Irritable bowels cause periods of pain

Dear Dr. Gott: I suffer from cycles of left abdominal pain just below the rib area. My doctor ran numerous tests, including a CT scan and colonoscopy. He didn’t find anything wrong. I finally began eating only boiled rice, potatoes and pasta. The pain disappeared, only to return again in conjunction with frequent bowel movements. What’s causing this?

Dear Reader: Your symptoms are, indeed, puzzling. You seem to experience pain that could be caused by intestinal overactivity, perhaps coupled with trapped pockets of air, leading to colic.

If your intestinal tract is normal, as judged by the tests your doctor ordered, he should examine you further for liver, gallbladder, lung or kidney disorders. Imaging studies and blood tests would be helpful in this regard.

It may well be that no significant pathology is present. Thus, by the process of elimination, your physician may conclude that you have irritable bowel syndrome.

This harmless, common and annoying condition is marked by periods of abdominal discomfort related to diarrhea or constipation. If this is the root of your problem, you should consult with a gastroenterologist, who will confirm that diagnosis and may prescribe medication such as Zelnorm, a new treatment for IBS.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: Why do you judge alcohol to be a poison but take such a lenient position regarding caffeine? I had severe temper tantrums from consuming only one regular cola, coffee or tea a day. Three or more colas would turn me into a violent, criminal-type person.

Twelve other drugs that I took in conjunction with cola were rendered ineffective. So, I stopped caffeine altogether. Now I am pleasant to be around, hold down a job and no longer require powerful medicines for my behavioral problems. Your claim that caffeine interfering with tranquilizers is more the exception than the rule is totally unfounded. I personally know 20 people who drink three caffeine-containing beverages a day. Every one of them has an attitude problem and yells at anyone who dares to cross their paths. They are grouchy and sometimes life-threatening.

Dear Reader: You are correct that some people are exceedingly sensitive to the stimulant effects of caffeine. However, the profound reactions that you describe are, in my experience, very rare.

Nonetheless, any intelligent individual who becomes overstimulated from caffeine should have the sense to moderate his or her intake — or, better yet, eliminate caffeine altogether.

Harmful reactions to alcohol are so widespread as to be epidemic in our society. Consequently, I view the two drugs differently. In my view, alcohol is a far more dangerous public health concern than is caffeine.