IBS / Dyspepsia & Flying.
 

I have been recently diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia. I work for a UK airline and am currently off sick and have been for the past 3 months. My medical is suspended and I am currently controlling these conditions by the use of prescription medication which is not permitted by the CAA. I can`t have my medical back unless I can find an alternative medication or the symptoms have totally gone.

Is there anybody else who is a professional pilot and has (or even had) these conditions? If so, how do you manage to deal with them whilst still being able to fly?

Thanks in advance. :{

How old are you, why did you get your medical suspended, and have you got any concerns about your lifestyle at all ?

And which meds for which condition has grounded you ?

I`m currently 26 years old. My AME thinks that I might have possibly developed these conditions due to stress. My medical was suspended because I was absent from work for more than 20 days so I had no alternative to report my ailments to my AME hence the CAA. At the time I didn`t know what was wrong with me. It was only when my GP referred me to a gastroenterologist that I was diagnosed with these conditions after a number of examinations and tests. I am currently being treated by him. I take two drugs; one is domperidone (brand name motilium) and also beta blockers (propranolol). These seem to be working for me quite well although I can`t return to work whilst taking them. I also have to stick to quite a high fibre diet. I find some foods which are high in fat cause me major problems as I can`t digest them properly.

I am quite concerned that whilst the drugs are helping my condition that I won`t be able to return to flying whilst taking them. The problem is that I may need the medication for quite some time if the condition doesn`t go away. I understand that although they aren`t serious conditions, they aren`t exactly cureable either.

I was just wondering if there were any pilots out there who have had these conditions before and have succesfully returned to a career in aviation?

ALWAYS blame the crew meals. What POSSIBLE other reason could there be?

F/O its a little difficult to be specific about your case, as I'm not privy to the full facts of the matter-your GP / AME is probably the best person to seek advice from.

I can tell you a little about IBS though.

IBS is a colection of symptoms relating to the lower gut, and patients typically describe bloating, flatulence, pain and the feeling that they havn't completely emptied their bowels on defaecation.

As a bucket and spade passenger, I'm often fascinated by those bread role packets expanding as the aircraft climbs- I'm surprised more aircrew don't complain of more problems than they do.

The cause is generally unknown, although some think that an overactivity of the nerves supplying the bowel is a factor. A change in lifestyle (the usual suspects caffeine, fat, ?alcohol, exercise, stress), play a large part. Drugs such as anti spasmodics/anti depressants can help, but in my experience, aren't much use.

About 1 in 5 people suffer from IBS, and it won't affect how long you live-its usually more of a pain in the neck than anything.

Dyspepsia is a symptom ("Difficulty digesting") rather than an illness itself. In some one of your age, I would be hoping that your symptoms would respond to simple lifestyle changes (smoking,alcohol,lose weight, chew your food WELL, and relax after each meal, exercise, stress,) or a short course of simple ant acid medication.

Hope you are now armed with more facts, but as I've said, your AME/GP is key to your recovery.

My Mother suffered with IBS and her GP tried all sorts of things which made little difference. She suffered severe symptoms about twice a week for over 10 years.

However she is now off all medication and virtually free from any attacks. It seems it was all down to a Wheat intolerance.

My wife recently qualified in an alternative health form called kinesiology. This uses muscle reactions to do things like food intolerance testing etc. After graduationg one of her first patients was my mum and using this technique identified a wheat intolerance.

My Mother cut wheat out of her diet completely and the effects were immediate, no more attacks and no need for any medication. GP just shrugged his shoulders when she explained her improvement after changing her diet.

Not for one minute trying to promote this but a couple of sessions with somebody who practices this or something similar may help.

Do some research on the internet!

I`ve tried hypnotherapy. That seemed to help a bit with the stress side of things. I also take probiotics twice daily which seem to be beneficial.

It seems that a lot of my problems are due to slow motility in the stomach. My stomach doesn`t make contractions how it should and food takes a very long time to pass through my digestive system.

What Cheif Chook said about the crew meals....

Although the condition is not directly related to crew food he does have a point. Some of the rubbish we are fed with daily surely can`t be good for you. Reheated, Processed foods that we eat in a hurry on short sectors or during a turnaround can`t be good for you. Also eating a irregular times when you, "Get the chance."

When do we get our lunch hour??????
:confused:

Hi,

Here's an article which I read in the Independent which mentioned there had been successful trials which cured IBS by getting the patient to drink worms eggs. Unfortunately you'll have to pay a £1 to read it on line (I read the hard copy back at the start of March) but hopefully it will help you in some way.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...p?story=615569

Best of luck, :ok:

What is your medication called??

That`s interesting stuff small dog. Thanks

I`m not sure if it`s going to benefit me in the near future though but here`s an extract from the said article......


..........This renaissance of medieval medicine doesn't stop here. According to the International Biotherapy Society, which aims to support the use and understanding of living organisms in disease treatment, several research programmes are under way to test the value of bee venom therapy on a range of ailments, from asthma to arthritis. There's talk of fish therapy for wounds. But what is really grabbing the attention of doctors is the therapeutic potential of a pesky little parasite called the pig whipworm.

The theory is simple enough. Our immune systems have evolved to live with parasites and can become overactive without them, triggering a range of digestive diseases such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The pig whipworm lives in the digestive tract and gives our natural defences something useful to do. In an experiment last year by Dr Joel Weinstock, a gastroenterologist at the University of Iowa, 70 per cent of Crohn's sufferers went into remission after treatment with a drink containing thousands of whipworm eggs. A version of the concoction is in production in Germany, pending approval by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.

While the results did not surprise Weinstock - IBS is rare, he'd noted, in countries where digestive parasites are common - a few of his colleagues were taken aback. "A lot of researchers couldn't believe this treatment was effective, but people are always sceptical when confronted with new ideas," he said...........................

That sounds very familiar. Myself has been "diagnosed" with a variety of diseases. IBS was the first, followed by gastric ulcers, etc. After a long, long time somebody ended up asking if i can handle milk. We tested it and found that myself reacts on the sugartype contained in milk (Lactose) and many other products. Well, after a few weeks i was feeling much better and many symptoms went away. Probably worth checking that out. Give it a try :ok:

Cheers, vdive

F/O had the same problem due to stress following berevement.
Tried the conventional drug route using peppermint capsules and colofac tablets. It was suggested to me to try extra strong mints, rots the teeth but can help, also aloae vera juice or capsules from the health food shop.

It has worked for me over the past two and a half years. I only start on the juice when an attack starts. The advantage is that it is a natural substance and will not affect your conscious state.

For the stress part, I tried counselling but that was for a specific reason.

Hope this is of help. :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

Thanks air pig!

It`s nice to know that I`m not the only one. I think that I`m going to hit the aloe vera juice!


:ok:

I'm not a medico but my own experience leads me to suggest that you make sure the diagnosis is right, and that the situation has been properly investigated.

I used to have what was called IBS. It was debilitating. It did seem to get worse with stress. Ingesting fat certainly caused problems.

It wasn't IBS. An abdominal ultrasound finally identified gallstones; masses of them. I had the gallbladder out and whammo, suddenly no more "IBS".

Make sure the diagnosis is right, as the symptoms cross over with other conditions.

Good luck!