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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 9 August 2016

AGS is the best example how one should not be browbeaten by the malfunctioning of one’s body. He did not lose his nerve over it; instead, he tried out combinations which suited his body best. He took charge and became an expert - he could now tell others what they may do. 

Please tell us a bit about your condition:

  1. Inexplicable and uncomfortable/heavy feeling in the stomach lasting from 5 minutes to an hour or so - anytime during the day. Generally goes off on its own.
  2. Bloating of the stomach — size varying from 2 months to full-time pregnancy! Again, can happen at any time of the day, though mostly in the evenings. The stomach then reduces to its normal size on its own; most of the times, I do not even realise the size reduction.
    I have been always blessed with regular toilet habits – usually once a day when I used to get up in the morning. This ‘habit’ continued, but, during the day, I started feeling this frequent urge to visit the rest room – more a feeling than a need. But sometimes I did use the bathroom to ease a second time in the day
  3. Heavy feeling in the stomach — not like when I have overeaten, but as if my stomach is filled with gas, as if light weights have been tied to my stomach.

I did not have the classic IBS symptom of lower abdominal pain which managed to confuse a few of my doctors.

When were you diagnosed?
About 2005

What were the early symptoms?
Bloating stomach

Is there a history of IBS in your family?
No idea

What is your present condition?
Much improved. There is an occasional mild heaviness in the stomach, but it is definitely not as serious as it was earlier. Sometimes, there is a need for a second cleaning up in the evening, but usually most of the time to pass gas.

Please describe your experience of managing IBS.
I accepted it as a problem and sought treatment. As I faithfully obey my doctor’s advice, I followed his prescriptions as well.  But relief was unfortunately sporadic. But that was not due to wrong medication but more for some other biological factors.

Socialising in the evenings was increasingly posing to be a problem because of the strong urge to visit toilets, which were not always available in good conditions either at restaurants or even at wedding venues.

Any related complications?
Nothing that I could relate to IBS.

What medications are you on?
Nothing for IBS at the moment.

Were there any side-effects of the medicines?
Not to my knowledge.

What were some of the challenges you faced and what is your advice to patients who face similar challenges?

CHALLENGES:

  1. It was a constantly nagging feeling of a heavy stomach – bloated or not.
  2. Urge to visit the toilet anytime, anywhere.
  3. Concentration on the job-on-hand was affected due to this distraction.
  4. Participation in social functions was a problem due to visible stomach size drawing funny comments and serious medical advice.
  5. It was worse at the work-place and at official meetings.

ADVICE:

  1. Don’t bother about what others might think. It’s your problem and you have to deal with it.
  2. Follow a disciplined life style — I did that, but maybe I should have started earlier, like not smoking, or drinking alcoholic beverages.

Have you learnt anything in managing your condition that you wish you knew before?
Certain non-life-threatening-ailments, like IBS, should be treated in the natural way instead of resorting to allopathic medication.

What kind of specialists do you consult now and how often?
No one.

Have you had to make some changes to your lifestyle because of your condition?
Not very much because I have anyway been used to a simple life style – fixed eating time, no in-between snacks, not even coffee or tea. I have hardly ever indulged in overeating, and my liquor consumption has also been in moderation. I have also been practicing Yoga. Now, I eat as a man of my age should — less, but nutritive food. I also try to avoid outside food as far as possible.

Do you follow any diet plan now?
I have no diet plan – not now and not even during the period I suffered the most. I have a fairly strict eating schedule and have been following it for the last 20 years. Unless unavoidable, I don’t eat outside and that too eat what I ‘know’ to be safe. I don’t overeat. I drink may be twice a month – two small drinks.

Have you tried complementary medicine or therapies, like homeopathy or yoga?
Yes, I have. About five or six years back, I stopped seeing my Gastroenterologist and discontinued all allopathic medicines. Thereafter, I switched to Ayurvedic treatment and followed the rigorous schedule for about six months or so. I also got initiated as a Reiki practitioner (Level 2) and started cleansing and treating myself almost every day. So, now, whenever I feel the symptoms, I treat myself wherever I may be at that time. As for yoga, I do basic asanas, breath-control and meditation as often as possible.

Has it been difficult emotionally to cope with your condition?
Not really. With abundant modesty, I would say that I am not easily flustered by difficult situations. I learnt to give IBS only that much attention as it deserved. One of my friends became a mental wreck due to IBS and refused to meet even close relatives. He went into depression and had to be treated for that too.

How has your family supported you?
My family supported me fully. They allowed the menu to be modified to my needs. Most of the times, though, me and my wife used to be at home. So, no problem on that front.

Did you see a counsellor for support? Were you offered counselling by the doctor?
I did not go to any counsellor nor did any doctor advise me on how to handle my problem other than to tell me that it was a case of IBS. It was a physical problem, it was irritating, but thankfully it never affected my mental balance, and hence I did not need any counselling. The doctor also never mentioned any counselling for me.

In fact, the doctors were even vague about the causes and treatment of my problem. They did not tell me much. I had a feeling that they did not find it a serious enough problem to focus their attention on. When I explained that while taking a shower, I could feel my tummy filling with ‘gas’ and visibly bloating, the response was that it could be due to temperature difference!

I read a few articles on the internet and a couple of books like ‘Making Sense of IBS’ by Brian E. Lacyto to educate myself.

But, I have actually helped some people to look at IBS differently and get over it. When casually discussing health issues with some of my friends, I have shared what I experienced and how I had tackled it. I referred them to these books or sent them extracts. I sent Reiki Energy to them. I also told them to find out which food item eased their discomfort and things like that. Since the topic never came up again, I presume that either they must have felt better or maybe talking to me didn’t help at all!

How did your friends treat you? Were you isolated?
I had no problem with my friends. There were some who would always try to be funny and cracked the standards jokes about IBS which I largely ignored.

What was the hardest part of the treatment?
I realised right in the early stages that IBS has no definite treatment and the doctors had no definite idea about the causes.  It was my body and so I tried what helped me. By trial and error, I discovered the combination of factors that worked for me.

What kept you going?
I was ready to carry on with a heavy stomach if nothing worked and was ready to change my living conditions for the feeling of that extra weight! (I was anyway 60 then).

How has this changed your life perspectives and ambitions?
What has changed my mindset is the thought that some youngsters and even children often suffer much more like juvenile diabetes or obesity of even back and neck pain, whereas my problem is only a heavy stomach and the frequent urge to go to the toilet. This thought lessened my mental burden a lot. My efforts have also reaffirmed my trust in my own ways to deal with my non-life-threatening issues.