I have suffered and I use the word suffered from what I was told IBS for many years. I have been through all those embarrassing tests and taken every medicine available. It is a part of my daily life and I am tired of it. I decided this morning to do what it takes to get rid of this if possible. Mornings for me are the worst. I have to think twice of making appointments and mostly anything that has to do with the mornings. I have had terrible cramps in the middle of traffic, stores, ect.. It is constantly on my mind. For this thanksgiving I could not go to pick up my sister from the airport cause she was getting in at 5am. I was worried it would strike. I have learned tht there is so much truth to the mind/gut thing. Instead of bufferflys, I get horrible cramps and would do anything to find a restroom. Even had to find a spot in the woods. Is that terrible or what? If their was an operation that could cut the link from the brain to the intestine, I would do it! I love the mornings and have not been able to enjoy them at all. It feels like a demon that is always there to strike. I wonder what it would be like to just shake off sleep in the mornings like normal people do. I have a lot more to shake off. Never really spoke about my IBS and don't know why I"m doin it here. I guess I see for the first time I am not alone. I have cut out dairy, lowered stress levels, tried to watch what I eat ect.. Yes, it has helped but that good old IBS is still there waiting to strike when u screw up. Don't mean to sound profound but I feel the damm IBS is profound. I have tried to have a sense of humor about it. I wonder if there is anything out there or any technique that can once and for all make this go away. Does anybody know if tobacco can be an irritent to the IBS. Well thats my long sad story and would welcome any constructive advise for I am out of options. I'd rather take a crack to the face than experience intestinal discomfort. No, pain is a better word.

Yes, tobacco is not helpful for IBS. If you ever taken an anti-spasmodic, that blocks acetylcholine, a chemical that controls your muscles. Blocking it slows them down and slows your gut down, keeps it from causing those spasmy cramps.

Nicotine causes the release of acetylcholine (i believe), and makes muscles spasm.
http://www.galaxygoo.org/nicotine/nicotine_action.html

That being said, I smoke... I'm trying to quit. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Depression is a killer too... nicotine is also an anti-depressant.

ben

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 03-02-2003).]

Hi Eddie,

I practice meditation, but I am self-trained and I have a great deal of success with it. However, I do not know of anyone who offers training with this kind of thing. The mind/gut link in my opinion is very important for ordinary digestion, but it seems that other things that affect the mind can also affect the link and cause things like IBS.

Well, I'm not sure how I can help you. I definitely haven't found anything that makes IBS go away permanently - although a trained mind can continually come up with new ways of dealing with IBS. It is however, not a cure.

Cheers, Raju.

Originally posted by vogue:
Yes, tobacco is not helpful for IBS. If you ever taken an anti-spasmodic, that blocks acetylcholine, a chemical that controls your muscles. Blocking it slows them down and slows your gut down, keeps it from causing those spasmy cramps.

Nicotine causes the release of acetylcholine (i believe), and makes muscles spasm.
That being said, I smoke... I'm trying to quit. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Depression is a killer too... nicotine is also an anti-depressant.

ben

I have less problems when I smoke--believe it or not. I always have weird side effects from things though--why should this be any different? When I quit, my gut acted up worse--like it did when I was diagnosed with IBS at 11. Needless to say, I went back to smoking...but it's the last part of your post that intregues me. I went back to smoking because I was depressed & it's the only comforting thing I have. Is that why cigarettes are my best friends? Because nicotine is an antidepressant? Explains a lot about stuff that's gone on in my life....



[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 03-02-2003).]

Yea, I remember I read that at NIDA's site, but I don't know exactly where. It's true though. You know even normal people get excessive gas, sometimes D when they stop smoking... definitely depression.. I mean it's withdrawal.. when I stop smoking I am so tired and I can't think straight. The symptoms will pass though if you want to quit, in a week or two.

ben

I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. I'm prone to depression already. The thing is, I quit for over 4 months--I got depressed & stayed that way regardless of the medication. When I went back to smoking, I was fine. Also, while I had quit, I had both D & C, pain & suffering randomly. When I went back to it, everything leveled out a little more & I have less bouts with either, but they still occur.

I don't know if you are female or not, but I have read that addiction to smoking is different for women. For instance, I read a study where they upped the nicotine given to men and women in their cigarettes, this was not known to them. The men smoked less, moderated their intake, but the women smoked the same amount. It was theorized that instead of just the pleasure of the nicotine, they related smoking more to relaxing, destressing. They also said it can be harder for women to quit, because nicotine leaves the body quickly, and you go through withdrawal and what not, but if they are around people or smoke, or don't have another way to de-stress and relax, it can still be quite addictive. I'm sure the same is true for men, but it seems even more prominent in women.

I would point you to the study, but I read it a while ago and don't have the link to it anymore. But perhaps depression that doesn't go away after it should, is because you haven't found anything good enough to replace the relaxing effect...

But that's just a total guess.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Just a thought, in case you ever decide to try to quit again... =]

Maybe your anti-depressants weren't working well either...
[
There is some information, seemingly on how something in cigarette smoke is an MAOI, they suggest it might be useful to be on that type of anti-depressant, I think. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Read it for yourself.. hehe or show it to a medical professional, they will understand it better than I.

ben

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 03-02-2003).]

Originally posted by vogue:
I don't know if you are female or not, but I have read that addiction to smoking is different for women. For instance, I read a study where they upped the nicotine given to men and women in their cigarettes, this was not known to them. The men smoked less, moderated their intake, but the women smoked the same amount. It was theorized that instead of just the pleasure of the nicotine, they related smoking more to relaxing, destressing. They also said it can be harder for women to quit, because nicotine leaves the body quickly, and you go through withdrawal and what not, but if they are around people or smoke, or don't have another way to de-stress and relax, it can still be quite addictive. I'm sure the same is true for men, but it seems even more prominent in women.

I would point you to the study, but I read it a while ago and don't have the link to it anymore. But perhaps depression that doesn't go away after it should, is because you haven't found anything good enough to replace the relaxing effect...

But that's just a total guess.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Just a thought, in case you ever decide to try to quit again... =]

Maybe your anti-depressants weren't working well either...
http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol13N3/tobacco.html

There is some information, seemingly on how something in cigarette smoke is an MAOI, they suggest it might be useful to be on that type of anti-depressant, I think. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Read it for yourself.. hehe or show it to a medical professional, they will understand it better than I.

ben


Yes, I am female. I'll ask someone--thanks!! My Dr & my Psych are fighting over what's wrong with me. My Psych says bi-polar (even though the meds don't work as well as they should & any more would be hazardous to my health) & my Dr says, possible hormone problems & should not be on those meds. Unfortunately I have no insurance & I need to have $500k worth of tests done to determine what's actually wrong with me.

I generally smoke when I'm upset, drinking, bored, or falling asleep behind the wheel. Otherwise I really don't have cravings that often. I also like the taste!

I have heard that refined sugar found in most processed foods causes the digestive tract to spasm and aggravtes IBS.

Check into Celiac disease. If you have celiac disease and avoid gluten all together you may feel fine.

I am a smoker of 24 years,also have had cronic ibs for seven years,quiting for me is not an option,I have tried several times and each time it is a disaster.I will not and can not go to the toilet until I have a smoke,I smoke about 10 a day and for me the pain and mood swings are not worth the stress.Ciggs and supper strong Italian coffee are the only things that keep me regular.I am not advising smoking as an aid,just telling my story,I only wish I could quit,my mother died last year from lung cancer(slowly).