What’s Irritable bowel syndrome IBS
The main symptoms of IBS are:
stomach pain or cramps
– usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo bloating
– your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen diarrhea
– you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly constipation
– you may strain when pooing and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully
There may be days when your symptoms are better and days when they’re worse (flare-ups).
They may be triggered by food or drink.
Medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl) can help relieve painful bowel spasms. They are sometimes prescribed for people who have bouts of diarrhea.
What can trigger IBS symptoms
Other symptoms of IBS
IBS can also cause:
- farting (flatulence)
- passing mucus from your bottom
- tiredness and a lack of energy
- feeling sick (nausea)
- backache
- problems peeing – like needing to pee often, sudden urges to pee, and feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder
not always being able to control when you poo (incontinence) - Non-urgent advice:See a GP if you think you might have IBS
What happens at your GP appointment
The GP will ask about your symptoms, such as:
- what symptoms you have
- if they come and go
- how often you get them
- when you get them (for example, after eating certain foods)
- how long you’ve had them
The GP may also feel your tummy to check for lumps or swelling.
Tests for IBS
There’s no test for IBS, but you might need some tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.
The GP may arrange:
- a blood test to check for problems like coeliac disease
- tests on a sample of your poo to check for infections and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
You will not usually need further tests in hospital unless the GP is not sure what the problem is.
What happens if you’re diagnosed with IBS
If the GP thinks you have IBS, they’ll talk to you about what it is and what the treatment options are.
It might be difficult to take in everything they tell you.
If you’re unsure about something afterwards, write down any questions you have and make another appointment to go over them.
The IBS Network also has online information you might find useful.
General tips to relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
Do
- cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients when you can
- keep a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get – try to avoid things that trigger your IBS
- try to find ways to relax
- get plenty of exercise
- try probiotics for a month to see if they help
Don’t
- Delay or skip meals
- Eat too quickly
- Eat lots of fatty, spicy or processed foods
- Eating more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80 g)
- Drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day
- Drinking lots of alcohol, Soda or fizzy drinks
Read More Information
How to ease bloating, cramps and farting
- eat oats (such as porridge) regularly
- eat up to 1 tablet of Senna-lax a day
- avoid foods that are hard to digest (like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, beans, onions and dried fruit)
- avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
- ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Buscopan or peppermint oil
How to reduce diarrhea
- cut down on high-fiber foods like wholegrain foods (such as brown bread and brown rice), nuts and seeds
- avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
- ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Imodium (loperamide)
Important
If you keep getting diarrhoea, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
How to relieve constipation
- drink plenty of water to help make your poo softer
- increase how much soluble fibre you eat – good foods include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and Senna-lax
- ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help (laxatives), like Evaculax
