overarching philosophy of holistic molecular relatedness in human biology. I repeat this essential point several times at the risk of offending the reader because it is the very essence of the new medicine that the problems of the 21st century call for.
Fifth, and this is of critical importance for the general reader, a self-help approach to health requires guidance from a knowledgeable professional. Safety first. This is the first principle of molecular medicine as it must be for all other types of medicine.
Majid Ali, M.D., has been long recognized as a leading researcher and clinician in the field of integrative medicine. He is the author of many scientific works, health books, and the 12 volume exhaustive and comprehensive Principles and Practices of Integrative Medicine at http://www.majidali.com and http://www.ethicsinmedicine.us
St. Mark's Hospital Foundation supports the work of St. Mark's Hospital in Harrow which is the world's first specialist bowel disease hospital. Set up to fund what the NHS can’t, the money we raise from the general public goes to ensure vital research, education and training goes ahead each year, keeping St. Mark’s at the very pinnacle of success.
St Mark's is where I was treated for my ulcerative colitis and where my colectomy and reversal were performed. That was in 2002 and I am still fitter and stronger than I ever imagined I could be.
Incredible place with incredible doctors and nurses. If you have been treated there, what was your experience?
There are a few things you can do to help keep symptoms of ulcerative colitis under control and reduce your risk of complications.
Dietary advice
Although a specific diet isn't thought to play a role in causing ulcerative colitis, some changes to your diet can help control the condition.
For example, you may find it useful to:
eat small meals – eating five or six smaller meals a day, rather than three main meals, may help control your symptoms
drink plenty of fluids – it's easy to become dehydrated when you have ulcerative colitis, as you can lose a lot of fluid through diarrhoea. Water is the best source of fluids. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will make your diarrhoea worse – and fizzy drinks, which can cause flatulence (gas)
take food supplements – ask your GP or gastroenterologist if you need food supplements, as you might not be getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet
Keep a food diary
Keeping a food diary that documents what you eat can also be helpful. You may find you can tolerate some foods while others make your symptoms worse. By keeping a record of what and when you eat, you should be able to identify problem foods and eliminate them from your diet.
However, you shouldn't eliminate entire food groups (such as dairy products) from your diet without speaking to your care team, because you may not get enough of certain vitamins and minerals.
If you want to try a new food, it's best to only try one type a day, as it's then easier to spot foods that cause problems.
Low-residue diet
Temporarily eating a low-residue or low-fibre diet can sometimes help improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis during a flare-up. These diets are designed to reduce the amount and frequency of the stools you pass.
Examples of foods that can be eaten as part of a low-residue diet include:
white bread
refined (non-wholegrain) breakfast cereals, such as cornflakes
white rice, refined pasta and noodles
cooked vegetables (but not the peel, seeds or stalks)
lean meat and fish
eggs
If you're considering trying a low-residue diet, make sure you talk to your care team first.
Stress relief
Although stress doesn't cause ulcerative colitis, successfully managing stress levels may reduce the frequency of symptoms. The following advice may help:
exercise – this has been proven to reduce stress and boost your mood; your GP or care team can advise on a suitable exercise plan
relaxation techniques – breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good ways of teaching yourself to relax
communication – living with ulcerative colitis can be frustrating and isolating; talking to others with the condition can help (see below)
Emotional impact
Living with a long-term condition that is as unpredictable and potentially debilitating as ulcerative colitis can have a significant emotional impact.
In some cases, anxiety and stress caused by ulcerative colitis can lead to depression. Signs of depression include feeling very down, hopeless and no longer taking pleasure in activities you used to enjoy. If you think you might be depressed, contact your GP for advice.
You may also find it useful to talk to others affected by ulcerative colitis, either face-to-face or via the internet. Crohn's and Colitis UK is a good resource, with details of local support groups and a large range of useful information on ulcerative colitis and related issues.
Fertility
The chances of a woman with ulcerative colitis becoming pregnant aren't usually affected by the condition. However, infertility can be a complication of surgery carried out to create an ileo-anal pouch.
This risk is much lower if you have surgery to divert the small intestine through an opening in your abdomen (an ileostomy).
Pregnancy
The majority of women with ulcerative colitis who decide to have children will have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby.
However, if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy you should discuss it with your care team. If you become pregnant during a flare-up, or have a flare-up while pregnant, there's a risk you could give birth early (premature birth) or have a baby with a low birthweight.
For this reason, doctors usually recommend trying to get ulcerative colitis under control before getting pregnant.
Most ulcerative colitis medications can be taken during pregnancy, including corticosteroids, most 5-ASAs and some types of immunosuppressant medication.
However, there are certain medications (such as some types of immunosuppressant) that may need to be avoided as they're associated with an increased risk of birth defects.
In some cases, your doctors may advise you to take a medicine that isn't normally recommended during pregnancy. This might happen if they think the risks of having a flare-up outweigh the risks associated with the medicine.
Introduction
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. It can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
The symptoms vary between individuals and affect some people more severely than others. They tend to come and go in periods lasting a few days to a few months at a time, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods.
You may find some of the symptoms of IBS ease after going to the toilet and opening your bowels.
IBS is thought to affect up to one in five people at some point in their life, and it usually first develops when a person is between 20 and 30 years of age. Around twice as many women are affected as men.
The condition is often lifelong, although it may improve over several years.
Read more about the symptoms of IBS.
When to see your GP
See your GP if you think you have IBS symptoms, so they can try to determine the cause.
Your GP may be able to identify IBS based on your symptoms, although blood tests may be needed to rule out other conditions.
What causes IBS?
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but most experts think that it's related to increased sensitivity of the gut and problems digesting food.
These problems may mean that you are more sensitive to pain coming from your gut, and you may become constipated or have diarrhoea because your food passes through your gut either too slowly or too quickly.
Psychological factors such as stress may also play a part in IBS.
Living with IBS
IBS is unpredictable. You may go for many months without any symptoms, then have a sudden flare-up.
The condition can also be painful and debilitating, which can have a negative impact on your quality of life and emotional state. Many people with IBS will experience feelings of depression and anxiety, at some point.
Speak to your GP if you have feelings of depression or anxiety that are affecting your daily life. These problems rarely improve without treatment and your GP can recommend treatments such as antidepressants or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can help you cope with IBS, as well as directly treating the condition.
With appropriate medical and psychological treatment, you should be able to live a normal, full and active life with IBS.
IBS does not pose a serious threat to your physical health and does not increase your chances of developing cancer or other bowel-related conditions.
By 
Majid Ali M.D.
