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Irri Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Witness : Hu  PoJian

Symptom : Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

One day in mid-November last year, my daily number of bowel movements suddenly increased from one to three; this situation lasted for one week. After that, I started to experience a constant urge to pass stools, even though only the one after breakfast was genuine, the remaining ones all being false alarms. I realized that there was something wrong with my body, so I immediately went to Cathay General Hospital for treatment. In addition to receiving medical prescriptions, I underwent a colonoscopy and gastroscopy, but the results revealed nothing abnormal. During that period of two to three weeks, I was afflicted by my constant urge to go to the bathroom. By mid-to-late December, I started to experience symptoms such as abdominal pains and distension and the inability to pass gas. In addition to Western medicinal prescriptions to aid the stimulation of bowel movements and the evacuation of gas, I even resorted to Chinese medical treatments, but the results were not optimal. Other than a slight relieving of the bloating in my stomach, there was almost no reduction in other symptoms such as abdominal pains and distension and the urge to pass stools. I then consulted no fewer than five famous Chinese medical clinics and took traditional Chinese medicine orally. However, the results were limited. Each day seemed like a living hell and I would live my waking hours in agony. I was unable to leave my house; I couldn’t even sit on a chair. After waking up in the morning and going to the toilet, the urge would return one hour later. However, there was nothing to excrete. This would be followed by abdominal distension, so I would immediately take Kascoal tablets to relieve the symptoms of excessive gas. As a result, I started releasing gas constantly, experiencing a swollen abdomen and having the urge to pass stools. In one single day, I would pass gas around seventy to eighty times. By five or six o’clock in the evening, the amount of gas released would be reduced, but the abdominal distension and pains would return. Even if I took Kascoal, there was not a lot of gas left, but the distension and pain would last until midnight. I ended up sleep-deprived and suffering from insomnia, depression and anxiety. Again, I visited Western and traditional Chinese medical doctors, but they were unable to do anything about it. It was not until 14th August this year that I chanced upon an article online about using acupuncture to treat IBS. The article recounted a personal experience shared by one of Dr. Wen’s patients. Although I harbored doubts about such treatment methods, I nevertheless decided—almost as a last resort—to visit the clinic for treatment. After telling Dr. Wen the “epic story” of my fight for survival over the past year, he assured me that he very much understood how tormenting it was for me and guaranteed me that my condition would improve by at least 50% after receiving treatment for just one week. I thought to myself, “is that really possible?” On 16th August, Dr. Wen inserted acupuncture needles in my ears, scalp, tongue and back. On the same night after returning home from the clinic, I found that I no longer experienced a bloated stomach and abdominal pains, and my urge to pass stools had almost disappeared completely. I was so excited that night—I felt that I must have encountered a living angel! However, the symptoms reappeared the next day, although the amount of gas had dropped significantly, by approximately half. The bloating was alleviated by around 20 to 30 percent. On Monday 19th August, I visited Dr. Wen again. I told him about my condition. He informed me that I had experienced these symptoms for too long before seeking treatment, but he believed that he would be able to cure it. I felt that there was progress every day. One week later, on 23rd August, I told Dr. Wen that the bloating in my stomach had reduced by 50 percent and the amount of gas had continued to reduce. I now only experienced the urge to go to the toilet during the day time. Dr. Wen assured me that if I persevered and stayed focused, there was no doubt that I could succeed. 

Today is the 3rd October and I have completed two courses of treatment. My urge to pass stools is now just ten to twenty percent of what it was before. The bloating and abdominal pains are all gone. The frequency of passing gas has been reduced to just ten to twenty times a day. I am able to eat normally (before seeking treatment from Dr. Wen last year, I was so ill that I lost six kilograms. I was often unable to eat because of the bloating). I now sleep better. The amount of medication I take for treating anxiety and depression has been reduced. Currently I am on the third course of treatment. I believe that, with Dr. Wen’s treatments, my IBS will undoubtedly be cured (I was told by Western medical doctors and other traditional Chinese medical doctors that I had contracted IBS and that it was difficult to treat). At one point, I had felt such angst that I had wanted to end my own life. It was Dr. Wen who gave me a new life; I am very grateful to him. I am taking this opportunity to share my personal experience. If you have IBS, please don’t give up; IBS is no longer incurable. To Dr. Wen and all the nurses, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are my living angels. You gave me a new life. Again, thank you!