Is irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis the same thing?

Question

I was diagnosed with diverticulosis, after a colonoscopy. The symptoms I have are chronic constipation with bloating. I see that the symptoms are the same for IBS. I am wondering if there are two different names for the same condition?

Answer 1

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common intestinal condition. Its cause is unknown and there is currently no cure. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, gassiness, nausea, and other symptoms.

What is diverticulosis?
The colon (large intestine) is a long tube-like structure that stores and then eliminates waste material. As a person ages, pressure within the colon causes bulging pockets of tissue (sacs) that push out from the colon walls. A small bulging sac pushing outward from the colon wall is called a diverticulum. More than one bulging sac is referred to as diverticula. Diverticula can occur throughout the colon but are most common near the end of the left colon called the sigmoid colon. The condition of having these diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis. A patient with diverticulosis may have few or no symptoms. When a diverticulum becomes infected and ruptures, the condition is called diverticulitis. A patient suffering from diverticulitis will have abdominal pain and tenderness, and fever. When bleeding originates from a diverticulum, it is called diverticular bleeding. A patient who suffers the consequences of harboring diverticulosis in the colon is referred to as having diverticular disease.

IBS and Diverticulosis are two different diseases.

Answer 2

They are two different conditions, although the symtoms are sometimes the same. It is possible to have both conditions (I do). Irritable bowel is a functional disease that is characterized by recurring symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

Doctors don't have a clear picture what IBS is or what causes it. But researchers do have a few theories:

IBS sufferers may have a more sensitive colon than others.
In people with IBS, the brain may perceive contractions in the gut more acutely than others.
The immune system may respond differently to stress and infection in people with IBS.
Hormonal changes may trigger IBS symptoms (80% of IBS patients are women).
Though no one fully understands what causes IBS, doctors do agree that IBS is a bona fide medical condition. They do not think it's "all in your head." According to the American College of Gastroenterology, IBS is also clearly defined by what it is not:

It is not an anatomical or a structural problem.
It is not an identifiable physical or chemical disorder.
It is not a cancer and will not cause cancer.
It will not cause other gastrointestinal diseases.
Basically, IBS is a collection of symptoms that you have had for a long while, for at least 12 weeks in the previous 12 months. IBS always involves abdominal pain or discomfort. This pain must have two of these three characteristics to be diagnosed IBS:

Relieved with defecation
Associated with a change in frequency of stool
Associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

Diverticulitis is inflammation of an abnormal pouch (diverticulum) in the intestinal wall. These pouches are usually found in the large intestine (colon). The presence of the pouches themselves is called diverticulosis.

They are most common in the colon, specifically the sigmoid colon. These sacs, called diverticula, occur with increasing frequency after the age of 40. When they become inflamed, the condition is known as diverticulitis.

There is a known cause of diverticulitis and surgery will eliminate the diverticuli and often remedies the problem. With IBS, however, only the symptoms are able to be treated. There is no known etiology regarding the cause.

Answer 3

A little bit of info for you. IBS means diarrhea and constipation from things you eat and gas cramps. You can have lose bowels for a few days and then constipation, Diverticulitis is inflammation in pockets that form in the colon & become blocked and/or infected. This usually comes with aging. Most people over fifty have some diverticuli (pockets) and avoid nuts, seeds and hard, small items that could get lodged in these pockets. When diverticulitis occurs, you are bent over in pain & some people think they are having a heart attack. The pain is excruciating. IBS symptoms can come from gluten in people who cannot digest gluten. look it up. I do not know for sure but it's highly unusual for young people to get diverticulosis. Should have it checked out & see what foods cause cramping, diarrhea, etc. and then avoid those foods.

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Answer 4

No, they are two separate conditions.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines.
Diverticulosis is when a person has small pouches in their colon that bulges outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Food particles like nuts and corn can get stuck in these diverticulum and cause and infection known as diverticulitis, which is painful.

Answer 5

No. They are different. With diverticulosis, pockets develop in the coloc. Diverticulitis is when food gets stuck in pockets. With IBS, the bowels are irritated, but not with things getting stuck in pockets.

My mom had a really bad experience with diverticulitis. It's no joke. Do not eat foods that have kernels (popcorn) or seeds (raspberries) because these get stuck easily in the pockets of the colon. Since they get stuck, they rot there. Then your colon can start to rot. Then you end up in ER getting pieces of your colon removed. Not pretty nor pleasant.

Take care and pay attention to the doctor's advice about this.

Answer 6

IBS is diagnosed when they have ruled everything else out, like diverticulosis. Diverticula are outpouchings from the colon. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder with cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea.

Answer 7

IBS is made on a diagnosis of exclusion meaning you cant find anything wrong after all the tests. Diverticulosis has pathology usually picked up on colonscopy. Both conditions are similar but are treated very differently. With diverticulosis there's diet and medication in cases of flares. With IBS you have to explore what triggers symptoms and try and avoid these.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Is Diverticulitis Contagious

Answer 10

From the name diverticulosis, I would think that this is a bacteria. IBS is more like an allergy in the way that it's not contagious and it's not really curable. You can treat the symptoms of IBS but not cure it. If you were given antibiotics than what you have is curable. Good luck all the same. It sounds horrible.