- Help for IBS

Help For IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects one out of ten people, probably more. (Lots of people don’t report their IBS symptoms, and since IBS doesn’t show up on any specific test, it’s hard to get accurate figures on how many people suffer with it.) IBS is one of the most common disorders seen by general practitioners and family doctors.

Symptoms of IBS are painful and sudden, and include:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort in the area above the hips but below the chest (where the intestines are located). IBS pain is described as sharp cramps, a gassy feeling, or sometimes a constant dull throb.
• A change in the consistency of the stool. Diarrhea is common.
• Heartburn.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal bloating and feelings of fullness.
• Urgent need to use the restroom
• A feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel.

IBS abdominal and intestinal symptoms often progress to more general symptoms that are similar to fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, such as:

• Fatigue and overall feelings of malaise.
• Muscle pain.
• Insomnia and sleep problems
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Headaches.
• Chronic lower back pain.

The typical IBS sufferer seeks medical help only to discover that no abnormalities turn up on any standard tests. IBS is diagnosed by eliminating other diseases. If no other cause for the abdominal symptoms can be found, IBS is assumed to be the problem.

Help for IBS is available but no single cure fits every patient. Drug therapies are available but they are not necessarily preferred. IBS is thought to be a stress-related illness, so finding out what triggers IBS attacks is crucial to managing the disorder. Hypnosis, stress management, biofeedback, and deep meditation have all be found to be effective in managing IBS pain.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can also be very useful in treating IBS. CBT teaches patients to ‘reframe’ issues in their lives for maximum stress reduction. Understanding the triggers and stresses that bring on IBS symptoms is a crucial part of successful treatment. These triggers will be different for each person.

Reordering one’s lifestyle and priorities is often a major part of recovering from IBS. IBS sufferers can benefit from keeping a journal in the early part of their illness to identify patterns in their lives that bring on IBS attacks. This process can difficult, since reluctance to make lifestyle changes or deal with major sources of anxiety is often a big part of what brings on IBS symptoms.

While there is no specific ‘cure’ for IBS, IBS sufferers can learn to manage stress and live in a way that minimizes or eliminates IBS symptoms. A doctor can best assess whether medication will be helpful. (Medication is useful in some cases but not in others.) Pain management techniques can also be a useful tool for managing advanced cases of IBS.

IBS is a very individualistic illness that relies on active participation of the patient to help identify lifestyle components that can be changed to provide relief.

Most IBS sufferers find that some combination of dietary changes, relaxation techniques, stress management, and broader lifestyle changes work best and provide the most relief, with medication filling in during especially difficult bouts with the symptoms (but not used on a regular basis).

IBS often comes in conjunction with other chronic pain conditions and/or anxiety or panic disorders. Some people do seem to be more prone to certain clusters of illnesses, suggesting that heredity may play a role in the disease.