Whether you’ve recently experienced tummy symptoms or have been struggling with IBS for some time, this article will help you understand it better and take appropriate action.
We completely understand how uncomfortable and challenging life might have become for you – that is what most gut disorders do as they last longer than other illnesses and have a big impact on everyday life.
Table of Contents
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an unpleasant but common gastrointestinal complaint that concerns your gut. It has been suggested that the causes for IBS can include the amount of time food stays in your gut (whether it travels too slowly or too quickly), the nerves in your gut being overly sensitive to the conditions within it, anxiety, and genetic inheritance of the disorder.
Although it is a good idea to look up the symptoms of your condition on the internet, you need to contact your doctor.
If you are suffering from IBS and are based in Narellan, Gregory Hills, or Campbelltown, then you must visit this website as it leads to one of the top gastroenterologists in Gregory Hills. Whilst self-help is beneficial to a degree, you still require a doctor when your health is involved.
Eventually, you may gain sufficient knowledge to self-diagnose your condition, but IBS is a medical disorder requiring professional medical attention.
Common Symptoms
Some common IBS symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain or cramps – they are worse after eating and get better after a bowel movement
- Bloating – your tummy feels uncomfortably full and swollen
- Diarrhea – or urgency, where there is a sudden urge to pass stools
- Constipation – often, there will be an alternation between diarrhea and constipation
- Whitish mucus in your poop
Also, be aware that most IBS symptoms are caused by foods and drinks. The key is to identify which foods trigger your symptoms and to try and avoid them. The best way of finding which foods trigger your symptoms is to keep a food diary, i.e. Record everything you eat and the feelings which each food triggers in you for 1-2 months.
For some, controlling their symptoms simply requires a diet and eating habit modification, but for more advanced symptoms, treatment through medication and counseling may be required.
When to see a doctor
While IBS is a benign condition, certain signs could mean there’s a more insidious disease process developing.
Severe symptoms may include:
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea at night
- Rectal bleeding
- Vomiting without a clear reason
- Severe pain that isn’t relieved after a bowel movement
How does a doctor approach an IBS patient?
Besides feeling your tummy to check for swellings or lumps and taking your medical history, the doctor will ask you the following things:
- What symptoms are you having?
- How often do you get them?
- Do they come and go?
- When do you get them? (At what time of day or after eating anything)
- Since when have you had these symptoms?
- Do you take any medicine?
- Was there an event of stress in your life?
It may be helpful for you to make a note of your answers to these questions on a piece of paper and take it with you when you see your doctor.
The cure – change!
Sadly, to say that no cure has been found for this disorder, even though research has been done for many years. There are several treatments that you can undertake that relieve, or even remove, the symptoms.
IBS is treated by reducing symptoms using a change in diet and a lifestyle change, with some gentle medication. Treatment for IBS will be customized to suit your specific needs by your doctor.
Typical treatment plans are usually a mix of diet, and some do’s and don’ts, such as:
- Steering clear of foods that irritate your symptoms
- Consuming a high-fiber diet
- Having adequate fluid intake
- Exercising regularly
- Getting a good amount of sleep
- Not missing meals and having your meals on time.
- Besides these dietary and lifestyle changes, the doctor may prescribe certain medications that will help relieve your problem. These might be laxatives (if constipation is very severe) and certain antidepressants (which help cope with stress).
Although medications are effective to some extent, diet and lifestyle changes can prove most useful (mostly).
What are the complications associated with IBS?
IBS is often quite a mild condition that is very well controlled by diet and the following Lifestyle Changes. IBS may impact your quality of life, however, and it can be very upsetting to live with.
If you suffer from IBS, you are more likely to develop:
- depression and anxiety
- migraines
- fibromyalgia
- chronic fatigue syndrome
Conclusion
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, causes abnormal or painful stomach-related symptoms. These may include constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and flatulence. IBS doesn‘t affect your gut or give you a higher risk of colon cancer. Its symptoms can usually be controlled with medication, diet, and lifestyle modifications.