Irritable bowel syndrome
There are nospecific tests for IBS,asit does notcause any obvious detectable abnormalities in your digestive system.
In most cases, a diagnosis will be based on whether you have typical symptoms of IBS .
Your GP willconsider assessingyou forIBS if you have had any of the following symptoms for at least six months:
A diagnosis of IBS will then be considered ifyou have stomach pain or discomfort that is either relieved bypassingstools, or is associated with a need to go to the toiletfrequently or a change in the consistency of your stools.
This should be accompanied by at least two of the following four symptoms:
Many cases of IBS can be diagnosed based on your symptoms alone, although sometimes further tests may be needed to check for other possible causes.
For example, your GP may arrange blood tests to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as an infection or coeliac disease (a digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten).
A sample of your stools will also often be tested for the presence of a substance called calprotectin. This substance is produced by the gut when it is inflamed, and its presence in your stools could mean your symptoms are being caused by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .
Further testswill be needed when you have certain "red flag" symptoms thatindicate you may have a potentially more serious condition, such as cancer. These symptoms include:
Further testing may also be recommended if you have a family history of bowel cancer or ovarian cancer , or if you are over 60 years of ageand have hada change in your bowel habits that has lasted for more than six weeks.
In these cases, your doctor may recommend having a colonoscopy to check for abnormalities in your gut. This is where your rectum and large bowel (colon) are examined using an endoscope , whichis inserted into your rectum.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. It can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
The symptoms of IBS are usually worse after eating and tend to come and go in bouts.
The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unknown, but most experts think that it's related to problems with digestion and increased sensitivity of the gut.
There are no specific tests for IBS, as it does not cause any obvious detectable abnormalities in your digestive system.
The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can often be managed by changing your diet and lifestyle, and understanding the nature of the condition.
After having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for more than 20 years, Ansar Ahmed Ullah is learning to live with the condition.
Geoff Lyon has had severe IBS since early childhood. He tells us his story.