Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is very common. In fact, 11% of the population suffers from IBS globally.  Until recently, it was considered a diagnosis of exclusion (meaning you are given the diagnosis after all else has been ruled out) but that is no longer the case.  IBS can be diagnosed through careful and thorough symptom assessment.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?

What are the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, but to date, no clear cause has been identified. What we know is that stress, certain foods, and lifestyle habits can exacerbate the symptoms of IBS. What’s tricky, is that these factors vary from person to person, and so they require patience and detective work to identify triggers.

Symptoms of IBS

What are the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS?

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS vary from person to person however there are some common patterns to watch out for.

Pain: One of the defining symptoms of IBS is pain. Pain can be experienced differently from person to person. For some, it can present as cramping, bloating, distension, a feeling of pressure, fullness, just to name a few. In the absence of pain, it’s probably not IBS.

Bowel Changes: IBS usually presents with altered bowel habits. Some experience constipation, others experience diarrhea and still others, will experience a combination of both.

How IBS diagnosed

How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS diagnosed?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS used to be a diagnosis of exclusion but now there are clear guidelines that help medical practitioners diagnose IBS.

THE ROME IV CRITERIA for the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS

According to the ROME criteria, the diagnosis of IBS is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain for, on average, at least one day per week in the past three months. The pain is also associated with two or more of the following:

  • Symptoms related to defecation
  • Symptoms associated with a change in stool frequency
  • Symptoms associated with a change in stool form or appearance, based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale

The symptoms of IBS can vary in intensity. There may be periods of time when your symptoms are mild or non – existent and other times when the symptoms you experience are severe in nature.

Manage your Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What can you do to MANAGE your Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS

There are many different treatments available that can help with management of IBS.

Lifestyle: Manage your stress. There is a clear correlation between your stress levels and the severity of IBS symptoms. Depression and anxiety can also make IBS symptoms worse. Interventions like gut directed hypnotherapy have been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of IBS symptoms.

Diet: The only diet that’s been shown to help IBS is the Low FODMAP diet. The Low FODMAP diet is best done under supervision as it is a short-term, treatment-based diet that needs to be done correctly to be effective. This diet is not meant to be a long-term solution to IBS as it omits important prebiotic fibres and nutrients essential for our microbiome and overall good health.

Treatments for IBS

Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS

There are several treatments available including over the counter medications and prescription medications that, when used under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care practitioner, can be an effective way to manage your symptoms. These treatments need to be personalized and monitored to be effective

For more information and to see how The Tummy Clinic Team can help support you, click here to book a discovery call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you’ll need to manage long term. The cause is not well understood.

There is no definitive test to diagnose IBS. IBS is diagnosed after your doctor has reviewed your symptoms and occasionally ordered tests to rule out other conditions.

Visits at the Tummy Clinic are not covered by OHIP or your provincial health care system, however, most extended healthcare plans cover many aspects of the care you will receive here, such as visits to Naturopathic Doctors, Dietitians, Social Workers or Psychotherapists. Check your benefits package or contact your insurance company for more information.

Prior to your first visit, you will be asked to fill out intake forms providing basic information about your current health concerns, past health history, family history and other basic information.

Your first visit will be with one of our Naturopathic Doctors and will last approximately 60 minutes. Your Naturopathic Doctor will do a full assessment and devise a personalized treatment protocol incorporating our unique team of Dietitians, Nurse Practitioners and Psychotherapists.

We hear you. We create personalized plans designed to take your unique symptoms and concerns seriously. Our protocols are designed by a team of Gastroenterologists and reflect an evidence-based approach. We work together to make sure we are all in sync.

If your family doctor feels assessment with a Gastroenterologist is required and you haven’t already been assessed by one-our clinic will happily redirect referrals from family doctors to our Gastroenterologists.

Otherwise, our program is focused on the aspects of your treatment plan that our Gastroenterologists feel would best be provided by our specialized team members