Innovative treatments for bowel dysfunction

Sep 15 2009

Twenty percent of all Albertans are plagued by symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. More than an inconvenience for many, these problems are rarely discussed in public, leaving sufferers feeling isolated. Yet bowel symptoms can be disabling, greatly impairing quality of life.

Oftentimes bowel problems accompany spinal cord injuries and illnesses such as diabetes, AIDS, scleroderma, and chronic fatigue syndrome; yet a vast number of sufferers have no identifiable disease at the root of their bowel disruption. Women make-up the largest group.

Unexplained bowel function disorders are frequently-though sometimes mistakenly-attributed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Having specialized diagnostic tools and knowing what to look for would help to reveal other explanations for bowel dysfunction.

One expert who has spent several decades investigating large-bowel nerve disorders is Satish Rao M.D. Dr. Rao is Professor of Medicine and Director of Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at the University of Iowa. An internationally recognized researcher, Dr. Rao is a sought-after speaker and compassionate doctor who has developed innovative treatments for IBS, constipation, gut pain and incontinence.

"Our audience is sure to learn a great deal about gut-nerve and muscle dysfunctions--something the medical community calls neuromuscular motility disorders of the digestive tract. These disorders also get called functional GI disorders-IBS is the one people are most familiar with." says Jeanne Keith-Ferris, President and Founder of GPDA. "The larger community has no idea how disabling these digestive motility problems are," says Ms. Keith-Ferris.

As well, GPDA has invited our local gastroenterologist, Dr. Christopher Andrews, Director of the new Centre for Digestive Motility, Calgary; and Dr. Antonin Kodet, Director, Integrative Medical Care, Inc.; Professor, Internal Medicine, Calgary; College of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture; and

Author "Cook Your Way to Health and Vitality".

Free Tickets will be available at the door and if you are travelling to Calgary for our session, please be sure to call 403-247-3215 or e-mail mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] to reserve your tickets.

WHERE: Libin Lecture Theatre, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, AB

(In the Health Science Centre, building just north of Foothills Hospital's emergency department)

WHEN: Saturday, October 3, 2009 Time: 10:00am - Noon