Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Diverticulitis And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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What To Think About

Coping with Diverticulitis – A Patient’s Story

Along with the treatment you get from your doctor, you might find that other treatments help too. Some people may try different diets or natural health products to help manage their symptoms. If you try a new diet or natural health product pay attention to how your body and symptoms respond to it. It may help to work closely with your doctor to figure out what works best for you.

Your mind and body are connected and affect each other. Physical illnesses can be made worseor betterby your feelings and attitudes, and vice versa. Learn as much as you can about ME/CFS. Then work with your doctor to learn ways to cope with your symptoms. Get emotional support from your health professionals as well as from your family and friends.

How Is It Treated

There is no treatment for ME/CFS itself, but many of its symptoms can be treated. A good relationship with your doctor is important. That’s because the two of you will need to work together to find a combination of medicines and lifestyle adjustments that will help you get better. Some trial and error may be needed, because no single combination of treatments works for everyone.

Home treatment is very important. You may need to change your daily schedule, learn better sleep habits, and use regular gentle movement or exercise to manage fatigue. Even at times when you have more energy, keep a low-key pace throughout each day. Rest often.

When you have ME/CFS, you may not be able to do the things you would like to do. This may lead to feelings of frustration and anxiety. It can also lead to depression. Depression is not the same thing as ME/CFS. But it can make your ME/CFS symptoms worse.

Learning to cope with your symptoms and talking to others who have ME/CFS can help. So can working with a counsellor.

Why Do These Illnesses Go Together

The short answer to the question of why these conditions often occur together is, “Nobody knows.” The long answer is, at this stage, speculative. Similarities that are worth researchers’ time include:

  • All three conditions may involve serotonin imbalances
  • IBS and ME/CFS both can begin after another illness
  • Each of these conditions is strongly linked to stress

Right now, we don’t know the underlying causes of any of these conditions, and we likely won’t understand their relationship until we better understand their causes and mechanisms. However, based on research, an emerging umbrella term is central sensitivity syndromes.

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Get Help For Your Stomach And Colon Problems

If you experience changes in your bowel habits, have abdominal cramping or notice blood in your stool, you should talk with your primary care doctor. They can diagnose and treat hundreds of conditions. If you need a colonoscopy, your doctor will share what you need to know about your procedure, including how to make colonoscopy prep easier. And if needed, your doctor will refer you to a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in digestive heath.

Remember that your colon does a lot for you. The main thing, of course, is breaking down food so that it can pass out of your body. But it also plays an important role in your immune system and overall health. So, try to eat a colon-healthy diet and stay up to date on your cancer screenings.

For most people, a colonoscopy is needed just once every 10 years or so. And even though it may not be at the top of your fun list, one colonoscopy can give you peace of mind for years.

Tip On Dealing With Afs And Gastrointestinal Disorders

Dealing with a Gastroparesis Flare by Nancy Brown 7/3/17 What is a ...

If you have AFS and a gastrointestinal disorder, you need to be careful with the changes you make to your diet and supplementation. The reason for this is that some of the recommended supplements and health plans for one condition may adversely affect the other.

For example:

  • Garlic and olive leaf extracts can have natural antifungal properties but can also cause adrenal crash in advanced stages of AFS.
  • Taking digestive enzymes with meals can help with digestion, but excessive use can cause diarrhea.
  • Foods that help fortify the microbiome, such as yogurt, kimchi, kefir, and dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables and grains are sometimes not tolerated by the system if one suffers from advanced AFS.
  • Probiotics and prebiotics should be used with care because overuse can trigger adrenal crash for those in advanced stages of adrenal fatigue.

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Treatment Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

There is no specific treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatments may vary, but the common goal is to relieve symptoms through a combination of methods. An individualized treatment approach is most effective in treating this complex condition. For many patients, multiple techniques may be recommended before finding a unique approach that works. Depending on the symptoms, a doctor may recommend:

  • Avoiding stress

The Importance Of The Gut In Maintaining Health

The primary purpose of the gut is to absorb nutrients from food but what people dont realize is that the gut is also an integral part of our bodys immune system. The gut produces three quarters of the bodys neurotransmitters, contains two thirds of the bodys immune tissues, houses a genome that is one hundred times larger than the human microbiome, and has ten times the amount of bacteria than the rest of the human body combined.

Gastrointestinal disorders affect the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum, along with organs that aid in digestion, such as the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.

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Possible Ways The Conditions Are Connected

So, whats the connection between the two conditions? Dr. Chang says that many factors may contribute to the development of both conditions. Here are some possible scenarios.

1. Post-infectious syndromes IBS sometimes develops after a stomach bug or food poisoning, says Chang. Likewise, chronic fatigue syndrome has been seen in people after a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection. In fact, in chronic fatigue, one of the biggest theories is that some sort of infection is causing the symptoms, she says.

Studies from Norway have linked Giardia infection, or giardiasis, with both the development of IBS and CFS. The most recent study, published in 2018 in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, tracked what happened after the parasite got into the water supply in Bergen, Norway, in 2004. In total, more than 1,200 exposed patients had confirmed giardiasis, causing diarrhea, stomach pain, and other intestinal problems, that was traced back to the outbreak. The long-term study followed nearly 600 individuals who recovered from the infection and compared their health with people who had not been infected. At the 10-year mark, 43 percent of the exposed individuals had developed IBS, compared with just 14 percent of those who had not been affected. CFS was reported in 26 percent of the infected group, compared with 11 percent of the others.

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How Is Me/cfs Diagnosed

Diverticulitis, Causes, SIgns and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

To be diagnosed with ME/CFS, you must have all of these symptoms:footnote 1

  • Major decrease in your ability to do the things you did before you got sickincluding work, school, social, or personal activitiesthat has continued for more than 6 months.
  • Worsening of symptoms after being mentally or physically active .
  • Sleep problems, including not feeling rested after sleeping .
  • Extreme fatigue that is:
  • New or has not been a lifelong problem.
  • Not caused by being active for a long period of time.
  • Not much better after resting.

You must also have one or more of these symptoms:

  • Problems with concentration, short-term memory, or thinking of the right word .
  • Feeling dizzy or faint while standing or sitting upright that improves while lying down .

Doctors may also look for other causes of your symptoms. They may also do additional tests to confirm your diagnosis.

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How Is Diverticular Disease Diagnosed

Diagnosis is made by examination of the inside of the colon. During the examination the doctor or nurse endoscopist will be looking for other abnormalities that could be causing your symptoms and so diagnosis is only confirmed once other conditions have been ruled out. This can be done via: Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. A tube with a camera is passed into the colon via the back passage to view the inner surface of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy is a similar procedure that views less of the colon. Medication can be given to make the procedure comfortable and you will be given something before the procedure to ensure you completely empty your bowels. CT scan. This is a non-invasive x-ray-based test although, as with the colonoscopy, you will be required to completely empty your bowels beforehand.

Mayo Clinic Q And A: Diverticulosis Doesnt Mean Diverticulitis

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: After my last colonoscopy, I was told I have diverticulosis. Will this lead to diverticulitis? I currently have no symptoms but wonder if I should do anything to prevent it from progressing.

ANSWER: Although the two conditions are related, and diverticulosis is a risk factor for diverticulitis, many people who have diverticulosis never go on to have diverticulitis. In those who do eventually develop diverticulitis, it is not clear what causes the condition, so its difficult to know how to prevent it. A healthy diet and regular exercise may help.

Diverticulosis is a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Small sacs, called diverticula, bulge out of the wall of your colon. The condition is very common as people age. Estimates are that about half of the U.S. population over 50 has diverticulosis. Most people have it by the time they reach 80. With those statistics in mind, a finding of diverticulosis during a colonoscopy isnt unusual. Generally, its not a cause for concern.

Diverticulosis by itself typically doesnt trigger any symptoms. Rarely, diverticula may bleed, causing blood in the stool. As in your case, diverticulosis is often found during a routine colonoscopy or on an imaging exam, such as a CT scan, thats done for another reason. You can have diverticulosis for years without any complications or problems. If one or more of the diverticula become inflamed, however, that condition is diverticulitis.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome In Fibromyalgia And Cfs

Fibromyalgia , chronic fatigue syndrome , and irritable bowel syndrome frequently go together. No one really knows why, but we do know that all three conditions can include imbalances of the chemical serotonin, although in FMS and ME/CFS it’s an imbalance in the brain, while with IBS it’s in the gut.

Like FMS and ME/CFS, IBS by itself can be debilitating and can impose a lot of restrictions on your diet and lifestyle. Anything that causes pain or stresses in your body can exacerbate FMS/ME/CFS symptoms, so it’s especially important to treat your IBS. With some effort, IBS symptoms typically can be well managed.

Diagnosing Diverticular Disease And Diverticulitis

Pin on ME/CFS Research

Diverticular disease can be difficult to diagnose from the symptoms, alone because there are other conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome .

As a first step, your GP may recommend blood tests to rule out other conditions such as coeliac disease or bowel cancer.

In some cases, you may be offered treatment for IBS and diverticular disease at the same time.

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An Unexpected Death Of The Worst Kind

Since I last wrote about my experiences with Dr. Chia, I have been walking through a valley. Walkingnot collapsed amazingly, given whats happened.

When I headed to Dr. Chias office the first week of August, I was in the midst of helping my parents and family through the sudden loss of my brother who took his own life in July, four days after the burial of my mother-in-law, and eleven days after my last posting. One of the blessings in the midst of this valley is my ability to hold up through four solid weeks of caring for others and planning a family memorial. I am so grateful for that!

Two deaths in her family in a couple of weeks added up to alot of stress for Christine

Not surprisingly, the day after my brothers memorial, and four days after seeing Dr.Chia, I got hit with the second bout of diverticulitis in two months. Dr. Chia has explained to me that diverticulitis is very likely caused by the enteroviruses that he believes led to my ME. However, when I see him in November, I am going to ask him why diverticulitis responds to antibiotics if it is viral. Im wondering if it starts out viral and then as other bacteria invade it flares up.

But Im getting ahead of myselfback to my August appointment

So What Is The Best Course Of Action

Because trying to navigate adrenal fatigue on your own can actually worsen your condition and add to the symptoms of the gastrointestinal disorder you may suffer from, it is highly recommended that you seek the right guidance from a medical professional experienced in both.

The first important step would be to get your microbiome back to a healthy state. A holistic recovery plan will include nutritional coaching to make sure you are getting the right kind of nutrients, eliminating inflammatory foods and strengthening your gut flora without causing adrenal crashes. Your nutritional plan may include supplements, herbs and enzymes to help with both conditions. Once gut flora is in balance, many of the symptoms and inflammations will subside on their own. And because digestion is enhanced, you will be able to get enough nutrients and energy from food again, reducing fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms.

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Is It Diverticulosis Diverticulitis Or Diverticular Disease

Digestive Issues, Popular

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are conditions that occur in the colon. One refers to the presence of diverticula , while the other is a condition in which those pockets not only exist but also become inflamed.

Heres what you need to know about the two, including how theyre treated and how they can lead to diverticular disease.

Get Specialist Care When You Need It

Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Diverticulitis – Medical-Surgical – Gastrointestinal System

Visit your doctor every few months to help track your symptoms and check for any need to change your treatment.

Get specialized care if you need it. For example:

  • A rehabilitation specialist can help you treat pain and improve your ability to do your daily tasks.
  • A pain management specialist can offer a number of pain treatments.
  • There are some specialists who work with experimental treatments such as antiviral medicines.

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Preventing Diverticular Disease And Diverticulitis

Eating a high-fibre diet may help prevent diverticular disease, and should improve your symptoms.

Your diet should be balanced and include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, plus whole grains. Adults should aim to eat 18g to 30g of fibre a day, depending on their height and weight. Your GP can provide a more specific target, based on your individual height and weight.

It’s recommended that you gradually increase your fibre intake over the course of a few weeks. This will help prevent side effects associated with a high-fibre diet, such as bloating and flatulence . Drinking plenty of fluids will also help prevent side effects.

If you have established diverticular disease, it may be suggested that you avoid eating nuts, corn and seeds due to the possibility that they could block the diverticular openings and cause diverticulitis. People usually find out themselves if these foods cause symptoms. Probiotics have also been recommended, but evidence is lacking. Overall, there is a lack of good quality scientific evidence on how to prevent diverticular disease.

Effects Of Inflammation On The Gut

Patients with CFS manifest symptoms suggestive of disturbed gut function, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation . Under both physiological and pathological conditions, the ENS, the intrinsic innervation of the bowel, regulates intestinal mucosal function and coordinates the activity of the GI tract. The ENS is a component of the autonomic nervous system with the unique ability to function independently from the CNS . Enteric ganglia are organized into two major ganglionated plexuses, namely the myenteric and submucosal plexus, and contain a variety of functionally distinct neurons, including primary afferent neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons, synaptically linked to each other in microcircuits.

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Causes Of Diverticular Disease And Diverticulitis

Diverticular disease is caused by small bulges in the large intestine developing and becoming inflamed. If any of the diverticula become infected, this leads to symptoms of diverticulitis.

The exact reason why diverticula develop is not known, but they are associated with not eating enough fibre.

Fibre makes your stools softer and larger, so less pressure is needed by your large intestine to push them out of your body.

The pressure of moving hard, small pieces of stools through your large intestine creates weak spots in the outside layer of muscle. This allows the inner layer to squeeze through these weak spots, creating the diverticula.

There is currently no clinical evidence to fully prove the link between fibre and diverticula. However, diverticular disease and diverticulitis are both much more common in Western countries, where many people do not eat enough fibre.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease Seid

Pin by Jennifer Samuels on Fibromyalgia Stuff

As medical communities try harder to understand this epic fatigue that was once labeled as laziness, this condition receives additional names. The truth is that CFSor whichever name for it speaks to youis neurological fatigue from an ongoing and chronic Stage Four EBV infection. Viral neurotoxins inflame and drain the central nervous system, creating an exhaustion thats often mistaken for adrenal fatigue . In its more aggressive forms, the neurotoxins cause a mild encephalitis , which creates even heavier fatigue.

Excerpt from Thyroid Healing by Anthony William, p61. Continue reading and get your copy today at

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