Does Ibs Make You Tired

Can Ibs Make You Feel Unwell

kimberly20051

Just wondering for those who have been diagnosed with IBS when you have a flare up does it also make you feel unwell? As in, body aches, tired, like youre coming down with a cold or something but without the ENT symptoms? Not referring to the gastrointestinal pains that go along with it. 

If so, how long do you feel unwell for? And do you ever feel 100%?

Thank you.

• 2 years ago

  Hi Kimberly,

  I have CFS so can never be sure what condition is causing which symptoms but during a flare up I generally feel worse all over my body, like you say flu like without the ENT symptoms.

• Posted 2 years ago

  yes I get flu like symptoms  I have suffered with chronic sinusitis for years .  At first I thought these attacks were my sinus but non of the usual helping and then as you say it is like having the flu without the ENT symptoms.  Sometimes I would be cold and others burning up and I just had to sleep and there were times when I was so tired but unable to sleep.  Just had to go with the flow.  Then there’s the stomach issues don’t want food or afraid to eat food.  I have had then last for a morning or two or three days.

Changes You Should Not Ignore If You Have Ibs

Is it common for IBS symptoms to return after a person has been symptom-free for over a year?

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be hard to manage. Symptom episodes may continue to interfere with normal activities well after an initial diagnosis and treatment. That can be discouraging and a cause of worry. Its reassuring to know that having IBS does not put you at an increased risk of developing other digestive disorders or diseases. However, the overlap is possible. 

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Many people have digestive troubles once in a while. Irritable bowel syndrome is different, though. What sets it apart is belly pain and diarrhea or constipation that comes back again and again. But there are no signs of damage in the gastrointestinal system. And it doesn’t make you more likely to get colon cancer.

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How Is Leaky Gut Diagnosed

Do not diagnose leaky gut based on your symptoms. This is just guessing. Instead, perform objective laboratory testing.

At our clinic, I like to use Cyrex Labs Array 2. This is a blood test that measures antibodies to the following markers:

• Actomyosin Network
• Lipopolysaccharides

Actomyosin network

The actomyosin network is absolutely essential for the tight junctions of your digestive tract to function properly. It is this network that prevents the bad stuff from entering your circulation. The actomyosin network signals your tight junctions to contract. This contracture or flexing of the tight junctions stops particles moving from your gut and into circulation. Its as if they lift up the drawbridge. No one can enter now.

If your blood shows antibodies to the actomyosin network, this indicates either the infiltration of bacteria from your gut to your blood or an autoimmune disease targeted at your gut. Proper leaky gut testing should always also include occludin/zonulin and LPS antibodies.

Occludin and Zonulin

Remember how I said that endothelial cells make up the tight junctions of your gut?

Well, zonulin and occludin are the building blocks of those tight junctions. If you have antibodies to either zonulin or occludin,  your tight junctions wont work properly. They could also be breaking down due to an autoimmune mechanism. This could be triggered by environmental factors like infections, toxic chemicals, and even dietary proteins and peptides.

Lipopolysaccharides

Not Tracking Your Symptoms Patterns

Since each persons experience with IBS is so different, its useful to keep track of your symptoms and possible triggers. If youve made it to this point in our article, you already know these can include certain foods, how fast you eat, your caffeine and alcohol intake, your stress levels, how much sleep youre getting and the quality of that sleep, and the medications you take. In addition, IBS symptoms can fluctuate depending on menstruation.

If youve been living with IBS for a while, you might already have a pretty good idea about what can kick your symptoms into high gear. But Poppers recommends keeping a detailed diary that covers all of these possible factors and your symptoms. For example, not just what youre eating but how much, when, and how fast. And not just how many hours youre sleeping but whether its interrupted, and even what position you were in. Write about your emotional state and your stress levels, including things that are making you anxious or excited. If youre someone who has periods, keep track of your menstrual cycle. Travel is also an important detail, since that means a change in routine.

Another reason to track your symptoms closely is so you can notice any changes in them. Poppers explains, Changes are what gastroenterologists and physicians should always be most cognizant of, because changes make us question, Is it only IBS? Am I missing something else? If you notice that your symptoms have changed, its time to see an expert.

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What Should I Do

Dont let the embarrassment of discussing digestive problems, stomach pain after eating, frequent or explosive diarrhea, or other possible symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome keep you from having your symptoms diagnosed. Even if they arent common symptoms of IBS, your symptoms may be a signal that something is wrong. Its important for your health to address any new symptoms that you experience. The first step is becoming aware of IBS and all the potential symptoms it causes.

Gastroenterologists are specialists in conditions and diseases affecting the digestive tract. When IBS symptoms occur, they can provide you with an accurate diagnosis for your condition. They also make it easier to talk about the problems you are having without embarrassment. If you are having any of the symptoms associated with IBS, contact GI Associates to schedule an appointment.

What If I Forget To Take It

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it’s nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways that are suitable for you and your medicines.

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How And When To Take Buscopan

Each Buscopan tablet contains 10mg of hyoscine butylbromide.

Buscopan tablets are available on prescription as a pack of 56 tablets.

Buscopan also comes as 2 different products that you can buy from a pharmacy or shop:

• Buscopan Cramps as a box of 20 tablets
• Buscopan IBS Relief as boxes of 20 or 40 tablets

Buscopan tablets are all the same strength whether you get them on prescription or whether you buy them as Buscopan Cramps or Buscopan IBS Relief.

Why Does Ibs Cause Fatigue

The digestive system, more specifically the small intestine wall, is a major site for absorption of food and nutrients into the body.  If this isnt working properly, consequences result.

For example, if not enough essential vitamins and minerals are absorbed our energy levels will decrease. This is especially so if diarrhoea is present and food does not stay in your gut for any length of time.

In addition to this, our bowel contains billions of good bacteria. These produce a number of nutrients, including the B group of vitamins essential for converting our food into energy. If this process is disrupted our energy levels may suffer. 

Another possibility may be that bad bacteria or pathogens appear unwanted and are absorbed through the gut wall, which can put the immune system under huge pressure, resulting in fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome has been known to appear in people after they have suffered from a bacterial or viral infection.

Sleep disturbances are also linked with IBS and sleeping badly can have an impact on energy levels during the day.

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Can An Irritable Bowel Cause Fatigue

Its difficult to say whether IBS itself can cause tiredness, but theres evidence to show they are often found together.

One published study looked at 24 previous studies to search for a link between IBS and fatigue and found that there was a very strong correlation between the two more than half the IBS patients studied felt tired for much of the time.

Whats Behind Ibs Fatigue

“We don’t have a definitive answer for why IBS causes fatigue, but we do know that there is an extreme form of fatigue known as chronic fatigue syndrome that tends to occur with IBS, and researchers think that an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut may be responsible for both conditions,” Dr. Bulsiewicz explains. When the bad bacteria outweigh the good in the gut, IBS symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation or fatigue may occur.

When a team of researchers analyzed stool samples from 50 people with CFS and 50 without this condition, they found clear differences in bacteria patterns among those with CFS. What’s more, 21 of the 50 people with CFS also had IBS, and their bacterial milieu was different from that of their counterparts who had just CFS. In particular, people with IBS had higher levels of a type of bacteria called Alistipes and lower levels of a type of bacteria called Faecalibacterium.

These findings, published December 2017 in the journal Microbiome, suggest that dysbiosis, or the imbalance of bugs in the gut, may be a smoking gun, and if this proves true, diet may play a big role in reversing IBS fatigue, Dr. Bulsiewicz says.

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How It Affects Your Life

Itâs uncomfortable, and it can make you feel anxious about being able to get to a bathroom on time, or nervous about having symptoms strike at a bad time, like when youâre commuting, at work, or in any situation where itâs hard to leave. You may find that it helps to map out bathrooms before going anyplace new. In severe cases, people feel hesitant to eat out, see a movie, or socialize.

Should You Change Your Diet

Your treatment plan will depend on your specific symptoms and triggers, but many people start with diet changes. It may help to eat smaller meals and foods that are lower in fat. Fiber is good if your IBS includes constipation. You may want to avoid alcohol or caffeine, and foods that make you gassy . Also, notice if lactose makes your symptoms worse.  

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Consuming Too Much Caffeine And Alcohol

Researchers have also pointed to caffeine and alcohol as potentially worsening IBS symptoms, although as with everything else, it varies from person to person.

As the Mayo Clinic points out, people who experience bloating and gas with IBS may want to cut back on alcohol and caffeine, which can worsen these issues. Interestingly enough, though, some people find that a certain amount of caffeine actually helps their IBS, especially people with the constipation-predominant kind. It can trigger spasms in the intestinal tract, which for some people is helpful because it helps them do a bowel movement, Poppers explains.

It will likely take some trial and error to find out how caffeine and alcohol affect your IBS personally. For reference, guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture define moderate drinking as one alcoholic drink a day for women and two for men. And the Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. Thats about four cups of coffeebut remember, its not just coffee you need to watch out for. As the FDA notes, caffeine is also found in dark chocolate, soda, energy drinks, and certain teas. Its in some over-the-counter painkillers too. Note as well that these guidelines are based on the general population. You may have to cut down to a smaller amount to manage your IBS effectively.

You Need To Know About The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve has nothing to do with Las Vegas :), its a nerve that runs from your lower abdomen up to your brain.

And its connected to your bowels.

Pain in the lower abdomen can cause you to feel week and woozy . This is called a vasovagal episode,

a vasovagal response, or a vasovagal attack.

The symptoms of such an attack are:

• Sweating
• Other less common symptoms

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Cautions With Other Medicines

Some medicines and Buscopan can interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects.

Do not take Buscopan at the same time as some travel sickness medicines, such as domperidone and metoclopramide.

This is because they can cancel each other out and stop each other from working.

Metoclopramide and domperidone increase the movement of the gut, whereas Buscopan reduces it.

Some medicines increase the risk of side effects if you take them at the same time as Buscopan, including:

• amantadine
• quinidine or disopyramide
• some inhaled asthma medicines, including salbutamol, ipratropium, tiotropium

It’s usually best not to take Buscopan together with other IBS remedies, as they work in the same way.

You’re unlikely to get extra relief for your symptoms, and it may cause more side effects. Take only 1 IBS remedy, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

Taking Medications That Cause Constipation Or Diarrhea

If you feel like your IBS symptoms are suddenly flaring, think about any medications youve taken recently. Some medicines appear to make IBS symptoms worse in some people.

If you have IBS, its a good idea to check any medication before you take it to see whether diarrhea or constipation are one of the possible side effects. Anything that causes a transient worsening of diarrhea or constipation is certainly something that can make IBS symptoms worse, James L. Buxbaum, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine specializing in gastroenterology at Keck School of Medicine in the University of Southern California, tells SELF. Thats not to say you shouldnt take a drug if you need it. For example, constipation and diarrhea are common side effects of chemotherapy drugs. But talk to your doctor to weigh the cost versus the benefit before taking a medication if youre concerned about your IBS.

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How Exercise And Supplements May Help

Exercising regularly may also help relieve IBS fatigue. A January 2015 study in the World Journal ofGastroenterology found that women with IBS who upped their physical activity showed improvements in IBS symptoms including fatigue, depression and anxiety. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.

If your symptoms aren’t improving with a better diet and more exercise, probiotic foods or supplements may make a difference. A review of 11 studies published in the September 2019 issue of Nutrients found that supplementation with probiotics helped relieve IBS symptoms in seven of them, and multi-strain supplements tended to confer the most benefits, compared with single-strain ones. “It’s very personal and there will be some trial and error involved to see which strains of bacteria are useful for you,” Dr. Bulsiewicz says.

How Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treated

There’s no cure for IBS. But there are ways to take control of IBS symptoms.

Doctors often recommend:

• Diet changes. Some people with IBS find that careful eating helps ease or stop IBS symptoms. You might try avoiding very large meals, drinks with caffeine, spicy or fatty foods, chocolate, some dairy products, and foods that contain gluten. Some people find that adding fiber eating more fruits and vegetables, for instance and drinking more water can help stop IBS symptoms too. Also try eating regular meals, avoiding on-the-run eating, and paying attention to good nutrition.
• Lifestyle changes. If you have IBS that appears related to stress, you might want to make some changes. Consider ways to manage daily pressures, such as schoolwork, and make time for activities you enjoy. This might mean reducing stress by talking over problems with a school counselor or a therapist. Be sure to get enough sleep and exercise. Your doctor might recommend some stress-reduction techniques, like breathing exercises. Research also shows that hypnotherapy may help in managing IBS.
• Medicines. Doctors sometimes prescribe medicines to treat diarrhea, constipation, or cramps. Antidepressants may help some people with pain management and depression. Talk with your doctor before you try any over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea, constipation, cramps, or other digestive problems.

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What Happens In Ibs

The colon’s main job is to absorb water and nutrients from partially digested food. Anything that is not absorbed is slowly moved through the colon toward the rectum and out of the body as waste in the form of feces .

Muscles in the colon work to get rid of the body’s waste products. They squeeze and relax as they push the undigested food through the large intestine. These muscles also work with other muscles to push the waste out of the anus.

Undigested food in the colon can’t move along smoothly if the colon’s muscles don’t work at the right speed for good digestion or don’t work well with the other muscles. This can lead to belly cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

Did He Say Fainting

Yes.

You know that abdominal pain that is so severe? It can actually cause you to pass out!

Lower abdominal pain can cause a vasovegal attack, but a severe attack can lead to fainting. Thats called vasovegal syncope.

The pain gets bad enough that your brain and your vagus nerve decide to spend all your physical resources on whatever is causing it. The next thing you know, you wake up feeling disoriented, embarrassed, and hopefully uninjured!

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How To Reduce The Effects Of Ibs

Irritable bowel syndrome can be an upsetting disorder. Regular trips to the bathroom may be embarrassing, and the physical effects of IBS – including abdominal pain and gas/bloating – can have an effect on anxiety as well, especially those with health anxiety/panic attacks.

Because IBS has no known cause, it also has no known cure, other than reducing your anxiety. In some people, IBS may simply disappear – especially after anxiety treatments. In others, it may be necessary to make lifestyle changes that help you manage your IBS so that the symptoms stop disrupting your life.

For those in a constant struggle with IBS, try the following strategies to reduce the way irritable bowel syndrome affects your life. These strategies may not cure IBS altogether, but they can make living with the condition far more bearable:

Finally, the most important thing you can do to decrease your IBS symptoms is to prevent your anxiety. You can’t expect to treat IBS if you still suffer from stress and anxiety on a regular basis.

IBS is a syndrome, not an illness. It’s caused by stress and anxiety and made worse by stress and anxiety. Only by curing your anxiety can you expect to manage it.

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Supplements For A Leaky Gut And Chronic Fatigue

I did a deep dive into the most beneficial supplements for chronic fatigue and leaky gut in previous posts. Here, Ill give you the abbreviated version of what supplements you should be taking for a leaky gut and chronic fatigue.

Vitamin A & D 

These fat-soluble vitamins have been shown to decrease the inflammatory response in your gut and improve the function of your tight junctions . They are absolutely essential in the proper treatment of a leaky gut. Not to mention a lot of you living at very high or low latitudes will need to supplement vitamin D in the winter months.

I recommend you source your vitamin A & D through a high-quality cod liver oil . CLO has vitamins A & D in a ratio that makes it available and ready to be used by your body.

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial strains of bacteria. But theyre not all created equal. To heal a leaky gut , youre going to want to take a high dose of a multi-strain probiotic supplement. Multi-strain probiotics have multiple different species of bacteria in them. Look for predominantly bifidobacterium, Bacillus species, an/or Saccharomyces Boulardii .

Zinc

L-glutamine

Is there was a celebrity supplement for leaky gut, its glutamine. Unfortunately, a small dose of glutamine is not going to improve your gut function. To exact a benefit on your gut function and fatigue levels, take a glutamine dose of 0.25-0.3g/kg of body weight. If youre a 150lb female youll want your glutamine dose to be 17g 20g each day.

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I Get Terribly Embarrassed At Work Because I Cant Stop Burping And Farting How Can I Make It Stop

Excess belching can be the result of eating too quickly, drinking too quickly or drinking too many fizzy drinks. It can also be caused by nervousness, which makes people swallow a lot. The bicarbonate in saliva reacts with stomach acid to make CO2, which is then belched.

Excess farting may be due to eating too much fibre , or certain vegetables whose carbohydrate cant be digested by the human gut .

Extra-smelly farts are sometimes due to having too much fat in the diet. Fats may be broken down in the large bowel by bacteria, which produce volatile, unpleasant fatty acids.

So How Should Ibs And Fatigue Be Treated

First, the root cause of your symptoms needs to be identified.

And unfortunately you wont get an answer from your conventional medical practitioner. Instead, you will only receive treatment for your symptoms.

Conventional treatment for IBS will depend on the type of IBS you have. For IBS-C, stool softeners and laxatives are often prescribed. For IBS-D, antidiarrheals from the opioid family are prescribed. Medications used to ease muscle spasms will often be recommended for abdominal discomfort. While there is not a lot of evidence, low doses of antidepressants are also sometimes prescribed.

The key thing to remember is that conventional treatment of IBS does not look for the root cause of the disease. However, when the root cause is found and removed, you should no longer need continuous medical intervention.

A different type of treatment

At Flourish Clinic, we take the Functional Medicine approach and begin the treatment of both IBS and fatigue with changes in nutrition. This includes either lab testing or a reset diet to determine what foods you best tolerate. Sometimes, simple dietary changes are enough to completely eliminate your symptoms.

When diet therapy does not change your symptoms, the next step is looking to see if you have a hidden gut infection like SIBO or Blastocystis Hominis.  Often, these hidden infections contribute to your IBS and fatigue symptoms.

Now, I want to hear from you!

How has the health of your gut impacted your energy levels? 

Read Also: What Is The Medical Term For Leaky Gut

Functional Adrenal Stress Profile

We test for Adrenal Fatigue using the NutriPATH Functional Adrenal Stress Profile. It is a saliva test that evaluates the impact of chronic stress on the body by measuring cortisol and other key hormones; DHEA, eostrogens, progesterone, testosterone and melatonin at four time-points throughout the day.

NutriPATH Functional Adrenal Stress Profile Result – Example Extract for a client with Adrenal Fatigue/exhaustion

Test Result Adrenal Fatigue

There are a few key things we are looking for from this test:

1. Total cortisol output: this measure helps us determine which phase of cortisol dysregulation you are in and whether or not you are suffering from Adrenal Fatigue

2. Daily rhythm: Ever heard of the circadian rhythm? This is a natural rhythm in the body where cortisol is high in the morning to give you lots of energy to get up and start your day, then lowers by the evening as melatonin, your sleep hormone rises and gets you ready for sleep. We like to see a nice rhythm of cortisol production throughout the day but there are many factors that can mess with this that we use as clues about your current state of health.

If you think this sounds like you, get in touch and we can do some testing to figure out what is going on for you:

Here is a video on the testing process in case you are interested in learning more: