Symptoms of IBS
Anyone who suffers with the symptoms of IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, knows how disturbing and frustrating it can be dealing with this disorder. Symptoms may vary from one individual to another, and some sufferers may only be bothered to a mild extent while others experience severe problems.
IBS is a condition where the intestines do not function normally. As a result of this dysfunction, those with IBS will find themselves plagued by a number of symptoms which can vary in severity.
Some individuals may have mostly diarrhea, others may experience mostly constipation. And still others will find that both diarrhea and constipation play a part in their disorder, with either one or the other cropping up at different times.
Symptoms of IBS also can include trapped intestinal gas, abdominal pain and bloating, which can become very uncomfortable and cause considerable pain for the afflicted individual. If gas seems to be especially bothersome after eating certain foods, those foods should be eliminated from the diet, as there may be a sensitivity that could be causing an exacerbation of symptoms of IBS.
Certain foods, such as dairy products, chocolate, wheat, barley and rye, can cause problems in some individuals. It may be beneficial for IBS sufferers to keep a diary of all foods that are eaten along with beverages, so that if a worsening of symptoms does occur, the offending food or beverage can be eliminated. This alone may be a big help in controlling symptoms of IBS.
IBS sufferers may find themselves feeling some depression, as this disorder can curtail social events and other day-to-day activities and be hard for the sufferer to handle. And loss of appetite may accompany other symptoms of IBS. Certain IBS sufferers may find that heartburn and nausea are present from time to time. And more severe cases of IBS can even cause pain in the lower back and headaches. It can be a very perplexing mix of symptoms that an individual with IBS has to cope with, making this disorder all the more frustrating.
There are other medical conditions that can and do cause similar symptoms to the ones that IBS can create, so a doctor will always do diagnostic testing to rule out any other ailment that may be responsible for symptoms. If tests come back negative, then IBS is most likely the culprit. Then the doctor will try to find a treatment that will help the sufferer with his or her symptoms of IBS.
There are a number of drugs that are available for treating IBS. If diarrhea is the biggest problem, an antidiarrhea
l medication will most likely be prescribed. Constipation can be helped with other types of medication that have a laxative effect. In some cases, a drug that treats anxiety may even be recommended.
