IBS

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Quite a few of our family members and fellow peers have IBS. The following is some information I shared with others recently when the subject of autism, IBS and vaccines arose in regard a young boy. Hope it may be of some use/interest to others, especially this time of the year…

Firstly, the American Academy of Pediatricians reports there is no evidence to support a link between vaccine and autism or IBS. IBS tends to be triggered by stress and anxiety. It’s not hard to understand a physical link between emotion and IBS when you consider that the bowel(as with lung and skin) develops from the same forerunner tissue in the embryo as the brain and nervous system. I’d be looking at what may be causing elevated levels of stress in your son’s day(peer/teacher stressors/changes at home or school/tests etc) to pinpoint the IBS trigger.

Despite some reports claiming IBS is more common in females than males, in actual fact, it’s just as common in both sexes. It’s often the case that people will experience a combination of mild and more severe symptoms, with flare-ups from time to time. It’s estimated that between one and three and one in five people will suffer from IBS at some point in their life.

There are four main chronic and recurring symptoms of IBS: pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea and abdominal bloating. Other symptoms may include nausea, headache, excessive wind, poor appetite and bladder problems. The exact cause is unknown, but as anxiety is the dominant emotion in autistics, stress/anxiety would be high on the list of considerations. Diet itself does not cause IBS, but spicy, very high fibre and high fat foods would all likely worsen the symptoms.

A combination of factors across all populations that may be triggers are: stress, overactivity in the gut, overactivity of nerves and muscles in the intestines, food allergy or intolerance, hormonal factors, and diet and lifestyle changes. Adults with IBS learn to watch out for foods that are bothersome, and avoid them. Exercise is important.

The most troublesome symptom of IBS is often the pain as a result of abdominal spasms. There are treatments like Buscopan IBS Relief to help relieve pain in medically confirmed IBS. It has a relaxing antispasmodic effect which works directly on the muscle on the bowel to relieve the colicky pain of cramps and spasms associated with IBS. I remember my eldest son being given an anti-spasmodic brilliant green med way back when he was 5 years(he’s now 21) and extremely anxious/stressed over school, though IBS was never diagnosed. Both our boys have IBS as do other Aspie family members.

It’s important to point out that blood in the bowel is NEVER a sign of IBS. In this case, a swift visit to the Doc for further investigation is in order. This is particularly important if you think the blood is mixed with the motion.

For further information about IBS:

http://www.ibs-relief.co.uk/
http://www.ibsnetwork.org.uk/portal/
http://www.corecharity.org.uk/

Best Wishes

I suffer from IBS myself, and have done pretty much since I was born. It has always troubled me in some way, particularly when I'm stressed. I have taken merc sol (homeopathic remedy) for it, and it does work. When you start taking it, it has to be after a bad flare up, you cannot start taking it when you feel well. You get an excess of wind to begin with but then it does calm down. That Buscopan sounds quite good though.

Vaccine and autism....

Just thought I might say something not reading the ibs but still good information,,, I've posted somewhere else with the study of mmr and autism links...

In Japan they took it away and study shows that it's not linked... don't remember where info is but they is more they somewhere...

it all started from a 1996 report that shocked into this vaccine and autism I think it was 1996, but all court stuff with this information has been thrown out by the high court for not providing evidence but theory’s only, think they is another one going through the court again in the us that probably be thrown out, these people have no qualifications in the field of any kind, and got shot for claiming to be experts - and evaluations of it was done on this theory work so then that was thrown out too...

[quote="logitechdog"]Vaccine and autism....

Just thought I might say something not reading the ibs but still good information,,, I've posted somewhere else with the study of mmr and autism links...

In Japan they took it away and study shows that it's not linked... don't remember where info is but they is more they somewhere.../quote]

Glad you brought this up. I've covered every news story on this imaginable in the past few years and included them in my fortnightly newsletters. I was never immunised and wish I had been. I caught those dreadful childhood diseases and am fortunate to have lived to tell the tale as they say. I have been quite vocal in speaking out on the mercury/autism issue as well as chelation.

Links for reference:

"New study shows no MMR link to autism(confirms finding of Japanese study)":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/stor ... 82,00.html

"Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Mercury-Based Immunizations Cleared as Causes of Autism":
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.p ... 02&time=21

"Don't Mess with Measles":
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... _1,00.html

Merc sol sounds good! Sorry to hear that you've suffered from this since birth. I know of some who have developed IBS as adults(autistic) due to prolonged exposure to stressful situations and at times of high-stress due to relationship difficulties. Things seem to settle down fairly quickly once problems are resolved. I wish you well.

Thanks for the info.I have had IBS,starting at puberty(12)and also have hypothyroid...thought maybe it was hormone related?The only advice I have gotten from DR is to increase my fiber consumption and stay away from the cigs and coffee(which I have been unable to give up)but the IBS proceeded either by 10 years,so may exasterbate symptoms but not the "cause".

Thanks for the links,I had pretty much given up on the idea that this could be treated,just learned to live with the symptoms and alter my schedule around the flare-ups.

You're very welcome. I was asked whether or not there's a link between thyroid problems and autism not so long ago, when a friend and mother of an autistic child with ID was diagnosed with Graves Disease. I gathered and presented this elsewhere and would be happy to share it here if you like. Let me know if you'd like a read...

I would be interested in reading that,if you dont want to post it here,or link it,you are welcome to PM me.I am very interested in any possible relationship between hormones,AS,IBS,thyroid.....other then these issues,I have always been a physically healthy person.I think humans are one large chemical factory....we create our own and ingest them in the form of meds, foods and our environment.I think if I could "get in balance",I could relieve a lot of the worse symptoms.

Hi Krex,

Hope you’re doing well. The following may or may not provide you with anything new but will post here just in case. My friend’s diagnosis earlier this year led to the following question:

“I’ve just been told that there’s a link between thyroid problems and autism. Do you have any literature on this? Is it true? I have never heard of this before and hope you can enlighten me. I have just been diagnosed with “Graves Disease” which is an advancement of over active thyroid.”

The possibility of thyroid dysfunction among the autistic population has been considered and studied. Despite investigations, no abnormalities could be demonstrated. The following is an excerpt from one study undertaken by Cohen DJ, Young JG, Lowe TL & Harcherik D.:

Thyroid Hormone in Autistic Children

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in the pre and postnatal development & function of the central nervous system. Disturbances in thyroid regulation have been hypothesized in childhood autism. We evaluated blood indices of thyroid function, including serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, in a large number of autistic children. No differences were found between autistic and NT children.

However, immunological studies of the autistic population have revealed features also found in those with autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases, including Grave’s thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and insulin-dependant diabetes, show some genetic predisposition. Similarly, autism is higher among identical twins than in the usual population.

There is a high prevalence(1 in 4000 births) of congenital hypothyroidism, the most common in pediatric med. Naturally, it may be included as part of newborn screening. If undetected it can lead to deafness or mental retardation. Because of the central role of thyroid hormones in brain development in the fetus & neonate, and in growth, what’s known as hypothyroxinemia in the first years of life has profound and irreversible consequences. Early detection and treatment usually allows a normal life for the child in question.

The following are interesting links for Newborn screening and Hypothyroidism in infants and children.
(*note condition profiles):
http://www.newbornscreening.com/
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/hypokids.htm

Additional info. On Graves…No single gene causes Graves. It’s thought to be triggered by both genetics and environmental factors, such as stress. Heredity along with other characteristics seem to play a role in determining susceptibility. Studies show for example, that if one identical twin contracts Graves, there’s a 20% likelihood of the other twin getting it. Women are more likely than men to develop it. As many as 1 in 8 women have a thyroid condition. Smokers with Graves are more likely to develop eye problems than non smokers.

What’s important to note is that most autoimmune diseases such as Graves, are associated with several sequence variants. For example, the link between celiac disease and thyroid disease is well established. It’s been shown in studies that the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease is 4-15 times greater than in the general population. About 30% of subjects with Grave’s have a member of the immediate family who has also had an autoimmune condition.

There is an autism/thyroid internet based group for brainstorming and support purposes:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Thyroid/

Further information…

Treatment is more complex for overactive than underactive. A scan will determine the type(be it Grave’s, thyroid nodules or the self-limiting form-subacute). There are three main treatments to choose from. Betablockers are commonly prescribed. Propranolol tablets are more frequently used. Thyroxine tablets may be prescribed to balance the anti-thyroid meds.

Symptoms tend to improve quite rapidly. 1 patient in 50 has side effects on anti-thyroid meds(mild skin rash or joint pains). Getting the dose right can be tricky. These meds can make thyroid activity swing the other way, running too slowly. If you’re given radioactive iodine, your neck may feel a little sore in the first few days(the small amount of radioactivity used has been shown not to cause harm).

Thyroid function should be checked via blood test every 12 months for the rest of your life. Prominence and discomfort of eyes, even if not present at the time of diagnosis, can occasionally occur during or after treatment. Your Doc should be informed if your eye sight is affected in any way.

Risk of relapse is between 50 & 80% over a 10 year period. Best to avoid iodine, along with a number of other foods and drugs. The condition can be triggered by dietary additives or drugs and certainly from interaction between certain meds.

For further reading…
Book:”How to cope successfully with thyroid problems”:
http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/health_book ... oblems.htm

Best Wishes