What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

 

Do you regularly have abdominal pain and faecal problems (diarrhea and / or constipation)? You may suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), sometimes referred to as a spastic colon, is a common condition. It is estimated that about one in ten Belgians suffer from IBS. IBS can occur at any age, but usually starts at a young adult age. IBS is approximately twice as common among women as men.

The complaints are caused by a hypersensitive bowel wall or disturbed bowel movements. However, the exact cause of IBS is unknown. Stress and nutrition may also play a role. After an intestinal infection (eg stomach flu) the symptoms can get worse.
IBS belongs to the so-called functional abdominal complaints or functional gastrointestinal complaints. If, during examination, no visible abnormalities are found (for example a stomach ulcer or inflammation in the intestine) but the symptoms persist, the diagnosis of IBS is made.
An irritable bowel causes no damage to the intestines. It never leads to serious diseases such as cancer.

Complaints that may indicate IBS

The symptoms are very varied and vary from person to person. They vary from very minor inconveniences to serious complaints that can lead to someone no longer participating in social activities. Even with the same person, the symptoms can vary greatly from day to day . Complaint-free periods can also be alternated with periods in which complaints are experienced daily.

IBS is the case if you have abdominal pain or an unpleasant feeling in the abdomen for six months, continuously or intermittently.

• Abdominal

pain Abdominal pain is the most important symptom of IBS. It is usually a nagging pain, often with short, severe pains or cramps.
The pain often starts during or after a meal. Some people suffer particularly during the day, others especially in the evening or at night.
The pain often diminishes after bowel movements or when the wind blows.
For many people the pain always shows up in the same place, for example in the lower left of the abdomen or around the navel. Others always feel the pain somewhere else. It can also radiate to the back or the side.

• Problems with the stool

Some people mainly suffer from diarrhea, others mainly from blockage, or alternately from both. The stool pattern can change during the day. Sudden, untenable urge is common.

• Other gastrointestinal complaints

In addition to abdominal pain and stool problems, other symptoms may also occur:
• a bloated feeling in the abdomen;
• flatulence;
• an abdominal distension;
• mucus without blood in the stool;
• heartburn;
• swallowing complaints;
• a lump in the throat;
• repeatedly farming;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea.

• Other possible complaints
– tiredness,
– muscle pain,
– back pain,
– headache,
– problems with urinating,
– irregular menstruation,

When to the doctor?
IBS is indeed a very annoying but relatively harmless condition. If, based on the complaints, you suspect that you might have IBS, it is best to consult your doctor so that you do not worry unnecessarily.
The following symptoms are not a characteristic of IBS and probably indicate another, possibly more serious, condition.
Be sure to consult your doctor if you have any of these complaints.
• blood in the stool,
• severe and persistent diarrhea,
• inexplicable weight loss
• fever
• If there is colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease) or celiac disease (gluten / wheat hypersensitivity) in the family.

Also in the following cases you should definitely consult your doctor:
• If the symptoms occur later in life (above 50 years);
• After a stay in the (sub) tropics or the Mediterranean region;
• If your bowel movements suddenly change clearly, such as suddenly stool for a long time or suddenly more often stools.