I’ve been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome – what does that mean?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of those diagnoses that doesn’t really get you anywhere! It is one of those condition labels that really just describes what is going on in the body – the bowel is irritable and thus not behaving as it should. It doesn’t always mean a lot more to the patient than that. People will use the phrase themselves, ‘I’ve got a bit of irritable bowel’, when it’s not quite working correctly.
How do I get diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
A diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is usually given after all the tests for other bowel problems have come back all clear – it is more a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that people who are characterised as ‘having’ Irritable Bowel Syndrome can have very varied symptoms – one person may be completely constipated, and the other may have debilitating diarrhoea.
Are there herbs for IBS?
As herbalists, we treat each patient as an individual so when someone asks us ‘do you have anything for IBS?’ the answer is invariably, ‘It depends’. In order to decide what a person might need for their IBS we would need to know what their exact symptoms are. We find IBS quite a simple condition to treat – herbal medicines are very suited to treating the digestive system, and have a normalising function which is essential in this condition.
Does diet affect IBS?
There are lots of orthodox practitioners who believe that what we eat has no effect on our health whatsoever. As herbalists we do not believe this one bit! IBS is a condition where lifestyle changes and attention to dietary needs can have a profound effect. We find that most people with IBS will have thought about their diet, and probably made some changes. Of course, when you are trying to work out for yourself what changes to make, using trial and error, and bits of information from websites or magazines, it can be very hard to know what to do for the best. We have the luxury of our training, combined with our experience and an objective (outsider) view of your health. This makes it very much easier to pinpoint what is going on. Also, the questions we ask often help patients to piece together the story of their health complaint and the factors that play a role, and this is very important.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
Most people are aware of the symptoms of IBS:
Main symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Discomfort
Symptoms that can vary:
- Some people have constipation, (hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements.) There may be straining and cramping when trying to have a bowel movement but they pass only a small motion or none at all. There may be the presence of mucus in the bowel movement too.
- Some people with IBS experience diarrhoea, (frequent, loose, watery, stools.) The diarrhoea can be explosive or urgent, with very little warning.
- Some people with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhoea.
- Sometimes people find that their symptoms subside for a few months and then return, while others report a constant worsening of symptoms over time.
Factors that can affect IBS
- Stress and emotional upset
- Stimulating drinks such as tea, coffee and cola
- Allergies or intolerances to wheat, dairy, alcohol, and other foods
- Drugs – common ones include: cholesterol-lowering medication, antacids, heart medications, antacids, and antibiotics
I get embarrassed about my symptoms – would I have to talk to somebody about them?
The only reason we discuss anything with our patients is to help them to get better. You may feel that your symptoms are embarrassing but we speak to patients about their bowel habits every day of our lives! So you can feel comfortable speaking to us about it – bowels are just like any other part of the body to us!
If you would like to know more please contact us using the form below.
