How can I solve my child’s irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) without medication?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a condition in which patients experience vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pain, and/or nausea. It is a particularly frustrating problem because there are no medications that have been shown to cure it. Often patients see their primary care clinician, who will order tests, which typically come back normal. And, the clinician […]
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Gut Issues
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? IBS is one of the functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (FGIDs). What is a functional GI disorder? Historically, traditional medicine has divided gastrointestinal problems into 2 main categories: 1. Organic diseases 2. Functional disorders Organic GI diseases are those for which a specific diagnosis can be proven by an abnormal […]
How do I solve my child’s chronic stomach pain?
If your child has stomach pain, or nausea, and all of the test results are normal, she may have a condition for which medication is not helpful. The first thing is to have your child evaluated by her primary care clinician to be sure that there is nothing medically that is contributing to the problem. […]
What Is a Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder (FGID)?
By Jeffrey Lazarus, MD, FAAP on May 5, 2020 Author, Controlling Your Gut Feelings Blog Overview Historically, traditional medicine has divided gastrointestinal problems into 2 main categories: Organic diseases Functional disorders Organic GI diseases are those for which a specific diagnosis can be proven by an abnormal physical examination, lab test, or biopsy result. […]
What is TEAM-CBT?
David Burns, MD, author of Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, and pioneer in the field of cognitive behavioral therapy developed TEAM-CBT. TEAM stands for Testing, Empathy, Assessment of Resistance, and Methods. TEAM is not a separate school of therapy. Rather, it is an evidence-based framework that can be used to enhance all schools of […]
Pain Rules the Roost
Pain Rules the Roost By David Hanscom, MD My friend and colleague, David Hanscom, MD, wrote a wonderful blog. It is entitled: “Pain Rules the Roost” and can be read below: I am noticing a pattern that seems to be quite common. People in pain control others around them – especially their close family members. […]
What Irritable Bowel Syndrome and FAP Are Really Costing You—and Our Solution
This is a far more complicated question than you might think. Not only are there the obvious financial costs to Irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain—which is what most people first consider—but there are also significant costs to a family’s time and, most importantly, to their emotions. Financial Costs How much having a functional […]
What Does the Research Say About Treating Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders?
There is a growing body of research that addresses functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and their treatment. These are some of the studies I have found helpful as I continue my work with children, adolescents, and young adults with these conditions. A large trial that focused on children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel […]
How Prevalent Are Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders?
If you have a child with a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), you may wonder how common these kinds of conditions are among other children. This article quickly breaks down some of the most recent numbers. Of 644 patients older than four years seen by pediatric gastroenterologists in their outpatient practices, 486 (75%) met diagnostic criteria […]
Functional Abdominal Pain – How Parents Make It Worse: What You Focus On, You Amplify
When children and adolescents have functional abdominal pain (FAP), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or functional dyspepsia (FD), their healthcare clinicians typically ask them, “What’s your pain level today?” and “What’s your average daily pain level?” If I tell you, “Don’t think of a white horse, don’t think of a white horse, don’t think of a […]
