Irritable Bowel Syndrome 101 -- What You Need To Know
From:
Libby Ferguson
129 days 19 hours 15 minutes ago
More and more women are seeking medical help for digestive disorders, but not everyone is walking away with the right diagnosis or a definitive diagnosis at all. This leads many sufferers through an endless shuffle from one specialist to the next, having to replay their less than enchanting symptoms in graphic detail.One often misdiagnosed condition is called Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. Glam.com talked to Dr. William Chey, Professor of Medicine for the Division of Gastroenterology at University of Michigan to get to the bottom of this disorder that affects women twice as much as men.
Q: What is IBS?
A: IBS is an often painful digestive disorder that results in some pretty frustrating bowel habits. It is symptom based where the sufferer has a heightened response to gastrointestinal (GI) sensations, or sensations in their digestive tract.
Q: What are the symptoms of IBS?
A: Patients can suffer from diarrhea, constipation or an alternating pattern of both. And to top that, abdominal bloating and excessive flatulence are often associated.
Q: How is IBS diagnosed?
A: There is no blood test or probe to make diagnosis easy; it must be identified through the evaluation of symptoms. Patients might be asked to keep a food diary for 2-3 weeks to identify foods which trigger their symptoms. The diary should contain not just the foods consumed, but the specific symptoms they trigger and their severity felt throughout the day.
Q: How is IBS treated?
A: Mild cases of IBS are usually treated through diet and lifestyle modifications. Medications are reserved for patients with more frequent or severe symptoms. Extra dietary fiber can be consumed to ease constipation; avoiding fatty foods and chocolate, caffeine and alcohol can help curtail diarrhea; and identification of stress triggers and better management of stress are all measures toward providing some relief. Many doctors recommend exercise which has the added bonus of aiding in overall wellness.
Q: Do food allergies and intolerances play a role?
A: Though true food allergy is a rare cause of IBS symptoms, intolerances of certain foods can cause symptoms in some patients with IBS. Common food intolerances include the inability to properly digest and absorb sugars like lactose or fructose. This can lead to symptoms such as abdominal cramping, bloating, excessive gas and loose stools. Another possible contributing factor in a small subset of patients diagnosed with IBS could be bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, which is its own condition requiring treatment through a course of antibiotics.
Q: Are there risks associated with IBS?
A: IBS can have a profound effect on patient’s quality of life and ability to function. However, it does not decrease a person’s lifespan or increase their chance of getting cancer.
Q: Are there situations where diagnoses other than IBS need to be looked at?
A: Patients with a family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or Celiac Disease should not be assumed to have IBS without having first undergone appropriate testing. If the patient suffers from severe symptoms such as gastrointestinal bleeding (evidenced by blood in vomit and/or stool), unexplained weight loss or significant nighttime symptoms, there is even more reason to seek immediate medical attention.
Q: Any word of warning when it comes to seeking a diagnosis?
A: Women with undiagnosed IBS are 2 to 3 times more likely to undergo unnecessary surgery including appendectomy, gallbladder removal or hysterectomy. This is definitely a case where the patient needs to work with their physician to make sure IBS has been properly diagnosed and treated before scheduling surgery which may or may not be truly necessary.
