Q: I am 70 years old, and have been fit and active all of my life. Now, I have “functional dyspepsia” resulting in early satiety, upper GI bloating, and belching, with unwanted 30-pound weight loss over 4 years. I’m also weak, exhausted, and sensitive to gluten and dairy. I would appreciate any suggestions. I especially need help in gaining weight. Thank you!
A: Dyspepsia is a common term that is used to characterize abdominal pain in the upper abdomen and chest. If you have been told you have functional dyspepsia, this indicates that there is no identifiable cause of your abdominal pain, a difficult and frustrating situation for a patient.
What you are describing may be a condition called SIBO, which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Normally, the small intestine contains relatively few bacteria, as most intestinal bacteria are confined to the large intestine. Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, and bloating after eating due to the overproduction of methane and hydrogen gas. It also interferes with normal digestion and absorption of food and can cause inflammation to the lining of the small intestine.
Situations that promote the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine can be low pancreatic enzymes, low hydrochloride acid, or other conditions.
I would recommend getting tested for SIBO. The diagnostic test is a breath test. At the Kaplan Center, when called for, the breath test is ordered for our patients and results are normally ready in 3 weeks. If you test positive, treatment includes supplements specific to SIBO, dietary modifications, probiotics, and in many cases a specific antibiotic for SIBO.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a profoundly stressful event in a person’s life. According to NIH’s National Cancer Institute, there are over 18 million Americans living with – or have survived – some form of cancer. The emotional blow of the diagnosis, combined with the pain and discomfort of the disease and treatment, can impact one’s ability to work, provide financially for dependents, or engage in social and recreational activities. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment can cause unwanted changes in a patient’s physical appearance and self-esteem, undermine his or her ability to relate to loved ones emotionally or sexually, and lead to an increased sense of isolation and depression. Often, the diagnosis and the reality of living with cancer challenge an individual’s spiritual beliefs, their sense of purpose, and their life priorities.
Given the scope of cancer’s effect upon a person’s life, ideally, the treatment should not be focused only on the physical aspects of healing. It is estimated that as many as 65 percent of cancer patients seek complementary therapies to augment the conventional medical care they are receiving. Medical research has demonstrated that interventions such as psychotherapy, relaxation, prayer, meditation, and massage can reduce stress, improve sleep, encourage a sense of optimism, and boost the body’s immune response.
Here are 4 alternative therapies that, when used in conjunction with conventional medical care, can enhance the quality of patients’ lives by helping them to cope more effectively with the effects of cancer and its treatment:
Psychotherapy can help patients find the inner strength they need to cope more positively with their diagnosis. Talking about their feelings with a qualified and caring professional, and receiving ongoing emotional support can help reduce the sense of isolation, anxiety, and hopelessness that cancer patients commonly experience. There are many different kinds of psychotherapy; some patients meet individually with a counselor, others meet in a group setting to discuss common problems and coping strategies.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a relatively new protocol used by some psychotherapists that can facilitate a remarkably swift and permanent healing of negative and distressing thoughts and feelings. It can also alleviate certain types of physical pain that have become “locked into” the memory of a person’s central nervous system.
Guided Imagery is a process where patients use their minds to visualize and sense soothing experiences, like the sight of a favorite place, or the feeling of warm sun on the skin or cool water on the toes. Guided imagery and hypnosis can help channel the power of a person’s own mind to produce real physiological benefits for the body, including boosting the immune response, reducing blood pressure, increasing the sense of well-being, and even decreasing the pain of cancer and cancer treatment.
Mind-Body Stress Reduction Programs help patients learn stress management and meditation techniques. Medical studies show that mind-body meditation can improve a patient’s mood, coping skills, and quality of life. It also can boost a patient’s immune response and help to alleviate disease-and-treatment-related symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain. Meditation programs have proven to be so successful in improving patient outcomes that they have become a reimbursable medical service under many health insurance plans.
Is SIBO Causing Abdominal Pain And Weight Loss?
/in Conditions, Digestive Issues, Inflammation/by Lisa Lilienfield, MDQ: I am 70 years old, and have been fit and active all of my life. Now, I have “functional dyspepsia” resulting in early satiety, upper GI bloating, and belching, with unwanted 30-pound weight loss over 4 years. I’m also weak, exhausted, and sensitive to gluten and dairy. I would appreciate any suggestions. I especially need help in gaining weight. Thank you!
A: Dyspepsia is a common term that is used to characterize abdominal pain in the upper abdomen and chest. If you have been told you have functional dyspepsia, this indicates that there is no identifiable cause of your abdominal pain, a difficult and frustrating situation for a patient.
What you are describing may be a condition called SIBO, which stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Normally, the small intestine contains relatively few bacteria, as most intestinal bacteria are confined to the large intestine. Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, and bloating after eating due to the overproduction of methane and hydrogen gas. It also interferes with normal digestion and absorption of food and can cause inflammation to the lining of the small intestine.
Situations that promote the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine can be low pancreatic enzymes, low hydrochloride acid, or other conditions.
I would recommend getting tested for SIBO. The diagnostic test is a breath test. At the Kaplan Center, when called for, the breath test is ordered for our patients and results are normally ready in 3 weeks. If you test positive, treatment includes supplements specific to SIBO, dietary modifications, probiotics, and in many cases a specific antibiotic for SIBO.
I truly hope this is helpful.
– Dr. Lisa Lilienfield
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
What to Do When Painkillers Don’t Work
/in Featured Press/by Website AdministratorCoping With the Emotional Impact of Cancer
/in Mental Health, Wellness/by Jodi Brayton, LCSWReceiving a cancer diagnosis can be a profoundly stressful event in a person’s life. According to NIH’s National Cancer Institute, there are over 18 million Americans living with – or have survived – some form of cancer. The emotional blow of the diagnosis, combined with the pain and discomfort of the disease and treatment, can impact one’s ability to work, provide financially for dependents, or engage in social and recreational activities. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment can cause unwanted changes in a patient’s physical appearance and self-esteem, undermine his or her ability to relate to loved ones emotionally or sexually, and lead to an increased sense of isolation and depression. Often, the diagnosis and the reality of living with cancer challenge an individual’s spiritual beliefs, their sense of purpose, and their life priorities.
Given the scope of cancer’s effect upon a person’s life, ideally, the treatment should not be focused only on the physical aspects of healing. It is estimated that as many as 65 percent of cancer patients seek complementary therapies to augment the conventional medical care they are receiving. Medical research has demonstrated that interventions such as psychotherapy, relaxation, prayer, meditation, and massage can reduce stress, improve sleep, encourage a sense of optimism, and boost the body’s immune response.
Here are 4 alternative therapies that, when used in conjunction with conventional medical care, can enhance the quality of patients’ lives by helping them to cope more effectively with the effects of cancer and its treatment:
Questions? Give Us a Call!
703-532-4892 x2
Psychotherapy can help patients find the inner strength they need to cope more positively with their diagnosis. Talking about their feelings with a qualified and caring professional, and receiving ongoing emotional support can help reduce the sense of isolation, anxiety, and hopelessness that cancer patients commonly experience. There are many different kinds of psychotherapy; some patients meet individually with a counselor, others meet in a group setting to discuss common problems and coping strategies.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a relatively new protocol used by some psychotherapists that can facilitate a remarkably swift and permanent healing of negative and distressing thoughts and feelings. It can also alleviate certain types of physical pain that have become “locked into” the memory of a person’s central nervous system.
Guided Imagery is a process where patients use their minds to visualize and sense soothing experiences, like the sight of a favorite place, or the feeling of warm sun on the skin or cool water on the toes. Guided imagery and hypnosis can help channel the power of a person’s own mind to produce real physiological benefits for the body, including boosting the immune response, reducing blood pressure, increasing the sense of well-being, and even decreasing the pain of cancer and cancer treatment.
Mind-Body Stress Reduction Programs help patients learn stress management and meditation techniques. Medical studies show that mind-body meditation can improve a patient’s mood, coping skills, and quality of life. It also can boost a patient’s immune response and help to alleviate disease-and-treatment-related symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain. Meditation programs have proven to be so successful in improving patient outcomes that they have become a reimbursable medical service under many health insurance plans.
Additional Resources:
Psychotherapy, EMDR, and Guided Meditation
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2