Irritable Bowel Syndrome Did you know that there are 2 kinds of Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Well there is here is one of them the second one is Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation. Which I have both one time I can have the runs the next time I am constipated. Here is the regular Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome* (IBS) is a “syndrome,” meaning a group of symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive tract that stores stool.

IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder, meaning that the bowel doesn’t work, or function, correctly.

Most Doctors are not sure what causes IBS, the nerves and muscles in the bowel appear to be extra sensitive in people with IBS. Muscles may contract too much when you eat. These contractions can cause cramping and diarrhea during or shortly after a meal. Or the nerves may react when the bowel stretches, causing cramping or pain. The cramping & pain can be unbearable to me the pain is worse than the pains and cramping that is caused by the woman's monthly cycle, this may differ in other women.

Women are not the only people to suffer from IBS it has caused pain and symptoms in men as well. Nobody knows what causes IBS it is something that just happens. IBS can be painful. But it does not damage the colon or other parts of the digestive system. IBS does not lead to other health problems. Women can suffer more than men especially when that time of the month comes around. There are different symptoms and different ways to treat IBS.


Here are the smptoms:

abdominal pain or discomfort in the abdomen, often relieved by or associated with a bowel movement
chronic diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both


Other symptoms are

whitish mucus in the stool
a swollen or bloated abdomen
the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement


The doctors may suspect that you have IBS because of your symptoms. Specific symptoms, called the Rome criteria, can be used to more accurately make this diagnosis. Medical tests may also be done to make sure you don’t have any other health problems that cause the same symptoms.

The Medical Tests

Along with a full physical exam including blood tests, the following tests might be done to diagnose IBS:

Lower gastrointestinal (GI) series. This test uses x rays to diagnose problems in the large intestine. It is also called a barium enema x ray. Before you have the x ray, the doctor will put barium into your large intestine through the anus—the opening where stool leaves the body. Barium is a thick liquid that makes your intestines show up better on the x ray.

Colonoscopy. For this test the doctor inserts a long, thin tube, called a colonoscope, into your anus and up into your colon. The tube has a light and tiny lens on the end. The doctor can view the inside of your colon on a big television screen. In some cases, a shorter tube, called a flexible sigmoidoscope, is used to look at just the lower portion of the colon.

I mind you none of these tests are any fun I had both of them. To this day the doctors don't know what caused my IBS w/ constipation but I am supposed to take a laxative on a daily basis. I am avoiding this due to the simple fact that my grandma was always constipated she had the same thing as I do. She has taken so many laxitives that the doctors have given her a medication to stop her diarrhea.

IBS has no cure, but you can do things to relieve symptoms. Treatment may involve

diet changes
medicine
stress relief


You may have to try a few things to see what works best for you, your doctor can help you find the right treatment plan.


Some Diet Changes That May Be Helpful

Some foods and drinks make IBS worse.

Foods and drinks that may cause or worsen symptoms include

fatty foods, like french fries
milk products, like cheese or ice cream
chocolate
alcohol
caffeinated drinks, like coffee and some sodas
carbonated drinks, like soda



Foods That May Help

Fruits
   apples
   peaches
Vegetables
   broccoli (raw)
   cabbage
   carrots (raw)
   peas
   beans
   kidney beans
   lima beans

Breads & Cerals
   whole-grain bread
   whole-grain cereal



Medications For IBS

Laxatives treat constipation. Many kinds of laxatives are available. Your doctor can help you find the laxative that is right for you.
Antispasmodics control spasms in the colon and help ease abdominal pain.
Antidepressants, even in lower doses than are used for treating depression, can help people with IBS. They can help reduce the abdominal discomfort or pain associated with IBS and, depending on the type chosen, may help the diarrhea or constipation


For More Information International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
P.O. Box 170864
Milwaukee, WI 53217–8076
Phone: 1–888–964–2001 or 414–964–1799
Fax: 414–964–7176
Email: iffgd@iffgd.org Internet: www.aboutibs.org




Source:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs_ez

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