IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Constipation, and the Migraine Syndrome



Posted: Wednesday, January 18, 2006

by J Wes Tanner MD
Migraine Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

“Oh my, I feel bloated again. It’s been three days since I’ve had a bowel movement. This cramping is killing me. It always seems to be worse with stress. Metamucil and laxatives really don’t seem to help very much. What am I going to do?"

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation is very common, as well as being very frustrating. This patient would want to at least take care of the basics—the standard migraine care as outlined in my book, Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way? The possible offending food list is the same for IBS and migraines. All people, especially people with IBS with constipation, should have certain bowel habits. They are encouraged to have their bowel movement 10-20 minutes after breakfast to put the feet in position to allow them to unweight (in other words lift the body up slightly) not to hold breath while defecating to consume adequate water and to increase gradually fiber intake. Magnesium oxide can help migraines and increase the intestinal motility of contents. If these measures are not adequate, medicines can be prescribed. Your doctor can help you decide on the correct approach to IBS symptoms.

This person falls into the migraine syndrome profile. Let me explain what I mean by the migraine syndrome. It is the outward expression of the body’s sensitivity to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress. Some people are more sensitive than others therefore, their reactions to different stimuli are greater. This sensitivity can be manifested in the body as migraines, sinus headaches, neck aches, palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness or vertigo, reactive hypoglycemia, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), panic attacks, and/or fibromyalgia. Now that’s a mouthful! Understanding what is going on with you is very important in the healing process.

J. Wes Tanner, MD, is a family practice and headache specialist who has been treating people for over 30 years. He has extensive experience in treating migraines and fibromyalgia with excellent success. In Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way?, Dr. Tanner exposes the secrets and myths about fibromyalgia and the migraine syndrome. To find out more, go to www.migrainesyndrome.net .

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Linda
from Ohio 5 years 311 days ago.
Yes! I feel there is hope for me and I am not crazy!
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