Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020 (Japan, IBS)

[Meleber]

Web site: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

"These updated JSGE-IBS guidelines present best practice strategies for IBS patients in Japan and we believe these core strategies can be useful for IBS diagnosis and treatment globally."

[Meleber]

From the Japanese guidelines

"IBS shows high co-morbidity with extra-intestinal disorders.

Comment: IBS shows high co-morbidity with extra-intestinal disorders such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, temporomandibular joint disease, interstitial cystitis, premenstrual syndrome, bronchial asthma, dementia [218], Parkinson’s disease [219], and psychological disturbance especially anxiety and depression [233]. Almost all IBS patients who visit a clinic or hospital, or 18% of IBS subjects in the general population, have at least one or more psychological disturbance [233]."

I think we are all aware of that.

[MrAddy]

Very interesting read, and I would certainly recommend anyone suffering to read this. I had to use look-ups on certain words to understand some of the text, but again worth it.

What it didn't go into as much as I would have liked is the collation between depression with IBS. Perhaps I am in the minority camp with this, but when you go through what we all did at the very start of having symptoms, being fed up would be natural reaction. Rather than the lack of a chemical in the brain.

I don't really know why it's so important to me, but I find a strong believe that anti-depressants do help IBS suffers, but has little do with being depressed. I think it's because it takes away the reality of a gut disfunction. "They are depressed so manufacture illnesses", "They are depressed so develop social anxiety". "They are depressed so do not eat, or drink excessive alcohol". I have heard all these, and none turned out to be the case. From reading posts on here, and elsewhere, it seems not much has changed.

If people are depressed, it's a symptom and not a cause. Find the cause, and the symptoms and standard of life will improve. Anyway.. rant over!

Still a good read

[Meleber in reply to MrAddy]

I'm pretty sure that my major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder have been caused by a dysfunctional digestive tract, hence too much (bad) bacteria in my case. Antibiotics in the past, decades ago (for other symptoms/sickness), made all these symptoms go away but they reoccurred when the course of antibiotics was stopped. I've never seen a psychiatrist, and I've seen a few, who would make the link between dysfunctional intestines and my severe depression and anxiety, they just prescribed their 'own' medication like SSRI or SNRI. Lost a lot of liveable years but I'm still here and won't easily give up I've found out. Maybe the problems with my intestines can't be cured but at least it's treatable with antibiotics I hope. But stil not sure what caused the intestinal problems. Maybe because I wasn't breastfed, maybe genes or the antibiotics in my early childhood? I definitely would like to know the cause but also know that the chance is great/real that I'll never find out.

[MrAddy in reply to Meleber]

That is interesting, although I would argue, even in your case, you have every right to be fed up, and stressed, with having to live in a way to reduce symptoms, whilst having a low standard of life, compared to others.

My IBS has a clear link with Gastroenteritis. I had social anxiety and distrust in people way before I had Gastroenteritis, and the two just joined hands. I was also in a state of shock, and dealing with trauma both physically and emotionally. Combined with lack of understanding, support, help etc, you're left with the shell I am today. I would not wish my life on anyone, even those that strongly contributed to my condition. Not because I forgive them, I can never get there, but because as I am older, a parent, I get things are not so simple, so recognise a wide circle are brought down with it.