What is IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?  Are there any IBS remedies and what IBS syndrome can you expect?  Is there a common IBS symptom and any special diet for IBS sufferers?

* What is IBS?

IBS is a common functional disorder of the gut. As its very name “Syndrome” suggests,

it refers to a varied combination of symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating constipation or diarrhoea. Burping, flatulence and the feeling of incomplete bowel movements could also irk you.

IBS patients often experience symptoms not related directly to their bowels like poor sleep and fatigue. They also tend to suffer frequent headaches, backaches and muscle aches. Female IBS patients often have painful menses.

Dr. Wong Heng Yu, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital emphasises the need to pay attention to non-bowel symptoms as they are disruptive and the prescribed medications may exacerbate IBS.

* It’s More Common Than You Think

In a national survey conducted by Dr. Gwee Kok Ann, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Gleneagles Hospital in 2004, it was found that about 10% of people in Singapore have symptoms of IBS.

IBS is particularly common in women aged 20- 40 years old. Dr. Gwee reports that many women with IBS mistakenly blame the bloating and cramps they experience on cysts in the ovary and fibroids in the womb. Patients who suffer post-surgery pain attribute the cause to the procedure without realising that IBS is the real culprit.

Even more alarming, Dr. Wong shares that a study conducted in the United States reveals that IBS patients were more likely to have had surgery on their appendix or gallbladder which were wrongly assumed to be the source of their pain.

* Your Lifestyle Could Make It Worse

The cause of IBS is still unclear. There are many theories but none have been conclusive so far. However, Dr. Wong comments that IBS symptoms can be worsened by factors like stress, poor sleep and certain type of food.

Some patients don’t realise that their symptoms are stress-induced. The more stressed they are, the worse their condition. Learning to unwind can help manage their IBS symptoms.

Alcohol, coffee and high-fiber, dairy and fatty foods have also been shown to induce and even worsen IBS symptoms.

According to Dr. Wong, a high-fiber diet could aggravate bloating in some IBS patients.

Hence he recommends, “Keeping a food diary will help patients to monitor how their bodies react to certain foods in order to discover a diet that’s bowel-friendly.

* The ABCs Of IBS Diagnosis

There is no magic bullet for IBS diagnosis, as it largely depends on a complete medical history and physical examination.

As there is a similarity between symptoms of IBS and serious conditions such as inflammation, infections and cancers, the latter conditions should be reasonably excluded before a diagnosis is made.

This is especially important in individuals who are 50 years or older and in those with family history of colon cancer. That’s because the risk of colon cancer is high in these patients and IBS symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from symptoms of colon cancer.

Colonoscopy is highly useful test that can predominantly diagnose patients with colon cancer or irritable bowel disease. It is performed under sedation and involves the thorough examination of the large intestine. If pre-cancerous growth such as polyps are detected, they can be removed during the colonoscopy.

* Know Your IBS Type

IBS are divided into two main types: diarrhoea-predominant and constipation-predominant. The kind of investigation required depends on the type of symptoms.

Dr. Gwee feels that it is important that patients who experience diarrhoea are carefully assessed as they may have other underlying conditions requiring specific treatment.

For example, it is important to exclude microscopic colitis (inflammation in the colon) for elderly men with diarrhoea because an effective treatment exists. Some patients with diarrheoa and bloating may be suffering from gluten intolerance.

On the other hand, Dr. Gwee says that young women with constipation usually do not require much probability of finding a physical abnormality.

* Wait. That’s Hope

While the cause of IBS is not known, it is treatable. The treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms, as there is no cure for IBS. This may involve diet changes, stress relief and medication.

As Dr. Wong defines it, the term ‘IBS’ encompasses a wide range of patients with different symptoms. In order for treatment to be effective, doctors must thoroughly analyse the symptoms and tailor the treatment to suit each individual.

However, both Dr. Gwee and Dr. Wong observe that IBS tends to be under-treated. Dr. Gwee laments that this is unfortunate, because as many as 85% of IBS patients can end their ordeal over a period of six weeks to six months, if they get the right diagnosis early and learn proper IBS management.

Though IBS does not increase an individual’s risk of cancer or death, Dr. Wong states that IBS can have a profound effect on an individual’s work and social life.

To illustrate, IBS may affect your ability to concentrate at work or may result in an increase in the number of days for sick leave. Your social life can be negatively impacted too. You may choose to be homebound as you may fear the difficulty of finding a toilet in unfamiliar surroundings.

- Straits Times, Mind Your Body, Parkway Health Section

Most IBS sufferers find it very frustrating to have to live with the condition.  Many do not realize that the key treatment and the greatest IBS remedies include a change in their individual diet and that what may work for certain individuals may not work for others.  Thus it is a matter of trial and testing to see what works for you and what does not.