Spastic colon, or "irritable bowel
syndrome" (IBS), is a functional colon
disease without any structural lesions. It
can be manifested with diarrhea,
constipation, abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, abdominal fullness, etc. Anxiety
and depression could be also present
during IBS. It is believed that IBS could
be a manifestation of a neurotic disorder
(psycho-somatic disorder).
It seems to me that constipation is a
dominant symptom in your case of IBS.
A change in diet is one of the treatments
for IBS that may help relieve symptoms in
some patients. Different patients respond
better to different diets. A sample diet
may include the following adjustments and
considerations:
1. Temporary elimination of dairy products
is recommended, since lactose intolerance
is common and can cause symptoms similar
to IBS or aggravate IBS. People who avoid
lactose should take dietary calcium
supplements.
2. Several foods are only partially
digested in the intestines. When they
reach the colon, further digestion takes
place by bacteria, which produce gas as a
byproduct of their digestion. As a result,
some foods can cause gas and cramps. The
most common to produce gas and cramps are
the legumes (such as beans) and
cruciferous vegetables (ie, vegetables
that have a cross at their base) such as
cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower,
and broccoli. In addition, some patients
have trouble with onions, celery, carrots,
raisins, bananas, apricots, prunes,
sprouts, and wheat.
3. Coffee should be avoided.
4. Increasing dietary fiber (fruits and
vegetables) can relieve symptoms in some
people with IBS, particularly people who
have combined abdominal pain and
constipation. It is often helpful to take
a dietary fiber supplement (such as
psyllium [Metamucil] or methylcellulose
[Citrucel]) since it is difficult to
consume enough fiber in the diet,
particularly when avoiding foods,
mentioned above, known to increase
intestinal gas.
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