icnmgrjill
07-11-2006, 11:33 AM
(From Heather Van Vorous IBS e-newsletter)
Every year, the UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders (quite literally one of the very best IBS research and treatment center in the US) hosts a patient symposium. This year, it's on Saturday, July 15, and the theme is "Understanding IBS." Douglas Drossman, MD and Bill Whitehead, PhD, two of the leading functional bowel disorder specialists in the country, are the founders of the symposium and active participants. Olaf Palsson, PsyD has done wonderful studies on hypnotherapy for IBS, and he is also one of the participants. I've met all three of these men, and they were kind, gracious, and genuinely interested in helping IBS patients.
The day-long event features multiple presentations on understanding and treating IBS, with topics as varied as low-dose antidepressants, how to talk to your doctor, and pediatric concerns. There will be in-depth sessions on functional GI disorders and what, exactly, an IBS diagnosis means. The symposium will also cover causes and risk factors for IBS, as well as IBS medications.
One of the most exciting elements is the coverage of behavioral and alternative treatments such as hypnotherapy and biofeedback. The UNC has helped pioneer gut-directed hypnosis treatments for IBS and fought to push this therapy into the mainstream. They have conducted research studies with the center's patients and they help to train hypnotherapists around the country in IBS protocols. I think their efforts in this area are going to do for IBS hypnotherapy in the US what Michael Mahoney has done for this treatment in the UK, and I'm thrilled that they've devoted symposium sessions to this subject. It is sure to be one of the most interesting presentations of the day.
Finally, there are also question and answer sessions so you can ask whatever you like!
If you're interested in attending, call Kirsten Nyrop at 919-966-0289 and tell her Heather's IBS Newsletter sent you!
Jill
Every year, the UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders (quite literally one of the very best IBS research and treatment center in the US) hosts a patient symposium. This year, it's on Saturday, July 15, and the theme is "Understanding IBS." Douglas Drossman, MD and Bill Whitehead, PhD, two of the leading functional bowel disorder specialists in the country, are the founders of the symposium and active participants. Olaf Palsson, PsyD has done wonderful studies on hypnotherapy for IBS, and he is also one of the participants. I've met all three of these men, and they were kind, gracious, and genuinely interested in helping IBS patients.
The day-long event features multiple presentations on understanding and treating IBS, with topics as varied as low-dose antidepressants, how to talk to your doctor, and pediatric concerns. There will be in-depth sessions on functional GI disorders and what, exactly, an IBS diagnosis means. The symposium will also cover causes and risk factors for IBS, as well as IBS medications.
One of the most exciting elements is the coverage of behavioral and alternative treatments such as hypnotherapy and biofeedback. The UNC has helped pioneer gut-directed hypnosis treatments for IBS and fought to push this therapy into the mainstream. They have conducted research studies with the center's patients and they help to train hypnotherapists around the country in IBS protocols. I think their efforts in this area are going to do for IBS hypnotherapy in the US what Michael Mahoney has done for this treatment in the UK, and I'm thrilled that they've devoted symposium sessions to this subject. It is sure to be one of the most interesting presentations of the day.
Finally, there are also question and answer sessions so you can ask whatever you like!
If you're interested in attending, call Kirsten Nyrop at 919-966-0289 and tell her Heather's IBS Newsletter sent you!
Jill