A. What your wife is suffering from is REAL. It affects 14-17% of the population and accounts for HALF of all medical visits related to the intestine at your local family doc's office!!
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME is what we call a functional disorder....there is NO structural abnormality, no organic pathology associated with this syndrome. But it's real. Basically, your wife suffers from a bowel, or intestine, which is hypersensitive to stimulation. A lot of big words...right? Her intestine reacts in a stronger way than yours to the same stimulation, be it food or, in many cases, emotion. In other words, her belly has a lower threshold than most for the beginnings of activity within.
Common symptoms include:
Although this condition is not "all in the head", it has been repeatedly shown that emotional stresses can play a major role in triggering of symptoms in these people. Addressing these issues with a family doc with whom you have a trusting and open relationship may be one of the best treatment options you will find.
Other treatment options include some dietary changes:
INCREASING the amount of FIBRE in your diet is the first thing to do. This can be done by changing what you eat or by adding a supplement. Some docs may also suggest reducing fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods and large amounts of roughage. (What's left, right??) And some may add anti-spasmodic pills (reducing intestinal activity). You can probably find some more information on this topic from the National Foundation of Ileitis and Colitis (two intestinal conditions often confused with this one).
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