IBS
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of conditions that affects your bowel, causing it to contract in abnormal ways. This causes a variety of symptoms, as shown in the box opposite. Strong contractions of your bowel are felt as abdominal pain, and the contractions can also cause diarrhoea or a feeling that you must rush to the toilet. Gas can gather inside your bowel, making you feel bloated and resulting in wind. The symptoms tend to come and go, lasting a few hours or days before settling, often without treatment.
How common is IBS?
IBS is the commonest gut condition. It affects about one in five people at some time in their life. However, the majority of people who suffer from IBS are female and are in the 25 to 45 age group.
What tests will I need?
If you are suffering from these symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you as suffering from IBS and will start you on treatment first. However, if you have noticed blood in your stools, or if you are over 40 years of age, your doctor may refer you for tests before choosing the best treatment for you. If you do need tests, two types are most likely: 1 A flexible telescope test that allows the specialist to look inside your bowel. 1 A special X-ray of the bowel. If you only have IBS, both of these tests will be normal.
What can I do to help myself?
IBS is thought to be made worse by stress, eating irregular meals and, in some instances, not having enough fibre in your diet. Take time to relax and get more exercise. A healthy, well-balanced diet may help the symptoms of IBS. You should also try to eat more fibre. Fibre is found in wholemeal foods, cereals, fruit and vegetables. Eating plenty of high-fibre foods will be particularly helpful if you have constipation. Many people find that modifying their diet helps, but true allergy to food is unusual. Diets that exclude certain types of food should be supervised by a dietitian. They may suggest that you exclude tea, coffee, milk products and chocolate.
What drug treatment can help?
Drugs cannot cure your IBS, but there are drugs available that can relieve your symptoms. If you are suffering from abdominal pain and bowel spasm, your doctor may recommend that you take anti-spasmodics. You should take these drugs as recommended for two to four weeks to see if your condition improves. If these drugs are helpful, you can then use them as and when you need them.
Constipation may be eased by changing your diet to include foods that are high in fibre, or your doctor may suggest fibre supplements.
Anti-diarrhoeal drugs will help with diarrhoea.
Symptoms of IBS
- Abdominal cramps most commonly occur on the left hand side or lower pad of the abdomen. The pain may be sharp, stabbing or colicky, and may be eased by passing wind or passing a motion.
- Your abdomen may feel bloated and swollen, with excessive wind, causing you discomfort.
- You may be constipated or have loose motions.
- You may feel that you urgently need to open your bowels.
- Your motions may be small and hard, like pellets.
- You may have to strain or have a feeling of being unable to empty your bowels completely.
- Sometimes you may feel tired or nauseous.
Help yourself
- If you have constipation, it is important to have a healthy diet and to eat more high-fibre foods, such as wholemeal foods, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
- Excluding certain foods may be of some benefit to some patients-try cutting down on tea, coffee, milk and chocolate.
- Use your medication exactly as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
Further information:
IBS Network
St.Johns House
Hither Green Hospital
London 5E13 61U
Tel: 0181 698 4611 ext. 8194