Gut & Mental Health

[winfong]

IBS is only mentioned once or twice, but I'm always fascinated by the intersection of gut health & mental health. I do know that anxiety, depression, etc. comes up a lot in this group.

npr.org/sections/health-sho...

[Meleber]

Thanks for posting winfong . In my case the neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms amongst others are definitely caused by my dysfunctional gut (cause is still unknown but could be familial/congential chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO)) and, as result, a disturbed, inbalanced gut microbiome. Bowel problems run in the family, at least from my mothers side.

I noticed this for the first time when I was prescribed antibiotics (tetracycline) because of severe skin problems on my face, some 35 years ago. When taking antibiotics I started feeling 'well' but when no longer on antibiotics all symptoms reappeared gradually, unfortunately.

A couple of years later the same happend again when I was on a short course of antiobiotics, again a tetracycline.

And finally, when I was on antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and another antibiotic, I forgot the name) because of Weil's disease, ditto.

During those moments, I didn't suffer from severe functional bowel problems, as I currently do. And I also didn't make the connection with a probably already dysfunctinal gut (since my birth?) and all the other health symptoms, neither did the medical doctors.

As Hippocrates already said, all disease begins with/in the gut.

[edwangy in reply to Meleber]

You could have sibo

[Meleber in reply to edwangy]

Hi, during the test in an university hospital this wasn't detected but of course, this was only one test at one specific moment. Gut microorganisms disbalance can be a result of my (chronic) dysfunctional bowel however.

[trace55]

Hi yes I feel worse during stress at work and when no stresses feel well i get toilet problems mainly at the stressful times.

[xjrs]

Great article. The microbiome has a lot to answer for, which is why we need to take care of it.

[winfong]

Yes, both are a mess 😉

[Hidden]

There can be a very strong link between mental health and IBS. Either of these can exacerbate the other. I personally suffer from both issues, and it is only recently that I came to understand the possible link.