Let’s Talk Digestive Issues: IBS Awareness Month

This is a sponsored post. Salix Pharmaceuticals compensated me for this post. All opinions are my own. Certain product information has been included to meet regulations.

April is IBS awareness month, and I really want to share some of my thoughts and opinions when it comes to gut health in hopes that we can work together to remove the stigma that comes with this condition and ones like it. It can be uncomfortable talking about the symptoms, but let’s face it– so many people suffer in silence.

It’s amazing to look up and recognize that I’ve been sharing my health and wellness journey for over eight years now. I began sharing my love of fitness and my love of cooking because I was on a journey to find answers. I had symptoms I didn’t understand that were really an inconvenience to my life. I’ve had digestive issues my entire life, and it began to seem like the healthier and more restrictive I became with my diet, the symptoms only got worse. Off and on I experienced cramping and gas, bloating, rapid weight loss and alternation between constipation and diarrhea. Once I went raw vegan for three weeks only to find the symptoms worsened. I really had moments of being at my wit’s end.

Not until just a few years ago when my doctor recommended being tested for IBS, Crohn’s disease and food allergies did I find that I am allergic in different levels of intensity to dozens and dozens of foods. Foods that should be healthy for me. With almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and coconut being some of the major offenders, it made so much sense that going raw for a while caused my symptoms to worsen. I was consuming so much of those things!

While being on this journey, I learned that a close friend suffered from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Even though in the end I was not diagnosed with IBS, I am so glad we opened that dialogue, because it really helped me to feel less alone and to feel more empowered to take steps towards improving my health.

My passion is a preventative, holistic approach to our health, but let’s face it—apple cider vinegar and kale aren’t always solutions for the life-altering pain and embarrassment that can come with severe digestive issues, like IBS. People with IBS, or IBS-D (IBS with diarrhea) often live each day in fear of an accident or with severe pain that causes them to miss time from work and other priorities.

If you or someone you know has IBS-D, or even if think you may have it, I recommend talking with your doctor immediately. If you are indeed diagnosed with IBS-D, XIFAXAN® (rifaximin), a two-week treatment for adult patients from Salix Pharmaceuticals. You can be retreated up to two times if symptoms come back. Talk to your doctor to see if XIFAXAN may be right for you. Visit their site today for more information on how to get started.

Don’t suffer in silence. Everyone deserves the chance to get their health in control and managed enough to live a life they enjoy.

INDICATION

XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets are indicated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• XIFAXAN is not for everyone. Do not take XIFAXAN if you have a known hypersensitivity to rifaximin, any of the rifamycin antimicrobial agents, or any of the components in XIFAXAN.
• If you take antibiotics, like XIFAXAN, there is a chance you could experience diarrhea caused by an overgrowth of bacteria (C. difficile). This can cause symptoms ranging in severity from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Contact your healthcare provider if your diarrhea does not improve or worsens.
• Talk to your healthcare provider before taking XIFAXAN if you have severe hepatic (liver) impairment, as this may cause increased effects of the medicine.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking drugs called P-glycoprotein and/or OATPs inhibitors (such as cyclosporine) because using these drugs with XIFAXAN may lead to an increase in the amount of XIFAXAN absorbed by your body.
• In clinical studies, the most common side effects of XIFAXAN in IBS-D were nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and an increase in liver enzymes.
• XIFAXAN may affect warfarin activity when taken together. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking warfarin because the dose of warfarin may need to be adjusted to maintain proper blood-thinning effect.
• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk to your healthcare provider before taking XIFAXAN because XIFAXAN may cause harm to an unborn baby or nursing infant.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For product information, adverse event reports, and product complaint reports, please contact:

Salix Product Information Call Center

Phone: 1-800-321-4576

Fax: 1-510-595-8183

Email: salixmc@dlss.com

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.