DawnMarie1978

These are a few things I found from different sights, I am sure you are pretty educated to what it is and what can help, but are there any specific questions or things you are curious about that I can research?

Foods that tend to cause symptoms include milk products, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and fatty foods. In some cases, simply eating a large meal will trigger symptoms.

Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.

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What are the symptoms of IBS?
The main symptoms of IBS are

crampy pain in the stomach area (abdomen)


painful diarrhea or constipation


Most people have either diarrhea or constipation, but some people have both.

Other symptoms are

mucus in the stool


swollen or bloated abdomen


the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement
Some foods make IBS better.

Fiber reduces IBS symptoms--especially constipation--because it makes stool soft, bulky, and easier to pass. Fiber is found in bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruit, and vegetables.

Here are some examples of foods with fiber:

Fruits Vegetables Breads, cereals, and beans
Apples
Peaches Broccoli, raw
Cabbage
Carrots, raw
Peas Kidney beans
Lima beans
Whole-grain bread
Whole-grain cereal

Add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time to let your body get used to them. Too much fiber all at once might cause gas, which can trigger symptoms in a person with IBS.

Besides telling you to eat more foods with fiber, the doctor might also tell you to get more fiber by taking a fiber pill or drinking water mixed with a special high-fiber powder.

lHow much you eat matters, too.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea in people with IBS. If this happens to you, try eating four or five small meals a day. Or, have your usual three meals, but eat less at each meal.

About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS)

"My symptoms started when I was about 19 years old - cramping and diarrhea or bloating and constipation. There were days I'd be in the bathroom 8 times or more. It wasn't until years later that I discovered I had IBS - and that I could do something about it."


Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-20% of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by all physicians.

Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.

Irritable bowel syndrome is generally classified as a "functional" disorder. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function the way the body works), rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or blood test.

Irritable bowel syndrome is understood as a multi-faceted disorder. In people with IBS, symptoms result from what appears to be a disturbance in the interaction between the gut or intestines, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function) or sensory function.

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms in which abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with a change in bowel pattern, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation.

Treatment options are available to manage IBS—whether symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe.

An occasional bout with abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation is an experience nearly everyone has in common. People may view these symptoms as normal, even when they frequently occur. However, chronic and recurring symptoms are not normal. They may signal IBS -- and are often treatable.

The diagnosis of IBS currently is based on a pattern of symptoms that fit established criteria, in conjunction with physical examination and tests that rule out other identifiable causes.

For individuals with IBS, effective diagnosis and treatment starts with the recognition of the validity of symptom complaints. Working in partnership with a physician or care-provider can help achieve the best possible results.Once a diagnosis is made it is helpful to develop a treatment plan and an outcome goal in an effort to control symptoms. Each individual's symptoms may vary and respond differently to treatment



Mild symptoms affect about 70% of people with IBS

Symptoms occur infrequently, and

Occasionally interfere with normal daily functioning
Moderate symptoms affect about 25% of people with IBS


Symptoms occur
more intensely and frequently, and

Interfere with daily activities, and

Prompt awareness of what factors bring on their symptoms

Severe symptoms affect about 5% of people with IBS

Symptoms are frequent, intense, and

Chronically interfere with daily functioning.

All treatment of IBS should begin with education about the nature of the disorder:

It is a chronic condition with intermittent symptoms
Symptoms are variable
Symptoms themselves are not life threatening nor an indication of something more serious
Symptoms can often be managed with dietary or lifestyle changes

For moderate symptoms, in addition to the above, consider . . .

Use of a diary to help identify factors that bring on, or "trigger," symptoms (IFFGD's Daily Diary has guidelines specifically for functional gastrointestinal disorders)
Investigating and learning stress management, hypnosis, or relaxation techniques
Consulting with your physician about the use of drug therapy, which will depend on your predominant symptom. Use of medications requires a careful evaluation of the nature and severity of symptoms, exclusion of other disorders, and a determination of which medication is best suited to you

If symptoms are severe, in addition to all of the above, consider . . .

Investigating the use and benefits offered by biofeedback therapy, or behavioral treatments
Drug therapy, in consultation with your physician, for treatment of pain (low-dose antidepressants)
Seeking referral to a pain treatment center