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IBS.

How is IBS Diagnosed?

There is no specific test for IBS, but there are some diagnostic tests that can be performed to rule out other problems. If diagnostic test results are negative, your doctor might diagnose IBS based on your answers to the following questions:

- How often in the past year have you had abdominal pain or discomfort?
- When does the pain start and stop in relation to a bowel movement?

- How has the consistency of your stool changed?
- How has the frequency of your bowel movements changed?

What Can I Do to Alleviate My IBS Symptoms?

Since people with IBS have colons that are more sensitive and reactive to certain things that might not bother other people, you should try to avoid:

- Stress, conflict and emotional upsets
- Eating large meals (instead, eat smaller meals with smaller portions)
- Foods that cause gas (e.g., raw vegetables, beans, etc.)
- Grains (e.g., wheat, rye, barley, unless you are constipated)
- Milk products
- Chocolate
- Red meat
- Oily and fatty fried foods
- Caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea or colas)
- Alcohol
- Laxatives (they tend to weaken your intestines)

What Treatment is Available for IBS?

Since there is no cure for IBS, treatment is limited to relieving symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe antispasmodic medicines to reduce cramping pain. If you have diarrhea, he may prescribe an anti-diarrhea medicine or Imodium; or if you have constipation, he may prescribe a stool softener. If you are anxious, he may prescribe tranquilizers or sedatives for a short period of time, or an antidepressant if your symptoms are severe enough to make you depressed.

Unfortunately, about seventy percent of Americans who suffer from IBS do not seek medical treatment, even though IBS can be controlled with a combination of conventional therapy, alternative therapy, and personal attention to diet and lifestyle. The balance of all the above, along with further research, will hopefully lead to new treatments that will effectively control the symptoms and lead to a healthier and happier life.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Lea Hill.
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