IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the digestive tract that causes stomach pain, watery stools, constipation and bloating. IBS is a long-lasting condition in which symptoms appear and disappear.
Typical and severe symptoms of IBS can be managed with a combination of treatment methods. However, you should see your doctor if your IBS symptoms are not relieved by the usual treatment methods.
What are the causes of IBS?
The exact cause of IBS is not known. A connection has been seen with
- Diet and stress.
- Foods high in FODMAPs such as coffee, alcohol, spicy, fried foods, apples and milk.
- Anxiety and tension can also cause IBS with diarrhea.
- Family history
IBS Symptoms
Symptoms can be very distressing if they occur frequently and lead to flare-ups. This can lead to a vicious cycle of emotional distress and exacerbation of IBS.
What are the three symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
The three predominant symptoms of IBS are:
- Watery bowel movements or constipation or urination
- Pain in the abdomen that may worsen after eating and subside after bowel movements
- Bloating and flatulence
What are the severe symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
IBS symptoms usually vary in severity. Severe IBS symptoms can affect physical and mental health and lead to a poor quality of life. The most severe symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain - You may experience sharp, stabbing, cramping abdominal pain, especially in the lower part of the abdomen.
- Bloating and fullness - Bloating causes a feeling of fullness in the stomach, even without food.
- Constipation and diarrhea - Watery stools or severe constipation affect your daily routine. Severe diarrhea causes fatigue and weakness.
IBS symptoms in women
IBS symptoms in women are common and cause severe pain, especially during menstruation. Other gynecologic conditions such as back pain may be confused with IBS symptoms in women. Early symptoms of IBS in women include excessive pain during pre-menstruation and menstruation, and vomiting.
If you suspect your symptoms are due to IBS, a quiz on IBS symptoms in women can help you make a diagnosis. Talk to your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Heat therapy, OTC medications, and foods that relieve IBS play an important role in treating IBS in women.
IBS episodes
IBS episodes occur suddenly, with severe IBS symptoms occurring together. In an IBS flare, pain radiates from the lower abdomen to the lower back and pelvis. IBS episodes and chills may be accompanied by fever.
What does an extreme IBS episode feel like?
An IBS episode can be very distressing and stressful, disrupting normal routine activities. They can happen suddenly with severe IBS. Some people feel depressed or anxious, causing physical and mental stress.
In addition, when IBS symptoms are extreme, people feel exhausted and may experience fever, sweating and vomiting. They may need to vomit and have severe bloating. It can lead to weakness and fatigue.
How can you tell if an IBS flare is severe?
You can consider an IBS episode to be severe IBS if the following symptoms are present
- Constant abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Blood in the stool
- Frequent watery stools or severe constipation
-
Excessive bloating, even without eating
What relieves an IBS flare?
Different strategies are appropriate for different people. Some of the everyday palliative measures for an IBS flare-up include:
- Probiotics
- Peppermint
- Oats/porridge
- Putting a hot water bottle on your stomach
- Over-the-counter stomach pain relievers
- Ispaghula bowls for constipation
- Imodium for diarrhea
How long can a severe IBS attack last?
The usual symptoms of IBS may occur several times a day and disappear when you use the toilet or take steps to relieve the pain. The duration of a severe IBS attack varies from person to person. Usually, a severe attack subsides after some time with the help of medication. However, in some people, it can last for several days.
Need for emergency hospitalization IBS
IBS Seizures may occur suddenly due to a stressful situation or IBS-triggering foods. In addition, anxiety, stress, and certain foods can trigger IBS diarrhea.
When should you go to the ER for an IBS attack?
If an IBS flare-up is accompanied by unbearable abdominal pain, sweating, and chills, or does not subside despite usual treatment measures, you must contact ER for prompt treatment. Frequent watery stools and signs of dehydration such as dry tongue, severe abdominal pain, chills or excessive weakness are the signs of an IBS diarrhea emergency.
IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis
Your doctor will make an IBS diagnosis and tell you if your symptoms are due to IBS or other digestive tract conditions.
How is IBS diagnosed?
IBS is diagnosed by
- History of symptoms
- Family history of diseases of the digestive tract
- IBS antibody testing with a blood test kit
- Exclusion of other digestive tract disorders with similar symptoms
You can note the frequency of your symptoms and keep a diary of IBS triggers.
IBS Quiz
You can take an IBS quiz to find out if your symptoms are due to IBS or other bowel disorders. Your diagnosis will not be confirmed until you consult with your doctor.
Do I have an IBS quiz?
Some other gastrointestinal disorders cause similar symptoms to IBS. You can ask yourself
- Have my symptoms been occurring for more than a month? IBS is a long-lasting condition where symptoms come and go and occur more than three times a month.
- Does anyone in my family suffer from indigestion? Your doctor will run tests to rule out other digestive disorders.
IBS pain management and treatment
IBS pain can vary from mild to severe. IBS pain occurs in the lower abdomen and may radiate to the lower back and pelvis. There are several effective ways to relieve IBS symptoms. Diet, relaxation therapy, and medications help relieve IBS symptoms. IBS medications include OTC and prescription medications. The FDA has also approved some new IBS medications.
What is the best medication for irritable bowel syndrome?
The best medications for IBS are those that relieve symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. The choice of medicine depends on the symptoms you have. Example,
- Loperamide is the best proven medication for limiting movement. In addition, Imodium has been shown to be very effective for controlling IBS-D.
- For IBS-C, Ispaghula peel is helpful as a laxative.
- Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants relieve stress and are prescribed by your doctor.
Is irritable bowel syndrome curable with homeopathy?
Some studies with homeopathic medicines have found relief of IBS symptoms. Consult your doctor if you want to take homeopathic medicines for IBS.
How can I help myself with IBS?
If you suffer from IBS, there are several ways you can help yourself and manage your symptoms to live a normal life:
- Switch to a special IBS diet. Avoid trigger foods such as fatty and spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, nuts, etc.
- Increase your intake of foods such as oats, flaxseed, and probiotic cottage cheese
- Drink plenty of water
- Exercise regularly
- Peppermint oil
- Take steps to reduce stress and anxiety
- Take medications as directed by your doctor
How to relieve IBS pain immediately?
An antispasmodic medication such as Buscopan provides immediate relief from IBS pain. Warm peppermint tea, lemon tea, green tea, and heat therapy also help relieve pain.
How long does it take to cure IBS?
IBS is a long-lasting disease that cannot be cured by medication. A healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and stress reduction through exercise, yoga, and meditation help sufferers manage IBS well. With lifestyle changes, one can remain symptom-free for a long time.
How can irritable bowel syndrome be cured in a day?
There is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome. However, you can relieve IBS by taking a combination of medications that provide symptomatic relief. Take OTC or prescription medications according to your IBS symptoms. Imodium relieves diarrhea, and Ispaghula relieves constipation.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5393974/
https://fg.bmj.com/content/12/4/303
https://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/wp-content/uploads/sites/450/2017/10/IBS-in-Women.pdf
ih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6724562/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6724562/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/diet-lifestyle-and-medicines/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/symptoms/
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0901/p419.html
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10620-019-05684-6
https://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/wp-content/uploads/sites/450/2017/10/IBS-in-Women.pdf
https://www.theibsnetwork.org/have-i-got-ibs/could-it-be-anything-else/
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/loperamide/
