An introduction to irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very commonwon't detect any physical signs of disease - IBS is
condition, but in some ways it is still a mystery. Thereoften called a 'functional' disorder, because it seems
are many different theories about what causes theto be caused by an alteration in the way the body
syndrome, and different doctors will give youfunctions rather than an identifiable cause such as
different reasons for your illness - anything frominflammation.
stress to bad bacteria to food intolerance. And onceHowever, this does not mean it is any less real than,
you have been diagnosed, there is no set form ofsay, inflammatory bowel disease, it just means that
treatment - instead, sufferers tend to try two ordoctors haven't come up with a proper test for it
three supplements or therapies to find a combinationyet!
that works for them.It is very important that you receive a diagnosis of
IBS is clearly a complicated issue, so here is a basicIBS from a medical professional rather than
overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatmentself-diagnosing, as bowel symptoms can be present in
of this disorder.many other health conditions.
The symptomsThe treatment
Although the symptoms of IBS vary from person toThe first stage of treatment may involve any
person, there are several symptoms which are typicalmedications your doctor has given you to try. This
of the illness. The most common symptom is eithercould be an anti-spasmodic, which will relax the
recurring diarrhea or recurring constipation (althoughmuscles in the gut walls, or perhaps a low dose of an
some patients also have alternating diarrhea andanti-depressant, which can help to reduce the pain.
constipation).You may also be given one of the new drugs
Additional symptoms can include stomach painspecifically developed for IBS - Lotronex for diarrhea
(sometimes relieved by a bowel movement), bloating,sufferers and Zelnorm for constipation sufferers.
nausea and a lot of gas. These symptoms generallyIf the drugs do not help you then you could try using
go away for a short time before returning again, asa fiber supplement such as Citrucel to add bulk to
IBS can work in cycles. Sufferers may experience ayour stool - this can be helpful for both diarrhea and
few weeks or even a few months of good healthconstipation. Also, there are other supplements such
before the symptoms come back.as Caltrate Plus which may be useful (Caltrate Plus
Sufferers sometimes find that their symptoms begincontains calcium carbonate which can reduce
after a bout of food poisoning or an operation.diarrhea).
Others date their symptoms back to a very stressfulIt may also be worth looking at your diet. A
period in their lives, and some patients can see nonutritionist can advise on ways to identify any
clear reason for why their symptoms began.particular food 'triggers' which may be setting off
The diagnosisyour symptoms, and also on whether you might
There is no set test for IBS, and it is often called ahave a food intolerance to something like gluten or
diagnosis of 'exclusion'. This means that a doctor maylactose.
rule out other bowel and stomach complaints such asFinally, there are several alternative therapies which
celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease beforecan be effective for IBS. Hypnotherapy has proved
giving you a diagnosis of IBS.very effective, and a special form called gut-directed
Sometimes patients are given a colonoscopy, wherehypnotherapy has been developed just for digestive
a tiny camera is inserted into the intestines to lookproblems. Acupuncture may also be worth looking
for abnormalities. In an IBS sufferer the colonoscopyinto.