Digestion/Intestinal Problems/IBS

[AccutaneJay]

I would like to know if anyone who participates in this forum that has dry eye also has any problems with digestion or has any type of bowel or intestinal conditions (i.e. IBS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Chron's disease, etc.).

Please feel free to send me a private message if you would rather not publicize such a condition in this public thread.

Thanks, and I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

[calli66]

Oh heck yes. I have been allergic to onions and garlic for 27 years (ever since that time I got bad disentery in Mexico). In addition, I cannot digest fruit--period. And--I shouldn't eat wheat (but I do anyway in moderation). I never made any connection with dry eyes, though. I have to be really careful about what I eat or I'll regret it.
C66

[Maya]

Chinese medicine says..

Iīve finally seen an eye doctor who took my problems serious..(After having been seein more than 10 so far..)
This doctor has also specialized in traditional chinese medicine..as he looked at my tongue he said he could see intestinal problems, that my digestion is very slow and my spleen-"chi" (for the chinese, the life energy) was very much weakened. So, I asked him, where my dry eyes are coming from, he sais, from within and recommended to change my eating behavior drammatically. Iīm currently studying traditional chinese medicine, to find out what I should eat and avoid according to my weakened spleen.
Hm, it sounds interesting to me, I thought my eye problems were due to damage caused by medications, cause when I used vasoconstrictor-drops one year ago, thatīs where it all began. The doctor said that everybody has a weak part in his or her body..and if you continue to harm it (like constantly putting the wrong things in it, or overeating and and and), at one point it will be too much..and this too much will manifest at your weakest point; like a barrel that keeps filling and the final drop makes it overflow..
I like this analogy !
So now, he recommended to try the new foods etc. for 4 months , then visit him again, if thereīs no improvement, he will try accupuncture, he said itīs proven to relief dry eye symptoms in many many cases.
Maybe itīs really worth for some of you seeing a doctor who also has knowledge in traditional chinese medicine ! This tradition does not see the eyes as loose from thge rest of the body (like Iīve experienced most western physicians just do!), but the eyes are always connected to many other parts of the body, and if thereīs a dysfunction, the eyes will be affected..
Does anybody else have some experience with their dry eyes and TCM (trad. cjionese medicine )? Please tell us about !
Maya

[AccutaneJay]

Re: beeemaya

So, I asked him, where my dry eyes are coming from, he sais, from within and recommended to change my eating behavior drammatically. Iīm currently studying traditional chinese medicine, to find out what I should eat and avoid according to my weakened spleen.

I agree that the health of the eyes is directly linked to the health of other functions of the body, most specifically the digestive system/intestinal health.

I would be interested to know what foods your research has identified as being acceptable for healing your digestive issue; Would you care to share briefly what they may be? I am interested as I would like to compare them to my own personal beliefs of what foods should be eaten for digestive issues/intestinal conditions in order to promote healing.

Thanks!

[calli66]

I have good success using internal cleansers (with bulking agents morning and night) and liver/digestive (bile) stimulants before meals twice a day.

The internal cleanser powder--add to water--has the usual psyllium and also the Triphala (herbs--Ayurvedic medicine). The liver stimulant is an "elixir" (alcohol-herbal tincture) with various herbs: turmeric, gentian root, dandelion, milk thistle, etc. It stimulates digestion. I have a brand I like.

A naturopath advised me--said to take a lot of other things, too---diatomaceous earth, slippery elm, all sorts of anti-oxidants supplements. I did--for about 4 weeks--until I realized they were toxifying me. It was way too strong. You have to be careful taking some of these things. More is not always better. It depends on the root cause of the digestive difficulty.

C66

[AccutaneJay]

Re: calli66

I have good success using internal cleansers (with bulking agents morning and night) and liver/digestive (bile) stimulants before meals twice a day.

The internal cleanser powder--add to water--has the usual psyllium and also the Triphala (herbs--Ayurvedic medicine). The liver stimulant is an "elixir" (alcohol-herbal tincture) with various herbs: turmeric, gentian root, dandelion, milk thistle, etc. It stimulates digestion. I have a brand I like.

A naturopath advised me--said to take a lot of other things, too---diatomaceous earth, slippery elm, all sorts of anti-oxidants supplements. I did--for about 4 weeks--until I realized they were toxifying me. It was way too strong. You have to be careful taking some of these things. More is not always better. It depends on the root cause of the digestive difficulty.

C66

Thanks for your feedback, Calli. I am not so much looking for recommendations as to how to deal with digestive/intestinal conditions, I simply would like to assess the prevelence of these problems in the dry eye community, as I believe there is a direct link between the two.

Also, this is just my opinion, and I know I wasn't asked, but I just wanted to share that I do not believe psylium and other bulking agents are appropriate for our diets. I believe the rough fiber damages the intestinal walls, and I agree that you need to be careful with all of those herbal and anti-oxidant supplements. They usually present more of a burden to the system than a relief or aid, as seems to have been the case for you.

[Elegiamore]

IBS/constipation/gastroparesis/dry eye here

Jason,

I, too, have dry eye and digestive problems. I have autonomic nervous system damage from a viral infection years ago, and I just don't process food very well. I have had dry eyes ever since this problem flared up about ten years ago.

For years I have had tear plugs and gotten by pretty well, but wearing contacts did me in; I got corneal damage from a flawed contact which took forever to heal and left a scar.

Recently my dry eye has flared up along with my digestive problems. I attribute it to the immense stress I'm under (lost job, death of parent, illness, etc).

I'm quite interested in your theory, as these conditions are definitely connected with me.

Good luck to everybody trying to keep their digestion going and their eyes wet! Elegiamore