Do you struggle with alternating constipation and/or diarrhea? Most people have had the occasional upset stomach after a heavy meal. A few have even experienced nausea and diarrhea the morning after a long night out. Now, imagine having these symptoms on a regular basis. Without a doubt, it would affect your quality of life.

Between 25 and 45 million people in the U.S. suffer from constipation and diarrhea (Constipated Diarrhea).

Constipated diarrhea is often the result of an altered bowel system that includes difficult BM (constipation) followed by a hard, lumpy stool [1] and frequent bowel movements that are loose and watery (diarrhea). Along with the obvious ailments, a person with Constipated Diarrhea can suffer a variety of symptoms ranging from bloating and cramping to general malaise [2]. It affects people of all ages, from young children to the elderly and is more commonly found in females.

What Can Cause Constipation and/or Diarrhea?

  • Over-the-counter and prescribed medication/s
  • Over use of pharmaceutical antibiotics
  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
  • IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) 
  • Dysbiosis (imbalance gut flora) in the small and / or large intestine
    • SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
    • Parasites, Yeast, Gram Negative Bacteria
  • Intestinal obstructions
  • Poor diet (SAD = Standard American Diet, overly processed foods, excess sugar)
  • Food sensitivities + allergies
  • Insufficient physical activity

What to do?

  • Determine the root cause via Functional Medicine testing:
    • DNA Stool Testing (GI Map) 
    • Lactulose Breath Testing (SIBO)
    • Immune System (antibody) Food Sensitivity Testing 
    • Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Testing (Leaky Gut) 
    • Imaging / Testing – Ultra Sound, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy

How to Improve Symptoms using a Functional Medicine Approach:

  • 5R Model: Making the 5R Model applicable to YOUR everyday life
    • Remove – Foods, environmental stressors, stress
    • Replace – Nutritional supplements and fiber to support GI function [3]
    • Reinoculate – Pre-, pro- and synbiotics from foods
    • Repair – Nutritional support and diet for healing 
    • Rebalance – Restorative practices: mindful eating, relaxation, mind body medicine modalities

Constipation and Diarrhea may be short-lived in some or an ongoing health issue for others. Every case is different. That’s why at InspiredHealth, we believe it’s important to listen to your body and seek medical advice when needed. Don’t suffer in silence. Let us help you manage your symptoms the right way.

Start living the life you want and deserve.
There is help. There is hope!

Our practitioners are experts in the field of Functional Medicine and specialize in Gut Health, Identifying food sensitivities, IBS, IBD, SIBO, and Leaky Gut.

Schedule an Appointment at Inspired Health

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By connecting Functional Medicine with Ancestral principles, we are able to utilize evidence-based modern science, lab testing and technology, alongside nutrition, herbal and lifestyle approaches to address the root cause of disease. This 360° analysis of your health guides the creation of a customized regimen specifically tailored for you, moving you along your path towards inspired health. More on how we work here.

P.S. You are not alone!  In a previous blog post our Inspired Health Nurse Practitioner Michelle Hirschy-Baker writes about her own experience with IBS and it’s connection to SIBO.

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Dr. Dishman + Dr. Weintrob

References:

[1] “Constipation – Gastrointestinal Society.” 28 May. 2019, https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/constipation/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2019.

[2] “Importance of diarrhea in evaluating constipation in … – NCBI.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21301356. Accessed 1 Oct. 2019.

[3] “Constipation – Gastrointestinal Society.” 28 May. 2019, https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/constipation/. Accessed 30 Sep. 2019.