
How Is IBS Diagnosed: Over-Simplified (With Infographics)!
IBS is diagnosed on a symptom-based criteria including chronic or recurrent abdominal pain, stool form, and bowel habit changes.
✅ Evidence-Based.
By Dr. Farahat.
This is not just some random tips, it is a comprehensive guide.:
NOTE: this is not a substitute for professional help by your doctor or psychologist.
Regarding loss of appetite with IBS, the Mind-Gut axis is the NO. 1 mechanism causing anorexia. the most frequent cause of loss of appetite with IBS is due to psychological factors such as:
You, as an IBS sufferer, have a 40-50% chance to have anxiety or any other mental health problem.
So, Losing appetite may be just one of the manifestations of the abnormal “Gut-Brain connection”.
Anxiety is can be easily evaluated by a simple questionnaire called the GAD-7 score. but it is not only about anxiety. as many other psychological abnormalities can contribute.
So, to make it simple for you, this simple test provided by Online-Therapy.com screening for ANY Mental health issues is a better fit than taking an anxiety-only test.
Action step: take this 12-point test to evaluate for the role of your stress, anxiety in IBS, and anorexia.
if your results lie in the red or the yellow zone, your anorexia is likely related to psychological factors.
The next step after assessing your self for anxiety is to fix it.
Actually, there is too many treatments and actions you can take. But for me, the approach of mentioning every single option to cope with your anxiety is too overwhelming.
And the “Too-many” options can lead to you not taking any action.
So, I will narrow this to the two or 3 most effective approaches to deal with your mental health issues causing IBS and anorexia:
How these strategies will help you with your IBS and loss of appetite:
I Know..
I know that you are overwhelmed by the conflicting Advice about IBS, ranging from food-based advice, psychological treatments, medications, Yoga, supplements… etc.
But you have to try and figure out what works for YOU!
Being both a gastroenterologist and IBS sufferer, I found “Exploring and trying differen treatment approaches is the best way to control your IBS” and related issues such as loss of appetite.
Action steps:
Our recommended tools to start with:
1- Best Hypnotherapy for IBS and lost appetite: This affordable, industry-leading hypnosis company (hypnosis) has two great programs you can start with
And the good news is that they have 60 days money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work for you.
Another popular programs
2- Best CBT Online service:
My recommended online CBT service is online-therapy.com, I think it is the most reliable service with well-known faces behind this company.
Also, you will enjoy a full toolbox including worksheets, yoga classes, and more.
As I discussed in part one of this series, loss of appetite with IBS may not be a result of IBS.
Lost appetite may be a result of co-existing diseases or conditions that commonly cause anorexia.
The associated condition may be:
B. Chronic (usually more than 4 weeks):
Many medications (including some IBS medications) can cause loss of appetite with your IBS!
If you’re currently taking regular medications for IBS or any other conditions, please review the list with your doctor to figure out if one of them is the cause of anorexia.
Don’t stop any medication prescribed by your doctor whether it is for IBS or for other diseases. This is because:
Before you continue to apply the below home remedies and strategies, you should make sure there is no worrisome feature with your anxiety:
If you experience any of the below symptoms or signs, consult your doctor immediately:
Our brain has a distinct system for Reward-seeking and avoidance behavior. your IBS pain can contribute to the loss of your appetite.
Simply, your brain associates food intake with IBS pain, this will result in anorexia. In severe forms, this behavior can progress to a real eating disorder (ARFID).
So…
The first step to regain your appetite is to control your IBS pain. Limiting your Painful IBS experience can help your brain to accept food again.
And the 3 main lines to work on are:
Learn More on how to control IBS Pain HERE and HERE.
Here the most effective food strategies that help with appetite:
The living micro-organisms inside your intestine greatly affects your gut health, immunity, and even your appetite.
it is an entire world living inside your digestive system. Recent Research demonstrates its very important role in every aspect of your health. And its relation to your appetite is not an exception.
Wondering How a probiotic can improve your appetite?
This interesting review at oxford academic titled “Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Modulator of Host Metabolism and Appetite” explains it all.
According to this study, Alternation of Mice gut microbiota resulted in abnormal appetite, food taste, and weight alternations.
Moreover, alternations in your gut microbiota are one of the strongest theories of IBS.
So, I recommend a Probiotic trial for one month to all My IBS patients.
Major Potential Benefits for your IBS and Appetite: (ref)
How to select a Probiotic that works?
The Ideal Probiotic should:
Taking Prebiotic with your Probiotic boosts its effects and you will obtain better results.
What is the Best Probiotic for IBS and Lost Appetite?
NO ANSWER!
No scientific Probiotic strain/brand works for all IBS sufferers, the best strategy to choose a single probiotic, stick to it for one month, if no improvement, shift to the second. I recommend you experiment with at least 4 types of probiotic before you give up probiotics. Try our specific step-by-step guide approach and recommendations to start with.
If you’re already taking your probiotic, and is doing a good job controlling your IBS, don’t change it.
If you starting from zero, I recommend seed (a prebiotic and probiotic in one capsule, multi-strain, The highest quality I’ve seen)
Many vitamins and micro-nutrients play an important role appetite. the two most influential minerals and vitamins are zinc and Thiamine (Vit. B1).
This study shows that women who take thiamine supplements have better appetite. Also, Zinc is know to be appetite stimulator (ref).
It is better to take them combined in one capsule instead of taking endless amounts everyday. also, ensure that the capsule doesn’t include any allergen to trigger IBS.
A good option to start with for lost appetite and IBS is this allergen-free multivitamin (AMAZON.COM) which contain both Zinc and Thiamine.
Being sedentary is the biggest enemy of appetite. if you want to have a long-lasting good appetite, you have to regularly exercise.
What exercises to avoid: (may trigger IBS symptoms
consult your doctor if:
IBS is diagnosed on a symptom-based criteria including chronic or recurrent abdominal pain, stool form, and bowel habit changes.
Blood in stool with IBS may occur due to variety of condition. One of the most common causes of bloody stool is anorectal fissures or piles due to severe IBS-Constipation
Death from eating melons with honey is a wrong claim. You can safely eat melon with honey.
IBS And Rice (Brown And White): All You Need To Know. Your Health Matters! Reading an article about something sensitive such as YOUR HEALTH can
The most common causes of IBS yellow stools are yellow foods, IBS-diarrhea flare-ups, gastroenteritis, and stress. Other less common causes such as liver, pancreas, and gallbladder disease can result in a yellow stool with IBS.
IBS doesn’t cause anemia, and anemia is not a symptom of IBS. presence of anemia with IBS requires consultation of your doctor about the causes of anemia with IBS. Both anemia and IBS are common conditions, their co-existence doesn’t necessarily mean they are related.
Green poop with IBS can result from green leafy vegetables, food colorings, infections, severe attacks of IBS diarrhea, and others.
Best And Worst Alcoholic Drinks for IBS SUfferers Our content is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice by your doctor. Use
Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant. It acts as an antidiarrheal and lipid-lowering medication by binding to bile acids inside the intestine.
Moreover, the use of Questran is not approved for weight loss.
Amitriptyline improves the overall symptoms of IBS patients who are refractory to other treatments. Amitriptyline reduces the pain signals goining from the gut to the brain. Amitryptiline is also effective for IBS-diarrhea as it has anti-diarrheal effects.
bloating with IBS is treated by avoiding gassy foods, fodmaps, tricyclic antidepressants, and anti-gas foods.
Bloating is the feeling like you have an inflated balloon inside your abdomen or stomach. It is very common with IBS patients.