Scar tissue

Scar tissue can have a significant impact on the function of the underlying organs. Scar tissue originating from surgeries, injuries, or stretch marks alters the way signals are conducted in the nervous system. they also create tension in the fascial layer of the body, which can decrease mobility and flexibility throughout various areas of the body.

if your digestion has been off since a surgery, accident, or any other cause of scar tissue you should have that scar tissue assessed as a potential obstacle to cure. It is relatively common to see scars from gallbladder removals, Cesarean sections, abortions, fibroidectomies, and other digestive and pelvic surgeries contributing to digestive dysfunction.

The Spine

The health of the spine and spinal cord can have a significant impact on the health of digestion and absorption. The nerves that send signals to and from the organs of the digestive tract travel through the spinal cord. The healthier the physical body the healthier the nerve conduction and the better digestion and absorption is likely to be.

It is not just the nervous system that can be affected by the spine being out of alignment. Hiatal hernia, the elevation of the upper portion of the stomach above the diaphragm is associated with spinal subluxations in the lower thoracic spine. Constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, and many other digestive symptoms often improve when spinal alignment, movement, and function are restored and maintained.

Radiation and Chemotherapy

Radiation and chemotherapy can be very destructive to the digestive system. In fact, many people who have had breast cancer, lung cancer, and many other types of cancer are known to have a weakened digestive tract because of treatment. they have been told to avoid fibre-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes because they are susceptible to diverticulitis and intestinal blockages. Unfortunately, these are the foods that provide the most important nutrients for optimal health.

this is not to say that radiation and chemotherapy should be avoided. Cancer treatment is extremely complicated and highly individual. what I am saying is that after cancer treatments it is often necessary to treat and support the digestive tract so that healthy foods can be consumed and the risk of diverticulitis and intestinal blockage is decreased.

In next week’s column we will investigate the signs of poor digestion. to learn more about natural treatments for digestion or to schedule a consultation contact Dr. Barlow at 250-860-8855.

While the symptoms of IBD are different for each person, it is likely that an IBS sufferer will have most of the symptoms below. however, for IBD sufferers, it is not the number of symptoms, rather the severity of them and the strategy to address them when the symptoms flare.

The symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may include:

Bowel obstructions; ulcers; abscesses; perforations of the intestinal walls; anemia; malnutrition; high white cell count signifying an infection; scar tissue narrowing the passages; growth retardation in children; inflammation in the eyes or mouth; kidney stones; gallstones; diseases of the liver and biliary system; fever; failure to absorb iron and folic acid; vomiting; night sweats; mouth ulcers; migraine headaches, severe abdominal pain; sudden weight gain or weight loss; erratic mood swings; indescribable pain; crippling gout; gouty arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; swelling of the joints and hands; loss of use of the fingers and toes; pain in the muscles; acute tendinitis; bursitis; passing blood in the urine and stool; frequent uric stones caused by medicine; a change in body odor; heartburn; constant nausea; constipation; diarrhea; smelly bowel movements; five to six bowel movements a day; undigested food in the stool; cloudy urine (frequently caused by prescription medicine and supplements); distorted vision; eye conditions that can occur include conjunctivitis, episcleritis, uveitis, and iritis; severe facial rashes; abdominal rashes; swelling of the sclera; a highly acidic perspiration; severe lower back pain; sleep deprivation; inability to physically exercise; impaired driving; short term memory loss; and/or the inability to perform even simple chores.

The range and frequency of these symptoms vary. for some people, symptoms are severe and can be debilitating, while just a few enjoy long bouts of remission in which their symptoms are mild to moderate. Generally, people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease suffer daily and even more so at night.

There is little more important to an IBD sufferer than sleeping at night. It is the domino that affects the next day and starts a snowball running downhill to additional pain, missed days of work and constant trips to the bathroom.

Going to bed at night begins the ongoing confrontation with pain and discomfort. Insufficient rest causes people to suffer hallucinations, depression, heart disease, hypertension, irritability, slower reaction times, slurred speech and tremors. It also contributes to the inability to get along with others. Family members frequently observe that IBD patients are mean and difficult to be around because of their mercurial mood swings caused by sleep deprivation and the side effects of prescription drugs.

If you take Asacol, there is a greater likelihood of antisocial behavior including being argumentative and suffering temper tantrums. Asacol is a time-release drug that breaks down in your colon two hours after taking it. the sulphur-based drug is intended to topically treat ulcerative colitis at its source. just imagine pouring sulphur on an open wound and you can imagine the pain experienced by the medicine released by the tablet. It is a worse-case scenario that IBD sufferers should avoid.

Sadly, doctors don’t tell patients of the adverse reactions to drugs. Adverse reactions leading to withdrawal from Asacol tablets include: diarrhea and colitis flare; dizziness, nausea, joint pain, and headache; rash, lethargy and constipation; dry mouth, malaise, lower back discomfort, mild disorientation, mild indigestion and cramping; headache, nausea, aching, vomiting, muscle cramps, a stuffy head, plugged ears, and fever.

We do not recommend taking this drug. the better solution is to change your diet, eating habits and take natural enzyme supplements recommended in our books. By changing your diet, we don’t mean giving up everything you like to eat (unless it is fast food).

The simple substitution and replacement of your favorite foods with organic and natural versions of the same foods in place of genetically modified fruits and vegetables; packaged goods containing chemicals that aggravate your stomach and colon; and factory farmed meats will offer a dramatic change in the health of an IBD sufferer.

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease may include:

Bowel obstructions; ulcers; abscesses; perforations of the intestinal walls; anemia; malnutrition; high white cell count signifying an infection; scar tissue narrowing the passages; growth retardation in children; inflammation in the eyes or mouth; kidney stones; gallstones; diseases of the liver and biliary system; fever; failure to absorb iron and folic acid; vomiting; night sweats; mouth ulcers; migraine headaches, severe abdominal pain; sudden weight gain or weight loss; erratic mood swings; indescribable pain; crippling gout; gouty arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; swelling of the joints and hands; loss of use of the fingers and toes; pain in the muscles; acute tendinitis; bursitis; passing blood in the urine and stool; frequent uric stones caused by medicine; a change in body odor; heartburn; constant nausea; constipation; diarrhea; smelly bowel movements; five to six bowel movements a day; undigested food in the stool; cloudy urine (frequently caused by prescription medicine and supplements); distorted vision; eye conditions that can occur include conjunctivitis, episcleritis, uveitis, and iritis; severe facial rashes; abdominal rashes; swelling of the sclera; a highly acidic perspiration; severe lower back pain; sleep deprivation; inability to physically exercise; impaired driving; short term memory loss; and/or the inability to perform even simple chores.

The range and frequency of these symptoms vary. for some people, symptoms are severe and can be debilitating, while just a few enjoy long bouts of remission in which their symptoms are mild to moderate. Generally, people with Crohn’s disease suffer daily and even more so at night.

This is an excerpt from Arthritis, Inflammation, Gout, Crohn’s, IBD and IBS.

The following post on Endometriosis was originally published in November 2010. We had a very positive response to the content and thought it was worth repeating:

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Endometriosis gets its name from endometrium, the lining of the womb. when a woman menstruates, her body is getting rid of the lining of the uterus.  If you have a condition called endometriosis, this lining tissue grows outside of your uterus and can be deposited on your ovaries, bladder, or bowel.  Also, it can grow to develop into cysts that are filled with old blood and can be found in the ovaries or around the pelvic cavity.  These blood-filled cysts are called endometriomas. The endometriosis tissue found in and around your pelvis behaves differently than the normal endometrium found in your uterus. Endometriosis tissue can shed and bleed during a woman’s period, which can cause irritation of her pelvic organs. also, endometriosis can cause adhesions (scar tissue) that can form on the reproductive organs.

Sometimes, endometriosis exhibits no symptoms. However, many women who have endometriosis experience painful periods and/or pain during sex. Uncommonly, endometriosis can attach to and damage surrounding organs like the bowel, bladder, and ureter (the tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder), which can cause pain with bowel movements and/or urination.  If an office ultrasound demonstrates no potential cause of pelvic pain, your doctor can determine if endometriosis is present by performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopy.  The physician will look inside the pelvic cavity (belly) with a laparoscope (telescope attached to a camera), which is inserted through small incisions.

So, does endometriosis cause infertility? If you have endometriosis, it may be more difficult for you to become pregnant. Doctors are not entirely sure why this is.   At the time of surgery, your doctor may evaluate the amount, location, and depth of endometriosis and give you a “score”.  This score determines whether your endometriosis is considered minimal, mild, moderate, or severe. The presence of scar tissue will worsen this score.

Women with moderate or severe endometriosis can have pelvic adhesions (scar tissue) or endometriomas.  Doctors are certain that adhesions that block the fallopian tubes will prevent an egg from traveling normally from the ovary to the uterus.  This makes it difficult for the egg and sperm to meet.  Minimal or mild endometriosis may only cause minimal amounts of adhesions, but becoming pregnant may still be difficult.

It is only through laparoscopy that your doctor can definitively diagnose endometriosis.  If endometriosis is seen at the time of surgery, your doctor will surgically burn or laser the endometriosis and cut  or remove the scar tissue. this treatment will allow your reproductive organs to function more normally. your chances of becoming pregnant are improved after surgical treatment, especially if your endometriosis is in the moderate or severe range.

Endometriosis needs the female hormone estrogen to develop and grow. Birth control pills and other drugs that lower or block estrogen can help symptoms, such as pelvic pain, painful periods, and pain during sex.  For patients who want to become pregnant, medical therapy with birth control pills or medications that cause a short-term, menopausal state may be considered prior to attempts at conception.  Medical therapy may help decrease the pain associated with endometriosis but the treatment itself usually does not improve pregnancy rates.

The physicians at Reproductive Resource Center recommend an infertility evaluation (even prior to one year of infertility) for patients over the age of 35, and for those with irregular menstrual periods, tubal ligation or vasectomy, endometriosis or recurrent pregnancy loss.

*Information appears courtesy of The American Society of Reproductive Medicine and The Society of Reproductive Surgeons, 2008.

*Image courtesy of ilovebutter / creative commons

Tagged as: adhesions, endometriomas, endometriosis, endometrium, estrogen, infertility, irregular menstrual periods, laparoscopy, painful periods, reproductive resource center