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My two grandmothers couldn’t have had more different personalities.

Babci Cembor was a slight, wiry fireball. She didn’t speak much English, was quite low maintenance, very cheerful, loving and a great cook. She lived upstairs and saved my brother and me from all sorts of trouble by appearing with some food offering just as we were about to catch some grief. Any malady was brushed off and I rarely saw her ill.

Babci Casale was one of five kids and they all lived in the same brownstone with their families much too long. The three girls were super competitive and, shall we say, “catty?” Sunday lunch, a command performance, often seemed just that. Almost every week, a review of each sister’s bowel function punctuated mealtime. Someday, some psychotherapist will have a field day delving into the origins of my meticulousness.

There are two different chronic bowel illnesses that too often get lumped together. IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Disease includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These are serious GI conditions in which inflammation can alter intestinal tissue and the risk of intestinal blockage, perforation and even cancer are increased. These conditions require special care by GI physicians and life-long care and surveillance.

The symptoms of IBD are similar to those of a less dangerous, but still painful and troubling, problem called Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The symptoms of each can vary widely from one person to another. However, some of the most common signs of the diseases include gas, a bloating feeling, abdominal pain or cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and mucus (or in IBD, blood) in the stool. Rarely has one letter (D or S) mattered so much!

Let’s talk about managing the lesser condition, IBS.

With IBS, sometimes symptoms are worse than usual or times where they can improve or completely disappear. IBS is typically a chronic condition.

The symptoms of IBS are uncomfortable but the condition doesn’t cause changes in bowel tissue or increase the chances of colorectal cancer. And most people with IBS can work to manage their symptoms with various lifestyle and diet choices.

Because it’s not clear what causes IBS, we focus treatment on relieving the symptoms to help you live as normally and comfortably as possible.

Here are some things to try to manage IBS symptoms.

1. Avoid problem foods

Many people with IBS have more severe symptoms when they eat or drink certain things.

Although symptoms and triggers vary from person-to-person, there’s a range of foods that tend to worsen symptoms including chocolate, fats, fruits, spices, beans, cabbage, broccoli, dairy, caffeinated beverages, cauliflower, alcohol and carbonated beverages.

If you struggle with gas, beans, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli may make it worse. Be aware of what you’re eating and take notice of any symptoms you experience afterward to determine if certain foods are triggers.

2. Eat at regular times

If food triggers symptoms, it may make you want to skip meals, but this may make your symptoms worse when you do eat.

Try to eat around the same time each day to help regulate bowel function. If you struggle with diarrhea, eating small, frequent meals may help you feel better. On the other hand, if you often get constipated, eating high-fiber foods in large amounts can help move food through your intestines.

3. Experiment with fiber

Although fiber helps reduce and ease constipation, it can worsen gas and cramping in people with IBS.

Slowly increase the amount of fiber you eat over the course of a few weeks. Some foods that contain fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Some people do better taking a fiber supplement and limiting their amount of dietary fiber – it could cause less gas and bloating.

Just like with foods high in fiber, if you take a fiber supplement, introduce it into your diet slowly and drink plenty of water to reduce gas, bloating and constipation. If you find that fiber does help your IBS symptoms, it will help the most if you take it on a regular basis.

4. Drink plenty of fluids

Drinking enough fluids, particularly water, can minimize IBS pain.

Water can sooth stomach distress, relieve and prevent both diarrhea and constipation, and keep you well hydrated.

5. Regularly exercise

When your IBS symptoms flare up, exercise may be the last thing you want to do, but it can actually help alleviate pain and discomfort.

Exercise stimulates the normal contraction of your intestines, helping to keep your digestive system working properly and even potentially decreasing the occurrence of constipation.

Plus, exercise helps with stress management. Since stress is a well-known trigger of IBS symptoms, exercise may help reduce stress-induced abdominal symptoms.

I don’t really know if anyone in my Jersey City family had IBS or not. I do know that my brother Don and I learned to eat regardless of the conversation going on around us. This talent came in very handy in my medical career and Don’s law enforcement work but Mary and I are committed to protect little Rowan from creepy mealtime memories at grandparents’ table.

Alfred Casale To Your Health
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_casale-3.jpg.optimal.jpgAlfred Casale To Your Health

By Alfred Casale

To Your Health

Dr. Alfred Casale is chairman of surgery for the Geisinger Heart Institute, co-director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for the Geisinger Health System and Associate Chief Medical Officer for the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Readers may write to him via [email protected].