Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Gluten Intolerance
Getting an IBS diagnosis is like being told that your headache is caused by a painful pounding in your head. The doctor might even give you a Tylenol to make the pain go away. And if it doesn’t, he will probably tell you that you are under a lot of stress. When I was told I had irritable bowel syndrome the doctor explained to me that it was a psychosomatic manifestation of my stress. She then advised me to do more exercise to get rid of my stress, gave me some pills to take away the pain, and tried to send me home. When I interrupted her to explain that IBS is not caused by stress, it is the cause of my stress, she rolled her eyes and repeated herself two octaves louder. So I went home. The pills worked to relieve the pain of the IBS but they didn’t relieve the other symptoms. I was very frustrated.
Then I did a little research on the internet. It seems IBS is not usually caused by stress, it’s generally caused by a food intolerance or a parasitic infection. One of the major food tolerances associated with IBS is gluten intolerance. In the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, researchers from the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute in Canada and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota explain that gluten sensitivity is a mechanism that causes symptoms that are diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. They are only telling the medical community what many patients and a select group of doctors already knew: gluten intolerance is one cause of IBS. Here are some testimonies of patients with IBS:
http://www.irritable-bowel-syndrome.ws/gluten-free-diet.htm. And here are some doctors’ testimonies: http://www.ibstreatmentcenter.com/Newsletters/MidMar2008.pdf, http://www.mdnewsbayarea.com/index.cfm/article_134.htm.
There are also other treatment options for IBS (other than increasing fiber and reducing stress). Avoidance of gluten for those that prove to have gluten intolerance is one obvious treatment. But there is hope for others as well. Small doses of certain anti-depressants have been shown to help some IBS sufferers. Apparently these anti-depressants work on the part of the brain that control your gastro-intenstinal contractions.
IBS is still unmarked territory for most medical researchers. At some point someone will narrow down the causes. But for now, try a gluten-free diet. It just might work!
11 Responsesto “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Gluten Intolerance”
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I was diagnosed with IBS 12 years ago and diagnosed with CD > 5 years ago. Up to that point every antibody test had been negative. It wasn’t until the newer test hit the market that I have + antibodies. I think many are incorrectly diagnosed with IBS. If blood tests are – people should pursue DNA / stool testing while they are still consuming gluten.
I just found your blog and I really love it. Great work!
I was diagnosed with CD in August 2008. I was told by going on a GF diet, I would feel great almost immediately. That didn’t happen, despite following the diet strictly. Then, I ended up visiting ERs and hospitals and didn’t understand what was going on with my body as I appeared to have regressed. Because all the tests given came back negative, I was told I had anxiety. I told them that I didn’t have anxiety; rather, the anxiety was as a result of something happening to my body.
Finally, in August 2009, I was diagnosed with SIBO/SBBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth/small bowel bacterial overgrowth). Since going on and off of antibiotics and following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), I’ve improved dramatically. I still suffer from smptoms of SIBO/SBBO, but I am slowly (very slowly) improving overall, at least in comparison to where I was in May-July of 2009.
Regarding the anti-depressants, it’s interesting to note that 99% of serotonine is made in the gut, and only 1% in the brain. I feel most IBS and depression can be cured or eleviated just be a change in diet. They don’t call the gut the second brain for nothing!
I suffered from chronic anemia and IBS for 18 years. Each doctor I saw said I wasn’t getting enough fiber in my diet, and I had too much stress. (So of course I ate the highest fiber wheat bread I could find.) When my health insurance changed (I was 48), forcing me to switch health providers again, I ended up with a great young doctor who took one look at me and said What’s wrong with you? She scheduled a battery of tests and I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which I had never heard of. Here I am, 7 GF years later, and not ONE bout of diarrhea since.
I was diagnosed with IBS about 30 years ago and diagnosed with CD 5 years ago, but it took 7 years to get the diagnosis of CD. The gastro who diagnosed me 30 years ago didn’t do any tests. He said this is what you have, take Metamucil. My internist did all the tests except the one for CD, then said she couldn’t help me. My naturalpath only did the blood test for CD and she diagnosed me.
My dr. finally tests all his patients for CD….he told me that because of “me”, he does…Unbelievable, that was only 9 yrs ago…imagine all the patients that have CD and do not know….he said many of his patients now test positive…I am kind of proud that I left a mark in his practice and in the medical world….I wish I did not have to work to pay my bills…I would otherwise, spend all my time contacting gastro drs. and telling them they should always test for CD before any other test…..
I started see gastro’s almost 20 years ago. It all started with Lactose Intolerance. The first gastro I saw told me it was all in my head and did an endoscopy where he “saw” celiac but because the biopsy didn’t come back positive, he couldn’t “give me” the diagnosis. The next doctor said IBS and to go high fiber, which I already did. She said another endoscopy was needed but I would have to go back on gluten…no way. My third amazing doctor looked at everything I’d been through, and because my mom was celiac said to go GF and report back. By this point I was Hypocalcemia. Staying GF, high fiber and dairy free has been the cure for me.
i am also suffering from irritable bowel and this disease really pisses me off:-,