Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Ibs I

Question:
KMottus mentioned an autoimmune component to IBS. I've never seen literature supporting this. Can you or anyone site some studies verifying the autoimmune issue?

Answer:
IBS is a learned response of the subconscious mind.  You will find that most so called autoimmune problems are really a function of the subconscious mind. If your pancreas or your thyroid are truly no-functioning then you don't have IBS.  You have some non-functioning body parts.  With IBS the symptoms can't be traced to something that is truly non-functioning.  You have a diagnosable illness.  IBS is when there is no other diagnose. You contend that IBS is controlled/caused by a sub-conscious reaction. Reputable medical opinion seems to contradict your statement. As chief of gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Marvin Schuster says: Old-time doctors used to tell IBS patients the problem was all in their mind, says Schuster. Medical terms once used for IBS-- spastic colon, nervous colon, or unstable colon--even connoted a neurosis, which was very disillusioning to patients. Irritable bowel syndrome is an illness. IBS is a disease of the gut's enterochromafin cells and their respective 5HT4 receptors. The distribution of serotonin in the gut is 95% and in the brain is 5%. This is why we see anxiety, panic and depression as part of the IBS. I have tried a 5HT3 receptor agonist with a little success for my IBS, the drug is Remeron. The benefit did not last. Now I am trying a new 5HT4 receptor agonist called Zelnorm. It is too early to evaluate but so far the results are very favorable with less pain, bloating and constipation. While the drug is intended for use by women, male patients are finding success with Zelnorm, made by Novartis Pharm.