Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition that continues to affect millions of Americans and struggling with finding a treatment/cure is another issue in and of itself for those affected. If you believe that you’re a victim of IBS and are experiencing common symptoms (which we’ll cover in more detail below) then it may be time to seek the guidance and treatment of Dr. Vikram Tarugu: an experienced Gastroenterologist with over 20 years of experience that has helped thousands of patients over the years with relieving pain/symptoms of IBS by putting together personalized treatment and diet plans for his patients.
Located in Florida, Dr. Vikram Tarugu’s medical clinic in Okeechobee provides the best Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatments available to patients who travel to his clinic from all over the state to receive his expertise and vast treatment options.
Without further ado, let’s cover the basics of what Irritable Bowel Syndrome is, it’s symptoms and treatment options that are available to you by Dr. Tarugu.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition that medical professionals are still trying to find the cause of. The causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are still a mystery to researchers and research of this is ongoing so IBS treatment focuses not on the actual treatment but on the relief of the symptoms that patients are enduring.
During the Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment with Dr. Tarugu, his focus will be on crafting together a plan that will relieve you of the pains that IBS carries along with it so you can get back to living a normal lifestyle.
In a majority of cases, Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms can often times be ridded by making adjustments to your diet and by understanding and implementing stress management techniques. If you can attach certain foods to pain or symptoms that strike-up after consumption then avoid eating these foods so symptoms can be eliminated or at least reduced.
Some other factors that can assist you with managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome is participating in exercise activities, consuming more fluids (water and clear juice) and getting quality sleep.
If you’ve tried these suggestions and haven’t had any luck with relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms/pain, it may be time to seek the advice and intervention from an Irritable Bowel Syndrome medical professional such as Dr. Tarugu so you can receive an “affective” treatment plan.
Dietary Changes – Dr. Tarugu will assist in preparing a diet plan to relieve IBS symptoms
During your visit with Dr. Tarugu, an interview will be conducted where you’ll be asked an array of questions about both your diet and intake of medications which he’ll use to assess you situation so recommendations can be made.
Dietary changes that Dr. Tarugu may recommend include the:
- Elimination of high-gas foods from your diet – If you experience bloating or excessive passing of gas then these are obvious signs that you’re experiencing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you’re experiencing these two symptoms, Dr. Tarugu will more than likely make the recommendation that you eliminate foods such as carbonated drinks or vegetables from your diet. More than likely, the vegetables that he’ll suggest to be removed from your dietary habits will include cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower in addition to raw fruits as these are active foods that can spark IBS symptoms.
- Removal of food items containing Gluten from your diet – Years of research that has been conducted on the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome has shown that the removal of gluten from ones diet can assist with the symptoms related to diarrhea. Items containing Gluten that you should avoid (if diarrhea is a symptom you’re experiencing) includes wheat, barley and rye (just to name a few). While research for this is ongoing, the removal of these from your diet helping with the condition is based on data reported by IBS victims.
- Elimination of FODMAPs – Many people don’t digest certain ingredients well which results in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms that they’re experiencing. For example, many of the individuals who suffer from IBS are sensitive to certain types of carbohydrates which include fructose, lactose and fructans (just to name a few as an example). FODMAPs (short for fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharide’s and polyols) are included within certain types of grains, fruits, vegetables and products containing dairy. During your visit with Dr. Tarugu, an assessment will be made and he’ll be able to determine if your symptoms are related to your sensitivity to FODMAPs in which case a dietary plan will be introduced to you to help you relieve these symptoms.
Once symptoms have been discussed and an assessment by Dr. Tarugu has been completed, a treatment plan will begin at which point medication will more than likely be prescribed to help with the condition.
Possible treatments and medications that Dr. Tarugu may suggest include:
- Supplements for Fiber – Dr. Tarugu may prescribe you a fiber supplement with fluids (water or clear juice suggested) which will help you to get your constipation under control. Possible medications include Psyllium (Metamucil) or Methylcellulose (Citrucel). The reason this may be surprised is because your body needs fiber as it’s a vital nutrient but the issue is that the fiber that’s consumed by your body from food can cause bloating. The remedy for this is a Fiber supplement as fiber from a supplement causes much less bloating then fiber consumed from food. After taking the fiber supplement, it’s important to report back to Dr. Tarugu is symptoms aren’t relieved as he may need to prescribe what’s called an “osmotic laxative” which could be polyethylene glycol or milk of magnesia.
- An Anti-diarrheal medication – Believe it or not, off-the-shelf medications that are intended to ease the condition of diarrhea can in some cases cause bloating so it’s not always suggested that individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms consider this as an option. Some of the most common medications that can cause bloating include cholestyramine (Prevalite), colestipol (Colestid) or colesevelam (Welchol).
- Antispasmodic and Anticholinergic medications – Bowel spasms are quite painful and if you’re experiencing these be sure to share these symptoms with Dr. Tarugu as there’s medication that can assist with this. Such medications that Dr. Tarugu may prescribe for patients suffering from bowel spasms include hyoscyamine (Levsin) or dicylomine (Bentyl) which are both powerful medications with potent ingredients that will help relieve bowel spasm pains. While these medications can sometimes be used to treat diarrhea, Dr. Tarugu usually use alternative treatment forms as they can actually worsen the constipation while leading to other complications (an example of this would be difficulty with urination).
- Medications that treat depression – During your interview with Dr. Tarugu, questions will be asked by him which will allow him to determine if you’re suffering from pain or depression. Both pain and depression are serious issues and are actually one of the many causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you are in fact going through pain/depression, Dr. Tarugu may prescribe antidepressant medication which could include a tricyclic antidepressant or an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Both of these treatment options serve a dual-purpose in that they reduce the level of depressions that you’re experiencing while also controlling the activity of neurons that directly control your intestines. Depending on your condition, Dr. Tarugu, for those who aren’t experiencing depression, may prescribe and recommend medications that aren’t as strong. An example would be a lower dosage amount of tricyclic antidepressants which include imipramine (Tofranil) or alternatively nortiltyline (known as Pamelor). Before taking these medications, it’s important to understand side effects so you know what to look for (drowsiness) although Dr. Tarugu will cover all of this information during your visit so you’ll be well educated on your medications.
- Antibiotics – For some patients who suffer from internal bacterial growth, Dr. Tarugu may prescribe an antibiotic if bacteria is detected or suspected of being present. Depending on the severity of your condition, a treatment plan or procedure may be required although a majority of the time an antibiotic alone will kill-off any bacterial growth.
- Counseling for depression – If treatment is provided, medications were prescribed and dietary changes were implemented and depression persists, Dr. Tarugu may suggest and advise you to receive outside counsel as it would no longer be considered a symptom of IBS but rather standalone depression.
Possible Medications that Dr. Vikram Tarugu may prescribe:
- Alosetron – While also known as Lotronex, Alosetron is formulated to relax the colon area while at the same time slowing down the movement of feces through the lower bowel. Alosetron is a medication that can only be prescribed by doctors that are participating in a specialized program and is used to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (for cases of severe diarrhea) in women. This is a medication is intended for use only by women.
- Lubiprostone (Amitiza) – Lubiprostone is effective for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome as it increases fluid secretion in the small intestine which results in the waste being able to pass through more easily. While it can be prescribed to men, it’s typically provided to women as it’s proven to be more effective with females. Lubiprostone is usually prescribed to women (and only women) who are experiencing severe constipation from IBS.
Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome through Lifestyle and Home Remedies
While visiting Dr. Tarugu, personalized lifestyle and dietary plans/suggestions will be provided which if you abide by these recommendations can results in a long-term solution for Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms.
Some simple yet highly effective recommendations that Dr. Tarugu may suggest includes:
- Experimentation with fiber – Slowly increase the amount of Fiber in your diet. While fiber helps to reduce the amount of constipation that you experience, it can in some cases worsen cramping and gas so Dr. Tarugu will help to explain how you can safely and incrementally implement fiber in to your diet.
- Avoiding the intake of foods that are attached to IBS symptoms – If you know what foods spark the symptoms of IBS and know what signs to look for then avoid these foods at all costs. If you have difficulty remembering which foods caused which symptoms, you can always keep a log of your food intake so you can keep track of both your diet and symptoms. For example, if gas persists and continues to be an issue and symptom of yours, foods that Dr. Tarugu would recommend you stay away from include items such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and beans.
- Eating meals at normal times – Part of treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome is eating at normal times and by this we mean the same times every day without skipping a meal. Eating at the same time daily will help to get your bowel functions on a schedule which is important for the long-term treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If diarrhea is a symptom of yours, Dr. Tarugu may recommend that you eat small portioned meals “frequently” while if constipation is an issue it may be recommended that you eat larger portioned amounts of food with a high content of fiber as this will help your body to process and move the waste more quickly.
- Stick to drinking water – Water is the best fluid to consume for individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Alcoholic beverages are not recommended for those with IBS as it can worsen diarrhea and soda (or any other carbonated drinks) can cause issues with gas.
- Exercise – Overall, exercise is a great way to help relieve the symptoms of IBS as it relieves depressions, promotions normal intestinal contraction and will help you to feel better. At the beginning, exercise slowly and incrementally increase the amount of time you exercise to avoid possible strains. While exercise is recommended, try to avoid bending over for an extended period of time or lifting heavy objects.
If you’re ready to get your Irritable Bowel Syndrome under control, schedule an appointment with Dr. Tarugu today by calling 863-824-3447 or by visiting 201 SW 16th Street Okeechobee, FL.