Living With IBS? Tap This Support Group to Live Better!

In my quest to understand Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common digestive condition, I came across The IBS Self Help and Support Group , the largest online self-help health site for those living with IBS.



I spent many hours on the IBS site ever since I began my role at Revolution Health nearly a year ago in an effort to learn more about IBS--and even more importantly--to understand how IBS impacts the lives of those who are coping with it every day.

What I found here was a community of support, of kindness, education, learning, empathy, compassion and insight, at times sprinkled with humor; a place where frustrations and sadness are shared along with the good days when the pain isn't so bad and life is enjoyable. I found tips, advice and insight on everything you could imagine having to do with living with IBS including medications, treatment options, alternative therapies, exercise and diet.

If you don't have IBS you may not realize just how vital an online support group is to those who are coping with IBS. We all know how embarrassing it is to talk about our occasional tummy troubles--most of us keep our gas, bloating and other digestive woes to ourselves. But for the millions who suffer with IBS, suffering in silence can ruin lives.

Here's what one person with IBS said about the IBS Self Help & Support Group:

"It's drastic. The symptoms are sometimes constant. There's diarrhea and abdominal pain or constipation and bloating. I can't commit to anything too far in advance or anything that is regularly occurring. It greatly affects my life and I'm grateful that there is someone to turn to for support and information."

"... this group represents the real voice of the IBS sufferer, in a professional and dignified manner."

Tim and Nicole: Living and Laughing With IBS

My two favorite IBS bloggers, Tim Phelan (Romance, Riches, Restrooms) and Nicole Thomas, (Life in A Bathroom) are active in this IBS online support community and are inspirational and positive role models. You'll love their blogs! They both have such a great sense of humor--see for yourself!

Tim's got a book out too, Romance, Riches and Restrooms. It's fabulously funny and educational.

The IBS Self Help and Support Group formed in 1987 and established itself as a support and advocate group for IBS Sufferers. The group's founder and president, Jeffrey Roberts, is a respected voice of the IBS community and has testified before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) several times on behalf of IBS patients.

What will you find? Access to bulletin and chat boards, blogs, news and articles, videos and podcasts, book list and store, medication listings, testing, diagnosis and treatment, research study listings, penpals and support groups.

IBS Chat: GET Real Life Stories and Solutions


If you want support information in book-form--IBS Chat contains the best and most commonly asked questions (with answers). I've read much of the book and I will say it offers a wealth of practical strategies for managing symptoms, information about treatment options, and insight into the impact IBS can have on someone's life.

Just like you'll find on the IBS group's website, IBS Chat is filled with advice, support, and reassurance. You'll be blown away with how much help and info you'll find within these pages and online at the IBS Self Help & Support Group.

Let me know what you think!

By the way, the IBS Self Help and Support Group is featured this week in Revolution Health's Online Health Fair, along with other leading organizations like the National Foundation For Celiac Awareness, the Society for Women's Health Research and the American Kidney Fund.

Alli-Oops Bag: Not Just for Dieters

A colleague of mine was gastro-savvy enough to share her discovery of how people are preparing to deal with the digestive side effects they may experience taking Alli, Alli the new diet pill. By packing an Alli-oops bag of course! But I thought this was such a good idea whether or not you take Alli, especially if you are coping with a digestive condition like IBS, Crohn's Disease or Colitis,or even if you have an unpredictable constitution. A little preparation never hurts.

So what's in an Alli-oops bag you ask? Since Alli works mostly in the digestive system by blocking the fat you consume, you'll likely have increased bowel movements, looser stools or diarrhea. And the more fat you eat the uglier your side effects will be. That's why you need to follow the Alli-plan.

Yes, your decision to take Alli basically boils down to how much you can tolerate the digestive system side effects which may include: frequent bathroom trips, oily leakage, abdominal discomfort, gas and bloating.

But now that that the Alli boards are buzzing with folks coming to terms with the fact that some gastro-things will be out of their control and the bathroom will be a become a space for self-reflection among other things--ways to cope with the inevitable are emerging. Among the best and most practical: the Alli-oops bag.

Here's What You Need to Make Yours:

I suggest a chic Gastro-Girly Bag to start (discretion is key)

Contents:

baby wipes

lotion

body spray

extra panties

extra pads

extra pants

plastic bags

I would add some hand sanitizer too!

and of course A SENSE OF HUMOR!

Got more ideas for the Alli-Oops bag? Tell us!

Wondering What to Do About Those Oily Stains?


I came across this in the Alli forums:


First spray some kind of clothes stain remover all over the area (like shout)

-Then take some of your normal laundry detergent and rub into the fabric.

-Let it set for a few mins, making sure the whole oily spots are completely drenched in the laundry detergent. (scrub it into the clothing)

-Wash as normal in COLD water. (Warm/Hot water has a tendency of setting stain)

Hope that saves your clothes.

I wonder if we'll see more car trunks with an Alli-oops bag along side our emergency survival bags that we packed after 9/11?


Alli: Can You Deal With Diarrhea and Make Diet Changes?

Alli: Is This New Diet Drug A Digestive System Foe?

Alli Diet Pill: Can You Deal With Diarrhea and Diet Changes?

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I'm amazed and yet not surprised that so many of you are asking about the pros and cons of Alli, the much-hyped new over-the-counter diet pill (weight loss drug.) Whether Alli works or not is on your mind of course--but most of your questions involve your curiosity about Alli's side-effects--which may include gas with oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control (diarrhea).


Since Alli works mostly in the digestive system, I talked with Dr. Brian Fennerty, a leading gastroenterologist based in Portland, Oregon, who is also a one of our medical experts here at Revolution Health. I wanted to get the "real deal" about the toilet-related side-effects, like diarrhea, to clarify when and if Alli users need to worry. I also wanted to find if he thought there was any link between Alli and colon cancer. See, many news reports (including my previous post and a Revolution Health article) have cited a study that concluded Alli caused precancerous lesions in the colon.

Listen to Dr. Fennerty share his thoughts about Alli

I also talked with Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a board certified weight loss specialist in Naples, Florida. She is well-known for her balanced approach to weight loss--which stresses diet, exercise and strict monitoring of her patients. She has prescribed fat blockers such as Xenical to her patients, but only in combination with a personalized diet and exercise plan.

By the way, Alli is a "watered down" version of Xenical ( Alli is about half as strong). However, Dr. Cederquist said some studies have already shown that Alli has been just as effective as the prescription-strength version.

See how some Revolution users are incorporating Alli into their weight loss plan.

Both Dr. Fennerty and Dr. Cederquist agreed that Alli won't work unless you are serious about losing weight and are ready to make significant diet and exercise changes. Alli is no miracle diet pill and both Dr. Fennerty and Dr. Cederquist stressed that Alli won't work without a patent's full commitment to watching their diet and exercising.

Side-effects: Can You Cope?

Dr. Fennerty said that the side-affects will likely be more uncomfortable than a risk to your overall health. But as with any drug, you should read the warning label and not take Alli (and also consult your doctor before you take Alli) if you fall into the categories listed on the warning label. I checked out the label and the biggest warning was aimed those who have had organ transplants because Alli interferes with the medicines used to prevent transplant rejection.

Yes, you'll likely have increased bowel movements, looser stools or diarrhea. So besides your readiness to embrace the whole Alli plan, your decision to take Alli basically boils down to how much you can tolerate the digestive system side effects which may include: frequent bathroom trips, oily leakage, abdominal discomfort, gas and bloating.

"These side effects aren't life threatening," said Dr. Fennerty. Disputing study findings cited by Public Citizen director Sidney Wolfe, Dr. Fennerty said the chances of Alli leading to increased risk of of colon cancer or even precancerous lesions is very slim. "If Alli was in any way associated with colon cancer it would definitely not be on the market."

Alli Not Wise Choice For Those with Chronic Digestive Conditions

If you have a chronic digestive condition, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's or Colitis) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), where diarrhea is predominant, you shouldn't take Alli, since this drug would likely make your diarrhea much worse, according to Dr. Fennerty. However, he noted that for those with IBS where constipation is the main symptom, Alli could actually help. But IBS patients looking to alleviate their constipation shouldn't take Alli just to treat constipation if they aren't trying to lose weight.

Can you lessen the side-effects? Try this advice

If you're thinking about taking Alli, you need to know what to eat and how much to ensure the best results.

Dr. Cederquist recommends patients who take Alli eat a low-fat diet with 15 grams of fat per meal., which is what the drug company, GlaxoSmithKline, states on its website. "This will help patients lower the chance of experiencing these treatment effects."

This makes sense to me--if you eat lots of fatty foods, your trips to the bathroom may be more frequent and not so pretty. It's also the side-effects that may make some people give up. So it's important to realize this connection.

Since Allie blocks fat absorption—the side effects of eating so much fat might cause some people to give up. Dr. Cederquist said this is one reason why it’s important that Alli be taken as part of a diet and exercise program.

Why? Even restricting your fat consumption won’t work if you’re replacing fatty foods with too much sugar or protein.

“You can gain a lot of weight eating sugar and protein,” Dr. Cederquist said. “It's an issue of calories and you have to understand that Alli doesn’t block all calories. Simply, exercise and calories matter”

Think Alli is a ticket to fried? Think again.

“If your eating a ton of fat and taking Alli, you’ll have a ton of side effects,” said Dr. Cederquist. Sometimes you’ll learn from that and realize it’s better to have that chicken breast than a Big Mac.”

She also warned that many people don’t realize that they are consuming a lot of fat even when they think they’re making healthy choices: nuts, cheese, dressings all have fat.

“You might think you’re eating healthy but that salad could have as much fat a Big Mac if you’re piling on cheese and dressings.”
Note: I will be updating this post soon..please visit again!

Are you ready for Alli? Take this quiz.

If you’ve decided Alli is right for you, buy your starter pack in the Revolution Health store.

Common Questions

Alli: Is This New Diet Drug A Digestive System Foe?

Alli, the much hyped miracle weight loss drug that is now available over the counter may not be such a "miracle" after all. On the eve of it's retail debt, experts nationwide are debating its long-term efficacy and more importantly its safety. News reports are all over the internet filled with warnings, some even urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rethink its approval as the first bottles are about to be purchased.

FDA approval of the weight-loss drug Alli for over-the-counter (OTC) sale — the prescription dose version is Xenical (generic name orlistat) — has raised some heavyweight questions, according to a Revolution Health report.

Among the harshest warnings came from Public Citizen's director, Sidney Wolfe who "strongly urged people not to use this drug.”

Wolfe actively petitioned the FDA against approval of Alli. “There’s no evidence of long-term benefits, and [there are] many short-term risks” including gastrointestinal problems, oily spotting and oily gas, and a serious risk of vitamin deficiency. Wolfe also points to several studies that showed the drug can lead to precancerous lesions in the colon."

This is scary news for me, a Gastro Girl concerned with your digestive health. But I'm not surprised by the claims the drug can cause gastrointestinal problems given how it works in the body. See Alli prevents fat from being absorbed in the intestine--so around 30 percent of the fat you won't be absorbed. Now, where will that fat go? Yep. You'll excrete it as waste. So it makes sense that over time your poor intestines will feel the burn as this fat will likely cause excessive diarrhea. So it's no wonder the studies showed the drug could lead to precancerous lesions in the colon.

Now, I'm not an expert, but I do feel an obligation to share the digestive side of things here. I am concerned that this drug--which is designed for the obese (body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30), overweight(BMI greater than 27) or those with additional heart disease risk factors--will be abused by those who want to shrink down to model size and see the drug as an easy way to skinny jeans.

My other concern is some may actually eat more fatty foods thinking that Alli will block most of the fat. No, Alli isn't a ticket to fried, folks!

Seriously, my aim isn't to tell you what to do. I just want to present the facts so you are aware of the risks and the benefits of this new drug. I worry about your gastro health--and I don't want anyone to needlessly endure digestive distress.

Please read all the research, talk to your doctor and make an informed decision before you make Alli your ally. This drug could turn out to be your foe.

Check out this excluisve Revolution Health report, "Is Alli All It Claims to be For Weight Loss?"

I will follow up with some insight from some Gastro docs soon so stay tuned.

Get Gastro Sick If You Pet Without Precaution

Petting zoos are fun, educational, social and for many of us the closest we'll ever get to being Old Macdonald or Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.


But in our fur-feeling frenzy, many of us don't realize we're touching more than what we can see or feel. In fact,we're getting personal with germy critters like E. Coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Campylobacter. These bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of some animals and which then are shed in the animal's feces.
Horses, goats, sheep, donkeys and other four-legged creatures--sure they're cute, enticing us with all that hair, fur and those eyes. Ah, those eyes. Don't let them fool you! Yes, touching and not washing could wreak havoc on your digestive system.

Common Sense Isn't So Common

If you're a Gastro Girl groupie, you know how I feel about handwashing-- an act so basic and common "sensical" that you would think it comes as second nature to all man and woman-kind. Not so. And when it comes to petting animals at the zoo--we're not washing our hands or taking other basic precautions--and some of are getting sick.

See, a recent study found that between 1991 and 2005 there were at least 55 outbreaks of intestinal diseases with associated with animals in public places, like petting zoos, in the United States.

While it may not seem significant--the fact is that even though the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has simple guidelines to help prevent the transmission of these diseases--not all of us are heeding this advice.

This study was published in the July 1, 2007, Clinical Infectious Diseases (and currently available online).


"While petting zoos are common and can be an excellent educational and social event, there are potential health risks that are not always being properly addressed," said J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, dipACVIM, lead author of the study. Because the route of disease transmission is usually from animal feces to a human's mouth, guidelines to reduce the risk of disease are designed to interrupt this route. They include recommendations to wash hands after touching animals, to keep food and drinks outside of animal areas, and to prevent children from putting their hands or objects (such as pacifiers or sippy-cups) in their mouths while interacting with the animals." Source:Infectious Disease Society of America

How Gross: Why Aren't Thinking (and washing)!

What I can't believe is that although 94 percent of the petting zoos had places for visitors to wash their hands:only 30 percent of the people who visited the petting zoos washed their hands--major Gastro mistake! And I bet lots of them stopped for a bite to eat on their way home, too, or enjoyed snacks on the ride home. Bad move if we don't want tummy bugs. See our hands are the most likely route of transmission of those petting zoo germs.

Speaking of food and drinks-- items that would come into contact with the mouths of infants and children were carried into the petting zoo at more than half the events.
Things like baby bottles, pacifiers, and baby toys were being used in the petting zoo, putting children who put them in their mouths at a higher risk for getting sick.

What Can We Do?

The study said that simple measures can be undertaken by zoo operators to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

These include:

--placing the hand hygiene stations at the exit of a petting zoo
--posting signs promoting hand hygiene
--making running water available so it's easy for people to wash
--removing animals which are about to or have just given birth because such animals are more likely to shed pathogens
--educating people about the risks associated with petting zoos may reduce the frequency with which food, beverages, or items that may end up in a child's mouth are brought into the zoo.

Here's What You Can Do

--wash hands after touching animals
--keep food and drinks outside of animal areas
--don't bring into the zoo area items that go in children's mouths (such as pacifiers or sippy-cups)

Happy (and clean) petting!

Butts Swipes Toilet Paper Now Faces Jail Time

How do you like my headline? Ok, I just couldn't resist this news item.

Suzanne Marie Butts (yes, that's here real name) shoved three rolls of toilet paper from an Iowa courthouse in her shirt--and well, got busted.

According to the Associated Press, police are chuckling, but the theft charge could put her in prison.

At least the toilet paper is free there, yes?

Here's more from the AP reports:

"She's facing potentially three years of incarceration for three rolls of toilet paper," Chief Lon Walker said, stifling a laugh as he talked to KCCI-TV about Suzanne Marie Butts. "See, I can't say it with a straight face."

Workers had noticed the rolls disappearing from the Marshall County Courthouse much faster than usual, Walker said.

Butts, 38, was caught last week after an employee saw her taking three rolls of two-ply tissue from a storage closet, Walker said.

Butts insisted it was the first time she'd pilfered toilet paper, but she declined to answer further questions on her attorney's advice.

The fifth-degree theft charge, a misdemeanor, normally carries a sentence of less than a year in jail. But Butts could face more time if convicted under the state's habitual offender law because she has prior theft convictions.

Walker did not know why Butts was at the courthouse, but said that she did not work there.

Apparently, police had plenty to go on:

My favorite news story was from Iowa's Times-Republican

"A woman was discovered taking toilet paper from the courthouse Monday, according to police reports, something she has apparently been adept at doing for a quite a while.

No one could remember exactly when, but toilet paper started disappearing at “unusually high rates,” even for county employees, said a source close to the problem. In other words, something didn’t smell quite right.

It had long ago been suspected that the problem was more than just overactive bowels, but no one could quite prove it. That is, until the culprit was caught red-handed by authorities.

“A courthouse employee saw her walk from a storeroom carrying a bag of toilet paper,” said Marshalltown Police Chief Lon Walker.

The woman allegedly involved in the situation, Suzanne Marie Butts, has been referred to as the toilet paper bandit by some county employees.

Though she apparently has a concern for hygiene, she may find herself in a messy situation."

Toilet paper can get pricey--especially if you use a lot. So I'll give Ms. Butts the Gastro Girl benefit of maybe having a digestive condition she just can't afford.

Colons and Polyps and Preps, Oh My!

Not a pretty picture. The googled-eyed pink blob is a colon polyp. The tall thin green thing is an enema. And the woman to my left is Anka, a former internal medicine doctor turned medical journalist. She's great, by the way and worked hard to keep up with all the news coming out of Digestive Disease Week 2007. I think she has nearly fifty articles to write! See, I told you there was so much news and information coming out of that conference--I know I have an endless stream of topics to share with you here over the next several weeks, perhaps months!

Anyway, back to the topic of colons and polyps.

Here's what you need to know.

Did you know that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States? Yikes. But when colorectal cancer is detected early, it has one of the highest cure rates. Now that's good news! But IT HAS TO BE DETECTED EARLY!

That's one reason why we need innovative and improved ways to screen for and detect this disease.

When I was at Digestive Disease Week® 2007 (DDW®), there was new research presented there that highlighted several technological and research advances that are helping to decrease both the number of deaths and the number of new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the United States.

This is great news! But remember, early detection is the key to prevention! Colorectal cancer in its early stages usually doesn't cause any symptoms. If you don't get screened, you won't know and frankly, by the time you do decide to get screened, it may be too late. Now, I'm not trying to alarm you here.

In fact, I need to have a colonscopy soon too. Ok. I'll put it out here right now and say, yes, my doctor, a lovely woman (to whom I complained to about my chronic abdominal pain and bouts of constipation and it's counterpart) who urged me have a colonscopy as a precaution. That was back in February and I still haven't made the appointment. Shame on me!

Does my failure to make an appointment for a colonscopy make me a hypocrite? Well, maybe a little. But it also makes me human and highlights the hesitation most of us have about dealing with our health matters. Am I afraid? You bet. Not so much about the end-result and what they may find--more so about the procedure. Basically, fear of the unknown. Anticipatory anxiety. Even a Gastro Girl is a bit scared.

I met with some reps from Ez-Prep at DDW--they said their product is one used by docs to prepare their patient's (read cleaning out their colons) before the colonscopy. They mentioned it wasn't as bad as we might think.

For me, my time at DDW, listening, learning, asking questions. etc. about all things digestive, including colorectal cancer--which was a major topic at the conference--made a huge impact on me.

Gastro Girl Colonoscopy Challenge

What am I going to do about my fear? I don't even know what I'm afraid about really--what's the worst that could happen? The doc has to zap a polyp or two?

I'm gonna schedule a colonscopy. I tell you what--watch this space for the Gastro Girl Colonoscopy Challenge. Yea. That's it. We'll make a pact to get screened all over the world around the same time! How cool would that be! You can write in with your appointment time and day and location and we can all feel the huge outpouring of support--there is power in numbers!

Stay tuned.

Get the scoop from the Revolution Health community
Colonscopy: What can I expect?