Treatments for IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, affects a great number of people, and the symptoms can often be very distressing, even to the point of interfering with normal daily activities. An IBS sufferer may experience diarrhea and/or constipation, cramping, intestinal gas, bloating and pain in the abdomen.
Your doctor will perform certain diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and a colonoscopy, to rule out any other condition that might be causing symptoms. When other factors have been ruled out and a diagnosis of IBS has been made, the doctor will then work on finding a method of treatment that will enable the IBS sufferer to function normally.
IBS is a disorder where the gastrointestinal tract does not function normally. The IBS sufferer may experience symptoms after eating certain foods, which will require the elimination of those food items from the diet. Stress and upsets of an emotional nature can aggravate symptoms in an IBS sufferer. Certain medications can exacerbate symptoms as well. The causes of IBS can vary from one individual to the next, and the severity of symptoms can also vary.
When seeking treatment, IBS sufferers will want to find methods of dealing with their disorder that will allow them to get on with their lives. Treatments for IBS are subject to the particular symptoms that the IBS patient is experiencing and the severity of those symptoms. Doctors will often prescribe medications that will relieve constipation or control diarrhea, whichever seems to be more of a problem for the patient. Certain over-the-counter drugs, such as Imodium and Kaopectate, can also help to control diarrhea.
There are times when a doctor will also prescribe an anti-anxiety drug to calm the gastrointestinal tract and the patient, if stress seems to be a problem and increases symptoms. The doctor may advise the patient to increase the fiber content of the diet, which can sometimes assist in regulating the gastrointestinal tract. 
Keeping a diary of foods and beverages that are ingested will help the patient to ascertain if there might be food sensitivity. It would also be helpful if the patient could learn some calming techniques that would relieve stress, which can contribute to the condition of IBS.