Search Results for: Understanding+Chronic+

Introduction Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a chronic disease marked by severe, recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting in a person who is otherwise healthy.  CVS episodes often flip-flop with states of wellness. Vomiting may occur every 5-10 minutes for several hours during an episode. On average, CVS episodes last 3-7 days but vary with […]

Introduction Cancer of the colon and rectum remains one of the most deadly forms of cancer. It is the third most common cancer in the United States, yet it is quite curable by surgery when found in its early stages. Since it involves the lower gastrointestinal tract, treatment of colon and rectal cancer frequently affects […]

What is intestinal pseudo-obstruction? Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare condition with symptoms like those caused by a bowel obstruction, or blockage. But when the intestines are examined, no blockage is found. Instead, the symptoms are due to nerve (visceral neuropathy) or muscle (visceral myopathy) problems that affect the movement of food, fluid, and air through […]

  Many otherwise healthy, active people suffer from incontinence or loss of bowel control. Fecal incontinence (FI) is also called bowel incontinence, and may also be called accidental bowel leakage. It strikes men and women of all ages and involves the involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool. Incontinence is a long-term, stressful, and limiting […]

Symptom overlap is common among several functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. For instance, care must be taken not to confuse functional dyspepsia with other common disorders that may cause upper gastrointestinal distress, like heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional abdominal bloating, and functional biliary disorders. Functional dyspepsia is identified based on symptoms. […]

Here are some common questions about GI disorders in children: How do I know if my child really has an upset stomach, or is trying to avoid going to school? Many school-age children never think about faking it; assume the bellyache is real. However, children and parents often forget that some bellyaches come from too […]

By Nancy J. Norton, Former President and Founder, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) If you think fecal incontinence is a problem of old age, you are partly right. Although it does affect the elderly, people of all ages live with fecal incontinence. In fact, many older people have been trying to cope with […]

Tips to consider when finding a doctor Whether your doctor is a family doctor or a specialist (like a gastroenterologist), there are certain qualities to look for to help you get the care you need for your incontinence. Here is a checklist of questions to consider: Is your doctor sympathetic? Does he or she listen […]

Common Causes of Incontinence Continence depends on properly functioning muscles and nerves in and around the rectum and anal canal. Any condition that interferes with these complex mechanisms may result in incontinence. Examples of events or conditions that can affect continence and lead to bowel incontinence, or loss of bowel control, include: childbirth, constipation, diarrhea, […]

Newer Treatment Newer treatments continue to be developed to improve continence. These range from nerve stimulation in the lower pelvic area, to implants, and injection of bulking materials. There is hope through research that additional therapeutic options will continue to be made available for patients with incontinence unresponsive to current treatments. Two newer treatment options […]

What is infant regurgitation? Regurgitation means the backward movement of stomach contents up the esophagus (the “swallowing tube’) into the mouth. Regurgitation often includes the release of the material from the mouth, as in infants who “spit up.” It occurs when the muscle between the esophagus and stomach relaxes (as it does during burping). This […]