

Kirsty's Korner: Last week, The IBS Network went to The Vitality and Wellbeing Show at Earl's Court. Dr Nick Read gave two lectures on IBS and the interaction between food and mood, offered free consultations, and didn't seem at all phased by the predominance of women at the show. Many who came to see us were of a certain age, single and struggling to cope with the obligations of work and family and the desire to have an exciting and interesting life. But was this the cause of the IBS or the result? I'll have to ask Nick.

Would You like to be part of the IBS Network team?

VOLUNTEER NEEDED!

The IBS Network is the national charity for those suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Through an annual membership, active website, and medical helpline we are able to provide help and support delivered through a range of channels.

Based in Sheffield, we are a small team and share the responsibility of running the charity.

As we move forward with the development of the charity and look forward to introducing new initiatives and ideas in 2012, we are looking for someone join us in the office and help with the day-to-day running of the charity.

Position - Office administration assistant
Purpose - To serve as administration and membership assistant to the office manager
Location - The IBS Network Office, nr Sheffield city centre, S3 8EN
Key Responsibilities - Answering telephone calls, sorting incoming post, answering email queries, dealing with membership queries, sending out information packs, updating social networking sites, general administrative duties.
Answerable to - Office manager and board of trustees
Hours and Length of post - we are looking for someone who is able to work 2-3 days p/w for between 4-5 hours a day, no more than 15hrs p/w. We are looking for someone long-term (min 3 months), as some training will be provided to deal with and answer membership queries.

SELF CARE FOR IBS

Together with The College of Medicine, the IBS Network is running a series of workshops throughout the UK to train health care professionals and expert patients to acquire the knowledge and skills to facilitate self care of IBS.

Modules will include the nature and causes of IBS, role of diet, role of emotion, and enabling self care.

Next workshop: Manchester 25th April 2012

Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre, The University of Manchester, Chancellors Way, Moseley Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6ZT

Please go to: www.collegeofmedicine.org.uk/education/course/irritablebowelsyndrome for more information or email info@collegeofmedicine.org.uk

Frances; nearly forty and really fed up!

'I am approaching 40 and I have had IBS for years, but I now feel that it is getting worse and I just don't know what to do. I have tried numerous medications, had loads of tests, tried lots of different therapies -all to no avail. I suffer with low down bowel pain, similar to period pain, accompanied by an urgent need to rush to the toilet. My bowels are always loose and unpredictable, though they are worse after eating and as the day goes on. Sometimes I know it is going to happen because I start to get pains down my legs or I feel really depressed; then inevitably my stomach starts making funny noises and I need to rush to the loo. I am starting to feel quite depressed and worry about going anywhere. It is starting to affect me at work and plays havoc with my social life. I cannot just rush to the toilet when I need to and the noises in my stomach are so embarrassing. How can I get to know somebody with all this going on? I feel so tired and run down and just seem to want to sleep all the time. My brother has recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease and my mum is intolerant to gluten. I have had two blood tests for coeliac disease and these have come back negative. No particular foods seemed to trigger it, but I do eat a lot of wheat and dairy based foods. I don't want to cut out foods as I'm worried about nutrient deficiency. I am on the waiting list for CBT to help with anxiety about my IBS, but can't stop the nagging feeling that it may be something serious that is slowly draining my life.'

Frances has had IBS for a long time, had so many tests, tried so many remedies and come up with nothing. It may be time to look at it a different way. What is she saying? This illness is draining her life away. She worries about it all the time. It embarrasses her at work She can't go anywhere. She doesn't say anything about a husband or family.

Perhaps there is no husband and family, and coming up to forty she feels that life is passing her by and this thought is making her illness worse. Did something happen before the IBS started? Was she let down, abandoned? There is nothing in what she writes that would indicate a life threatening disease. She has been checked twice for Coeliac Disease. What can she do? What are the options?

The main thing for her to do is to ask herself whether there is anything else that is getting her down and giving her IBS and whether she can do anything about that. It seems likely that her frustration and depression might be driving her illness. But there is rarely just one solution or one causative factor. A trial of a gluten free diet for a month might be useful to determine whether she, like her mother, is gluten sensitive . If that has no effect then she might try reducing her intake of fermentable fruits (esp, plums, pears, apples, prunes, apricots,) and veg (esp cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot, onion, peas and beans). Any dietary change should only be tried for a circumscribed period of time and if it makes little or no difference, should be abandoned. If neither of those work, then she could try taking cholestyramine to bind bile acids, starting with 1 sachet half an before the main meal of the day and half a sachet before smaller meals, but being ready to adjust the dose according to the response of her bowels. But she should try these options in consultation with a health professional, perhaps a dietician, counsellor or nurse, who has the breadth of knowledge and time to talk to her and impart a feeling of confidence.

A Recipe for a March Heat Wave.

Here is lovely recipe for the warm burst of spring weather.

Lemon granita.

600 ml water
300g granulated sugar
300 ml fresh lemon juice (6 lemons).

Place 300ml water in a saucepan and add sugar.
Bring to the boil and stir until sugar has dissolved.
Remove from heat and cool. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining water.

Freeze directly in a stainless-steel or plastic container. Stir with a fork every hour or so, paying special attention to the sides, where the mix will freeze solid if unattended.

To serve, place granita in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrape along the top with a metal spoon to create slushy ice crystals

FREE Allergy Show tickets

We will have a major presence this year at The Allergy and Free From Show (May 17th - 20th) with two talks and free one on one consultations. For your FREE TICKETS please visit our website, www.theibsnetwork.org and click on the link on the home page