IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is becoming more and more prevalent with many new cases being diagnosed in Australia every year. The good news is that we can relieve the symptoms of IBS quickly and easily.
According to the Rome II committees and the Functional Brain Gut Research Group, IBS can be diagnosed based on at least 12 weeks, which need not be consecutive, of the preceding 12 months, there was abdominal discomfort or pain. These episodes should have at least two out of three of these features:
Relieved with defecation; and/or
Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool.
Symptoms of IBS
- Abnormal stool frequency
- More than 3/day or less than 3/week
- Abnormal stool form
- Abnormal stool passage
- Passage of mucus
Supportive Symptoms of IBS
- Fewer than three bowel movements a week
- Hard or lumpy stools
- Straining during a bowel movement
- A feeling of incomplete bowel movement
- Abdominal fullness, bloating or swelling
- More than three bowel movements a day
- Loose (mushy) or watery stools
- Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
- Passing mucus during a bowel movement
- ICV (Ileocaecal valve ) pain
4 Speicifications
- IBS-D- Diarrhoea-predominant
- IBS – C – constipation predominant (i.e. pellets mostly)
- IBS – A – alternating of above
- IBS-PI – post-infective IBS
Red Flag Symptoms
- Pain that awakens/interferes with sleep
- Diarrhoea that awakens/interferes with sleep
- Blood in the stool (visible or occult)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Abnormal physical examination
