It's a crazy condition with no definitive cause.
One day you're fine. The next you're not.
What's almost worse is some wake up one fine morning only they aren't so fine. Suddenly they've joined the club of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
That can be a life changing moment. It can change your perspective and rob you of what you used to take for granted.
In general such problems related to your intestinal tract tend to make one grumpy. So this GI condition which goes by irritable bowel syndrome is aptly named. Or so it would seem.
You can experience a wide range of symptoms which would include gas, cramping, bloating, not to forget the alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. One minute you are living life and shopping your heart out. The next you're in panic mode in urgent need of a toilet. Such is the life of an IBS sufferer.
Admittedly this shouldn't be confused with a diagnosis of cancer. But that's not to say it may not affect your life in other significant ways and not just on a physical level. You see, it can impact your social life, family time and leave a mark emotionally as well.
But it goes beyond that. Not only does irritable bowel syndrome affect the lives of individuals, but it has also already greatly impacted the corporate world by being one of the most common causes of absenteeism from work.
IBS is characterized by a digestive tract run amuck. Curiously more women report IBS symptoms than men. Problem is this condition lacks a clear cut cause that can be pointed to. There are things that seem to trigger it however. Some say it's stress related. Others point to diet. Given that it strikes women more often, do hormones have anything to do with it? Bottom line is no one knows for sure. But what's really unexpected is how many children are diagnosed with IBS.
You may see this referred to by a variety of terms: spastic colon or colitis to name two. However as was noted, irritable bowel syndrome is not the same as, nor does it lead to, medical conditions like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or even intestinal cancer. This is a fact you'd add to the plus side. If you have to have a health problem, this one at least doesn't lead to something worse. Even so you do want to learn to manage this the best you can. Otherwise some will find that IBS can lead to mental health issues such as depression.
Diagnosis is what you'd call symptoms-based. You may report bloating, gas, diarrhea alternating with constipation to your doctor. For some the onset of diarrhea happens early morning or after eating. Some report mucus in their stool. You can be left to feel like you still haven't got everything out of your colon completely or that you still need to have a bowel movement even if you've just had one.
Certain things can trigger or intensify your irritable bowel symptoms. So you'll want to watch to see if taking certain medications, eating certain foods, eating large meals, or a stressful period affects you specifically or not. As such things can set off an episode for some.
What you eat is important. It may be best to avoid high fat diets. You'll also want to eliminate all foods that could make symptoms worse. In cases like this, keeping a food diary is a must. Doing so can help id your trigger foods. Over time you'll learn foods to avoid.
Foods that often tend to bring on IBS symptoms include dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, wheat, gluten, and red meat.
Some find adding more soluble fiber helpful. Others benefit from probiotics. Yogurt can be good too.
Don't go looking for your doctor to run a specific test to confirm this is your problem. Doesn't work that way. It's usually concluded you have IBS only after eliminating everything else the symptoms might point to. Which is a fact some find frustrating. And also explains why it is so hard to diagnose.
Once you've been diagnosed with IBS, your doctor can help. They will lay out an irritable bowel syndrome treatment program for you on how you can manage the condition. Over time via trial and error you'll learn to minimize if not prevent the symptoms.
Medications can also be taken to alleviate the symptoms. Loperamide, mild laxatives and antispasmodics are prescribed to reduce bloating and gas. Some may be offered prescriptions for anti-depressants. Or you may wish to manage your stress by doing meditation. Hypnosis can help. As can exercise.
At its worst this can be a high maintenance situation. Clearly working closely with your doctor can bring an end to the more extreme symptoms. Diets can be modified. Stress is inevitable but how you react to it doesn't have to be. But it doesn't have to be life altering if you'll embrace some lifestyle changes that can make IBS more manageable.
