Alcohol and IBS

Alcohol and IBS

Drinking a lot of alcohol can cause a lot of problems including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Even if alcohol is only consumed occasionally it could end up doing damage to internal organs. It is a widely known fact that the ill effects of alcohol can be avoided by avoiding alcohol all together or by staying way below the recommended levels of alcohol intake. Although, someone who has irritable bowel syndrome may find that they are better off not drinking at all because even one drink could cause their symptoms to flare up.

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

IBS is a functional disorder that is in the intestines. IBS doesn’t cause actual damage to the bowels but the symptoms can be really unpleasant and can also interfere with a person’s ability to enjoy life normally. Those people with IBS may have to deal with pain and/or discomfort in the abdominal area. They might also have to deal with frequent episodes of diarrhea or constipation. It is believed that about 20 percent of the US population will have to deal with the symptoms of IBS at some point in their life.

What is the cause of IBS?

The actual known cause of IBS is unknown but it could be due to many factors including:

  • Having a sensitive colon
  • High and long lasting stress
  • Bacterial infections
  • A more mild form of celiac disease (celiac disease causes damage to the small intestine and make it hard for the body to absorb certain foods)
  • High levels of serotonin in the gastrointestinal tract which can interfere with normal bowel movements and increase the sensitivity of pain receptors
  • An effect of taking antibiotics because the medication may kill harmless bacteria in the intestines that are used for normal bowel function
  • An alteration or change to normal bowel function which can leads to strong spasms or temporary suspension of bowel function
  • Over activity in the gut can also cause IBS

What are the symptoms IBS?

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Cramping with bowel movements
  • Constipation
  • The need to strain when passing stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Urgent need to open bowels
  • Loss of appetite
  • Belching
  • Tiredness
  • Nausea

 Alcohol and IBS

Alcohol and IBS do not mix well. Alcohol increases the severity of IBS symptoms. Even just one alcoholic drink can be enough to cause an attack of IBS. Because alcohol is a poison or toxic substance that irritates the bowel it is extremely common for IBS to have their symptoms flare up after drinking. Some alcoholic drinks are less likely to cause a flare up of IBS symptoms. It is known that beer can make symptoms of IBS much worse. Many people with IBS report their symptoms for IBS getting significantly better after they stopped drinking all together. It may be best for someone with IBS to stop drinking to see if it gets any better.

 

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

How to Deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

How to Deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription medication that contains both buprenorphine
and naloxone. Both of these drugs are often given to addicts recovering from opiate addiction. Suboxone helps addicts overcome any drug cravings, thereby assisting them in the recovery process. Doctors should slowly taper the dosage of suboxone until you no longer need it to cope with the consequences of drug addiction.

The buprenorphine found in Suboxone is similar to what is found in other opiates, like morphine and heroin. As an opiate, buprenorphine can cause your body to become physically dependent on the drug, so when you suddenly discontinue suboxone, it will cause your body to undergo withdrawal. Withdrawal is your body’s way of attempting to recover from excessive drug use. Suboxone withdrawal can range from mild symptoms to serious, possible life-threatening effects.

Signs and symptoms of withdrawal:

  • Uncharacteristic irritability or agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Profuse sweating
  • Excessive tears
  • Runny nose
  • Frequent yawning

However, these symptoms are usually overlooked and may be passed off as symptoms of the flu or other mild diseases.

How to deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

I don’t know. Coffee, ibuprofen, lots of water, natural sleeps aids such as melatonin, hot baths, massage?

As a recovering opiate addict, I tried both a methadone maintenance and suboxone (at different times in my addiction). And quite honestly, the withdrawal sucks. That is totally an understatement.

Some years ago, I kicked methadone. Cold turkey. Not recommended. I stayed away from opiates for a little while but, soon enough, I was back at it. I thought the pain and discomfort of kicking for over a month would be enough to keep me from going down that road again. So, when things got bad again, I decided to get on suboxone. I don’t deny that this can be helpful when detoxing from other opiates (yes other because, after all, suboxone does contain an opiate called buprenorphine). But it is meant to be used short term, as in a week at the most, and with a rapid taper. There will be some discomfort at the end, but nowhere near what it’s like to go cold turkey.

While I was researching suboxone for the purpose of writing this blog and time and time again, I kept finding “information” which stated that, if tapered off of suboxone, you won’t experience any withdrawal symptoms and that if you do, you only think you do; it’s all mental. That’s plain old bullshit. I was on a very low dose of suboxone when I decided to go to treatment. I was taking maybe 4mg a day for the last several months of my active addiction. I tried to taper myself completely but the withdrawals came, and with a vengeance. I could not face suboxone withdrawal again. My solution was going into a medical detox and inpatient program.

If you are facing suboxone withdrawal, you may want to consider doing what I did. There are programs that specialize in suboxone detox that can assist you in the process with very little discomfort.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover Remedy: Meditation

Hangover Remedy: Meditation

Meditation has numerous health benefits. It has been conclusively shown to benefit practitioners in many different scientific studies. Neuroscientists have actually shown that the brain waves of meditators are different than those who do not practice meditation. This mental shift has been shown to reduce the negative effects of stress, anxiety and depression. People who meditate also have been shown to have lower blood pressure, less symptoms of chronic pain, and better overall health than those who do not meditate. In a study conducted on college students, meditation was shown to improve academic performance, concentration, reaction time, memory, empathy and self-esteem. In the over 1,000 scientific publications that have studied the effect of meditation to date, meditation has been shown to improve outcome in every health aspect studied.

It should come as no surprise that meditation also helps hangovers, if are able to do it. Here are some deep breathing techniques that can help you when you have a hangover:

Hangover Remedy: Meditation:  Belly Breathing

This is a type of breathing that is often employed in yoga classes. You expand your whole stomach and chest on the inhale and collapse it on the exhale. This breathing technique utilizes the lungs to their full capacity, oxygenates the body, and activates the relaxation response. The best way to know if you are doing it correctly is to lie on your back and rest your hand on your belly. When you inhale, expand your ribs, diaphragm, and belly, feeling your hand rise and fall with each breath. When you exhale, imagine flattening your belly against your spine. Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth.

Hangover Remedy: Meditation: Nostril Breathing

This breathing technique is great for a hangover. It balances the mind and calms the nervous system. Begin by letting go of all the air in your lungs – exhale using both nostrils. Gently press your thumb against the right nostril – closing it completely, and then inhale slowly through left nostril. Hold your breath for a few seconds. With your right forefinger close your left nostril as you release your thumb from the right nostril. Exhale through the right nostril, while keeping the left one closed. Hold for a few seconds. Inhale through the right nostril, hold; release your forefinger as you close your right nostril with your thumb. Exhale through the left nostril, while you keep the right nostril closed. Hold for a few seconds. Inhale through the left nostril; continue this for about 8 cycles.

Hangover Remedy: Meditation: Natural Breathing

This type of breathing technique is natural and rhythmic. Picture a baby breathing while sleeping and you will get a good idea of the goal of this technique. It has been shown to decrease blood pressure and anxiety.  With this technique, you breathe with your diaphragm. The best way to practice natural breathing is to lay down with your hand on your chest. There should be no movement here, natural breathing should come through your diaphragm. Inhale and exhale through the nose, keeping breaths rhythmic and smooth.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Best Hangover Foods

Best Hangover Foods

Best Hangover Foods

Hangovers are the worst! Waking up with a dry mouth, pounding headache, and aching muscles can ruin anyone’s day. And while the only “cure” for a hangover is prevention, there are some things you can do to feel better. Here is a list of the best hangover foods:

Best Hangover Foods: Soup or broth

Let’s face it, when you have a hangover, sometimes you don’t feel like eating ANYTHING. Just the mention of food will make your stomach turn. So you don’t eat, and you end up feeling worse! This is because a drop in blood sugar will exacerbate the symptoms of a hangover. You end up feeling more tired and even more nauseous. It helps to get something on your stomach, even if you can’t handle a whole meal. This is why soup is one of the best hangover foods. It’s easy on the stomach and it contains a lot of water which will help rehydrate you after a night of drinking. Plus, chicken and some vegetables contain cysteine, which give the liver a much-needed boost.

Best Hangover Foods: Bacon Sandwich

If your stomach is feeling a little better, you may be able to handle the classic hangover remedy: the bacon sandwich. Bacon contains a lot of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. One particular type of amino acid, amine, has been shown to be effective in clearing your head after a night of partying.  Binging on alcohol depletes your store of amino acids, so the bacon in the bacon sandwich is a big part of what makes it one of the best hangover remedies.

Bread is great because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. It not only can absorb some of the acid in your stomach when you wake up with a hangover, it also gives you a boost of energy.

Best Hangover Foods: Smoothies

Smoothies, like soup, are one of the best hangover foods if you have an upset stomach. They are sweet and filling and go down very easily. The fruit in the smoothie will provide a bunch of vitamins and a much needed surge in blood sugar. Vitamins are important because often alcohol has a diuretic effect on the body and we lose many essential vitamins during a night of hard drinking. A smoothie will also help coat the stomach and hopefully reduce any nausea or acid reflux you may be feeling.

Best Hangover Foods: Oatmeal

Oats are also easy to digest. Plus, a hot bowl of oatmeal has plenty of essential nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Oats can help neutralize acids in the body and raise blood sugar levels, giving you an instant energy boost.

Whatever you end up eating to treat a hangover, be sure that you are also drinking plenty of fluids. Some of the worst hangover symptoms come as a result of dehydration. If you remember, drink a full glass before you even fall asleep the night before, and you’ll find out that your hangovers are much more manageable.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Dope Sick Remedies

If you have ever been dope sick you are probably wondering if there are any remedies for it. If you have never been dope sick but are worried you possibly could be in the future than you probably want to know some of the remedies. Either way it is probably good to know ways to prevent feeling dope sick.

  • Loperamide. Loperamide is an over-the-counter medication used to treat diarrhea. The structure of loperamide is closely related to Demerol, which is an opiate with effects kind of like heroin. If you are looking for dope sick remedies you may want to try this. Loperamide works by stopping spasms in the intestinal tract. Loperamide does not cause intoxication. Other symptoms of being dope sick can be alleviated too. This dope sick remedy may work for nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
  • Some other dope sick remedies are more natural, such as ginger. A common place item found in most cabinets, ginger is a helpful herb to have on hand. It serves the purpose of relieving both nausea and physical pain. This is perfect for feeling dope sick. Ginger can be brewed into tea or taken in pill form for its medicinal effects. If you are searching for dope sick remedies this is the perfect place to start, your own cabinet.
  • Over-the-counter analgesics. These are probably the most helpful dope sick remedies. Over-the-counter painkillers can be helpful in easing the physical pain of being dope sick. Medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. These medicines work as dope sick remedies by reducing inflammation and treating the widespread pain. Acetaminophen is a painkiller with fever reducing properties which also may help with the hot cold chills of being dope sick.
  • Passionflower. Yes this is one of the dope sick remedies. Passionflower grows wild in many parts of the world. Passionflower has many uses including the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and muscle spasms. Passionflower is an excellent dope sick remedy because it helps to relieve both the physical and emotional pain caused by being dope sick. Passionflower can be as effective as clonidine which is an actual drug to treat being dope sick. As one of the dope sick remedies it is the most helpful in alleviating symptoms such as anxiety and muscle pain. If you have clonidine, passionflower greatly intensifies the effects of it if you take them together.

If you are seeking dope sick remedies you may want to think about entering an inpatient detox or treatment center also. If you are dope sick, chances are that you have a drug abuse problem and need outside help. There are also more comfortable dope sick remedies if you seek medical attention for your withdrawal. Being dope sick begins when your body has become physically addicted to a substance and then you stop using that substance. Being dope sick does not last forever and doesn’t mean you should continue using. If you do not want to seek outside medical help or professional help then try some of these dope sick remedies for yourself.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover: The Junk Food Remedy

Using food to recover from a hangover is nothing new. Hangover: The Junk Food Remedy generates neatly 9 million results on Google and is total fallacy. Here are some of the best hangover cures that are healthy, and some of the foods you should stay far away from better known as the junk food remedy.

Good: Eggs

Eggs are naturally full of something called cysteine, a substance that can break down a toxin called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is what causes all the awful hangover symptoms, so the quicker you break it down, the quicker you’ll feel better.

Bad: Coffee

While coffee has a great reputation as a hangover cure, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it will exacerbate the alcohol’s dehydrating effect and leave you feeling even more sickly. It can be hard to resist the instant wake-up coffee brings, but it will be worth it in the end.

Good: Water

On the flip-side, keeping well hydrated with water will help your body to recover from the dehydration the alcohol has put it through. Adding a little salt to the water can help to replace the sodium your body lost the night before and speed up your recovery process even more.

Bad: Spicy Food

Spicy foods can’t do much to help your body get back to normal, but they can irritate an upset stomach. Unless you have a craving and a strong stomach, this is better to stay away from.

Good: Ginger

While other foods may upset your stomach, ginger will soothe it and fight off any feelings of nausea that you may have. A cup of Ginger Ale or some sweetened Ginger Tea will also help your body get a small amount of sugar- just enough to replenish the glycogen you lost the night before.

Bad: Fast Food

Many people will swear up and down that the grease in fast food will “soak a hangover up”, but unfortunately, it isn’t true. Like spicy foods, fast food won’t do much more than make you sick to your stomach. Save the junk food for another day.

Good: Bananas

A night of drinking takes a serious toll on your body’s potassium supply, and bananas are just the food to build it back up. One banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium

More Hangover Cures:

Hangover Cures: Vitamins

Hangover Remedies: Soups

Hangover Remedies: Sandwiches

Hangover Cures: Potassium, Carbs and Electrolytes

Healthy Hangover Cures

Hangover Home Remedies

Common Hangover Cures

New Hangover Cures

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.