When you first start experiencing irritable bowel symptoms, you may be confused as to just what is wrong. You may know you have some type of digestive problems, but need some help figuring out what is going on.
Today, millions of people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, and it is one of the most common digestive disorders there are. Although there are some typical symptoms that present themselves with IBS, there can be a lot of variables in different people. For example, you may suffer more from diarrhea than constipation, yet both are common with IBS. Some people alternate between the two extremes.
One thing is for sure, irritable bowel causes many people embarrassment, discomfort and pain. It can be debilitating and interfere with your work life and your social life - even just your everyday activities. If you are suffering from the pain or running to the bathroom all throughout the day, you know what I mean.
Check out this video for a little comic relief:
If you are not sure whether or not you have IBS, ask yourself these questions.
Do you have these irritable bowel syndrome symptoms?
Constipation
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain or cramping
Gas
Bloating
Acid reflux
Change in frequency of stools
Change in appearance of stools
Bowel movements bring relief
Uncomfortably full feeling, even nausea
These are the most commons symptoms, yet each IBS sufferer may not experience all of them. You may also have cycles when your digestive system acts normally and then all of a sudden you have a flare up of irritable bowel. The severity of the symptoms can differ from mild to severe.
Even though IBS is one of the most common digestive disorders, it is difficult to treat with conventional medicine. The prescription medicines commonly prescribed are not really intended to be a long term solution and can also cause side effects which are not pleasant. Most doctors do not have a clear idea of what to do to get rid of it.
Having an understanding of the symptoms can help you identify the problem. To be sure of whether or not you actually have IBS,there is a test your physician can run called the Rome lll criteria to determine for sure if you have irritable bowel syndrome.
Many people have suffered from IBS for years, dealing with the discomfort and embarrassment without any real reliefIt can cause depression as well as affect how much you can enjoy your day to day activities. It is certainly no fun to have deal with the trauma of going out to eat when you are experiencing IBS symptoms - you will probably spend the whole time wondering how soon you will have to rush off to the bathroom!
There are quite a few recommendations you can follow that will bring you relief and even eliminate your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Simple dietary changes, stress management, biofeedback and exercise can all have beneficial results.
If you are tired of feeling miserable and uncomfortable from your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, it may be time to look at the alternatives out there besides prescription medicines. There is an awesome resource for tips and natural methods you can try to get relief from your IBS, check it out at:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms.
