Constipation today. Diarrhea tomorrow. Such problems may not sound related but as many as one in five Americans can relate to these see sawing symptoms that hold their digestive tract hostage. In fact it’s not an at all common routine for sufferers of IBS.
IBS? Never heard of it.
Okay backing up a step, or two, IBS is short for irritable bowel syndrome. While certainly it is not as serious as cancer, as some might put it, it can surely be distressing and embarrassing for many. Any feeling of normalcy doesn’t even last as long as a Kardashian marriage.
To make matters worse IBS patients are like snowflakes. Which is to say no two IBS patients are alike. Different symptoms. Different triggers. Different reactions to management approaches.
Fact is one in five Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. It certainly can affect one’s life in a significant way and not just on a physical level. For instance your social life can be in tatters. It can leave a mark emotionally as well.
Beyond that it has also greatly impacted the corporate world. Because whether you realize it or not this is one of the most common causes of absenteeism from work. So you better pay attention closely because who knows your co-worker may be suffering from this. Or maybe even you eventually.
What Triggers It?
Predominately a problem seen in women more so than men, IBS is a persistent gastro intestinal disorder. Could it be a hormone thing? No one knows for sure since IBS has no definitive cause that one can point to. Diet? Stress? Several things are thought to be triggers. What’s even more surprising is how many children report problems with this.
IBS Is Also Known As
IBS has been labeled using terms like spastic bowel, colitis, spastic colon or bowel. You may find it comforting that there is generally no reason to believe that irritable bowel is a precursor to something more serious like Crohn’s disease or anything cancer-like. If there’s a silver lining here this is it. The best way to cope is to learn all you can. As if left untreated or managed properly, IBS can lead to depression and such for some with more severe cases.
What Are The Tell-Tale Symptoms?
The common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal pain, cramps, or discomfort, diarrhea, bloating and gas, and constipation.
Some may only experience chronic diarrhea like early morning of just after a meal. While others may suffer from alternate episodes of diarrhea and constipation.
And it can give you a feeling that you still haven’t got everything out completely. Like you still need to have a bowel movement despite just having one.
Such symptoms can be provoked or made worse by certain lifestyle choices. You may find yourself facing a bout of IBS after a large meal, or when you’ve eaten certain foods, from drinking alcoholic beverages, and from a stressful period in your life.
How Is IBS Diagnosed?
What makes a definite diagnosis difficult is these are not unique symptoms. So don’t be surprised if you are asked to do a lower GI or a colonoscopy to rule out other problems to arrive at the conclusion you’ve got an irritable bowel.
How Is This Managed?
With the help of your physician expect to get a way to manage your situation. It’s just that no one will use the word cure. That’s not part of the program. The idea is to manage things better. So they are less disruptive.
What you eat is important. Foods that often tend to bring on IBS symptoms include dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, wheat, gluten, and red meat. The idea is to avoid these and instead focus more on eating foods rich in soluble fiber and probiotics such as yogurt.
Hint: Keep a food journal with you at all times. Note what seems to make symptoms worse. This way you’ll eventually know which foods to eliminate from the menu.
Any Prescription for Relief?
Some benefit from drug therapy too. Diarrhea for instance could be treated with Loperamide and constipation with laxatives. Antispasmodics are also given to reduce bloating and gas. For patients who are already suffering from depression, anti-depressants could be given. Other IBS sufferers however prefer irritable bowel syndrome treatment via the natural way by using relaxing techniques to reduce stress. These could be in the form of meditation, hypnosis, counseling, and exercise.
Given the suspected correlations life style changes can help. Monitoring your reaction to certain foods and developing better coping skills can help. Finally, caring healthcare providers can help you get a handle on irritable bowel syndrome too.
IBS in a Nutshell
IBS is a functional GI condition that affects anywhere from 10 - 18% of the population.
IBS is more a problem for women more so than men.
IBS symptoms can be effectively managed.
IBS is not a bacterial infection, but an infection could be the initial trigger of IBS.
IBS is a syndrome and not really a disease.
IBS is not any type of “colitis” even though that’s sometimes a word used to describe it.
IBS is still a problem looking for a cure.
