Irish Visitors Click HereIrritable Bowel Syndrome
Doctor's visit
IBS must be diagnosed by a medical practitioner. Once you have established that you have many of the symptoms associated with IBS, it is time to schedule a doctor's visit.
The doctor will ask a host of questions to build a detailed picture of your situation.
Prepare your answers in advance using the IBS Symptom Checklist.
This is followed by a physical examination, focusing particularly on your abdomen. Sometimes tests are necessary, mainly to rule out other conditions like endometriosis, peptic ulcers or bowel cancer. These can include: [ ref ivillage]
- Blood test, to check for general health and exclude conditions like anaemia
- X-ray, to view the bowel
- Endoscopy, to view the large bowel through a flexible tube inserted into the rectum
- Stool sample, to check for blood
- Nevertheless, doctors can usually be quite confident at diagnosing IBS on the basis of the pattern of symptoms alone.
Treatment is usually a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Medication is used to treat the worst symptoms and can include:
- Antispasmodic drugs
- Anti-diarrhoeals
- Anti-flatulents
- Constipation remedies
- Bulking agents / fibre
- Anti-depressants
For more information on constipation remedies, click here.
For more information on fibre supplements, click here.
Your doctor will also work with you to see if there is any "trigger factor" that brings on your IBS. He or she may ask you to keep a food diary to see if this could be something in your diet. This is also useful to see how healthy your diet is, and how much fibre and saturated fats it includes.
Your doctor will also work with you to see if there is any "trigger factor" that brings on your IBS. He or she may ask you to keep a food diary to see if this could be something in your diet. This is also useful to see how healthy your diet is, and how much fibre and saturated fats it includes.
Our Guide to Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome explains how to keep a food diary. Download it now PDF 559kb
Where appropriate, your doctor may also give you lifestyle advice and provide information about alternative therapies like hypnotherapy.
- Find out what the symptoms of IBS are
- IBS can have an big impact on your lifestyle - find out how to cope with IBS
- Find out how to relieve the symptoms of IBS
- Join a support group and talk to other sufferers - view our list of IBS support group links
- Not sure if you have IBS? Fill in our checklist to find out
