Understanding Irritable Bowel

IBS is one syndrome that you can be suffering with for a long time before it is diagnosed. After all if you find yourself visiting the bathroom much more than usual, or find you have abdominal cramps you would not necessarily put this down to irritable bowel disease.

As the symptoms can be quite mild it is a hard thing to pick up. Did you realise that between 10 and 15% of the population suffers with irritable bowel disorder? It is the most common disorder diagnosed by gastroenterologists. Although IBS can be mistaken by some for nervous stomach, colitis, spastic colon or an ulcer, many of the symptoms with Irritable Bowel Disease are different.

The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal discomfort or pain and changes in bowel pattern for example frequent bowel movements that could be loose and watery. The symptoms will vary immensely from person to person and while some will just view them as a mild irritation, others will really suffer and need to look for a treatment.

It is normally referred to as a functional disorder, and if you feel that this could be the cause of your symptoms you need to visit your doctor so that this diagnosis can be confirmed. Some of the ibs symptoms are similar to symptoms of other illnesses which can potentially be serious, so it is important to get diagnosis confirmed. The doctor will set in motion various tests so that he can be sure it is irritable bowel disease you are suffering with.

These tests will include xray, blood tests and other examinations such as a colonoscopy (where a small
camera is inserted on the end of a flexible tube into the patients’ anus). The images obtained from the colonoscopy are transferred to a screen and can be examined by the physician.

Again treatment will vary from patient to patient but can often involve following a suitable ibs diet, and taking medications for the other symptoms.