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Stryder
686 Posts |
 Posted - 09/03/2004 : 07:37:21
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Hi everyone,
Below is a (typically misleading) newspaper article regarding IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Had I read this 10 years ago I would have believed it. Now, of course, this article screams out for a Dx of TMS. Just another example on how the medical community needs to get with the TMS program. Many of these symptoms are also closely paralleled in Dr. Sarno's books.
Here are a few excepts that really relate to TMS and struck a chord with me. The complete article follows the excerpts.
Take care,
-Stryder
"Her primary-care doctor sent her to a gastrointestinal specialist who ran a slew of tests, but found nothing physiologically wrong with her."
"They just told me I had irritable bowel syndrome and that was that,"
"...or told their intestinal problems were mostly in their heads."
"IBS apparently stems from a disturbance in the interaction between the gut, the brain and the autonomic nervous system that regulates the digestive tract."
"Medical understanding of the disease is complicated by the fact that, for years, many doctors had dismissed the condition as being psychosomatic, particularly because symptoms can be exacerbated by stress. Many patients were told it was "all in their heads," and often were referred for psychiatric help."
"But the pain is real."
"These are people who may be suffering without knowing there is something that can help them." (Comment by Stryder -> Its TMS everbody!! Read The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by John E. Sarno)
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The Boston Globe - August 24, 2004 - Pages C1 and C4
Digestion troubles get more attention
By Michael Lasalandra, Globe Correspondent | August 24, 2004
Brynna Mathews began having intestinal problems in her early 20s. The onset was gradual, but eventually the bloating, cramping, intestinal pain and frequent bouts of diarrhea started making life difficult.
Her primary-care doctor sent her to a gastrointestinal specialist who ran a slew of tests, but found nothing physiologically wrong with her.
"They just told me I had irritable bowel syndrome and that was that," said Mathews, now 30. "They told me to avoid certain foods, eat a lot of fiber, and get a lot of rest. They told me there's not a lot that I could do for it."
For many years, patients with complaints like those of Mathews have been given the same advice, or told their intestinal problems were mostly in their heads.
But now, the pharmaceutical industry has discovered that millions of Americans have chronic diarrhea, constipation, or cramping. The only two drugs approved for treatment so far -- Zelnorm for constipation and Lotronex for severe diarrhea -- have left patients, doctors, and companies searching for more.
According to several studies, 10 percent to 15 percent of Americans have irritable bowel syndrome, although most cases go undiagnosed. One study found that IBS accounts for nearly one-third of all patients seen by gastroenterologists and up to 12 percent of those seen in primary-care practices. About two-thirds of patients are women.
Mathews, a massage therapy student from Acton, said the condition interferes with her life and makes it difficult to go out. "I have to be near a bathroom a lot of the time," she said. Out of frustration, she recently enrolled in a study designed to see if acupuncture can help control IBS. "I was willing to try anything," she said.
The doctor in charge of that study, Anthony Lembo of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said he's also frustrated by the lack of good options for IBS patients. Lembo, a leading authority on IBS, decided to examine acupuncture after several smaller studies suggested it might be effective.
IBS apparently stems from a disturbance in the interaction between the gut, the brain and the autonomic nervous system that regulates the digestive tract. Research is focusing on controlling diarrhea and constipation, and also on the brain-gut connection and the regulation of serotonin levels in the intestines. The serotonin levels of IBS patients are believed to be out of whack, leaving them with gastrointestinal systems that work either too slowly or too fast.
Medical understanding of the disease is complicated by the fact that, for years, many doctors had dismissed the condition as being psychosomatic, particularly because symptoms can be exacerbated by stress. Many patients were told it was "all in their heads," and often were referred for psychiatric help.
Currently, however, doctors agree IBS is quite real, though there is a psychological component to it.
Dr. Robert Burakoff, clinical director of gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said tests have shown that patients diagnosed with IBS are more susceptible to gastrointestinal pain than those who don't have the condition. But the pain is real.
"It isn't just a psychological disorder," Burakoff said. "I think people thought of it that way because it mostly affected women."
IBS's reputation as a psychosomatic disorder is boosted by the fact that a significant percentage of patients have some psychological issues as well.
"There are psychological factors such as trauma that have been shown to be associated with some people who have these symptoms, but that's not true in everyone," Burakoff said. "Some patients develop anxiety and depression because they are dealing with discomfort. And some patients don't have any psychological symptoms."
Sarah Wiesbrock, 33, of Jamaica Plain gave up a stressful job as a biomedical researcher, hoping it would give her relief from the constipation and abdominal pain of IBS.
"The hours were long and it was very stressful," said Wiesbrock, also one of the subjects in Lembo's 250-person acupuncture study.
But, although she is now working as a graphic designer, her symptoms remain.
She has held off taking Zelnorm because she doesn't like the idea of taking medication long term. "That's why I'm trying acupuncture. I want to exhaust every possibility."
Zelnorm, which has been running an aggressive ad campaign showing women with their symptoms written on their bared bellies, is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., which expects to sell $1 billion worth of the drug this year.
Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration restricted Lotronex, made by GlaxoSmithKline, only to IBS patients with severe symptoms because of potential life-threatening side effects, including colitis and constipation. The FDA also agreed to continue reviewing the drug to better identify patients most at risk.
One study estimates that IBS costs the national health care system $8 billion per year, but many more may be suffering in silence. A 2004 survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted for the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases, an advocacy group, found 13 percent of respondents had symptoms suggestive of IBS, but 39 percent of those with such symptoms had not seen a doctor about their problems.
That's unfortunate, Lembo said, because, while there is no perfect treatment, there are things that can help, including drugs, and complementary and alternative therapies, such as hypnotherapy, tai chi, yoga and meditation.
Lembo said he hopes that Zelnorm's recent saturation advertising will at least serve to raise awareness about the illness and encourage those who have symptoms to see a doctor.
"These are people who may be suffering without knowing there is something that can help them."
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Wilf
Canada
53 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2004 : 09:14:07
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Thank you for this. I have suffered from IBS for years. I had not considered it to be a manifestation of TMS because I have been tested and told that I have a number of food allergies or food sensitivities. Different foods react on me differently. Milk is my worst; I get the most severe cramping from milk and foods that contain "modified milk ingredients". Whole wheat, potatoes and corn produce a different reaction.
When I avoid these and other foods on my list, I do not have the reactions.
By applying Sarno's methods, I have succeeded in eliminating or reducing most of my back and neck pain. Your post has given me cause to believe that maybe, just maybe my brain has chosen to manifest TMS in my gastro-intestinal tract because I have been so certain that there is a physical cause, i.e., food allergies. It is quite possible that reduced symptoms by avoidence of certain foods is nothing more than a placebo effect. This placebo is not very effective, because I seem always to have some manifestion of IBS either severe or mild and I am continually thinking back to try to ascertain what food I ate that is causing the problem.
I shall now deal with the IBS as purely TMS and see where it takes me.
Any comments? |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2004 : 09:55:59
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There is no doubt that digestive problems are often TMS. But it is also true that our bodies have physical reactions to certain foods.
Many would tell you our bodies are not designed to eat dairy products. Some of us may lack the necessary enzymes to process certain foods. Sometimes this is due to something very physical and has nothing to do with TMS. For example, a friend of mine became lactose intolerant after he underwent accutane treatment as a teenager. The high doses of Vitamin A permanently killed some "good" bacteria. This is not TMS.
If you've successfully eliminated symptoms by modifying your diet, then certainly you should continue on that modified diet. It's possible that it was all due to conditioning, and it was TMS all along, but you really don't know. |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2004 : 10:15:44
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I also have IBS symptoms - mainly bloating and constipation. I used to get cramps but since changing my diet to do the "blood type diet" I have experienced a whole new state of well being. I avoid all grains and eat a fish/meat veggie/fruit based diet.
I believe that my IBS is caused by a combination of TMS and my genetic makeup. As an O blood, my digestive system is not designed to assimilate grains or dairy. I have sent many friends to the naturopathic doctor, Dr. D'Adamo who have all seen a resolution of their problems through diet.
However, after having a colonoscopy and biopsies 6 months ago, showing that my colon is totally healthy, the week after that my gastroenteroligist recommended citrucel and told me I have IBS which is stress related. For that next week, I was symptom free for the first time in years. I remember I was so elated to have nothing wrong with my colon. I even ate anything I wanted for that one week.
Then, the elation wore off and I experienced a return of my symptoms the next week. This has to be related to TMS. |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2004 : 19:27:26
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| Suz , sounds like a dead ringer tms! |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2004 : 19:51:27
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Several years ago I had a bout with Lactose intolerance.Every time I had a dairy product I would get sick shortly after eating and it got steadly worse with time.I began to notice it happened after seeing all those ads with Lactaid.I noticed that if I took the lactaid brfore eating I was o.k! Then I began to realize that I had gone 40 + years without any problems,until the recent advent of these new med's and public awareness of this problem.Knowing that my brain is a open field for any kind of distraction,(being a big time tms'er.)I applied the same method I used to cure my back pain,reflux.Almost immediately it was gone and I eat anything Dairy without fear. I was surprised I could fall for something that obvious after all I have been through,with tms.There is always a new problem on the horizon to deal with,so I have to keep an open mind and be on alert for the sometimes very obvious that hard to see! Keep reading and thinking psy
chologically.Hope this is helpful to someone. |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2004 : 23:42:22
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| Thank you Stryder for that interesting article. As Dave says, I'm sure there are some people who can't eat certain food because they may lack certain enzymes needed, etc. But, when you think about the connection to the "gut" and the emotions it's pretty clear that IBS is a TMS equivalent. I had problems for years and underwent every test known to man. They finally concluded I had IBS. Then, my urinary tract infections/problems started and lo and behold the IBS was no longer an issue. From there I had a whole host of other lovely TMS problems, my current one being dizziness. This past week, I've had all sorts of stomach problems and my dizziness has been hardly noticeable. Good luck, Wilf, and I'll just bet if you apply the TMS strategies to your IBS you may be pleasantly surprised. |
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menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2004 : 22:10:12
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yeah,(basically all coinciding with moving to the city after university to get a job)
all my TMS started with IBS, once that was more or less alleviated colonoscopy proving nothing was physically wrong as well as giving my system a complete flush out... it did not occur again for some time...
So my body then gave me tendonitis in my arms(I do a lot of typing)
followed by severe vocal cord tension and neck pain(as I started to use voice recognition instead of typing) and as well as severe heartburn/reflux.(Which incidentally has been very strong in the last three days)
then, my car got stolen and I had to walk a lot of places.. culminating with using my mouse with my foot and then all of a sudden, I have a weak painful knee, which lets me walk 100 metres...
now.
after reading Sarno books im getting some relief . but I now have a sore back, which I never really had before, but all that talk of back pain in Sarno's book seemed to be a good trigger.... and now my latest one new tendons on the top of my hands are now my major source of pain...
and I suppose you could now add depression to that list...
as you can imagine my doctors don't find anything physically wrong and diagnose me with fibromyalgia syndrome(syndrome meaning . we don't have a clue)
this is about the last five years of my life :)
I have been to a naturopath been on a blood type diet and all that junk . none of it worked for me, particularly. Personally I think diet is something like 80% psychological 20% physical(ie , diet is very effective for some people but not for others, I mean, I see horribly unhealthy people who live a completely painfree sickness free life eating only junk food and not exercising much)
for instance, my mum suffers chronic fatigue and she changes her diet every six months and is convinced . it makes all the difference . yet for some reason it comes back and she tries a new diet/herbal treatment . the next six months...
So to me it is quite obvious I have TMS... it's just making that work for me which im finding difficult now... Thus am trying to find a practitioner in Australia , but probably am going to have to resort to a psychologist who does not specifically know about TMS and hope they are receptive.
Anyway enough rambling :) |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2004 : 05:01:57
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| Menvert , Which of Dr.Sarno's books have you read? How many times? |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2004 : 08:42:06
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Menvert,
I am interested in your experience with the blood type diet and your digestion. I have been doing that diet for a while now and find it makes a real difference to my health - I had no PMS symptoms this month for the first time in a long time. However, I still suffer from chronic constipation. I am pretty convinced that this is a TMS equivalent. I am wondering if the diet really has a placebo affect on my body. I am about to embark on getting certified to teach the diet as a nutritionist but am torn now with what I know of TMS.
On another note, it sounds like your pain has shifted around a lot. Have you been reading Sarno's books and journalling?
I am finally seeing a breakthrough after a great deal of writing and reading over the last month. I am watching the patterns of stressful thoughts connected to my back pain. My back pain has gone these last four days and I had no constipation over the weekend - first time in about 8 years. Amazing! I really think Sarno's practice works - just have to keep on at it - keep shifting your thoughts away from your body to your emotions. I think it takes a different amount of time for each person before their subconscious gets the message and stops using the body. |
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menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2004 : 07:56:59
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pualt,
okay I read the back pain one about two times, listened to an audio tape twice and watched the video of his seminar twice. All of which I borrowed... I then went and bought his more recent one mindbody prescription. Which I probably read about six times now .
I've got a real block somewhere . I find it really really hard to read something more than once... I don't like watching movies a second time usually...
but I have forced myself to read mindbody prescription many times .
about a year ago, I also did Dr schecter?(can't find it right now to find a spelling) 30 day diary thing...
I have done limited journaling... a couple of months ago I managed to make myself do some journaling everyday... but unfortunately, I only seemed to pay it lipservice.. ie: jotted down as quickly as I can and be done with it. I don't think I've really referred back to any journals more than two times. A while after doing the recent journal/readings I kind of just withdrew and stopped yoga, swimming journaling/reading and kind of just allowed myself to relax and stopped trying whilst getting obsessed playing a computer game and pay no attention to my pain and actually have some fun....(journaling to some degree just made me focus on it) , so now I suppose I've had my holiday from actually dealing with life/pain & emotions....
Journaling also is a bit difficult because handwriting can be painful, as can computer use... and when I use voice recognition for journaling my TMS related pain gets quite strong in my throat(as opposed to using it for an e-mail to a friend or for something else not emotionally challenging).. but I know that excuse doesn't hold up.
Basically at some level for some reason it seems I'm really not prepared to put in the effort... I'm not sure what I'm scared of exactly but instead of spending 10 minutes productively on myself I waste hours doing nothing
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Suz,
my type o blood diet lasted for about 4-5 months, until I could no longer afford it(everytime I visited the naturopath he would give me at least $100 worth of herbs..) and I left my job in the city... along with the usual no wheat products, no milk, protein in the morning . plenty of soy vegetables and unprocessed food. Initially, about the first month . I seemed to have real good pain relief(at this point my tms saga pain was only in my forearms throat and knee) , but it pretty much returned back to normal, as in painful (yes, maybe I should analyse the fact I consider living in relatively constant pain normal)
when I left the city and went back on a very standard diet without noticing any significant change negatively. I don't generally eat a lot of sugar anyway, and my physique is very skinny so I don't particularly avoid fat but I'm not much of a junk food eater anyway . I do like raw vegetables.
Although I must say slippery elm bark does a good job at helping regulate my otherwise irregular digestive system(though I don't use it now because of cost). IBS still comes and goes I rarely pay it any heed now and just consider it acceptably normal. I have some days constipated and other days, where I have to go five times.
So, personally I don't think my diet is a major factor . and if it is its insignificant compared to my TMS unconscious emotions factor... I suppose my family splitting up when I was 4 affected me a lot more than I figured...
it's hard getting a hold on this concept of unconscious emotions, makes me wonder if there's events in my life I don't remember entirely or for some reason I remember them as not being traumatic..
PS: forgive me for rambling on maybe I shouldn't reply at midnight when I'm a bit tired..
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2004 : 09:00:19
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Menvert,
I agree with you in that my pain did not go away at all by doing the blood type diet. However, I felt really so much healthier with no pms symptoms and renewed energy. I now understand that my pain did not go away because I had no idea it was connected to emotions. Dr D'Adamo, the guy who wrote all the books told me he thinks Sarno is a genius and totally supports his work. I am not sure why your naturopath had you spend so much on supplements - one does not need to do that - in fact D'Adamo feels that if one really does the diet, there is no need for supplementation - except maybe the Polyflora - for good bacteria in the intestines.
I have found real progress on the TMS front very recently. I have been journalling in Schecter's book every day now for 2 weeks - really thinking hard about the questions. I also immediately switch to think of what is bothering me when I feel the sciatic pain.
Last night, I got up the courage and went running - my hip pain began but I laughed at it and immediately switched to the emotional.
I am pretty convinced that I have a huge build up of intense rage towards my mother - I discovered this in therapy (a voluntary person through my church) - and am working to make peace with this - however the very recognition has freed me from the pain.
I sit in it in the evenings and really feel the anger - seems to be doing the trick. I don't have time to be so self focused in the day, nor do I want to be - but I do now for the first time, acknowledge feelings of annoyance/sadness during the day - I just sit and feel them before moving on. I realize that I have had an incredible pattern of refusing to feel - hence the build up in my unconscious.
I hope this progress continues. Menvert, have you thought of talking to someone - you might be someone who needs to feel some of that stuff in your unconscious. - it sort of sounds like you just don't want to feel it - and I don't blame you. It is exhausting - but it has really turned the corner for me. |
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menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2004 : 19:04:40
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suz,
it's good to hear of your progress keep it up :)
Yes the problem with naturopaths in general imo, is that every single naturopath has a completely different concept on how to get you healthy... my one believed I needed all sorts of herbs and chemicals to get my cells and organs back to balance... but for me I think it was basically just a form of physical therapy.
Well, after finding this furum I am working myself up to be motivated to start journaling again and maybe do Schecter's journaling even. My yoga teacher would definitely recommend 'feeling' or 'experiencing' your anger and emotions, which is different to expressing(and believed to be more useful) have you looked at the thread on http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=156&SearchTerms=Cornell focusing technique ? it seems very similar to what you are explaining. And very complimentary to TMS treatment.
I am somewhat isolated from social support, the friends I do have really don't understand, so yes someone to talk to would be very beneficial(this forum helps quite a lot) I am trying to find a psychotherapist locally but the closest I found to an appropriate one is Gestalt therapy... and I just hope my government rehabilitation service can pay for it... |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2004 : 11:11:45
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Menvert,
I have ordered that book on focusing - will be really interested to read it. I just realized that I really wasn't feeling my anger through the day - just constantly burying it - of course I have to interact with people and cannot openly express it but I can do the exercise in my head. I have found it is wonderful and made a huge shift in reducing my pain. Every time I am annoyed or anxious, I stop, sit in the feeling - often express my anger in my head and then let it go. I have a much less stressed feeling at the end of the day. Also, I tell my brain that it is not necessary to use my body anymore as I am feeling the emotions instead.
I am half way through Schecter's workbook which has been very useful. His line of questioning each day has been very eye opening - things I would not have thought to ask myself and focus on.
I did have pain running last night, but I ignored it and ran on - I will continue to do so until the pain finally will give up. |
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stefan
56 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 09:47:33
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I used to be lactose intolerant until I read Mind-Body Prescript. My aunt just became lactose intolerant after her husband died, coincidence??? I think not.
Ars Longa Vita Brevis |
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 15:09:54
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I've suffered from severe IBS-type symptoms for the past 17 years. I've had a lot of experience with gastroenterologists, having gone through at least 6 of them. I think the biggest mistake doctor's make is basically saying to a patient "there's nothing wrong with you, go home." Or better yet, "there's nothing wrong with you, go see a psychiatrist." It dismisses the patient's experiences.
Don't get me started on psychiatrists...
Most people will experience cramps, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, but what they call IBS now is worse than the average bout of diarrhea. I can't explain my symptoms to anyone in a way that they will truly understand them. It can be severely debilitating and all-consuming for some people.
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2scoops
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2009 : 21:27:46
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There is an example in one of Sarno's books that states, 10 people can walk out into a filed and 3 of them could react to the pollens. Was it the pollens that causedthe allergy or the person's immunity not able to process it. The same goes with certain foods or dairy. Food allergies are most likely caused by TMS. Yes, we can be programmed by certain foods, we can even react just by thinking about eating them. It's fear, and fear is poison to the body. This is also mentioned in the bible which I find very interesting.
2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. |
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IBS is TMS "Digestion troubles get more attention"
