The owner of IBS Tales, Sophie Lee, has written a new book called “Sophie’s Story” which chronicles her life dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
I want to tell the absolute truth about IBS, because the reality of this disorder is so often clouded by embarrassment and myths. Perhaps the most pervasive myth is that IBS means mild diarrhea and nothing more. Many people with no experience of IBS wonder why we have such difficulty in coping with our condition. This book shows why. – Sophie Lee, “Sophie’s Story”
It would appear that “Sophie’s Story” is aiming to be an accurate & detailed account of what life with Irritable Bowel Syndrome is like, even if the truth about IBS isn’t pretty. Her story will probably resonate with many who have had similar frustrating & painful experiences while dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Sophie has been kind enough to provide me with a review copy that I will read & then review at a later date. You can purchase the book right now on Amazon
, Amazon UK
. For international orders it’s best to check the IBS Tales website for further details.
The Listeria monocytogenes strain found on cantaloupes is being blamed for the death of at least 18 people as well as sickening at least 100.
The tainted cantaloupes were sold by Jensen Farms located in Colorado & distributed all over the country. The Center for Disease Control has reported Listeria related illness in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin & Wyoming. Jensen Farms recalled the cantaloupes in mid-September.
At the same time this was happening, listeria also popped up on romaine lettuce that was being sold by True Leaf Farms of Salinas, California. Currently there have been no reports of illness from this lettuce as not much of it was distributed & what did get distributed was recalled quickly. Continue reading “Listeria Outbreak Still Having Repercussions” »
SmartPill device measures patient’s digestive system vitals with less hassle & invasiveness compared to typical diagnostic procedures like endoscopy or gastric emptying studies.
Measuring 26 mm x 13 mm, about the size of a multi-vitamin, the SmartPill device should be easy enough for most patients to swallow. Once swallowed the device gets to work measuring statistics about the patients digestive system. The information collected is useful for measuring motility within the stomach, small bowel & colon along with temperature & pressure throughout the entire gut. A data monitoring device is worn by the patient which the SmartPill communicates with wirelessly. Data is collected for 4 – 5 days & then the patient returns to the doctors office to have the data downloaded & analyzed. Only the data monitoring device is recovered as the SmartPill itself is a single use device & passes through the digestive system along with other waste products. Continue reading “SmartPill Aids Diagnosis of Gastroparesis & Irritable Bowel Syndrome” »
A study done by researchers in Norway shows a link between Giardia infection & development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Researchers gave 817 patients who were exposed to Giardia lamblia mail-in questionnaires which asked them to explain any current symptoms they were experiencing. These patients infection was the result of a waterborne outbreak of Giardia which occured three years prior. They compared these patients answers with those from a control group containing 1128 people. Continue reading “Giardia Infection Linked to Irritable Bowel & Chronic Fatigue” »
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is seeking approval from the European Medicines Agency for their Irritable Bowel Syndrome drug Linaclotide.
Almirall is the licensee of Linaclotide for European markets. They along with Linaclotide manufacturer, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency in a bid to gain access to European markets. Along with the application they submitted the results of their Phase III trials showcasing the benefits they feel Linaclotide provides patients who are dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If approved the drug would be sold under the brand name of Constella. Continue reading “Ironwood’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation Drug Seeking European Approval” »
Stanford University’s new Gastrointestinal Pain Program is showing how efficient communication between Gastroenterologists & Pain Management specialists can lead to better results for patients.
It’s all too often that patients with chronic conditions find themselves in the position of treatment manager, coordinating communications between their general practitioner & the multiple specialists they may have to see. Patients in this situation will often feel lost in a sea of doctors appointments, ensuring tests & medical records get transferred properly as well as researching & managing their own illness. Those patients may also feel as though no one in the medical community is really taking a lead in ensuring their wellbeing as often doctors who don’t work within the same medical practice(or even those who do) are distant, with communication not being their strong suit. Continue reading “Communication Key To Managing Gastrointestinal Pain” »
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals recently announced their new drug LX1033 passed Phase I drug safety trials allowing it to move forward into Phase II testing.
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals’ LX1033 is a Irritable Bowel Syndrome drug meant for those with diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms or mixed symptoms that include diarrhea. LX1033 works by targeting the hydroxylase enzyme which is also known as TPH. TPH is essential for the production of serotonin within the body & it comes in two forms TPH1 & TPH2. TPH1 lives mainly in the digestive system, while TPH2 lives in the nervous system & the brain. LX1033 specifically targets TPH1 only & leaves TPH2 alone to avoid nervous system or psychoactive effects. Serotonin levels do seem to play a role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but how much is not fully understood. Continue reading “Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Drug LX1033 For Irritable Bowel Syndrome” »
On July 15th the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced that disability regulations will be changing regarding how the Department of Veterans Affairs views Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders(FGIDs/FGIMDs) such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The new regulations will now list FGIDs as being a “presumed” result of military service during operations within Southeast Asia during the Persian Gulf War that occurred in the early 1990s. This essentially means that a veteran making a disability claim should have an easier task of claiming that their Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Functional Dyspepsia(chronic indigestion) was a result of their service, even if symptoms developed after they had left the military. In the past a veteran had to prove that their symptoms were apparent while they were actively serving during the Gulf War. This made it complicated for many veterans who developed severe gastrointestinal disorders after their tours of duty ended. Continue reading “US Veterans Affairs Disability Regulations More Accepting of IBS” »
After relatively successful Phase III trials Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ has applied for final FDA approval of their flagship drug, Linaclotide, which is for the treatment of constipation & pain related Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms.
Continue reading “Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ Linaclotide IBS Drug Looking For Final FDA Approval” »
Those trying to improve their health may actually be making it worse or even risking severe injury by taking colon cleansing products which are often costly & have dubious benefit.
A few months ago I wrote about my negative thoughts on colon cleansing products & how I felt they weren’t healthy, safe or cost effective treatment for digestive system problems. Of all the bogus health products out there colon cleansing is probably at the top of the list for deceiving people about it’s potential benefits. Continue reading “Colon Cleansing Offers Little Benefit & Dangerous For Some” »