Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition, but in some ways it is still a mystery. There are many different theories about what causes
syndrome, and different doctors will give you different reasons for your illness – anything from stress to bad bacteria to food intolerance. And once you have been diagnosed, there is no set form of treatment – instead, sufferers tend to try two or three supplements or therapies to find a combination that works for them.IBS is clearly a complicated issue, so here is a basic overview of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
The symptoms
Although symptoms of IBS vary from person to person, there are several symptoms which are typical of illness. The most common symptom is either recurring diarrhea or recurring constipation (although some patients also have alternating diarrhea and constipation).
Additional symptoms can include stomach pain (sometimes relieved by a bowel movement), bloating, nausea and a lot of gas. These symptoms generally go away for a short time before returning again, as IBS can work in cycles. Sufferers may experience a few weeks or even a few months of good health before symptoms come back.
Sufferers sometimes find that their symptoms begin after a bout of food poisoning or an operation. Others date their symptoms back to a very stressful period in their lives, and some patients can see no clear reason for why their symptoms began.
The diagnosis
There is no set test for IBS, and it is often called a diagnosis of ‘exclusion’. This means that a doctor may rule out other bowel and stomach complaints such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease before giving you a diagnosis of IBS.
Sometimes patients are given a colonoscopy, where a tiny camera is inserted into intestines to look for abnormalities. In an IBS sufferer colonoscopy won’t detect any physical signs of disease – IBS is often called a ‘functional’ disorder, because it seems to be caused by an alteration in way body functions rather than an identifiable cause such as inflammation.
