I had no idea Irritable Bowel Syndrome was so prolific. One in ten Calgarians are suffering from this disorder. But thankfully there is research underway at the U of C that could help. And it might only be 5 to 10 years away.
Here’s the story.
Katharine Mccombe has lived with irritable bowel syndrome for 18 years. It leaves her unable to work, unable to eat during the day, and in an incredible amount of pain.
“The pain is beyond anything -beyond any other symptoms – it’s absolutely excruciating.”
And those symptoms are embarassing. Mccombe says they make her socially unacceptable.
“It’s not appropriate for an adult not to be able to make it to the washroom on time, or not be able to control their gas.”
But research underway at the University of Calgary could one day help people like Mccombe. Doctor Keith Sharkey is looking into molecules called “endogenous cannabinoids.”
“These are chemically similar to cannabis, but they act on the same receptor as the cannabis plant in your body.”
And historically cannabis has been very effective in treating gastrointestinal problems.
Doctor Sharkey says “we know the cannabis plant has been used medicinally for centuries and one of the things it’s used for medically are GI disorders.”
Doctor Sharkey and his team are working on 3 or 4 approaches with these cannabinoids that could help people with IBS.
Sharkey says,”endogenous cannabinoids appear to play a role in moderating inflammation in the gut and we know inflammation is associated with IBS and other bowel disorders.”
What’s most promising about this research is these cannabinoids are made by the body itself – so there are likely to be few side effects.
“Endogenous cannabinoids are safe because they’re made by our bodies and if we can find a way of harnessing them for example harnessing their action, it’s unlikely to have any side effects and maybe some benefits.”
And that’s exactly what Mccombe is hoping for. Some kind of medication that would actually work so she could get her life back.
“It would be absolutely fantastic, and I always have hope but to be honest I can’t imagine it.”
For more information on IBS and other gastrointestinal problems visit the website:
Leah, Thank you so much for doing this story on IBS. I had surgery Jan/2005 and had 3.5 feet of my large colon removed and 2.5 ft of my small colon removed and since my surgery I have been told that I will have to live with IBS for the rest of my life. Suffering from this disease is terrible I too have been robbed of my life.I truly thought that I was the only person going through these symtoms.If I have to go out during the day I can`t eat cause I will need to spend the next 6 hours in the bathroom. I go to the washroom on a good day 12-15 times and have gone up to 29 times. When I do not eat all day I still go about 9 times a day.The pain is truly unbearable.I have never experienced anything like this ever in my life.But the hardest part about IBS is people not understanding it and doctors saying it really can`t be this bad.My response to the doctors is please take one day and walk in the shoes of an IBS sufferer.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:52 pmSo, Leah I truly can`t thank you enough for bring awareness in this terrible disease.And I truly wish Katherine all the best, cause I can say I know what she is going though.. KIndest Regards Lena Wolfe
Leah,
Same as Katherine and Lena, I too suffer from IBS. I am only 25 years old and for almost a year and a half I suffered undiagnosed. I was tested from everything to celiacs to talk of stomach and colon cancer. During the process of becoming diagnosed I was off work, off and on, on short term disability for that year and a half. Once I finally had my colonoscopy and was a week away from my results, my employer fired me. According to them, they didn’t beleive that I was sick, despite the fact that I had lost almost 60 lbs. over that time. They were willing to consider my sickness if I revealed to them what it was I had been diagnosed with. However, since I had not received those results yet and since I am not legally bound to tell them that information as per my doctors advisement, I could not, nor would not release that information to them, so I was let go.
Much like Katherine and Lena, I too spend most of my days in the washroom and have gone upwards of 25 times to the washroom in a day. Not only the constant washroom breaks and the flatulence that accompanies that, the pain as the others have mentioned is unbearable most times. It has gotten so bad that I have come to the point where I am so scared to eat, I only have one meal every other day. However, I must say that I do have a VERY supportive doctor who has done everything in his power to help me deal with this disease and cope and manage it. He truely understands how hard it is to have this and have nothing out there that they can really prescribe to help it.
I completely agree with Katherine and Lena in the fact that I thought that I was the only one in the world going through this. I truely almost lost my life from it due to the invisible handcuffs that it puts you in and limits you from living. This is one of the MOST misunderstood conditions out there and people just do not beleive you about what it can do to you and how debilitating it can be. After searching for a job while being totally honest about my condition and that I may need more sick days than most and finally found an employer who understood, I still even to this day have a hard time making them understand and live in total fear that one day they will let me go as well. I have come a long way in learning to manage this through a strict strict diet, excercise and counselling to manage the stress levels that come along with the misunderstanding of the public which can only trigger IBS worse as others who have it know, however still experience “flare ups” at least twice a month.
Thank you so much for bringing this condition to the public’s eyes and for giving us sufferers a glimmer of hope that something might be coming that can help us. My heart goes out to everyone with IBS and Katherine and Lena I want you to know that you are not alone in your struggle. I know how it feels to loose your life! All we can do it hope that people will start to understand and quit being so ignorant to how debilitating this disease is! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that something will be developed to aid us through living with IBS!
Warmest Regards,
April 27th, 2009 at 1:25 pmKelly Bicknell