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IBS
IBS is a common disorder of the intestines
in which patients suffer with symptoms such as: cramping,
bloating, gas, nausea etc - and changes in bowel habit.
Although the cause of IBS is not known it has been termed
a 'functional disorder' because there is no sign of any
disease when the bowel is examined. IBS can be dominated
by diarrhoea, constipation or both.
Constipation predominant Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Those with constipation-predominant IBS typically suffer
with bloating, abdominal pain, tiredness, nausea, gas,
reflux and in some situations headache. Many people believe
that to exercise more and/or to drink more water will
relieve symptoms despite the fact that it rarely helps
in the real clinical situation.
From accumulating evidence, it is most likely that constipation
is acquired through a bacterial infection of the bowel
flora so paralysing peristalsis. The likely culprit may
well be a Clostridium since it is known that constipation
responds to vancomycin.
The PTRC aims at treating only the severe cases of IBS.
Hence, Human Probiotic Infusions are offered as a last
resort therapy.
HPIs commonly begin with a short course of antibiotics,
which are used to reduce the bacteria in the bowel and
the mucous surfaces of the bowel. The current flora is
removed with a bowel washout, which is the same as that
used for preparation of the bowel prior to colonoscopy.
The bowel flora is then replaced by a series of infusions,
which implants new 'good' bacteria into the bowel replacing
the old and presumably eradicating the responsible clostridia
also.
This treatment has a major advantages over laxative therapies
because it is curative in the majority of patients and
also alleviates other motor or 'peristalsis' abnormalities
such as slow stomach emptying, reflux, nausea, and in
some people, tiredness.
Diarrhoea predominant IBS
Diarrhoea predominant IBS usually results in diarrhoea
which may occur frequently, at times with urgency. Bowel
movements can be constantly loose and be associated with
extreme urgency with some patients eventually knowing
where every toilet is located between home and work.
Some patients have episodes of incontinence and yet, the
disorder continues to blamed on psychological factors,
in association with a hypersensitive bowel, neurotransmitter
(chemical) imbalance, stress or fibre deficiency. Recently,
infection and inflammation has been alluded to as a possible
cause for IBS.
Many have observed that a proportion of patients develop
their diarrhoea-predominant IBS following a gastrointestinal
infection, or following antibiotic treatments. An overseas
trip may end in such an IBS. It has also been noted that
symptoms of diarrhoea-predominant IBS can be totally reversed
by HPI therapy in many patients and has led to the conclusion
that it is also a chronic infection, which has not been
detected by standard stool tests. It should therefore
be noted that many pathogens that have yet to be identified
scientifically probably cause the majority of chronic
diarrhoeal infections.
It is hypothesised that an as yet undescribed or undetectable
bacterial species causing chronic infections secretes
toxins that influence bowel nerves in several ways. These
include induction of water secretion from the bowel causing
diarrhoea, stimulation of pain fibres resulting in cramping
and pain, as well as the manufacture of gas causing excessive
flatulence.
Clearing the bowel of flora prior to the infusion allows
for easier removal of the majority of the 'bad' bacteria.
This allows the incoming normal human flora to act as
a powerful antibiotic to combat the remaining pathogens.
At PTRC patients are generally first investigated for
known pathogens, such as Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocytis
hominis, Entamoeba histolytica, and other rare parasites,
C.difficile and more.
Patients are treated for any parasites or pathogens prior
to infusion. Once these have been removed and no other
infection or disease, is seen such as colitis, polyps,
cancer or Crohn's disease, the patient could undergo HPI
if he/she continues to suffer from IBS-like symptoms.
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