It is by some sources the most common intestinal complaint for which people are referred to a gastroenterologist.

It is characterized by abdominal pain, gas, and bloating. Some people describe a full sensation even without eating too much. One of the main hallmark symptoms we see in our office are switching between constipation and diarrhea. The symptoms usually occur after meals, come and go and are temporarily reduced or relieved after a bowel movement. People with diarrhea will have frequent, loose, watery stools. They will often have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which is difficult to control. Those with constipation will have difficulty passing stool, as well as less frequent bowel movements. They will often need to strain and will feel cramping with a bowel movement. Often, they do not eliminate any stool, or only a small amount.  Most people are diagnosed simply by their symptoms. Occasionally a doctor will run a few tests if there are other complicating factors to rule out things like Chron’s disease.

What causes it? UNKNOWN. Has been seen after an intestinal infection of some type, stress and appears to be more common in women. Something not seen in a lot of literature that we have seen a high correlation with in our office is women who are hypothyroid or pre-hypothyroid, meaning it appears to occur prior to a full blow case of hypothyroidism. There are associations with, as most things now: diet, alcohol, caffeine etc.

What to do about it? Medical approach is to simple attempt to relieve the symptoms and tell you that this may be a life long problem for you.

Current medications include:

• Anticholinergic medications (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control colon muscle spasms
• Loperamide to treat diarrhea
• Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain
• Lubiprostone for constipation symptoms
• Medications that relax muscles in the intestines

According to Public Med Health, you can look the above up and ALL of them have side effects some worse then the problem itself. Which also seems to be a common theme among many of the medications for conditions like these.

What we have found in our office is if you help the person’s thyroid many of there IBS symptoms go away. My sister had IBS for 10 years once we helped her thyroid with natural supplements and a few diet changes of foods that she was sensitive to her symptoms where GONE. A natural product we use in office called Iodomere from Standard Process has really helped.

“In 2005 I began to feel very tired for no apparent reason; at least nothing was apparent to me.  I didn’t notice my fatigue until I started training for my first marathon.  After each training session, I would go home exhausted and take a nap.  My naps would last for 3+ hours!  I would wake up feeling fatigued and often take another nap.  Also, I noticed that I was gaining weight!  The gain in weight made no sense; after all I was training for a marathon and since when does Marathon = weight gain?

Finally when I went to see PCP (primary care physician), I mentioned the unusual weight gain (and we aren’t talking about one or two pounds, try 15 to 20) and that I was tired all the time.  His solution: exercise more and get to bed early!  I bought into it and didn’t press the issue any further because he was my doctor.  Unfortunately, I only continued to suffer from fatigue, weight gain, and abnormal menses well into the next year.  I wasn’t until I saw my nurse practitioner at my gynecologist’s office that I felt heard!  She ordered the appropriate blood tests and the results were that I had hypothyroidism!  I was relived because I knew that I could finally get a drug to make me feel better.

When I told Gary, he mentioned that there were other solutions that were safer and healthier.  I started taking my prescribed medication and did notice a difference; however it wasn’t until I started treatments with Gary that I began to feel great! I admit the whole hold your arm up and apply pressure muscle/organ stress test is a little weird but it works!

Gone are the days marathon naps, waking in the middle of the night to polish off a couple of bottles of water, and absent menses!  My naps are no longer than an hour and – the best part – I wake up feeling rested and awake!  My hair is softer, and I’m starting to lose the weight!!!!!!!  There was a period of time while I was first taking the medication that I thought I’d never lose the weight and I’d continue to be tired; however taking the organic supplements Gary has suggested is actually working!

As my body heals the amount of supplements I need reduces.  The supplements enable your body to be self sufficient without drugs.  As children we instinctively knew when we weren’t feeling well and as adults, we tend to let our bodies and health suffer.  Not anymore, thanks to Gary I feel like me again!”

Tabitha

“Before I began the Nutrition Response Testing program, I had gained weight over the last five years and was very unhappy about it.  Nothing seemed to work, I wasn’t seeing enough results with exercise alone.  I am now three and a half months into the Nutrition Response Testing program and I have lost half of the amount of weight I wanted to lose.  I feel better about myself (self-esteem) and I know my body is healthier, due to supplements I take.  Dr. Yaeger put me on a diet, which did take some getting used to, but has worked very well and is not hard to stay on.  I now shop at a local farmers market each week and in general I buy healthier foods and spend more time in the produce section of the supermarket.  It just takes determination.  I am very grateful for Dr. Yaeger’s helpful advice and enthusiasm.”

Cheryl

“I began to see Dr. Yaeger for Nutrition Response Testing after receiving a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism. Even though I was taking medication for my slow thyroid, I was still experiencing constant fatigue, weight gain, inability to concentrate and many other symptoms that I was not even aware were related to my thyroid.

The doctor that diagnosed me with hypothyroidism also broke the news to me that I would have to try a number of different medications to try and get pregnant and that it might not even work so he prepared me for the possibility that I would need to seek help from a fertility specialist and do IVF.

After taking the supplements Dr. Yaeger prescribed for me in only three days, I began to notice drastic changes!  I had slept through the night for the first time in years.  I had energy and better yet I quickly walked up two flights of stairs and was not winded!  I didn’t even realize that any of these nuances that I grew accustomed to were related to my thyroid.

The best news of all… the first month of treatment I GOT PREGNANT!  No change to medications, no IVF, nothing except for the help that Dr. Yaeger blessed me with and now in April of 2008 we will have our first beautiful baby!!!

THANK YOU!!!”

Stacie