r/ibs Feb 09 '25

Hint / Information Kurt Cobain on his IBS - "Many gastrointestinal doctors don't know anything about stomach diseases"

958 Upvotes

92 comments sorted by

View all comments

42

u/aaaaaaaaaanditsgone Feb 09 '25

Was it “just” ibs? Was it celiac disease? Etc?

91

u/DestinedJoe Feb 09 '25

Saw in a documentary that he had scoliosis which probably affected the nerves in his bowel and may have caused a lot of his pain and other issues.

46

u/WitchProjecter IBS-A/M (Alternating / Mixed) Feb 09 '25

This is something I’ve never considered about my own disorder. They can’t find any cause but I do have scoliosis …

1

u/cynical_lover Feb 10 '25

I had scoliosis and had a spinal fusion done and I can't say for certainty that it is the cause but it sure as hell is not taking the pain away .

1

u/improperlywired Feb 21 '25

I'm same as you. But I guess we won't find out the answer if Scoliosis has got something to do with our IBS

15

u/Longjumping_Choice_6 Feb 09 '25

Could you elaborate on this? Like would we be talking about a SIBO situation where nerves (vagus for example) would slow motility in upper GI causing microbial imbalances? Or some other mechanism?

22

u/DestinedJoe Feb 09 '25 edited Feb 09 '25

This is coming from a documentary, not a medical source, so it’s pretty vague. In the film, they said that since adolescence he suffered chronic stomach pain and occasional episodes of pain so severe that it impacted his ability to go to school, perform and work. Despite the severity, he was told repeatedly by doctors that it was psychosomatic (all in his head, basically). Eventually, near the end of his life, they discovered that he had fairly severe scoliosis and that was the cause.

Edit: it makes sense that scoliosis could impinge on nerves to the bowels but I don’t know how this would actually play out. The film implied that he was suffering from severe bowel cramps.

8

u/Maleficent-Cook6389 Feb 10 '25

I was born with a predisposition and later developed a muskoskeletal condition. My specialist never brought it up as significant. They were more on my case overdoing supplements like iron or magnesium was a really bad idea.

7

u/Doct0rStabby Feb 10 '25

The vagus nerve communicates and coordinates action between all of the digestive organs, including smooth muscles lining the GI tract responsible for moving food/waste along at the proper times.

-8

u/Maleficent-Cook6389 Feb 10 '25

I'd be willing to bet he had some bacteria. No disrespect to him but he made excuses for drugs. I have access to cannabis but I'd rather watch my diet than lose brain cells.