If you are suffering from the pain and discomfort caused by irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), you are not alone. All across the the UK, there
are 12 million more people who are being caused misery by the
inconvenient and sometimes distressing stomach condition. The most
commonly experienced symptoms for sufferers include stomach cramps,
bloating and diarrhoea or constipation, or sometimes even alternating
bouts of both to varying severity. Every case of IBS can be different,
but all cases are certainly bothersome for the person who has it and
Medical Specialists Pharmacy is doing everything possible to help the
millions who are suffering.
This is why we recently introduced the revolutionary non-dairy,
gluten-free probiotic ‘Symprove’; a scientific revelation of a drink
that contains billions of live bacteria than get to work immediately
upon entering the body and are not destroyed during the digestion
process like other probiotics.
Perhaps somebody could come forth and recommend Symprove to the
former Blue Peter presenter and Dancing on Ice contestant Zoe Salmon.
The 32-year old TV star has this week spoke of her agonising 13-year
battle against IBS, documenting her struggles over the years and what
foods she now has to avoid in order to prevent a possible outbreak of
symptoms.
She says: “I was 19 and working as a shop assistant when I had my
first attack and started to feel really unwell. My vision started to go
blurry and I felt as if I was going to faint. My heart started to beat
quickly and my whole body began to shake. Then I broke out in a sweat
and I was hit by this awful wave of nausea. The pain was so severe it
literally took my breath away. Since then I’ve had increasingly severe
symptoms, including stomach cramps, headaches, nausea and sickness every
six months or so. One area that is always uncomfortable is my stomach,
which feels bloated nearly every day. I actually look pregnant because
my belly hangs over my jeans. It made me feel self-conscious in front of
boyfriends. I went to see my GP and was told it sounded like I could be
allergic to monosodium glutamate. I was referred to a consultant
gastroenterologist and they said it sounded like I had a wheat and sugar
intolerance. To hear that was terrible because I have such a sweet
tooth. But it made sense as my first attack at work had come after I’d
had a sugary drink and chocolate. So the consultant told me to cut sugar
out of my diet and to stop eating wheat. Now that I’ve cut them out, I
feel better. I avoid the culprit foods, such as bread, pasta, white
rice, crackers, biscuits and alcohol, so eat lots of fish, chicken and
vegetables. I am not saying I am the healthiest person. I still like my
takeaways, and my sweet tooth will never really go.”
Dr Ray Shidrawi, a gastroenterologist at The Wellington Hospital in
North London, heard about Zoe’s comments and gave his thoughts on her
struggles. He says over a fifth of us have experienced IBS at one time
or another. He commented: “Zoe is not alone in suffering from IBS. In
fact it is a very common condition. Classic symptoms include bloating,
constipation or diarrhoea or alternating instances of both. Invariably,
we find IBS is stress-related and stress therapy is an important part
of the treatment. But first we need to exclude other conditions
including infections, so we often ask for a blood test and a
sigmoidoscopy, which is a minimally invasive examination using a thin
tube attached to a small camera and light that is inserted into the
rectum to examine the bowel. Essentially, a person with IBS has a bowel
but it is more sensitive than usual. The priority is to regulate the
bowel and not get bunged up. So initially that means a balance of
dietary changes to introduce more fibre and it will often mean using
laxatives, too. We often find that IBS sufferers have an undertone of
depression, so often a psychologist can help a patient enormously. We
can also use some drugs to help modulate the gut but this is a last
resort.”
Zoe Salmon is not the only celebrity though who is suffering from
IBS, or has suffered with it at some point. There are many other people
in the spotlight who have also had the common symptoms of IBS, and shows
celebrities are just like the rest of us and not ‘superhuman’. They
include:
. Tyra Banks (U.S. model and talk show host)
Tyra Banks surprised her audience back in 2006 when she revealed to
her guest Janet Jackson that she has IBS, admitting she is ‘very gassy’.
. Jenny McCarthy (U.S. model and actress)
Jim Carrey’s former girlfriend Jenny McCarthy brazenly admitted to
suffering with ‘chronic diarrhoea’ and various other IBS symptoms within
her autobiography Jen-X: Jenny McCarthy’s Open Book.
. John F. Kennedy (Former U.S. president)
A 2002 review of the former President’s medical records, found an
interesting revelation; it appeared he had suffered with bowel
complaints and suspected IBS. Kennedy was prescribed antidiarrheal drugs
to provide relief, as well as being administered testosterone to help
his weight and strength.
. Camille Grammer (Former wife of actor Kelsey Grammer)
The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star is often vocal about her
battle with IBS, first developing the stomach condition in 1997. Whilst
still married to Kelsey, she explained about her problems, saying: “I am
always fearful that my IBS symptoms will return at any moment, so I
always have to know where the nearest restroom is. I’m afraid that
eating will result in stomach pain. Travelling is difficult. And IBS
often makes even a simple evening out with my husband, to enjoy a
concert or movie, seem impossible.”
The fact there are famous faces who have spoken out on their gut
problems shows that these kinds of issues are indeed very common and
certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If you are experiencing any kind
of stomach complaint, it is vital you consult your GP immediately, who
will then ask you detailed questions and refer you for further scans if
necessary.
If it is IBS you have, then this can be treated with a wide range of
effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In
addition, the medication Lansoprazole can help with acid reflux problems
that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All of these
medicines are available at low prices from the ‘Stomach and Bowel’
section of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website in addition to the
new wonder treatment for IBS – Symprove. The 500ml mango and passion
fruit flavour of Symprove can be purchased today without a prescription
from Medical Specialists, priced just £19.93.
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