Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition that affects the digestive system. Over 60 million Americans suffer from IBS. It’s a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that causes symptoms like abdominal pain, discomfort, and changes in one’s bowel movement. And they can last for days, weeks, or months.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can suck very badly, it’s usually a lifelong problem. It can be very tiring to live with, as it can greatly impact your everyday life. However, the good news is that it is not a life-threatening health condition and can be managed with proper care.
Unfortunately, the exact cause is unknown, it’s a collection of symptoms with an origin that cannot be identified. However, research has suggested that diet changes and medicine can help control the symptoms.
Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Common IBS symptoms are:
- Stomach pain or cramps that gets worse after eating, but better after taking a poo
- Bloating and gas
- Changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation)
- Feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bowels
- Feeling like you need to go to the bathroom urgently
Some days your symptoms might be better than others, but they can be highly influenced by what you eat.
Other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
IBS can also affect you in some ways and cause the following:
- Mucus in your stool
- Feeling like puking and sometimes doing so
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Not always being in control when you poo
- Difficulty urinating such as needing to pee often, out-of-nowhere urges to pee, and feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder
Less common symptoms
- Weight loss
- Rectal bleeding
- Loss of appetite
- Increased sensitivity to sounds or smells
- Sexual dysfunction (painful intercourse, erectile dysfunction ED)
- Menstrual irregularities
- Mood swings
When should you seek medical attention for IBS
You need to ask for an urgent care appointment if you have lost weight for no clear reason, bloody stools, or rectal bleeding. Severe abdominal pain or cramping, signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, dark urine), hard lump or swelling in your belly. Or difficulty breathing rapid heartbeat, severe headache, or confusion. These signs could mean that something more serious is going on, and you need to get it checked out.
What causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome
As we briefly explained earlier, IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disease of an unknown cause. However, some things have been reported as contributing factors to it. They are:
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Stress, anxiety or depression
- Too much fat in your diet
- Genetics (family history of Irritable bowel syndrome)
- Abnormal gut motility
- Eating too quickly, eating irregularly
- Smoking
- Hypersensitivity to food or stress
- Over eating or excessive eating can aggravate IBS
- Hormonal changes
Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed wouldn’t take too much of a hassle, as your GP will ask about your symptoms, such as:
What symptoms do you have
How often you get them
If they come and go
If you get them, especially after eating certain foods
How long you’ve been dealing with them
It’s a possibility that the GP will feel your tummy to check for lumps or swelling. Additionally, preparing for your test can help you get the best out of your appointment. To do this is to jot down your symptoms in detail, so you can remember them easily. It is immensely helpful to both you and the GP, so things can go better.
What about the tests for IBS?
On a normal basis, there is no test for IBS in particular, but it is advisable to run some tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. So, the GP may arrange for a blood test to check for problems like coeliac disease. Also, a sample of your poo will be tested to check for infections and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Treatment and management for Irritable Bowel Movement
There aren’t diets or medications that works for people with IBS, sadly. But, there are many ways you can help yourself if you have been diagnosed. It all boils down to diet, and lifestyle choices that can help you stay strong.
Lifestyle tips
- Regular exercise
- Try to find ways to relax
- Make cautious effort to manage (reduce) your stress levels
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night (can’t debate this)
- Keep a diary of what you eat and if they cause any effects to identify your trigger foods
Don’t do the following things
- Do not skip or delay meals
- Do not drink more than 3 cups of coffee or tea a day
- Do not eat too much fatty, spicy or processed foods
- Don’t drink alcohol or fizzy drinks
Diet
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water
- Focus on Whole Foods instead of processed foods
- Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt
- Omega-3 rich foods like fatty fish, chia seeds, and flaxseeds
- Foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes
- Anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, green tea, and turmeric.
- Low FODMAP diet including fruits and vegetables, milk, and wheat products
That said, seeing a dietitian for IBS for diet tips can help you manage the condition. In addition, it’s imperative to see a GP if the following things are happening:
Your diet and pharmacy medicines are not helping
You discover you need to avoid lots of different foods to control your symptoms
Medicine
To ease bloating, cramps, and farting symptoms, go to the pharmacist and ask about meds that can help, for example, Buscopan or peppermint oil capsules. Probiotics, and fiber supplements can also help relieve the symptoms. Additionally, medications such as antidepressants, and antispasmodics can help relieve IBS symptoms.
How to cope with irritable bowel syndrome
Psychological therapies for IBS
Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy also known as CBT, which helps to change negative thought patterns. If you have been suffering from IBS for a while and other treatments aren’t working, a GP may advice CBT. It’s super helpful if stress or anxiety triggers your symptoms, and can help you manage.
Other forms of therapy are:
- Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Benefits
- Reduced symptoms
- Better sleep quality
- Decreased feeling of anxiety and depression
- Improved quality of life
- Improved coping skills
There is support for you
You’re not alone. Support from the IBS Network is here for you. They’re a national charity that provide information and advice about living with IBS and offers an online platform for you.
Remember that you’re not alone, there are millions of people in the UK suffer from IBS and are finding it difficult to manage their symptoms.
