Realistically speaking, there are tons of things worse than stomach issues.
But honestly, when you’re in the thick of it with irritable bowel syndrome—the cramping, the diarrhoea, the constipation (sometimes all three!)—literally anything else seems preferable.
But uh, what exactly is IBS, how do you know you have it, and, most importantly, why TF is it so miserable?
We spoke to Doctor and Nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer to find out more.
What is IBS?
IBS is the most common problem that affects the gut with around 3 in 10 Australians developing it at some point in their life. It’s a condition that isn’t easy to diagnose as there’s no particular test to take, so it’s a diagnosis based solely on somebody’s symptoms.
Many think of it as a condition that only affects the gut, but it’s actually something to do with a faulty interaction between the gut and the brain. If you think about it, the gut is constantly moving and constricting and pushing food down – and normally the brain filters out all those signals so you don’t feel them. But in people with IBS, this mechanism isn’t working properly, which results in them picking up the constrictions of the gut and perceiving them as pain.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of IBS include; cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea or constipation, or both. It can really be anything associated with our bowel movements, inability to open your bowel which causes constipation, or irregular and loose bowel movement which causes diarrhoea. This is why it’s not always easy to diagnose and doctors may have to over investigate patients to rule out other conditions.
For example, it’s not common for symptoms to occur over the age of 50 – if patients over 50s are experiencing IBS-like symptoms, then that’s a red flag that another condition may be at play.
Are there any symptoms that specifically affect women?
IBS, traditionally, was thought of as being more common in women. However it’s believed that this is due to men being silent sufferers, and not visiting their doctors when symptoms do flare up – whether they are too embarrassed or just “deal with it”.
However, that’s not to say female hormones don’t play a role. For example, constipation is more common in women, generally due to the progesterone hormone which slows down the bowels. This is especially the case for pregnant women, who often experience bowel problems during pregnancy when progesterone levels are high.
What causes IBS?
IBS can develop after a bout of gastroenteritis and a number of people who first develop IBS do so within three months of having food poisoning. Another trigger is taking antibiotics which often disrupt the bacterial balance in the bowel.
If you have a food intolerance, then you will often experience almost identical symptoms to IBS such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating, which is why your doctor may recommend testing for conditions such as lactose or gluten intolerance.
How is IBS diagnosed?
There is a set of criteria known as the ROME criteria which doctors will use to assess symptoms to confirm if they’re related to opening the bowels. We also look for red flag symptoms that may indicate other underlying conditions such as food intolerances, bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
At the same time, because IBS is so common, we don’t want to over investigate everybody and put them through a lot of unpleasant tests in order to confirm the diagnosis of IBS. It’s a juggling act for doctors to weigh up the patient and their symptoms, and to monitor and follow them up to make sure things are resolving with initial management rather than getting worse.
What can be done about it?
There are a few things that can be done to help manage the symptoms associated with IBS. One of the most important things is to make sure you’re diagnosed correctly by seeing your GP before diving into any self-help treatments. Once diagnosed, these are my top tips for managing your symptoms (but check with your doctor first to ensure these approaches are right for you);
● Invest in an effective over the counter solution – I recommend using treatments like SilicolGel. Certified as the UK’s number one gastro gel, SilicolGel treats both the most common IBS symptoms and provides relief from heartburn, reflux and vomiting. Different from any other product on the market, its unique mode of action, similar to a magnet, physically adsorbs or binds common irritants and toxins in the gut. Once attached they are rendered harmless and are moved naturally through the intestines and out of the body.
● Try not to follow a too restrictive diet – If you’re having to cut out certain foods in order to manage your symptoms, do take a multivitamin mineral supplement to avoid deficiencies.
● Proactively manage flare ups – Again, SilicolGel is clinically proven to relieve gas, diarrhoea, heartburn, reflux, nausea, abdominal pain, and bowel discomfort during IBS flare-ups. Many users will find it reduces the need to use a cocktail of different medicines.
● Take a good quality probiotic – Probiotics do wonders for the gut, and will provide overall benefits to your digestive health.
● Try to manage the stress in your life – Stress is often a major trigger for IBS flare ups, so it’s important to limit stress where possible. This could mean learning to say ‘no’ and not taking on too many extra tasks in your work and lifestyle, asking for help when you need it, and taking time for yourself throughout the day.
● Drink plenty of water and get enough sleep – This will help improve all aspects of your health and wellbeing, not just your IBS symptoms.
