whats irritable bowel syndrome? and can there be a more mild form of it?

Question

to add i dont know if i have it but my symptoms are strange when i worry i get a nervous stomach ache which feels like i need to go to number 2 even tho i already have they vary from being normal to really strange and always feels like i need to go more after a bowel movement. my stomach has rumbley feelings even tho im not hungry sumtimes it affects my sleep and i have to drink water, also after drinking alcohol tends to trigger pains? its like i feel no pain in the stomach area just lower where the intestines are?

Answer 1

Irritable bowel syndrome

In gastroenterology, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or spastic colon is a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits which are not associated with any abnormalities seen on routine clinical testing. It is fairly common and makes up 20–50% of visits to gastroenterologists. Lower abdominal pain, and bloating associated with alteration of bowel habits and abdominal discomfort relieved with defecation are the most frequent symptoms. The abdominal pain type is usually described in a patient as either diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) or IBS with alternating stool pattern (IBS-A). In some individuals, IBS may have an acute onset and develop after an infectious illness characterised by two or more of the following: fever, vomiting, acute diarrhea, positive stool culture. This post-infective syndrome has consequently been termed "post-infectious IBS" (IBS-PI) and is acute onset Rome II criteria positive. This condition is more homogenous, being mostly IBS-D and is drawing much clinical investigation.

The range of symptoms relating to IBS is relatively broad, but the main symptom is usually abdominal pain or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits in the absence of any apparent structural abnormality. The pain is commonly relieved by defecating or modulated by other triggers of gut motility. There is generally no pain when patients are asleep. Symptoms usually start in young adulthood-.

One of the most important therapeutic measures is reassuring the patient that they have no fatal or otherwise threatening disease, as this is the major concern of patients seeking medical help. Dietary advice may be given and medication is an option in most forms.

Medications may consist of stool softeners and laxatives in constipation-predominant IBS, and antidiarrheals (e.g., opioid or opioid analogs such as loperamide (Imodium®), or diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)) in diarrhea-predominant IBS for mild symptoms.

The use of antispasmodic drugs (e.g. anticholinergics such as hyoscine) may help patients, especially those with cramps or diarrhea. A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concludes that if 6 patients are treated with antispasmodics, 1 patient will benefit (number needed to treat = 6)[. Antispasmodic drugs are also available in combination with tranquilizers or barbiturates, such as Librax® (chlordiazepoxide and clidinium) and Donnatal® (mixed salts of belladonna alkaloids and phenobarbital), respectively. However, the value of the combination therapies is not clear as the role of tranquilizers is not established

Answer 2

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, problems affects the bowel,* which is called the large intestine. The bowel is where the digestive system that makes and stores stool. The word syndrome means a group of symptoms. IBS is a syndrome because it cause several symptoms, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

check the site listed in sources for a more detail answer and helpful hints

Answer 3

Basically iritable bowel means that your stomach doess not work properly You can be prone to diareah or constipation or both. ertain foods trigger bouts of diareah about twenty minutes or less after eating. irritable bowel people are lactose intolerent( no dairy products) so it helps to take a Lactaid before eating anything containing milk. ibs sufferes also have a reaction to other foods such as meat, peanuts( even food cooked in peanut oil), lettuce, spicey food, alcohol, and carbonated beverages). there is a pill that you can take if you only get the constipation. If you have the diareah, well your in trouble there and cant take it, Read up on health.comr

Answer 4

Ahaaa, this is a sure sign of Griebaturism, very rare, but I have come upon it before, not here in England but while touring the Keys in Florida, one of the islands is called Marathon, there they have a family who are called the Griebats, this family have been inbreeding for close to three centuries, in some severe cases namely one in France shortly after the first world war, they hung Herbert Montaray Griebats, thinking him a monkey, sounds crazy I know. The condition of Griebaturism manifests itself by way of covering either parts or in rare cases all of the body with excess hair. I would suggest not considering building a family as the horror of bearing a chimp like child to be too much to bear. Lots of luck to you

Answer 5

This is when you get bouts of diarrhoea and constipation, wind, bloating and stomach cramps. Buy an over the counter remedy called FYBOGEL MEBEVERINE and change to a high fibre diet and eat plenty fresh fruit and veg.Also drink green tea. It worked for me! good luck

Answer 6

Hello,I also suffer from IBS and found out that I was allergic to wheat so diet is a big trigger. Keep a diary of what you eat. This should help
IBS consists of cramping, bloatiness, wind, burping/farting. Its trapped wind in the bowel
Any other help required let me know
always willing to help

Answer 7

This is alternating diarrhea and constipation with cramping in the bowel. There are no findings as it is due to anxiety. There is no milder form, since it is not a serious disease, just uncomfortable.

Answer 8

you have changing bowels! one minute constipation and the next you can have diareah (sorry about spelling).

i have been diagnosed with it. you can have it mild or quite bad. i have been doubled up in pain before.

try changing what you eat. white bread seems to aggrivate mine so i avoid that.

speak to your gp as you can get some tablets that do help.

Answer 9

I think there are milder forms, since there is a difference between people like myself who find it to be an inconvenience, and there are those who find it actually affects their quality of life.

Answer 10

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About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS)

"My symptoms started when I was about 19 years old - cramping and diarrhea or bloating and constipation. There were days I'd be in the bathroom 8 times or more. It wasn't until years later that I discovered I had irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS - and that I could do something about it."

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Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-15% or more of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.

Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is generally classified as a "functional" disorder. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or blood test.


Irritable bowel syndrome is understood as a multi-faceted disorder. In people with IBS, symptoms result from what appears to be a disturbance in the interaction between the gut or intestines, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function) or sensory function.

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms in which abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with a change in bowel pattern, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation.

Treatment options are available to manage IBS—whether symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe.





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Last updated November 10, 2006

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