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Do Nerves Play A Role?

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Posted 1/22/2013 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if anyone has researched or heard of the nervous system playing a role in IBD? The gut is supposed to have most of the serotonin in the body if I remember right. Perhaps people with IBD have too much or not enough nerve actions of some sort, and it somehow can lead to a flare??

If it sounds off the wall that's okay, but if you've heard of anything let me know!
Posted 1/22/2013 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
There's a mind-gut connection, of course it plays a roll, it can in fact turn into a vicious circle, you stress about getting/being sick, it has a negative impact on your illness, your sick and it messes with your mind (anxiety, depression)...totally connected. Stress is definitely linked to IBD....physical and mental.
Posted 1/22/2013 7:43 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, mind gut connection. Never heard of this physiologically causing inflammation but definitely have seen IBS play up from nerves.
Posted 1/22/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
I found this-

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-gut-brain-connection

Carlie
Posted 1/22/2013 1:34 PM (GMT 0)

Carlie said...
I found this-

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-gut-brain-connection

Carlie

Great article Charlie. Sounds like my current symptoms might be psychological!
Posted 1/22/2013 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Enteric nervous system and central nervous system form from the same 'Neural Crest' during embyronic development and remain interconnected.

It is my belief that I have too much cross-talk.
Posted 1/22/2013 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm always in a constant state of internal conflict and stress....but I don't have continual gut issues.

But there are certainly times when i'm overloaded and in tilt mode...my butt will pay a price.

I've found that the antispasmodics have helped a ton regarding the some active discomfort. That, in itself, eases my mind. While I do have IBS as well, I've never had diarrhea or urgency because of it. That would be purly because of food intake or flaring (or gut invaders of course).

q
Posted 1/23/2013 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
My chiropractor would like me to believe that. Nerves get pinched due to subluxation and therefore serotonin can not make it to its intended place. Stuck in the gut. Too much serotonin=inflammation. Did you read the article Old Hat put up?
Posted 1/23/2013 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
which one specifically?

Old Hat or Old Mike? 

q

Posted 1/23/2013 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Theres tons of info on this, and a lot on "healing the mind, after healing the gut". Id like to hear more about the reverse. Its interesting that Old Mike recently posted about serotonin and dopamine, two chemicals that dramatically affect moods. I think the symptoms of this condition can come from and through many different and complex pathways, and for some this is much more relevant perhaps, than others. For me this was a big player Im sure, not genetics.
Posted 1/23/2013 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I had the most awful nervous gut this weekend. I was probably on the toilet as many times as a person in a flare-up. Now I am back to normal thankfully. I don't think nerves played a role in my major flare ups though, I think that was immune related or something else? It lasted too long for nerves to be at the root. I was also living a really relaxed lifestyle during my most severe flare ups.
Posted 1/23/2013 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Because the Enteric nervous system and Central nervous system are interconnected I have been doing worse since my ex-wife moved in 'temporarily'. I was with our daughter all weekend nursing her illness and giving her medication. Ex strolls in and wants to pretend she still has some parenting authority and uses the kid to demonstrate. I said she will stay home with me while I WFH and just like she used to do she badgered us for hours and began screaming. I told her to get out of my house, its insane, the kid is perfect 4.0 the school said they don't care how about attendance when her GPA rocks.

No surprise today was a BIG setback for my UC.

Some people thrive on conflict, I have no time for silly useless conflict. I think it is an excuse to not bear down and run their own lives properly. Distraction from failed planning and goals.

This experiment is a failure and need her to move on...you can try to help people get on their feet but you cannot do it for them.
Posted 1/23/2013 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, nervousness definitely plays a big part in IBD.  Anus Tittifalarius  aka  "Squeaky Bum".

Also, IBS is sometimes referred to as "Spastic Colon".

Posted 1/24/2013 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
It has a connection for me personally. I don't think there is any scientific data supporting it, however. Interestingly, I once took Cymbalta for 5 days due to difficulty concentrating at work and it put me into a horrible flare that took me a long while to get out of.
Posted 1/24/2013 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
There's been scientific data on the mind gut connection for a long time Sarah...it's actually a well known fact that is still being researched.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/11/06/the-brain-gut-connection/

Posted 1/24/2013 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
aguywithuc-
I feel badly for you that you have to deal with such a immature ex.
That kind of stress is unhealthy both for you and your daughter.

I watched a new reality show on Bravo "Vanderpump Rules" the other day. One of the girls/shrews on the show was "brow-beating" her boyfriend. It was so disturbing, I had to switch stations even tho I know it's not real.

I listen to meditation/healing messages regularly to avoid stress and try to avoid conflict. Have eliminated people from my life that I consider to be "toxic".

Sounds like your daughter is doing well. Congrats on the good parenting.
Posted 1/24/2013 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I personally believe there is merit to the idea. My Reasoning:

Two Stories: One, a young boy (10 years old) with severe UC symptoms. His mother said he's in the toilet 20-30 times a day, blood, mucus and the whole nine yards. The thing that always amazed her was this - He loved playing hockey. Even though it was a struggle just to get him to the rink and get all suited up without him having to run off to the bathroom - without fail, every time, as soon as he get's on the ice and starts playing hockey he is perfectly fine. He can make it through the whole game or practice without the slightest urge. When he's finished with the game his mind comes back to his troubles and wham, back to the bathroom. Truly amazing in my opinion.

Two - For me personally, I row out on the water (Single Scull). I truly love it. Same thing. Getting there is always an issue, getting into the boat is always an issue. But once I've left the dock - wham, no symptoms the entire time. Just me, the water, the sunshine and the odd beaver or crane checking things out. As soon as I get off the water - I'm sometimes running for the boat house.

And I guess a third quick comment - As a business owner sometimes things just have to get done. There is no option other than for myself to get in and finish the job. Regardless of how bad I am, when things come down to the wire somehow I (or we, as a group of sufferers) always seem to be able to "suck it up", block it from our minds and pull through. Ever notice how difficult it is to just get to the doc's office, but once you're there it's not that difficult to survive the wait in the waiting room - or hold the urgency at bay. Maybe not 100% of the time, but when it really counts, be it a family member in need, a need to get to an appointment or whatever the cause somehow we all, always, manage to pull through and deliver...

Again - amazing in my opinion.
Posted 1/25/2013 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
^^ Canada Marks post is spot on.   When my mind and body are totally absorbed with any kind of activity, the urgency seems to melt awaay.   Not always I should add, as if you're in an intense flare it is extremely difficult to concentrate on other things.  It's almost like the disease has you in it's evil grip, and you are so preoccupied it takes a while to claw yourself back out to a semblance of normality, using whatever feeble ammunition you have in your arsenal.

I used to enjoy going on vacation for a couple of weeks in Feb/March because it generally meant a huge reduction in symptoms.   Sorry to say but even that luxury diminishes eventually.

I often wonder if psychology/psychiatry could be helpful but I'm sure it's been tried before with doubtful results.   I imagine hypnosis or hypnotherapy may be a bit risky.

Posted 1/25/2013 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if this connects to the other post about serotonin. A lot of our mental health revolves around serotonin. When I was a teen before I was diagnosed with IBD they did I had a spastic colon. The truth was they never bothered to check me for anything else. They just assumed it was spastic colon. So really I could have had UC for man more years than I have known. I have had D my whole life. I think part of it was not knowingI was lactose intolerant though.
Posted 1/25/2013 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
I think the mind is such a powerful tool, but its also very dangerous. The thoughts we have need to be shut out sometimes, because our minds will just chatter and cause over stimulation, i think. Leading to gut problems.

I had butterflies bad as a kid. Gas when waiting for the school bus or before going to events like prom, field trips, first day of school, etc.

Upon experiencing my first breakup/rejection, I started having IBS, lots of diarrhea constantly and it was because I couldn't shake this anxiety/nervousness I had of rejection, at least for a year, until I started smoking. =/ Talk about a 360.

I have no doubt in my mind, that a variety of problems cause issues in the gut, IBD or not. Although I think it was ItsAlwaysSomething that had just posted an IBS related article that reported on how researchers are finding its not all psych-related.
Posted 1/25/2013 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
It is called the HPA axis folks. Yes there is a big tie in with the amino acid thread.

Old Mike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamic%E2%80%93pituitary%E2%80%93adrenal_axis

click on see all to the right after you read this abstract.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21741177

Posted 1/25/2013 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely agree that there is a mind-gut connection. One of my biggest triggers for a flare is stress.

Thanks for all the article links! Lots of reading to do for me! :)
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