IBS a Life-Long Battle

I am not a stranger to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. My mom has IBS. This is why I thought it would be a great idea to write an article about it. With the research, I found if you have mild symptoms you can manage it with proper nutrition and exerciser. More severe symptoms can be managed with medications and counseling.

What is IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. The symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, and diarrhea or constipation. This is a chronic condition that must be managed long term. IBS doesn’t cause changes in the tissue of the large intestine and it doesn’t increase your risk for colorectal cancer. It is not known what causes IBS. Our intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract to move food through the digestive system. When these contractions are stronger and last longer than normal it causes gas, bloating, and diarrhea. When the contractions are weak it slows the food down and can lead to hard dry stool and constipation.

Another factor is poorly coordinated signals between the brain and the intestine. Abnormalities in the nerves of your digestive system can cause you to have more than normal discomfort when your abdomen stretches from gas or stool. These abnormalities can cause your body to overreact to changes that are normal in the digestive process. This results in pain, diarrhea, or constipation. Early life stresses can also be a factor in IBS. People who have had stressful events in early childhood tend to have more symptoms of IBS.

Changes in the microbes in your gut can also be a factor. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses all reside in your gut. They play a key role in the health of your body. Research has shown that people with IBS might have different microbes than people without IBS.

Common symptoms

Some common symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating that is related to passing a bowel movement, changes in the appearance of said bowel movement, changes in how often you are having a bowel movement. Other symptoms include gas or mucus in the stool.

When to see your doctor

You should see your doctor if you have a persistent change in your bowel habits or other symptoms of IBS. These could be a sign of something more serious conditions, such as colon cancer. These symptoms include Weight loss, diarrhea, iron deficiency anemia, unexplained vomiting, difficulty swallowing, persistent pain that isn’t relieved by-passing gas or bowel movement.

There are no tests for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Instead, your doctor will do a full medical history and physical exam and tests to rule other things out like celiac. Once other medical conditions have been ruled out your doctor will look at other criteria. Abdominal pain and discomfort lasting one day at least once a week for the last 3 months. The pain and discomfort are associated with defecation. The frequency is altered, or the stool consistency is altered. Your doctor may also assess you for symptoms that may suggest other more serious conditions. These symptoms are Onset of symptoms after the age of 50, weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever, nausea or recurrent vomiting, abdominal pain, especially if it's not related to a bowel movement, or occurs at night, diarrhea that persistent or awakens you from your sleep. Another test they might have done include colonoscopy, x-ray, or CT scan, Upper endoscopy. They may even have a laboratory test done. These include lactose intolerance test, breath test for bacterial overgrowth, and stool test.

Types of IBS

IBS can be divided into three types, based on your symptoms. Constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, and mixed.

Risk Factors

Many people have the occasional symptom of IBS; however, you are more likely to have it if you are under 50 years old. IBS is common in women. Estrogen therapy whether it is before or after menopause is also a risk factor. If you have a family history of IBS. Genes and environment may play a role in having IBS or not. If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. A history of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse also may be a risk factor. Foods like carbonated drinks, wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, beans, cabbage, and milk. can trigger IBS symptoms

IBS can develop after severe bouts of diarrhea (gastroenteritis) caused by bacteria or a virus. It may also be associated with an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. IBS can develop after severe bouts of diarrhea (gastroenteritis) caused by bacteria or a virus. It may also be associated with an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut.

Treatment

The treatment of IBS focuses on relieving symptoms so that you can live as normally as possible. Mild symptoms can be controlled by managing your diet and lifestyle. Try to avoid foods that trigger your emotions. Eat high-fiber foods, drink plenty of fluids like water. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep. You will want to avoid items such as carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages, and certain foods that may cause gas. Research shows that some people who have IBS report improvement in diarrhea symptoms if they stop eating gluten. Foods like wheat, barley, and rye. Even when these people don’t have celiac disease. Other people are sensitive to certain carbohydrates such as fructose, fructans, lactose, and others. These are known as FODMAP or fermentable oligosaccharides disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. If food is something that triggers your symptoms, then a dietitian can help you change your eating habits. If stress triggers your symptoms or you are depressed your doctor may recommend counseling.

Your doctor may suggest medications to help with your symptoms. Fiber supplements, laxatives, anti-diarrheal, anticholinergic medications, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI antidepressants, and pain medications. There are medications on the market that are for people with severe IBS. Those medications include Alosetron, Eluxadoline, Rifaximin, Lubiprostone, Linaclotide.

There is a new treatment being investigated for IBS. I thought it was interesting. It is fecal microbiota transplantation or FMT. This is taking another person’s fecal matter processing it and putting it into the colon of the person with IBS. This takes the bacteria from the healthy person and puts it into the person with IBS to restore healthy bacteria. The only other time I have heard of doing something like this was when I was watching Grey’s Anatomy. The doctors did this transplant when a woman killed all the bacteria in her digestive track because she was taking antibiotics that she bought over the internet. I didn’t think this kind of this took place until I started researching for this article.

If you have any of these symptoms lasting longer than what you think is normal. You need to go see your doctor. Many of these symptoms could also be symptoms of more serious issues. I got my information from my favorite medical website the mayo clinic. I also verified the information with other resources.

Natosha J Selsky