Putting Agony's rant aside, one thing I have noticed is along with Mike's CDs I have also been separately playing soft soothing music as well in between and I do feel there is some merit to this...That is, to the extent anxiety is part of the issue in exacerbating things, I have found that doing things to relax me in between sessions with the hypnotherapy CDs has been a wonderful addition. So for instance I will listen to some classical music or even some soft pop like Enya or the like.Frankly it can be really nice if I get on the subway for my 40 minute ride (I live in NYC) and close my eyes while sitting down listening to some soothing music rather than watching everyone, listening to the clamor of the subway, and reading the paper.So again, putting aside Agony's rant which I think is a bit over the top, there is *some* merit to of course engaging in other activities that have a relaxing bit to them, like soft music or even doing something else like yoga, etc. Anyway, just my two cents...
Posts by sunspot19
1 - 4 of 49 Posts
Oh, no doubt HT is absolutely different. I am on day 8 and am really enjoying the CDs. It is frankly just letting me carve out a point in the day I put everything aside and just concentrate on nothing (other than listening) which is a far cry from my usual routine of an extremely stressful job, two young active boys, etc.I don't ever (would never) suggest soft/relaxing music as a substitute for HT, but just that after I started Mike's CDs one of the things I simply noticed and enjoyed was how I felt (at least in these beginning sessions) that I was really letting the stress flow out. I then thought about the fact that in my rush around life, it might be helpful besides listening to Mike's tapes to also try to insulate things a little when I am on the subway, working, etc., to also listen to just plain soothing sounds.What I have found to date is that even if it is not directly helping reduce my IBS symptoms (which I am finding are greatly reduced already with probiotics, exercise, etc and hopefully with a knock out blow - or perhaps not - with Mike's tapes), it just overall makes me feel good and that good feeling does translate into if no lessening of IBS symptoms than at least tolerating or noticing them a bit less (and thus not getting all panicky and out of sorts).So I do think the relaxation of music (or yoga or other techniques) is helpful not necessarily directly related to the IBS elements but to those other aspects that may be affected by IBS.Maybe I wrote that incorrectly the first time - hope I am making some sense.
Fair enough!Yes, things are going well, though they appeared to have started going well even before the IBS program. I was having intermittent loose bowels for about a year (and itchiness), but in particular chronic diarrhea the last 6-7 months. Doctors have had different diagnosis, with the IBS-D one coming from a GI who did a colonoscopy and without any other analysis just declared me as with IBS. Put me on amitryptiline which did nothing and never even checked up on me again (idiot).Not that I am in denial, I just found that I have not gotten the right doctor to do a full "system check" to rule the rest out. As you will see in my other posts, I have apparently come to a really great place by using a probiotic mix with kefir twice daily, after also having been treated for a parasite (if there really was one). I have finally identified a great GI and will go see her beginnig of next month - I am hopeful regardless whether I am controlling things that she can help me identify what is the issue.And that is the problem - since there has not been a consistent diagnosis, I am left fumbling with whether this is a screwed up flora, IBS-D or another parasitic cause. So instead of taking chances, I will continue with my probio therapy plus felt even if I do not have IBS-D, Mike's CDs are still useful to try. Why not, cannot hurt! And since I like them, all the better!!!
![]()
Eric:Appreciate the link. I guess the question in my mind is if probiotics and kefir help (in fact clear up) my diarrhea problem (too early to say cure), is this still potentially IBS-D? Or is it just an altered gut flora that desparately needs rebalancing.That is, I would have thought if IBS is really related to brain/gut function then if I have a bacterial flora imbalance that the probios are helping correct, even though symptoms are similar was it really ever IBS?Not that it matters much to me if I have symptoms and they are cured (not that I am cured but I am controlled)! But I get the impression that if a brain/gut issue is IBS then probiotics really don't quite clarify for me why this solution would help.Also, note that I have never really ever had abdominal pain. Just the diarrhea, first intermittent and then immediately post-prandial starting in the summer. I did have a lot of stress, also travelled abroad a few times, etc.The gut is so complex and it is no wonder ascertaining whether the symptoms point to IBS or another disorder can be so tough to settle down on (for some of us anyway). I have no doubt for some people the diagnosis of IBS is relatively more straight forward, but with some of us on the edge where the answer isn't so clear cut, I just wonder...
![]()
1 - 4 of 49 Posts
