4 Questions to Ask about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome, or simply IBS, is a condition that is recognized by changing, painful, and often uncomfortable bowel movements. While all types of IBS share these general feelings of discomfort, they are further classified into three main types: IBS-C, IBS-D, and IBS-M. There even exists a subtype of IBS called IBS-U, although it is less commonly observed in comparison to the main three types.

IBS-C is constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. This type of IBS is recognized when a quarter or more of a person’s stools are hard or lumpy on abnormal days. On the other hand, IBS-D is diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Opposite from IBS-C, IBS-D is categorized by the presence of watery or loose stool more than one quarter of the time on abnormal days. IBS-M is a combination of the other two types, IBS-C and IBS-D, where stool is a mixture or alternating combination of hard and loose. A fourth type of IBS known as IBS-U may also be diagnosed if the stool patterns and bowel movements do not match any of the three major types.

As a chronic condition, irritable bowel syndrome is known to be the cause of a variety of symptoms. These symptoms are often ranging from light to severe pain and/or discomfort. The most common symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain or cramping, bloating, changes in bowel habits or patterns, and gas. Symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating may worsen after eating, however may be relieved by certain bowel movements. Diarrhea and constipation are also symptoms that may result from IBS and directly correlate to the type of IBS. There may be excess flatulence due to irregular bowel movements and potential bloating. Other symptoms and potential signs of IBS include muscle pains, dizziness, mucus in stool, indigestion, heartburn, and headache. While some may experience symptoms sporadically and in flare ups, others may experience symptoms for a prolonged amount of time. Specific foods and drinks may contribute to symptom flare ups, however, this is not always true and will vary from case to case. Others may be able to keep their symptoms under control with diet management, lifestyle changes, and reduced stress. Others may require consultation and medication from a medical professional capable of diagnosing and treating IBS.

While there is no existing test to specifically find IBS, medical professionals are typically able to diagnose IBS from symptoms and by ruling out other causes. Smaller tests may be brought into consideration to help with the diagnosis of IBS. During a diagnosis, a doctor will take account of your clinical history. This includes not only your medical history and current symptoms but also your family history and other possible background knowledge that may aid the diagnosis. They may also want to discuss any possibly alarming signs such as irregular weight loss or blood in stool. Additionally, they may inquire about your family history of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer. Doctors suspecting IBS may order and perform a physical examination to look further into the problem, where you may also provide them with descriptions of your symptoms. Tests may be ordered by the doctor to rule out other conditions and these tests may be done through stool tests, blood tests, X-rays, endoscopy, and colonoscopy. For example, conditions like celiac disease and IBD may be ruled out by a stool and blood test. Symptoms tend to be the biggest tell for IBS, so making sure you effectively communicate all of your symptoms to your doctor is key. For IBS to be considered, symptoms must occur for three or more days out of the month for three or more months straight.

IBS symptoms may be amplified or triggered by specific foods in some people. While everyone’s IBS reacts differently to certain foods, some of the common trigger foods include dairy, fried foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, foods high in fructose, foods containing wheat, beans, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, garlic, and onions. Additionally, many highly processed foods and high fiber foods may also trigger IBS. High fiber content is usually seen in the skin of many fruits and vegetables. Knowing which foods your body reacts poorly to is an important step in treating IBS and regaining control of your bowel movements. Additional consultation with your doctor may help recognize more potentially harmful foods.

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