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