IBS Awareness
What is IBS?
• IBS is a common condition that affects the digestive system.
• It causes symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation. These tend to come and go over time and can last for days, weeks or months at a time.
• It's usually a lifelong problem. It can be very frustrating to live with and can have a big impact on your everyday life.
• There's no cure, but diet changes and medicines can often help control the symptoms.
• The exact cause is unknown – it's been linked to things like food passing through your gut too quickly or too slowly, oversensitive nerves in your gut, stress, and a family history of IBS.
Common IBS Symptoms
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
• diarrhoea – you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly
• constipation – you may strain when pooing and feel like you can't 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. What can trigger IBS symptoms Other symptoms of IBS IBS can also cause:
• (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 can't fully empty your bladder
• not always being able to control when you poo (incontinence)
When To See Your GP
See a GP if you think you might have IBS They can check for IBS and do some tests to rule out other problems.
Ask for an urgent appointment if you have:
• lost a lot of weight for no reason
• bleeding from your bottom or bloody diarrhoea
• a hard lump or swelling in your tummy
• shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (palpitations) and pale skin These could be signs of something more serious.
Getting Diagnosed
What happens at your GP appointment:
Your 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 Before your appointment, it might help to write down details of your symptoms to help you remember them. Your 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.
Your 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 won't usually need further tests in the hospital unless your GP isn't sure what the problem is.
What Happens If You're Diagnosed With IBS
If your 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.
Diet, Lifestyle And Medicines
There's no single diet or medicine that works for everyone with IBS. But there are lots of things that can help if you've been diagnosed with it.
General tips to relieve 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
• eat more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)
• drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day
• drink lots of alcohol or fizzy drinks
You can buy a card or key from The IBS Network shop or Disability Rights UK shop that can help you access public toilets if you get symptoms while away from home.
How To Ease Bloating, Cramps And Farting
• eat oats (such as porridge) regularly
• eat up to 1 tablespoon of linseeds 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 diarrhoea:
• cut down on high-fibre 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) 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 linseeds
• ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help (laxatives), like Fybogel or Celevac
The IBS Network has more about diet and IBS and IBS medicines.
See A GP If:
• diet changes and pharmacy medicines aren't helping
• you need to avoid lots of different foods to control your symptoms
Further Help And Support
Seeing a dietitian for IBS:
Your GP may be able to refer you to an NHS dietitian if general diet tips for IBSaren't helping.
They can suggest other changes you can make to your diet to ease your symptoms. If you want to see a dietitian privately, make sure they're registered with the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
Low FODMAP Diet
A dietitian may recommend a diet called a low FODMAP diet.
This involves avoiding foods that aren't easily broken down by the gut, such as some types of:
• fruit and vegetables
• milk
• wheat products
IBS medicines from a GP
If pharmacy medicines aren't helping, your GP may prescribe a stronger medicine such as:
• amitriptyline
• citalopram
These are antidepressants, but they can also help ease IBS symptoms. They may take a few weeks to start working and can cause side effects.
Your GP may refer you to a specialist if you have severe symptoms and other medicines haven't helped.
Psychological Therapy For IBS
If you've had IBS for a long time and other treatments aren't helping, your GP may refer you for therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
This can help if stress or anxiety is triggering your symptoms. It can also help you cope with your condition better.
If therapy isn't widely available on the NHS in your area or the waiting list is long, you could pay for private treatment.
Support From The IBS Network
The IBS Network is a national charity for people with IBS.
It provides:
• information and advice about living with IBS
• local IBS support groups
• an online forum where you can chat with other people with IBS
