Now, because there's no blood test or an x-ray that can be used to diagnose IBS, to meet the IBS diagnosis, the patient has to have a certain set of symptoms that occur over a set period of time. And among those, the most prevalent one is continuous abdominal pain. Now, if you have continuous abdominal pain and it's associated with two out of the three following features-relieved only by a bowel movement, associated with a change in frequency of bowel movement, meaning going from less than three times a week to more than three times a day, and three, the abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with the change in consistency of bowel movements, meaning you go from loose, watery stools to hard, lumpy stools or vice versa. And if you meet two out of these three criteria over a six-month period, then you meet the criteria for having IBS.
The actual cause of IBS is not completely understood but there is a key factor which involves a miscommunication between the brain and the gut, and that affects how fast or slow the bowel moves so you can get diarrhea if it's moving too fast and constipation if it's moving too slow. The reasons that cause miscommunication between the brain and the gut are many including dietary factors like food allergies or food intolerance, sustained or chronic stress from lifestyle and genetics, meaning that in some cases, IBS can be inherited.
The three main subtypes of IBS or the groups which most patients fall under is based on bowel habit. And there's IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, and IBS with mixed pattern, meaning that the patients have both diarrhea and constipation within hours or days of each other. The symptoms of IBS with diarrhea are associated with abdominal pain or discomfort, cramping, bloating, and that gripping feeling that can stop you on your tracks. It's also associated with loose or watery stools or going to the bathroom more often than normal, which could be more than three times a day.
Another symptom that patients with IBS or diarrhea have is a sense of urgency, and that urgency can come out of nowhere and completely take over your life. Treatment for IBS with diarrhea in general starts with Pepto-Bismol, ammonium AD and the like. Starchy foods like saltine crackers, rice or potatoes are good. And in some cases, low doses of anti-depressant drugs have had a normalizing effect on the bowels.
Now, on the alternative side, there's been some great success in clinical trials with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Psychotherapy and hypnosis can treat the emotional side effects of ongoing diarrhea, whereas internal cleansing or a "detox" can address potential dietary and other factors like toxicity and the acid alkaline balance or PH balance in your body.
Patients with IBS with constipation typically don't go very often but they can go multiple times a day, mainly because they don't feel like they fully ever evacuate. The symptoms associated with IBS and constipation are mainly hard or lumpy stools, dry pellet-like stools, decreased bowel frequencies, meaning going less than three times a week, and also straining. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures can also be some of the side effects as well.
The treatment of IBS with constipation is pretty typical for how you would treat another patient with chronic constipation without the diagnosis of IBS. Usually one of the many over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners will work to increase bowel movements. Epsom salt and castor oil are two old school remedies that still work for a lot of people. There are also some great alternative options like aloe vera, Rhubarb root, probiotic capsules and internal cleansing or detox, to name a few.
IBS with mixed pattern is a difficult group to treat because it can change from loose, watery stools to hard, lumpy stools or vice versa within hours to days. Other patients will have a pattern where they will be constipated for four or five days or even a week, and then they'll have a lot of pain and dramatic loose stools, almost like the bowel is trying to empty itself.
I truly believe that IBS can be cured or at the very least contained and managed because your body is always working hard to achieve the state of balance or what is known as homeostasis among each of its systems. Your digestive system is no different, so if you have IBS or suspect that you might have IBS based on the symptoms I just described, it would make sense to explore every possibility toward healing and permanent recovery. And that includes traditional medical advice, as well as the growing number of alternative therapies that are becoming more and more effective without the negative side effects.
To feeling better right now,
Jaison Greene
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