Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is known as a functional gut disorder, this is because there are no apparent signs of IBS. For example, ulcers or inflammation will not necessarily be found in the gut.
Because of this, your doctor will only likely diagnose IBS when they have ruled out other gut issues.
IBS can sometimes be misdiagnosed as colitis, spastic colon or inflammatory bowel disease. It’s because all of these diseases have the symptoms of an irritable bowel.
When you have a bowel movement, the muscles in your bowel will contract; for most people, this can happen once a day (or more). However, doctors believe that people with IBS have very sensitive muscles in their bowels, and when they are exposed to specific stressors or foods, this can cause contractions and symptoms associated with the condition. As a result, someone with IBS may experience pain, bloating, diarrhoea and even constipation.
Doctors are still not sure what causes IBS. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
- feeling gassy
- abdominal pain
- feeling unwell and nauseous
- vomiting
- having mucus in your stool, and
- diarrhoea.
The cramps are sometimes relieved by having a bowel movement, but some people may suffer from cramps and be constipated instead of suffering from diarrhoea.
IBS symptoms can vary from person to person. It might be mildly annoying or extremely painful, where you feel like you can’t even move.
What your diet should look like if you have IBS
Many people with IBS have said they suffer from the symptoms soon after eating or even during meals. However, tracking down what exact foods cause the issues can often take time.
But not every person will have the same symptoms after eating the same foods. Some symptoms can also come and go after eating certain foods and can be unpredictable.
Keeping a food diary and noting what food causes the symptoms can be beneficial. Try to start with a bland diet of foods you know don’t trigger any symptoms, and then gradually add in other foods each day and see how you react.
For example, people with IBS struggle to digest foods that contain FODMAPS, which include:
- most dairy products
- some fruits, including apples, cherries, and mango
- some vegetables, including beans, lentils, cabbage, and cauliflower
- wheat and rye
- high-fructose corn syrup, and
- sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol.
Now don’t let that long list of what you are not allowed to eat get you down, instead let’s take a look at what you can eat:
It’s best to follow a low FODMAP diet. This includes:
- fish and other meats
- eggs
- butter and oils, and
- hard cheeses.
What you need to know about fibre and IBS
There are two types of fibre that you can find in foods:
- insoluble
- soluble
Now, most foods contain both types of fibre, some of these foods are just a lot higher in one type.
- insoluble fibre is present in whole grain products and vegetables
- soluble fibre can is present in beans, fruits, and oats.
People with IBS tend to digest soluble fibre easier and don’t experience any symptoms.
It is also important to note that each person with IBS will respond differently to fibre; therefore, it is best to test it out and see how your body responds to it.
Your doctor might prescribe fibre supplements or laxatives. Fibre supplements are great for both diarrhoea and constipation. These supplements work by bulking up your stool in the case of diarrhoea and can help pass stools when constipated.
Using laxatives too frequently can result in your gut depending on them too much to pass a stool, so make sure you only use these under the supervision of your doctor.
How to manage IBS
1. Take probiotics
This supplement helps restore balance in the gut and assists with breaking down your food. It also slows down the growth of harmful bacteria and controls bowel movement speed.
2. Create and maintain a healthy lifestyle
Eat smaller healthy meals to help prevent cramping and bloating. For example, instead of eating three big meals a day, rather have five smaller meals. In addition, try and reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake. Be sure to drink six to eight glasses of water daily to help reduce IBS symptoms and keep you hydrated.
3. Manage your stress
Try meditation, breathing techniques and yoga for stress relief — stress has been linked to worsening symptoms of IBS!
More research is being done on IBS daily, which means that various treatments will continue to become available — what excellent news!
If you are suffering from IBS, then make sure you have health insurance which covers you for visits to the doctor and has amazing hospital benefits too! If you become part of the Oneplan Health Insurance Family, you will have the benefit of being paid BEFORE you see the doctor of your choice!
Yours in affordable health insurance,
Oneplan
