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Have I Got Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a physical problem that causes disruption to daily life, embarrassment, and considerable difficulty when travelling or visiting new places. Even the proximity to other people and how good the sound proofing is can cause problems with the need to use the toilet – especially in other people’s homes.

One thing that is really important to be aware of is that IBS is not a disease. But it is still misunderstood by some trained medical practitioners and frequently treated as a psychological condition rather than the brain-gut dysfunction that it actually is.

IBS is not a psychological condition. It is very real and can be devastating to an individual’s enjoyment of life. Enjoyment of life is certainly compromised in the cases of clients who come to me for help with this problem.

IBS affects enough people that it may be considered a serious problem.

Percentage of population suffering IBS symptoms
UK 10%
US 15%
Japan 10%
Canada 6%
Brazil 43%
Mexico 46%

So if you are a sufferer, you are not alone.

The Mexican and Brazilian statistics, to me, point to some environmental cause, but that cause is still unknown. There is some speculation that either the immune system, or the gastro-intestinal tract, becomes sensitive to some foods; stress; or the gastro-intestinal tract is disturbed by unknown bacteria, protozoa or even hormonal imbalances.

But what exactly is it?

The method for diagnosing IBS seems to be the elimination of all other causes for the symptoms. Once this has been done, and if nothing else could be the cause of the problems then the diagnosis is IBS. It’s a bit like a medical safety net. We don’t know what it is, it’s nothing we can name, it’s in your gut, so we’ll just call it IBS. Goodbye. The good thing about this is that, although this problem is ruining your life, it isn’t going to kill you or require you to have surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy

So you’ll find that IBS is pretty much a term used to describe a lack of normal gut function. Unfortunately the symptoms of IBS vary from person to person. So no two people diagnosed with IBS will necessarily share the same symptoms. What tends to characterise a problem as IBS is abdominal pain or discomfort along with a change in defecation frequency and/or a change in stool consistency.

One important point that I cannot stress too highly.

IBS cannot and should not be self-diagnosed.

If you have symptoms that you suspect are IBS, you must see a medical practitioner. If you want some reassurance that the diagnosis is more likely to be IBS than anything more serious then you can find a checklist of IBS symptoms here.

But if you’ve got a gut problem – get it checked out.

Michael

Categories
IBS

What exactly is IBS, and more importantly, have I got it.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a physical problem that many people have to put up with on a daily basis. There is no cure because it is not a disease, it’s a functional disorder, characterised by the medical world as a brain-gut dysfunction. However, it is still misunderstood by some trained medical practitioners and frequently treated as a psychological condition. IBS is very real and can be devastating to an individual’s enjoyment of life. IBS is also a more common problem than many might imagine.

Percentage of population suffering IBS symptoms

UK 10%

US 15%

Japan 10%

Canada 6%

Brazil 43%

But what exactly is it?

Well it turns out that the medical world has decided that what it is is not something else. By that I mean that when other possibilities for the symptoms have been eliminated – then the diagnosis is IBS. It is largely a diagnosis by exclusion. IBS is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms that suggest a lack of normal gut function, but the symptoms are not consistent from individual to individual. There is individual variation. However, the most significant aspect is abdominal pain/discomfort accompanied by change in defecation frequency and/or a change in stool consistency.

One important point that I cannot stress too highly.IBS cannot and should not be self-diagnosed. The reason for this is because some IBS symptoms are also symptoms of other more serious, and other less serious, problems that are medically treatable. If you suspect you have IBS then visit your medical practitioner for confirmation. If your suspicion is confirmed then you can consider what would be your best course of action.

Symptom Checklist

Doctors have been using the following ROME II criteria for diagnosis.

Rome II Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms that Cumulatively Support the Diagnosis of IBS:

  • Relieved with defecation; and/or
  • Change in frequency of stool; and/or
  • Change in appearance of stool.
  • Abnormal stool frequency
  • Lumpy/hard or loose/watery stool
  • Straining, urgency, or feeling of incomplete evacuation
  • Bloating or feeling of abdominal distension.

Supportive symptoms of IBS:

  • Fewer than three bowel movements a week
  • More than three bowel movements a day
  • Hard or lumpy stools
  • Loose (mushy) or watery stools
  • Straining during a bowel movement
  • Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
  • Feeling of incomplete bowel movement
  • Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement
  • Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling

But this then became simplified by ROME III to:

Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

At least 3 months, with onset at least 6 months previously of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with 2 or more of the following:

  • Improvement with defecation; and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

Some symptoms can be mistaken for IBS and must receive immediate medical treatment.

Red Flag symptoms which are not typical of IBS:

  • Pain that awakens or interferes with sleep
  • Diarrhea that awakens or interferes with sleep
  • Blood in the stool (visible or occult)
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Abnormal physical examination

If you have any of these symptoms see your doctor immediately. If you have blood in your stool, visit your nearest medical emergency treatment centre immediately.

Author: Michael J. Hadfield

Source: Hypnosisiseasy