Irritable bowel syndrome is normally described as a functional disorder, which means that the symptoms cannot be explained by a disease or structural anomaly in the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is made based on the symptoms experienced, since the condition (sometimes known as IBS) has no easily identifiable cause.
How Can I Tell If I Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is generally characterized by the presence of a chronic abdominal pain, which can be extremely severe at times. This will normally be accompanied by a feeling of bloating and discomfort, and it is almost certain that your bowel habits will change if you develop the condition. Depending on the exact classification of IBS that develops, you may find that you experience constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or that the symptoms alternate between these two (IBS-A). Typically, IBS was always diagnosed on the basis of excluding all other conditions, but it will now be diagnosed based on the symptoms that are present. This assumes, of course, that there are no features that cause particular concern, such as the age of onset being over fifty, weight loss, or a family history of inflammatory bowel disease. IBS most commonly develops after an acute infection of the digestive system.
What Are The Typical Symptoms of IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a slightly unusual condition because it does not result in symptoms being present all of the time. There will usually be a flare up of severe symptoms, lasting for several days, after which it will settle down again. The symptoms will improve considerably during this time, but they will not disappear completely.
Abdominal pain is usually the most common symptom of IBS, and it will generally be accompanied by painful stomach cramps. As this will normally be relieved to some extent by the opening of the bowels, the cramps are likely to be due to the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract attempting to move substances along. There may also be a feeling that the bowel has not been emptied completely.
Changes in bowel habits almost always occur as a result of irritable bowel syndrome. This may lead to the onset of constipation, where it is difficult and sometimes painful to pass stool. The constipation may also contribute to the abdominal cramps, while swelling and bloating might also develop. Not all cases of IBS lead to constipation; some will cause diarrhea instead, which leads to an urgent need to use the toilet at times, as the bowel movements will not be controlled as easily as usual.
It is also possible for the same patient to experience periods of constipation and diarrhea on an alternating basis. This is known as IBS-A, and can be difficult to treat due to the changes in symptoms. The dietary advice that would benefit one phase of the disorder would aggravate the symptoms of the other phase.
Irritable bowel syndrome can also lead to symptoms of conditions such as depression and anxiety, since it is a long term chronic condition that cannot be cured, and causes have not been identified. This means that the symptoms of IBS are likely to be present for many years, possibly the rest of the patient’s life. Although symptoms can be dramatically reduced, and even controlled to an extent, the condition will flare up from time to time.
What Do I Do If I Think I Have IBS?
If you think you are experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, such as changes in bowel habits, bloating or abdominal cramps, then you should book an appointment with your colorectal doctor. It would be helpful if you kept a record of your symptoms and any foods that you feel make them worse, as this can help your doctor with making the diagnosis. You may need to see a specialist in gastrointestinal conditions, such as a gastroenterologist, and it may also be useful to see a dietician before you start making any significant changes to what you eat. This will ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients you need, while still being able to avoid the foods that trigger symptoms of IBS.
