Presenting condition: IBS with migraines and sleep deprivation too
Brief history: IBS started about 1yr ago but poor sleep and migraines have been present for years. Low fat yogurt, bananas and cooked green cabbage all result in rushing to the toilet early in the morning to avoid an accident.
Relevant timeline incidents:
30yrs Part time work at construction company after becoming a mum. They didn’t want to support her to improve her qualifications, so paid for a health and safety course herself. They still didn’t want to give her a full time job, as she had previously had for 19yrs with them. She left! This was very upsetting and traumatic for her.
38yrs New job much more supportive and offered her full time position which she was looking for. However it was more stressful and she was thrown in the ‘deep end’. She felt had low self-confidence and was not assertive.
39yrs Started Slimming world and the low fat and low sugar options exacerbated the diarrhoea symptoms.
Migraines have been suffered for at least 15yrs. Occur 2-3 times a month, with visual disturbances and is ‘knocked out of action’ for 2-3 days if she doesn’t take the sumatriptan. Not keen to take these tablets.
Sleep has been terrible for years! Waking at least 3-4 times in the night and staying awake for up to 30mins each time.
Relevant family history:
Brother used to suffer with IBS.
Father suffers with anxiety and depression.
Current medication:
Sumatriptan 100mg as needed for migraines
Gederel contraceptive pill (which contains synthetic oestrogen and progesterone)
Main remedy given: Lycopodium
After 1st prescription:
Before bowels were Type 6 (very loose and watery) with abdominal cramps every day. Now: Type 4 with no cramps and normal firm stools. ‘This feels amazing!’ She can now eat full fat yogurt and cooked green cabbage with diarrhoea symptoms.
Ony had 1 migraine this month and didn’t need to take the prescribed medication. Pain rating was down from 8/10 to 4/10. Less intense and shorter duration of suffering too.
Sleep: ‘My sleep is amazing! I have so much more energy, and my energy dip 2-4pm is not as bad.’ Sleep quality was 4/10 before and now up to 8/10. Only waking 1-2 times for the toilet and is then able to go off to sleep quickly.
She reported feeling more confident in work situations especially those involving conflict or confrontations. Historically she would avoid them as she didn’t feel confident. She now feels stronger and says ‘Bring it on!’ She feels her decision making has improved too.
After 2nd prescription:
Can now eat bananas without experiencing abdominal cramps or diarrhoea. Stools have remained firm, daily and with no IBS symptoms. Sleep also remains good, only waking once to use the toilet now.
Had 2 bad headaches this month, both around busy times e.g. seeing Santa with her child. Less intense pain again and very short duration. Only 2/10 now down from 4/10 last month.
She has had a ‘breakthrough bleed’ as I advised against ‘running a pill pack’. She feels better for this overall and is seriously considering the copper coil as alternative contraception. Synthetic oestrogen in the contraceptive pill is well known for causing migraines. She was not aware or told this information!
Her increased confidence has continued and her family members have noticed a positive way change in her. ‘You’ve changed my life!’
Summary:
This lady had been suffering from migraines, and sleep issues for years and was then plagued with IBS diarrhoea! As a busy working mum she didn’t want to keep suffering. All her symptoms improved vastly after only 1 prescription, and the knowledge about her contraception choice was also key to identifying the trigger for her migraines. She couldn’t be happier!