What Exactly Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

It is completely normal to occasionally get an upset stomach. Constipation, diarrhea, and stomach cramps are an inevitability as we are all going to eat something that doesn’t agree with us at some point in our lives. The important thing to know when your discomfort is more than just a sour stomach. If you have some of the significant symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you may already suspect the disease to be the culprit. Or, if it is something that has plagued you for years, you may continue chalking it up to a “troublesome tummy.” IBS is definitely more than a frequently upset stomach, but rather a chronic condition that can disrupt a person’s entire life. Too frequently, sufferers shy away from regular activities like going out with friends or heading to an amusement park because they don’t like to be away from their home and quick access to a bathroom. If you’re among these individuals, you know that this isolating factor can impact your satisfaction in regards to your personal life as well as have a negative effect on your relationships with others.

The clinical definition of IBS is repeating abdominal pain that comes on three or more days per month accompanied by alternating diarrhea and constipation. IBS sometimes manifests itself as predominantly diarrhea-related, or it can be predominantly causing constipation. It can even be a combination of the two. This wide variety of conditions can make it confusing for a person to consider IBS as a concrete conclusion. Also, there is a degree of stomach cramping and pain that accompanies diarrhea and/or constipation. This pain and cramping can come on suddenly at random times or right after eating and is usually relieved by using the bathroom after an urgent feeling to immediately go. Those are some of the basic symptoms of an IBS attack, here is a more comprehensive list of things a person suffering from IBS can experience:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Sharp Stomach Pain
• Difficulty Passing Stools
• Sudden Urge To Defecate
• Having Accidents

All of these symptoms are shared with other gastrointestinal issues, so it can be easy to confuse it with other issues like Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, Diverticulitis, and even certain cancers. With a list of disorders as serious as that, it is incredibly important to make sure you are treated in the correct way. The best way to do this is to make sure you chart your symptoms with a checklist so you can tell your specialist exactly what you are going through to better equip him or her to make the right diagnosis for your health and wellness. It’s best to see your regular general practitioner to start with because they can direct you to a good gastroenterologist in your area.

Sources: askdrnandi.com
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