Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects approximately 14% of the population of the United States, however this figure does not include those that are too embarrassed to see a doctor about their condition. There are several schools of thought when it comes to diagnosing IBS, however most doctors agree that IBS is either psychosomatic (a physical condition caused by mental conditions) or comes as a result of a poor diet.

For those that think they might have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, here are some symptoms to look out for:

• Constipation or diarrhea that comes and goes often and persists for long periods of time. Often, blood can accompany bowel movements, which could be a result of several conditions.
• Bloating of the stomach that causes cramping or pain that is abnormal.
• Chronic headaches accompanied by bowel pain or cramping.
• Fibromyalgia
• Severe change in stool patterns and frequency.
• Gastroesophageal reflux

If you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis, then you would be wise to set an appointment with a doctor to do some testing. Your doctor might do a food allergy test to discern whether any dietary factors are involved, however there are no specific tests that can guarantee an accurate diagnosis 100% of the time. Unfortunately, because IBS is believed to be a psychosomatic condition, your doctor might spend more time talking to you than treating you. Don’t be surprised if they recommend that you see a counselor, as that is standard procedure with conditions such as this.

Your doctor will probably ask about your medical history and ask you about your daily diet. Often times, decrease the consumption of spicy foods and/or dairy products can help, while other times increasing fiber intake might do the trick. Regardless, your doctor might try several treatments for the symptoms before he or she feels comfortable making a diagnosis of IBS.

It is also possible that you have Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), which is more chronic than IBS and is more difficult to treat. You need to be careful about IBD, because studies suggest that you could be at an increased risk for colon cancer if you are affected. Also, the symptoms of IBD are even more sever and long-lasting, which makes it all the more important that you see a doctor.

If you feel that you have IBS, you might try making some dietary adjustments while you are waiting for your appointment. Sometimes, this can completely solve the problem, however at other times counseling or prescription medicines might be in order.

There are times when a misdiagnosis might occur, at which point your doctor might have mistaken celiac disease or fibromyalgia for IBS. However, treating IBS is an experimental process anyway, so it might take some time to make a correct diagnosis and prognosis. If you have any questions about IBS, then I recommend that you schedule an appointment to talk with your doctor about your systems and let them decide what medications or treatment options you should consider.