Quick Tips for IBS Patients

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Things you can do to make your symptoms improve:

1. Excessive gas and diarrhea are suggestive of possible food intolerances. Keep a diet diary to identify potentially troublesome foods. Then, once you have a list of "suspects", an elimination diet is the most effective way to discover actual food intolerances.

2. Dairy products are the most common dietary triggers of IBS symptoms. Your doctor may advise a simple lactose intolerance test if you experience troublesome symptoms when you eat dairy foods. Many people with IBS symptoms may be suffering from a pure lactose intolerance, without the underlying intestinal disorder present in IBS patients.

3. The sweeteners fructose and sorbitol may produce symptoms similar to those of lactose intolerance. Eliminating foods containing these products may be considered as part of your elimination diet.

4. Foods with a high fat content should be avoided. They are a common trigger of negative IBS symptoms.

5. Be careful not to eliminate too many foods, or the wrong foods from your diet. Sometimes foods which you think are making your symptoms worse, are not the real culprits. For instance, spicy foods sometimes make symptoms worse, but not always. If salsa is served with fatty foods like fried chips, cheese and refried beans, the foods giving you the troublesome symptoms may not be the salsa at all, but the accompanying fatty foods.

6. A fresh food diet is essential in treating IBS. Always have "safe" foods (those that do not provoke IBS symptoms) on hand, whether at home or traveling.

7. If caffeine, nicotine and alcohol trigger your IBS symptoms, consider reducing or eliminating them from your diet.

8. For many IBS sufferers, particularly those with constipation, increasing dietary fiber is of great benefit. When increasing fiber in your diet, start low and go slow. Take fiber supplements around mealtime to increase their effectiveness.

9. To reduce intestinal gas: eat slowly, chew food well, avoid gum, mints, and carbonated beverages.

10. Frequent small meals are better than one or two large meals.

11. Do not habitually use laxatives. They should only be used for a short period of time, under your physician's guidance.

12. Establish a consistent time for bowel movements, and allow adequate time for elimination, especially if experiencing constipation.

13. Establish a regular exercise regimine to improve digestion and overall fitness. Many people find a brisk walk can help alleviate abdominal pain.

14. Herbal therapy can be effective for relief of IBS symptoms. For instance, in studies, peppermint oil appears to be effective at relieving cramps, taken in the correct dosage.

15. Complimentary alternative therapies can be effective in the treatment of IBS. If you are finding herbs, vitamins, or other alternative therapies helpful, be sure to let your physician know what you are using. Natural remedies, just like medications, may have side effects and potential for interaction with medications.

16. If stress is contributing to your IBS symptoms, use appropriate stress management techniques such as time management, exercise, deep breathing, visual imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga or martial arts. Some people benefit tremendously from assertiveness training, and self-help courses which teach communication skills.

17. Sometimes the causes of stress are not obvious. To alleviate IBS symptoms for the long-term, it is most effective to uncover the underlying causes of your distress, by learning about patterns of behavior (thinking, feeling, acting and reacting) which may be contributing to your IBS symptoms.

18. Avoid wearing tight fitting garments.

19. Self massage can help ease the discomfort of symptoms. While lying down, clockwise self-massage with one hand applied to the abdomen. Some people find warmth applied to the abdomen relieves symptoms.

20. Check if extremities are chilled, as this may trigger negative symptoms.

21. Children can suffer from IBS too. Don't automatically dismiss complaints of recurrent abdominal cramps as your child's way of avoiding school or other activities.

Quick Facts About IBS

• IBS affects one in five Americans.

• The social and economic costs of IBS are enormous, leaving many people unable to fully participate in life and work. IBS is a leading cause of worker absenteeism, second only to the common cold.

• IBS was previously referred to as spastic colon or nervous stomach. It is now a recognized disorder in which the intestine is overly sensitive to various stimuli including food, emotions, and drugs. With IBS there is interruption in the normal rhythmic contractions of the intestine.

• There is no single conclusive test available to diagnose IBS. However, physicians look for the cardinal symptoms which are abdominal pain accompanied by alternating diarrhea and/or constipation. Often, gas, bloating, nausea and other symptoms are also present.

• Theories on the causes for the disruption of normal intestine contraction include: poor dietary & lifestyle habits; food sensitivities; lack of fiber; stress; psycho-physiological (brain-gut) factors.

• Diet and/or stress are usually the triggers of IBS symptoms.

• Dairy products are the most common dietary triggers of IBS symptoms. Foods with a high fat content are also a leading trigger. Other foods which top the list are wheat, citrus fruits and juices, chocolate, eggs, and sweets. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine are common culprits as well.

• Although chronic, IBS does not lead to more serious illnesses, like colon cancer or colitis. It does not require surgery, and it does not shorten life expectancy. However, the symptoms can be debilitating and isolating for many sufferers.

• IBS frequently co-exists with pre-menstrual complaints and fibromyalgia syndrome.

• Anxiety and depression often co-exist with IBS.

• Common gastrointestinal disorders that may mimic or co-exist with IBS include appendicitis, colon cancer, diverticulosis, gallstones, hiatial hernia, inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, polyps and reflux esophagitis.

• For some undetermined reason IBS occurs twice as frequently in women as in men, in North America. In India and Sri Lanka, however, estimates show a higher incidence of IBS in males. One possible explanation is that there are cultural factors that determine who seeks medical care, and these cultural factors are more important than gender.

• IBS can interfere with sexual enjoyment. Women with IBS are more likely to complain of uncomfortable intercourse than women with peptic ulcer disease. The likely explanation for this finding might be that abdominal cramps, gas, and bloating make intercourse less pleasurable and thus lessen sexual gratification. Many women have reported enhanced sexuality with mastery and control of their IBS symptoms.