Blog For Your Bowels

I recently visited with JHU’s Bayview Medical Center, and met with the current Director, Dr. Mack Mitchell. IBS is an autoimmune motility disorder, where serotonin is released into the gut at more frequent levels and intervals compared to normal individuals (I was unaware that 95% of serotonin lies in the intestines!!). I have a very hyperactive bowel system, and through various testing over the past years, have been able to rule out much worse conditions, including Celiac’s, Crohns’s, Colitis, and other possible food allergies or intolerances. I was scheduled to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN this month, and upon meeting with Dr. Mitchell, was able to cancel that appointment, as he assured me that no conclusions would be found after days of testing (and thousands of dollars!). He views the clinic as more of a research facility. This skepticism was introduced to me by a cousin, who travelled there for Multiple Sclerosis “MS”, and only left with a bill and no answers. She later found out that she did not have MS, and is still searching for an accurate diagnosis. As Dr. Mitchell states, I have to work on “smoothing out the peaks and valleys” of the condition, which includes the management of three factors: Diet, Stress, and Medication. I have tried numerous methods that through studies have shown some success in IBS patients, such as Acupuncture, Hypnosis (both individual and group), and Psychotherapy, with limited success on all fronts. I recently discovered that chewable Immodium tablets have a much greater effect than pill form, and I have been seeing quite an improvement. It is still a struggle every day, however I feel I now have the tools in order to deal with this disorder more effectively.