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