What’s bugging my bowels?

Functional bowel syndromes:  Functional Dyspepsia/ Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Functional bloating

“Functional bowel syndromes are constellations of upper and / or lower abdominal symptoms unexplained by adequate medical examination. The commonest forms are defined by symptoms patterns and include bowel functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional bloating, functional diarrhea and functional constipation. These symptoms are the focus of much exiting research. The most common theories are based on changes in sensation (hypersensitivity), intestinal motility (muscle movement), intestinal permeability, enzyme or neurotransmitter function or changes in brain function. Some of these changes can occur after an infections illness or severe stress.

Food intolerance and allergies are observed much more frequently in patients diagnosed with functional bowel syndromes. Lactose or fructose intolerance, for example, is observed in between 50% and 70% of IBS patients respectively. At present it is unclear if food reactions and functional bowel syndromes are separate causes of the symptoms or if they represent overlapping or just overlooked diagnoses. It has been shown that mal absorption of sugars is equally common in healthy individuals as it is in patients with functional bowel syndromes. The mal absorption, however, leads to much more frequent and more intense symptoms of intolerance in patients with functional bowel syndrome. Furthermore, it has repeatedly been shown that dietary adaptations based on diagnosed food intolerances very significantly improve symptoms in IBS patients. Testing for food intolerances and, where indicated, food allergies, is therefore currently recommended and beneficial in individuals with functional bowel syndromes”  (foodintolerances.co.za)

And now the good news:

Testing for food intolerance is now on our doorstep! The new breath test that was developed by Dr Clive Wilder Smith and his team, a well known gastroenterologist from Switzerland, is now available in Harrismith.

So if you suffer from chronic abdominal discomfort or pain, cramps after eating, bloating, diarrhea of constipation, increased intestinal sounds and gas production, reflux (e.g. Acid taste in mouth, heartburn), nausea and vomiting, and if you’ve tried every possibly remedy (both prescription and over the counter medicine) plus you’ve excluded some food from your diet, but is still suffering: you might be one that needs the sugar intolerance breath test.

Contact 0586221691 for further information.