Parcopresis and IBS:
Things that Can Help...

Important: Before reading this page, please note the warning and disclaimer at the bottom of the homepage. Click HERE to see it.

Going on anecdotal evidence from the message board, it seems that a lot of people who suffer from shy bowel also suffer from IBS. It also seems that these two conditions become two halves of a vicious circle: if your IBS is playing up, you are less likely to be relaxed about defecating; likewise if you are unable to defecate because of social circumstances, your IBS is more likely to flare up. So treating one condition is probably going to help in improving the other. Recovery will cost time, money and effort and there are no hard-and-fast guarantees on how much progress you will make. Depending on how much you are willing and able to spend will inevitably dictate which therapies you can engage in, but even if money is very limited there are still a couple of things that you should be able to try from the selection below. Perhaps a good starting place is to ask yourself how much shy bowel and IBS have cost you (and will cost you) in terms of jobs, money, holidays, relationships, and life enjoyment generally.

Telling People About It
If your shy bowel is affecting your close relationships (and chances are it is), it can be a huge relief to tell the people involved the reason for your apparently bizarre behaviour. 'Coming out' about your condition means you don't have to waste so much energy maintaining a false 'mask' of who you are.

Become your own Expert
There is little if any research done on shy bowel, and there is continuous debate about how best to treat IBS (especially given that the symptoms vary from person to person). In these circumstances your best bet is perhaps to rely on yourself as much as you do on outside experts, cultivating an interest in yourself in as detached a way as possible. Think of your conditions as enigmas which you - in the role of scientist - are dispassionately investigating (always of course with the aim of finding improvement). The mainstream press sometimes run good articles on IBS, and there is also a links page on this site.


Hypnotherapy
This covers a wide range of techniques and tools that can be used by the hypnotherapist and by the client him or herself; some hypnotherapists specialise in phobia and/or IBS treatment. Anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist so if in doubt, ask what qualifications (and certificates to prove it) they hold. A good one will not be offended by your asking. In the UK you may be able to find one through the National Phobics Society
(www.phobics-society.org.uk).

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Focuses on thoughts (cognitive) and actions (behavioural) and looks at ways of modifying both to achieve change and improvement. If you live in the UK, you can ask your doctor for this kind of treatment (waiting period varies). Otherwise you might be able to find one through the National Phobics Society.For help in getting a recognised psychologist privately (in the United Kingdom) go to:
http://www.bps.org.uk/e-services/find-a-psychologist/directory.cfm

Desensitisation
This will probably form an integral part of your CBT or hypnotherapy work but the concept is worth mentioning on its own. Desensitisation (or graduated exposure) is often used in the treatment of phobias generally. In it, you begin by breaking down your long-term goal (e.g. being able to defecate anywhere) into smaller steps, starting at the level where you feel almost completely comfortable and progressing onto the most challenging situtation you can imagine. You then practice defecating in the situation right near the bottom of the 'ladder' (resisting the temptation to try harder situations too soon). When you feel comfortable - and only when you feel comfortable - at this level, you move on to the next level. The key concept in this approach is 'Building on your Successes' (and not worrying about any misfires you may have along the way). Practising exposure to the situation in this manner helps to gradually build up confidence and steadily reduce the phobic reaction you experience. Having said that, one problem with using this approach with shy bowel is that you can't easily produce the phobic reaction at will when you want to work on it; when it comes to defecation, you just need to go when you need to go! As a consequence it is much more difficult to desense in a controlled environment, which is the ideal way of doing it.

Accupuncture
Accupuncture appears to help with IBS and some accupuncturists specialise in this; it may also help with anxiety levels and depression. Like most alternative health therapies, it is best to find a practitioner recommended through word of mouth or at least find someone who claims to specialise in IBS and/or anxiety disorders. Follow your instincts.

Diet
Diet is highly important for people suffering with IBS and improvement can be obtained by adjusting what you eat (...and equally importantly... what you don't eat). It can be very confusing finding what is right for you as different approaches suggest different foods so the keyword here is 'experiment!'... try something for a while and see if there is any improvement. Keeping a BRIEF journal each day that details how your symptoms are can help you track whether something is working or not.

Gluten and dairy intolerance are the most common irritators of the gut so cutting out one of these might be a good place to start if you haven't tried this already.  (Gluten is most commonly found in wheat products, but it is also present in rye, oats and barley.  The smallest amount can irritate your gut if you are intolerant so you need to be careful to read the ingredients on all food products in order to eliminate it completely from your diet.)

Supplements
There are a whole range of supplements that may help with your IBS symptoms (a couple of which are listed below); they are usually available from healthfood shops; again the key word is 'experiment!':

• Probiotics. They normally come in pill or powder form; good for creating a postive bacteria balance in the gut. There are different types so it is worth experimenting with them to see if one type suits you better.
• Linseed (flaxseed) sprinkled on cereal or soaked in water and drunk; also linseed oil capsules. Calming on the gut.


• Psyllium Husks. Again, taken soaked in water; they are calming on the gut and provide bulk. (note: some brands contain artificial additives that may be detrimental to your IBS so, if possible, go for pure psyllium husks).

Biofeedback
Especially useful for people who suffer with anismus (unconscious tightening of the anal sphincter when trying to defecate under ANY circumstances). Biofeedback therapy is sensory retraining: it involves putting an air-filled balloon into the rectum, which is then either withdrawn or pushed out by the patient - to create awareness of which muscles need to be activated and which relaxed. Electromyography is used simultaneously to measure muscle activity and display the result.