Symptoms and Categories of DGBIs

Typically, food will enter our bodies through our mouths and then waste is eliminated from our bodies at the end of the intestines. DGBIs can cause problems at any point along this digestive system, often related to the Brain-Gut-Axis.

Categories

DGBIs are categorized by the affected area of the digestive system.

Esophagus – food moves through this pipe from the mouth to the stomach

Gastroduodenal - food moves out of the stomach through the pyloric sphincter and into the small intestines

Gallbladder – fats are processed in the small intestines thanks to bile that is stored in the gallbladder

Bowel - food moves from the small to the large intestines and along the way, all of the nutrients are absorbed

Anorectal region - the waste that remains will exit from the rectum and anus at the end of the intestines

Central Nervous System - the above process is controlled by the brain and spinal cord

Lack of Nutrients

Problems in any of the above areas will impact your body’s ability to access and/or use nutrients from food. The problem may cause food to not move through the system as it is supposed to or the body may not be able to adequately absorb the nutrients. The lack of nutrients can then cause secondary problems, which may exacerbate the primary symptoms.

Symptoms

When nutrients are not correctly accessed or used, some common symptoms include

·      Gas

·      Nausea

·      Diarrhea

·      Constipation

·      Pain

·      Decreased appetite

·      Weight loss/gain

When these symptoms are chronic, it is natural for a person to become hyper-sensitive to sensations in the trunk of their body as they attempt to defend against the start of symptoms or prepare themselves for the symptoms that cannot be stopped.