What are the symptoms of IBS?

Symptoms of IBS
As the diagnosis and effective treatment of IBS are based entirely on symptoms, it is crucial that patients describe symptoms correctly, no matter how embarrassing they may be. IBS is a very common complaint nowadays and all the symptoms of IBS can be the result of a wide range of differing problems. Doctors use the term chronic to describe symptoms that are persistent and long-lasting. It is important to distinguish chronic symptoms from those symptoms that may occur suddenly and a short lived. It is important that patients describe symptoms correctly and differentiate between chronic and normal symptoms. Many patients believe chronic pain to be pain that is particularly severe as opposed to pain that is persistent and long-lasting. If such terms are misunderstood it can lead to problems with diagnosis.

In summary irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are not all in the mind and can all be treated to some extent. A little bowel syndrome is not a dangerous disease but it can have serious implications on your quality of life. IBS is essentially involves persistent pain in the abdomen which no other cause can be found. IBS symptoms can include diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal bloating.

It is vital to be accurate about your symptoms so that you can give your doctor and accurate description. The questions that you will need to answer include:

• Where exactly do you feel the abdominal pain?
• When you do feel abdominal pain what makes it feel worse, or better?
• How often do you need to go to the lavatory?
• Do you ever have to rush to the lavatory for fear of having an accident?
• When on the lavatory do you strain to pass anything at all?
• What do your stools look like? (This will entail examining your stools on a regular basis)

The answers to the above questions will help to confirm or deny symptoms of IBS, remember not all bowel/digestion issues mean IBS!