Shhh…irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, isn’t exactly a topic that one brings up at the dinner table or during a business meeting. It might even be a topic that, if you have IBS, you don’t talk about with anyone except maybe your physician. But if you’re part of the 20% of Americans who live with IBS (and yes, some of them also have diabetes), chances are you welcome any information that may just help relieve some of your symptoms. Let’s take a closer look at this condition and find out what’s being done to help those who have it.
What is IBS?
IBS isn’t a disease. It’s not the same thing as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or Crohn disease. And while some who have IBS would liken it to a disease, it’s actually a condition or disorder that can cause extreme discomfort, inconvenience, and even embarrassment.
One in five Americans has IBS, and women are more likely than men to have it. IBS can start early: About 50% of those who have it are diagnosed before the age of 35. In the past, this condition was called colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, or spastic bowel, but the proper name is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). By the way, gastroparesis, a type of neuropathy that can occur in people with diabetes, isn’t the same as irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroparesis may cause diarrhea and/or constipation in some, but it’s primarily a disorder of the stomach, whereas IBS mostly affects the large intestine.
Ask anyone who has IBS to name some of the symptoms and you’ll likely hear a common thread:
- Abdominal cramping or pain
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhea and/or constipation (they can often alternate with each other)
Many people report difficulty having a bowel movement, with an ability to pass only a small amount of stool or else pass a lot of mucus. Those who are more likely to have diarrhea report a frequent urge to “go.” Symptoms can wax and wane, too. Someone may go for months or even years without symptoms. And symptoms tend to fade or subside as one gets older.
Is IBS Serious?
IBS can certainly be debilitating for people. Many report having to plan their day around finding a bathroom. Others shun social activities for fear of having an accident, while some complain of pain and discomfort. But there’s no evidence that IBS leads to any serious problems or disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.
What Causes IBS?
You’d think that when so many people have a condition, whether it be IBS or even diabetes, the cause would be pretty obvious. However, no one really knows what causes IBS. The intestinal tract is connected to the brain via the nervous system. Stress, hormones, neurotransmitters, and even the immune system may play a role in disrupting or interfering with communication between the brain and the intestine. Because of this, the muscles lining the intestinal wall can contract or even spasm, leading to cramps and pain. Furthermore, the contents of the intestines may move through either too quickly, leading to diarrhea, or too slowly, leading to constipation. Basically, things get out of sync.
Researchers also believe that some people have “sensitive intestines” (now who would have thought intestines could be sensitive?). In other words, some people with IBS apparently have intestines that react more strongly to certain factors, such as:
- Stress. People react to stress in all different ways, and it’s no surprise that IBS symptoms can flare up or worsen when stress is evident. Stress doesn’t cause IBS, though.
- Food. Some foods are triggers for IBS flare-ups. Chocolate, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sugar-free candies may be culprits for some people (but not necessarily for everyone).
- Hormones. Flare-ups might occur during menstruation, for example.
- GI infection. There’s some thought that having a stomach bug (gastroenteritis) may lead to IBS symptoms, even though the infection may be long gone. And some research indicates that IBS might even be caused by a GI infection. One study found that 78% of IBS patients had bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
- Medication. Antibiotics may also trigger IBS symptoms.
Next week: How do you know if you really have IBS?
My husband and our son-in-law both have fibromyalgia, and one of the primary afflictions of it is IBS. The only thing our son-in-law has found to help him is a warmer climate; he has much less trouble in Texas, where he lives now, than when he was in western Oregon. My husband has yet to find anything that helps, even the new fibromyalgia medications.
Posted by Peppy1 | Mar 04, 2009 at 3:04 pmI’m 66 years old now and had suffered with IBS in my younger years. Around 45 I started to get the stomach cramps and missed work because of them. I had trouble walking and if I did it was to the bathroom, which seemed a million miles away at times. I went to my doctor and he couldn’t find anything and never mentioned IBS, I brought it to his attention years later. I have been free of the systoms for a few years now but I do have bouts with it when I over do my love of nuts, all kinds. It will usually last two to three days. I do know what it is and it seems more tolerable just knowing.
Posted by pattipuppy | Mar 04, 2009 at 3:33 pmI am a 57 yr old male and have suffered with ibs since I was in my teens. I have noticed that greasy foods or highly spicy foods or peppers really set me off. Stress plays a big part in my flare-ups also. I have also noticed whatever i eat for breakfast kind of sets the tone for the day. My typical breakfast consists of cottage cheese with unsweetened peaches and some oat bran flakes mixed in. Hey might not sound good but it works for me.
Posted by Dan | Mar 04, 2009 at 5:52 pmI lived with IBS for most of my adult life, and so have my siblings. The cure for me was starting on a drug to lower my cholesterol. They had a side-effect of constipation (although this is not why I started on taking them). This class of drugs are called “statins” and I have used Lipitor, Gemfibrozil, and Simvastatin. All have been equally effective. I have to remind myself to drink plenty of liquids, because those drugs can cause hard stool. But, for me, I’d rather have this than loose, unpredictable bowel movements! It works for me.
Posted by Marck | Mar 04, 2009 at 8:31 pmReplacing refined carbs with mostly vegetables and some whole grains did wonders for me. A condition I’d come to think of as chronic essentially disappeared. Best to all, M.
Posted by Michael.Massing | Mar 05, 2009 at 12:59 amI first had IBS symptoms about 20 or 25 years ago. It took me a long time (years) to figure out how to deal with it. This is what works for me: don’t eat too much at one time; eat plenty of veggies (which also prevents heartburn) and whole grains; take a fiber supplement every day.
Posted by susanrice47 | Mar 08, 2009 at 3:54 pmHi susanrice47,
Besides your helpful advice, you make an important point when it comes to IBS: sometimes it take time to find out what really works for you in terms of managing symptoms. And what works for one person may not always work for someone else. Sounds like vegetables and whole grains help, though!
Posted by acampbell | Mar 09, 2009 at 1:41 pm