Dr Jean-Christophe Saurin, gastroenterologist, gives us his advice for lasting relief from functional colopathy thanks to a simple but little-known golden rule.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of pain sensitivity. Abdominal pain, bloating and transit disorders are possible symptoms of this functional colopathy which requires special attention. Here is the advice of Dr Jean-Christophe Saurin, gastroenterologist, if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
To support patients, the doctor relies on a global vision where we seek above all not to make the situation worse. We must in fact start from the principle that no treatment is harmless. Medications or numerous medical examinations cause side effects that are sometimes harmful to the patient. Before any prescription or request for tests, the doctor asks himself whether a medical treatment will bring more benefits than risks.
“The first rule is “primum non nocere“, Dr. Saurin immediately tells us. Literally, it means “do no harm”. This is the basic objective when a person is suffering; we avoid making ourselves suffer even more. To apply this principle, the specialist clarifies his thoughts on medical follow-up: “You should avoid requesting medical examinations such as colonoscopies or laparoscopies to understand the pain. Doing exams every year makes no sense. Morphine medications can have harmful effects, it is recommended to avoid them as much as possible“, describes the doctor.
Despite this necessary caution, medicine has concrete solutions to improve the daily lives of patients. Dr Saurin wants to be reassuring about the options available by stating that “we have the opportunity today to relieve and improve the symptoms with reasonable means“Among these means, in the event of pain not relieved by natural therapies or hygienic-dietary measures, we find antidepressant medications.”These medications lower the pain sensitivity threshold“, explains Dr Jean-Christophe Saurin. Some patients are in fact suffering on a daily basis, because their symptoms are not relieved by traditional methods. For these profiles, certain specialized teams offer a course of care for patients who are more difficult to treat, allowing different therapeutic avenues to be explored.
This treatment includes medications, hypnosis, discussion workshops, thus offering a multiple response to a complex problem. “Because there are several causes of suffering and there is no universal treatment for irritable bowel syndrome” concludes Professor Saurin.
